Programs by Grade
Hands-on projects that immerse students in learning about Jewish life have to be engaging, which means they have to be age-appropriate. Rosenbloom introduces students to Jewish ritual, Hebrew text, and conversational Hebrew over a period of years. Each year is different. To read more, click the tab for your child's grade level.
Kindergarten: Mehina Aleph
The Mehina Aleph program is the entry point for the Rosenbloom Religious School. Through music, art, drama, dance and other special activities, our students explore their connection to our community and what makes a synagogue so special. Our families will be immersed in programs that connect home rituals with synagogue experiences. One of the highlights of the year is when the Mehina Aleph students, together with their parents, write and create their own mezuzot.
Students who are enrolled in our new Hebrew immersion program will begin to learn the foundations of conversational Hebrew in addition to the traditional Mehina Aleph curriculum.
Grade 1: Mehina Bet
The stories of our tradition come alive in Mehina Bet! Through drama, art, and storytelling our Mehina Bet students enter the world of the Torah and discover the values and traditions that have become the foundation of our practices today. Students also explore the importance of their Hebrew name, a project that culminates in a Hebrew Names Carnival with everything from making baloon name sculptures to face painting. Students who are enrolled in our new Hebrew immersion program will continue to develop the foundations for conversational Hebrew through interactive Hebrew activities.
Grade 2: Aleph
The Aleph year is an awesome year of transformation in our Religious School. Our students begin the year not knowing how to write or read Hebrew. By year's end, students' reading and writing ability is strong – and a whole new world of learning is opened to our students! The Aleph students also explore the cycle of the moon and its impact on the Jewish calendar, culminating with a family trip to the Baltimore Science Center Planetarium.
Grade 3: Bet
Our students in the Bet class focus on learning Havdalah, the beautiful service that is said on Saturday night to separate Shabbat from the rest of the week. Our students learn how to sing the beautiful melodies, create all of the ritual objects and then lead our families in a fun Havdalah service and café highlighted with a students-versus-parents soccer game. In addition to havdalah, our students explore the prayers of the morning service, cursive Hebrew writing, and the weekly Torah readings.
Grade 4: Gimmel
Gimmel students celebrate many firsts getting their first Hebrew bible (TaNaKh) as they begin to study the text of Genesis, making their first shofar, lulav and etrog, and leading their first Friday night Shabbat evening service and dinner for their parents and family.
Grade 5: Dalet
As our students move into Dalet they enter our upper elementary education program. Our Dalet students learn how to chant Torah, lead the Shabbat morning service and Torah service as well as lead their families in the Passover Seder. Our families come together in the Dalet year for the “UnSeder” an interactive family Passover game show that helps our families prepare for Passover.
Grade 6: Hay
The Hay students explore the world of the rabbis by studying Pirke Avot, the ethics of our ancestors. Our students also discover Jewish history through an interactive history class that uses the Chizuk Amuno Timeline. The Hay students also are introduced to conversational Hebrew in our interactive Hebrew café where they learn how to use Hebrew in interactive experiences.
Grade 7: Vav
In the final year of the Religious School, the Vav students continue to explore Rabbinic works by studying with one of the clergy of Chizuk Amuno. Our students also explore the Megillot and continue to focus on strengthening their conversational Hebrew in our Hebrew Café. As our students continue their Jewish learning in our high school programs another focus of the Vav year is to create a strong connection to Jewish prayer and thought.
Shutafim
The Shutafim class is designed to partner in a classroom environment, with students who learn differently. The Shutafim program creates an environment of differentiated instruction where each child’s needs are addressed. In addition to the other multi-sensory experiences in Shutafim, our students work to prepare to become Bar and Bat Mitzvah here at Chizuk Amuno Congregation.
