Sundays, 9:30AM-12:15PM*
*Families are invited to attend Mishpacha Minyan from 9:30-10:15AM
Beth Israel Religious School is for students in Pre-Kindergarten through grade 5. The school calendar closely matches with the Portland Public School calendar, beginning in September and ending in May.
Specialty Classes and Activities
Our Religious School is an arts integrated program. Each week, students attend specialty sessions for music, dance, drama and visual arts.
Upper Elementary: Virtual Hebrew
On top of their regular Sunday School sessions, 3rd-5th Grade students will also meet with their Hebrew teachers virtually for 30 minutes during the week. These times are based off comfort and Hebrew skill level that is assessed at the beginning of the school year.
If your student is new to our classes, this is just fine! Our faculty is prepared for all levels and type of learning. Connect with our Education Coordinator for more information.
Gan – Pre-Kindergarten and Kindergarten
Our Jewish world is brought to the classroom through a hands-on approach to synagogue life.
Kitah Alef – Grade 1
Extends the study of who the people are in the Temple, how and what we celebrate.
Did you know? The Union for Reform Judaism CHAI Curriculum is designed to facilitate lifelong Jewish learning. It focuses classroom learning on 3 strands: Torah, Avodah (love) and G’milut Chasadim (acts of loving kindness). All of our CBI 2nd through 5th graders learn from this curriculum which brings the home and school together.
Kitah Bet – Grade 2
Students begin developing personal connections and learn about the power of the 3 strands.
Kitah Gimel – Grade 3
Students refine their own understanding and definition of k’dushah (holiness).
Kitah Dalet – Grade 4
Students start to see a direct relationship between being a member of a community and our behaviors.
Kitah Hay – Grade 5
Throughout this year, the theme of Reform Judaism and the power of community will connect the 3 strands.
Sundays, 9:15AM – 12:15PM*
*Middle School Midrasha Learning Service from 10:30-11:00AM
6th and 7th grade students get the best of both worlds as they prepare for their upcoming B’nei Mitzvah and learn more about their Jewish identity from Haddi Meyer, CBI Youth Director.
Core Learning Classes focus on applying Jewish values on a larger scale through Mini Mitzvah projects, creating a class Tallit, and visiting the Oregon Jewish Museum and Center for Holocaust Education (OJMCHE).
During the week, students who are preparing for their B’nei Mitzvah have the opportunity to work with one of our Cantor-approved Hebrew Tutors in a Virtual Hebrew session! These virtual sessions are included in your student’s Middle School tuition and comes at no extra cost. For more information about our Virtual Hebrew sessions, connect with Elisabeth Pierson.
Sundays, 12:30 PM to 2:00 PM
8th grade and High School students are ready for the next step on their Jewish Journey, and to begin establishing their leadership within our community. They start their day with lunch and socializing with friends and then break off by grade to explore subjects such as Jewish identity, comparative religions, Jewish history and social justice.
In grades 8-12, there is advanced study of what it means to be on a Jewish Journey and the emergence of becoming a Jewish leader in the community.
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