Torah / Hebrew School

Rabbi Morton J. Cohn Torah/Hebrew School

Our Torah/Hebrew School is an educational program for students in Grades K through 7 with Judaic classes convening on Sunday mornings from 9:30 a.m. - 12 noon. There are also classes in Hebrew on Monday and Wednesday afternoons for students in Grades 3 through 6.

On Sunday, students learn about Shabbat, Jewish holidays, Jewish history, Jewish heroes and heroines, Torah and Bible stories, the Holocaust, Jewish values and ethics as seen in the mitzvot, the history of the modern state of Israel, the rise of Reform Judaism and more. We also have Music/Tefilah with Cantorial Soloist Myrna Cohen and learn Israeli Dance.

We include Jewish Family Education in our curriculum, which involves students and their parents in the learning process. Twice each year, each grade along with parents meets with our Family Education Coordinator, Maxine Weseley, to learn about Blessings, Ecology, Tzedakah, Genealogy, etc.

Our Hebrew program readies our students for our Bar/Bat Mitzvah program. In addition to learning the prayers and blessings of the Shabbat evening and morning services, students read or chant a Torah and Haftarah portion. They also, if they are able, learn to translate their Torah portion. In line with our focus on Family Education, Rabbi Lawson conducts a 5-session Bar/Bat Mitzvah Workshop for students and parents.

We also provide Preschool Sunday Mornings for preschoolers and parents. This program meets for an hour once a month and covers the holidays with art and music and fun in an age-appropriate manner.

After Grade 7, our students attend the High School for Jewish Studies, a community program run through the Agency for Jewish Education. There are a wide variety of classes available including Hebrew study for high school credit. In Grade 10, our students study with Rabbi Lawson at the high school and also prepare for Kabbalat Torah/Confirmation.

The school is open to members of Temple Emanu-El. For more information, call Cathy Kamin, the Director, at the school office (619-286-3096).

Family Education Partnership

The success of the Torah/Hebrew School is directly attributable to the involvement of its families and the sense of community they create. Our parents take an active role in the life of our school through the Family Education Partnership. This Parent Organization acts as our P.T.O., and is responsible for in the enrichment of our school curriculum. Through its programs and activities, both in and outside the classroom, the F.E.P. builds on the Judaic studies of our school while providing ways for our families to bring Jewish learning in the home. WE NEED YOU TO SUPPORT THE FAMILY EDUCATION PARTNERSHIP WITH YOUR MEMBERSHIP

PARENT COMMITTEE AT TEMPLE EMANU-EL GOALS

1. To continue to assist the implementation of the revised curriculum of the Torah School, grades kindergarten through seventh.
2. To increase parent support and involvement of the curriculum and programs at Torah and Hebrew Schools.
3. To promote a positive relationship with the professional/teaching staff and Temple Board.