Congregation Ahavas Achim’s Religious School provides lively and fun Jewish learning in a warm and intimate setting. The core Religious School program serves children from 1st to 7th grades. In addition, older children and teenagers are always welcome at Shabbat morning Torah study and other Adult Education opportunities.
Religious School Weekly Schedule and Parent Amenities
Religious School meets weekly on Sunday mornings from 9:30 to 11:30 except during major Jewish holidays or public school vacations. Parents can drop off their children and return at the end of class, or stay in the synagogue. We provide a comfortable space for parents to relax in our foyer. Parents are also welcome to sit in on Religious School classes from time to time after talking with their child’s teacher.
Curriculum Overview
Our curriculum is equally divided between Hebrew instruction and Judaics for each grade.
In Hebrew classes, students learn to decode Hebrew prayers competently as well as learn sight words and the meanings of key Hebrew word roots. The Hebrew curriculum is primarily geared towards competency in prayer and Torah-reading skills. We want to help our students feel comfortable participating in Jewish prayer services wherever they go, and we want them to understand the meanings of the prayers they read. We also hope to give students a sense of Hebrew as a living foreign language which can be studied more formally later in life. Hebrew classes are arranged by grade and adjusted based on the level and learning needs of each student.
In an effort to maximize Hebrew learning for each student and in response to difficult instructional challenges, we may transition Hebrew instruction for a particular grade from group learning to one-on-one tutorials either in-person or online during the week. In those cases, we will switch out the Hebrew period for an additional Judaics class suitable for that grade.
Jewish Studies Curriculum
Our Judaics curriculum comprises a spiraling sequence of instruction in Torah/Bible Stories, Shabbat and Holidays, the Jewish Life Cycle, and Jewish Values, Ethics, and Mitzvot.
Kehila Time and School Assemblies
Between Hebrew and Judaics we have Kehila Time, our all school assembly, which gives the students an opportunity to interact with Rabbi Dan and our music director, Lainee Ginsberg. We begin with a short service to give students the opportunity to hear and lead key prayers. Lainee then teaches songs associated with holidays and Shabbat, sometimes with movement and dancing. We conclude the program with a short lesson or discussion about a holiday or other timely topic. After a light, healthy snack students return to their classrooms for the final period.
These assemblies as well as multi-age celebrations of holidays lead to strong bonds between older and younger students, bonds that extend beyond the classroom.
Preparation for B’nai Mitzvah
In preparation for B’nai Mitzvah and beyond, students will have learned to lead the congregation in the central prayers, to chant from the Torah, and to teach about their Torah portion in a d’var Torah (aka bar/bat mitzvah speech). The D’var Torah is the culmination of learning one-on-one with Rabbi Dan that includes exploring the student’s Torah portion and discern how the Torah’s lessons might enrich the life of the student. B’nai Mitzvah candidates also participate in a mitzvah service project that reflects their personal interests and, ideally, relates to the themes of their Torah portion.
Click here to access recordings for b’nai mitzvah students.
Special Holiday Events and Sessions
Religious School students at CAA look forward to special holiday events and sessions, which are planned for each of the Jewish holidays celebrated during the school year. Holiday “stations” allow students to learn different aspects of each holiday in a relaxed manner, and to engage in holiday crafts and other activities. Over the course of the year, the students experience “dwelling” in the CAA sukkah and celebrating the New Year of the Trees with a fruit and nut seder. The fun continues with a Purim play, and with searching for the Afikomen during the community’s second-night Passover seder. Throughout the year, students will be visited by the Jewish Federation of New Hampshire’s Israeli shaliach or educational emissary to strengthen our children’s bond with the Jewish homeland.
Students of all ages are encouraged to attend Friday night Shabbat services regularly. Saturday morning services, held monthly, are a great chance to reinforce learning and an important way for B’nai Mitzvah students to prepare to lead the congregation. During the school year, Religious School classes help lead several services and are joined by recent graduates as well.
Religious School starts in September and goes through late May or early June. Contact the CAA office for a full calendar and registration forms, or if you have any questions.
Religious school is canceled if roads are impassable. Up to date weather information >
Complete and download School Registration Form.
See Dues & Fees for tuition information. We strive to make Jewish learning available to all children, regardless of finances. Funds from the Florence Lipsky Education Fund provide scholarships for students with financial need.
