Religious School at Temple B'nai Torah
Our Shabbat-based Religious School program aims to offer students and families a nurturing space to experience the world through a Jewish lens. With a curriculum focused on Jewish values, rituals, life cycles, holidays, Hebrew language, and more, we provide learners with the tools to live a meaningful Jewish life. Each year is filled with special events that translate Jewish learning into opportunities for celebration and growth.
Our program features the following:
- Opportunities for families to connect and build community
- Enrichment learning opportunities including music, cooking, art, and outdoor learning
- Intergenerational programs with members of our larger community
- Experiential learning including family camping trips, teen trips, and community service projects
- Small group Hebrew learning for 3rd-6th graders
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Social and emotional support for children and their families - when you're here, you're part of the TBT family!
Learn more about the specifics of each grade-based program and their curriculum below!
2024-2025 Year At-A-Glance
- AGE RANGE: We offer Religious School learning opportunities starting PreK through 12th grade.
- MEETING TIME FOR PREK-GRADE 8: Saturdays from 9:30am - 12:00pm (families are encouraged to stay for our congregational kiddush luncheon at 12pm).
- WEEKDAY HEBREW: 3rd-6th grade students meet for one hour during the week for small Hebrew groups, either in-person at TBT or on zoom. Hebrew group meeting dates/times vary and are scheduled at the beginning of each year.
- MEETING TIME FOR GRADES 9-12: TBD
- SAVE THE DATE: Religious School Fall Family Camping Trip, September 20-22.
- START DATE: For the 2024-2025 year, Religious School will start on October 19.
- REGISTRATION DEADLINE: The deadline to register is August 1. Please note that a $100 late fee will apply to each child registered after August 1.
- COSTS: The cost of enrollment is $550 per student for Temple members and $2,000 per student for non-Temple members.
Learn more about each of our programs!
PreK-2nd Grade
PreK to 2nd graders gather on Saturday mornings from 9:30am - 12pm to discover Torah stories, holidays, symbols and values of Judaism. Our storybook curriculum centers around a different picture book each week to explore Jewish life.
Each grade has a guiding question to direct learning:
- PreK: What are the symbols of holidays and Jewish life?
- Kindergarten: What are the stories of the Jewish people?
- 1st Grade: What are the values of the holidays and Jewish life?
- 2nd Grade: What are the key Hebrew words and phrases of the holidays and Jewish life?
Developing lifelong connections to other Jewish kids is at the core of our Religious School experience. In addition to our curriculum learning, students also engage with each other through enrichment activities such as song, dance, cooking, and more.
PreK students must be 4 years old by August 31.
Kindergarten students must be 5 years old by August 31.
3rd-5th Grade
3rd-5th graders gather on Saturdays from 9:30am - 12pm to participate in t'filah, chuggim (electives), Torah Play, and tiyulim (journeys), our new badge achievement program.
Students also meet once a week in small groups for Hebrew learning, either virtually or in person. Hebrew group schedules vary each year depending on families' schedules.
Tiyulim: “Tiyulim” means trips or journeys. In this program students explore Jewish culture, history, and rituals by choosing which journeys they want to take. At the beginning of the year, students receive their own siddur (prayerbook), siddur cover, passport and guidebook. Similar to other badge programs, students choose a badge to pursue and have to complete a number of learning activities in order to achieve that badge. Each semester, students are guided and supported in their learning journeys. At the end of each semester, we join together in a siyum (concluding ceremony) to learn about each others' journeys and receive badges.
Chuggim: Our 3rd-5th graders select electives to participate in over the course of the year. Past options have included: Outdoor Judaism, Jewish Cooking, If I lived in Israel, Art, Drama, Music, etc. These are mixed-grade classes where participants can focus on their own interests or learn new skills.
Funding for Tiyulim (Badge Education Program) was made possible, in part, by a grant from the Jewish Federation of Greater Seattle.
6th-8th Grade
6th-8th graders gather on Saturdays from 9:30am - 12pm to participate in Shabbat services, learn, and do mitzvot together.
All 6th-8th graders participate in our monthly "Mitzvah Team" program by joining together in a volunteer project in the community during Religious School.
Each grade has a different curriculum focus:
- 6th Grade: What does it mean in my own life to become b'mitzvah?
- 7th Grade: What is my responsibility to the Jewish community and the world when I become b'mitzvah?
- 8th Grade: L'dor Vador (generation to generation) - learning about our Jewish history and becoming a leader for the future.
Each year, our 8th graders have the opportunity to participate in a trip, alternating years between Los Angeles and San Francisco.
9th-12th Grade
9th-12th graders meet on Wednesdays from 6-8pm, starting with dinner. At one gathering a month, teens engage in our Moving Traditions Tzelem program, a safe space to explore the social and emotional aspects of teenage life through a Jewish lens.
Registration Information
Religious School registration is done online through your ShulCloud account. Follow the steps below, and if you need assistance or you do not have a ShulCloud account, please email contact@templebnaitorah.org.
1. Log into your ShulCloud account by clicking on the gray "login" button at the top-right corner of this web page.
2. Once you are logged in, click on the gray "welcome" button at the top-right corner of this web page and select "My Account."
3. Once you are on your account page, scroll down to the "My Events" section and select the "Start School Enrollment" button.
Tuition
Religious School tuition is the following for the 2024-2025 school year:
$550 per student for Temple members
$2,000 per student for non-Temple members
Meeting your Family's Needs
There is space on the registration form to describe any special needs, dietary restrictions, or medical conditions your child may have. We urge you to give the school as much information as possible so that we may better serve your child.
2024-2025 Calendar
The 2024-2025 Religious School calendar is now available.
The 2024-2025 Weekday Hebrew classes and Teen Programs are coming soon.
