Religious School Descriptions

Pre-Kindergarten & Kindergarten:

Through awesome art projects, Jewish music, and fun creative activities, our youngest learners start their immersion into Jewish life. Celebrating the Jewish calendar from Rosh Hashanah (The New Year), to Yom Ha'atzmaut (Israel's Independence Day), and intermixing Middot (values) throughout the year, we invite our youngest learners and their families to begin their Jewish education with us on Saturday mornings. 

Fees: Early: $470 /After July 26th: $500

Connections@AEMT Fees: Early: $940 / After July 26^th: $1000

Class sessions are regularly on Saturday morning from 9:30-12:15. 

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First Grade:

Students are introduced to Jewish aspects of everyday life using art, music, poetry, and a number of fun activities to help them connect to being Jewish, even at this early age. Textbooks used: BJL Beginnings: Alef to Tav Activity Book, Let's Discover the Bible, Let's Discover the Synagogue, Let's Discover God.

Fees: Early: $470 /After July 26th: $500

Connections@AEMT Fees: Early: $940 / After July 26th: $1000

Class sessions are regularly on Saturday morning from 9:30-12:15. 

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Second Grade:

Students begin writing the Alef-Bet and master the sounds of each letter becoming familiar with common Hebrew words and phrases. They also begin the Chai Curriculum for Jewish studies which includes Torah, Avodah, G'milut Chasadim, and Israel. Textbooks used: Let’s Discover Jewish Holidays, Let’s Discover Israel, Let’s Discover Shabbat, Shalom Alef Bet!: A Pre-Primer for Shalom Uvrachah.

Fees: Early: $470 /After July 26th $500

Connections@AEMT Fees: Early: $940 / After July 26th: $1000

Class sessions are regularly on Saturday morning from 9:30-12:15. 

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Third Grade:

This is the year that students become proficient in reading and writing in Hebrew! We celebrate learning the entire Alef-Bet with a special Siyyum HaSefer ceremony in the spring. With this new skill, they are also able to begin learning basic prayers and Hebrew vocabulary. 3^rd graders also begin to explore Torah stories and learn Jewish values. Textbooks used: Chai Curriculum Level 3, Shalom Uvracha Hebrew Primer, Hebrew in Harmony Grade Level Resources

Fees: Early: $690 /After July 26th $720

Class sessions are regularly on Saturday morning from 9:30-12:15, and Tuesday afternoon from 4:30-6:00. 

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Fourth Grade:

Students continue to build on their foundation of Hebrew letters and start studying Shabbat evening and morning prayers as they begin to develop an understanding of the Anshe Emeth B'nai Mitzvah service. Our students also start studying Tanakh with a special focus on the Nevi'im, the Prophets, guiding them through Bibilical History and connecting with key figures in our tradition.They will also study the significance and stucture of the communal prayer and acts of G'milut Chasadim. We mark this year with a 4^th Grade Naming Ceremony where students declare their Hebrew name during the special Shabbat morning service after learning about their name's meaning and family origin. Textbooks used: Chai Curriculum Level 4, Phonetic Hebrew Decording and Hebrew in Harmony Grade Level Resources, The Prophets: Speaking Out for Justice

Fees: Early: $690 /After July 26th: $720

Class sessions are regularly on Saturday morning from 9:30-12:15, and Tuesday afternoon from 4:30-6:00. 

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Fifth Grade:

In this grade, students continue their Tanakh studies as they prepare for the 5th grade Torah Assembly in the spring semester. Our 5th graders prepare their very own D'var Torah, words of Torah, showcasing their learning and engagement with the weekly Torah portion. Students are introduced to the concept of K'lal Yisrael and how they have a responsibility to actively support and sustain the Jewish community at Anshe Emeth, in Israel, and beyond. 5th grade Hebrew continues with new Shabbat evening and morning prayers as students progress towards B'nai Mitzvah age and begin understanding the concept of Tefillah, or prayer. We also introduce weekly trope instruction with Cantor Stanton called cantillation where 5th graders learn the nuance of chanting Torah and Haftarah. Textbooks used: Chai Curriculum Level 5, Phonetic Hebrew Decording and Hebrew in Harmony Grade Level Resources

Fees: Early: $690 /After July 26th: $720

Class sessions are regularly on Saturday morning from 9:30-12:15, and Tuesday afternoon from 4:30-6:00. 

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Sixth Grade:

In the year before B’nai Mitzvah age, students begin their learning of the prayers and vocabulary relevant to the Torah service as a final step in understanding what becoming a Jewish adult truly means. Students continue weekly cantillation instruction with Cantor Stanton as they refine their trope skills. Students begin to study the relationship between G-d and the Jewish people, and how their relationship with Adonai impacts their life. 6th graders also attend the traditional 6th grade retreat to Camp Harlam in December. This exciting weekend retreat builds deeper connections for students with their peers, and introduces our temple clergy and staff in an informal way to bond with students before their adulthood begins at AEMT. Textbooks used: Chai Curriculum Level 6, Phonetic Hebrew Decording and Hebrew in Harmony Grade Level Resources

Fees: Early: $1040 /After July 26th: $1070

Class sessions are regularly on Saturday morning from 9:30-12:15, and Tuesday afternoon from 4:30-6:00. The 6th grade retreat will be December 13-15, 2024. Please save the date and note the registration fee for 6th grade includes the retreat fee of $350. 

Seventh Grade:

This is a very special year at AEMT. Along with B'nai Mitzvah training, 7th grade learners spend the year immersed in our "13 Mitzvot" program where as one community, the class is tasked with creating and accomplishing 13 different Mitzvot before the end of the year. On Sunday mornings in the fall, learners spend the first hour of class with their parents during the Masoret program led by Rabbi Bazeley, with Rabbi Lotenberg taking the lead during the spring with our 7th graders.  Textbooks used: Saturday Morning T'filah Service, Mishkan T'filah

Fees: Early: $690 / After July 26th: $720

Class sessions are regularly on Sunday morning from 9:30-12:15, and Tuesday afternoon from 4:30-6:00. Parents come to class with their children on Sundays from 9:30-10:30 during the fall. During the spring semester, students will join Rabbi Lotenberg from 10am-11am before going to their regular class for the remaining time. 

Please note that there is a B'nai Mitzvah fee of $520.00, which will be billed in July if your child's B'nai Mitzvah is between January and June 2025, and will be billed in January if the B'nai Mitzvah is between September and December 2025.

Eighth - Eleventh Grade: The Sunday Morning Program

Our 8^th-11^th grade Sunday Morning Program or "Hebrew High School" meets every Sunday with time split between the first hour electives and the second hours intensives. Electives for the upcoming year will include Modern Hebrew, Torah Study, and Jewish Cooking.

The Modern Hebrew elective is our Hebrew requirement for students interested in attending Heller High their junior year, spending a semester of high school in Israel, and looking for scholarship support from the temple. For more information about Heller High and spending a semester in Israel, reach out to the Religious School office. 

Fees: Early: $470 /After July 26th: $500

Class sessions are regularly Sunday mornings from 10:00am-12:15pm

Twelfth Grade: Our final year of Religious School meets monthly at Rabbi Bazeley’s home. Students discuss a variety of topics, all intended to give insight on how to navigate college life and beyond from a Jewish perspective. Graduation Shabbat occurs on the last Friday of May before Memorial Day weekend, May 23, 2025. 

Fees: Early: $470 / After July 26th: $500

Class sessions are monthly on Sunday afternoons at Rabbi Bazeley's home. After registering, you'll receive class dates during the summer.