Kol Tzedek’s Torah school aims to educate and inspire our children. We teach core Jewish concepts, prayers, and values to help them form positive Jewish identities and make Jewishly and ethically informed choices. In the spirit of Jewish tradition, we aim to inspire our children to ask questions and to empower them to apply Jewish tradition to their daily lives.

Kol Tzedek’s Torah School has several components, including a special new program for our students:

Classroom Instruction:

Our spiraling curriculum takes us through learning about belonging (Jewish peoplehood), behaving (Jewish practice and ritual; social justice), and believing (spirituality, prayer, core beliefs) in a three year cycle. This year’s focus is “behaving,” the focus of which will be Jewish living, ritual practice, and lifecycle traditions. Children will learn about menshlekyt (being a good person), tikkun olam (repairing the world), tefillah (prayer), mitzvah (spiritual obligation) among other important Jewish value concepts. Along with their primary lessons, students will also experience blessings, prayer, and basics of Hebrew language. While we seek to expose children to Hebrew in a positive way throughout torah school, we believe that individualized instruction is preferable to master Hebrew skills.¹ Thus, we encourage individual Hebrew tutoring beginning at age nine. Torah School sessions intend to be informative, thought-provoking, creative, and meaningful.

Shabbat School:

Last year, we successfully launched a Shabbat School component to our program!  Shabbat school is an opportunity, one time per month, for families to participate in learning and prayer in the context of the Kol Tzedek community. Participating in both the community’s Shabbat service and their own service and torah study, students will experience the beauty and uniqueness of Shabbat in community and with family. Shabbat school is an experience for the entire family!  Click here for the Shabbat School Schedule.

Community Service Learning:

As part of our commitment toward tikkun olam, several sessions will be dedicated toward acts of gemilut hasadim (lovingkindness). As families, we will have the opportunity to do direct service for those in need and to model our commitment to caring for the world to our children.

Family Education:

Kol Tzedek is a community of learners. While the torah school's primary focus is on educating children, we recognize that parents must be involved in the process of learning.  And through connecting to Jewish heritage and texts, parents model the life of engaged Jews, wrestling with the past and seeking meaning for today.  A few times throughout the year, we will have special Family Learning sessions which will be co-led by Rabbi Lauren, that are designed to engage the whole family in the process of learning and to grow family bonds through the rituals of our tradition.  

Classroom Instruction:

Student instruction is divided into three classes of instruction for the 5771/2010-2011 year. The two Sunday/Saturday classrooms are the “Bonim” (Builders) classroom, geared for children ages 5-8 ,and the “Rodfim” (Seekers) classroom, for children ages 9-13.  Our pre-Bnai Mitzvah students meet biweekly for torah study and Jewish exploration.  Detailed registration and schedule forthcoming. If you have any questions, contact Rabbi Lauren, rabbi@kol-tzedek.org.

We hope you will come and join us!