Goals - Students will:
- develop an understanding of Torah as a guide to living a life based on Jewish ethics and values.
- be able to identify key people and events associated with the creation of the modern state of Israel.
- be able to identify the traditions, celebrations, symbols, rituals, and customs of Jewish lifecycle events.
- gain an understanding of the structure and content themes of the prayers in the Amidah.
- learn the Torah and Haftarah blessings.
- be able to identify the structure and choreography of the Torah service.
- be able to identify and understand the meaning of the concluding prayers of the service.
- develop the ability to read Hebrew prayers with understanding.
- develop fluency in reading and chanting prayers in our weekday Wednesday service as well as comfort in leading these prayers for our synagogue congregation.
- continue to expand their Modern Hebrew vocabulary.
- D’var Torah
- be able to read almost anything in printed Hebrew (with vowels) with reasonable fluency
Topics:
- Torah: Overview of Vayikrah (Leviticus), Bemidbar (Numbers), and Devarim (Deuteronomy)
- Founding of the state of Israel and important leaders of this time period
- Jewish lifecycle events and their connection to God
- The Amidah, Torah service and concluding prayers
- Expanding basic Modern Hebrew vocabulary
- D’var Torah
- B’nai Mitzvah preparation
Sixth Grade class services: Dalet (grade 6) will lead 1-2 Saturday morning services in the sanctuary which (like Gimmel serices) will include creative, personal prayer developed by the students.
Sixth Grade Retreat: Pre-Bar/Bat Mitzvah students will spend a weekend beginning their exploration of what it means to become a Bar/Bat Mitzvah. We hope that this will begin to foster a unique ruach (spirit) and sense of kinship for this special milestone in their lives.
