KESHER Religious School

Mission

Larchmont Temple’s KESHER Education Program is a warm and nurturing community. We create an engaging, nourishing, and experiential program that enables our K – 12 learners and their families to experience the joy of Jewish living and connection to our vibrant Larchmont Temple community.

KESHER provides inclusive, interactive, and transformative learning where we live Judaism through Torah, Avodah, and Gemilut Chasadim.

KESHER believes that Torah is the foundation of the Jewish people, as it informs our modern lives.
KESHER believes that meaningful Jewish prayer experiences enable reflection, creative spiritual expression, and a mindful relationship with oneself, one’s community, and God.
KESHER believes that each member of our community has a responsibility to each other and the world around us. Through understanding, compassion, and mitzvot, we contribute to Tikkun Olam: the Repairing of the World.

Learning in partnership with one another, we aspire to connect everyone at Larchmont Temple through our shared and sacred covenant.

Programs

Kindergarten – GRADE 2
Camp LT

Meets

Sundays, 10am - 12pm

Based on a day camp model, our learners are led from place to place for joyful, interactive and engaging learning led by specialists (art, “Storahtelling,” Hebrew and more). Campers explore being a mensch (a good person), the synagogue, singing, prayer, Torah and Jewish Hero stories, Israel, Hebrew, Jewish values and holidays. The Hebrew learning portion of this curriculum is a nationally renowned program called Hebrew Jewish Life Vocabulary. At tefillah (prayer), learners are introduced to Jewish songs and basic prayers, such as the Barchu, Shema and prayers for gratitude and peace.

Learn about our Fees and Registration

GRADE 3

Meets

Mondays, 3:30 – 5:30pm

or
Wednesdays, 3:30 – 5:30pm

Grade 3 learners experience engaging Jewish learning activities every week that include art, drama, Israel, music and more. Grade 3 learners specifically focus on the Torah books of Exodus, Numbers and Deuteronomy, as well as the Prophets, and learn about Jewish holidays and Israel through the lens of Jewish heroes. Building upon their K - 2 Hebrew Through Movement foundations, Grade 3 learners will begin their Hebrew decoding journey through learning letters and vowels and participating in weekly tefillah prayer services and singing.

Learn about our Fees and Registration

GRADE 4

Meets

Mondays, 3:30 – 5:30pm

or
Wednesdays, 3:30 – 5:30pm

Grade 4 learners experience engaging Jewish learning activities every week that include art, drama, Israel, music and more. Grade 4 learners specifically focus on middot (Jewish values), Jewish holiday and sanctuary rituals, Hebrew prayer decoding, interpreting Torah stories, specialty electives (such as art and drama), Israel and learning the Friday night Shabbat service at our weekly tefillah prayer service. Grade 4 Hebrew includes letter and vowel recognition and starting to decode prayers and songs they have already been exposed to through shira (singing), tefillah (prayer) and Hebrew instruction in Grades K - 3.

Learn about our Fees and Registration

GRADE 5

Meets

Mondays, 2:30 – 5:30pm

or
Wednesdays, 3:30 – 5:30pm

Both grade 5 programs include:
Individualized 15-minute weekly Hebrew support on Zoom (in addition to the in-person Hebrew on Mondays and Wednesdays). Choice of: Sunday mornings, or Monday or Thursday afternoons.

Grade 5 learners experience engaging Jewish learning activities every week that include art, drama, Israel, music and more. Grade 5 learners specifically focus on Jewish peoplehood, Jewish history, Israel, four weeks of a Yad Vashem Holocaust curriculum, Jewish holidays, Hebrew prayer decoding, learning the Friday evening Shabbat service at tefillah prayer services and more. Hebrew is offered for 45 minutes in person, with an extra 15-minute weekly Zoom with only one other learner.

Learn about our Fees and Registration

GRADE 6

Weekly Learning Option

Meets

Tuesdays, 3:30 - 5:30pm

Includes:
Individualized 10-minute weekly Hebrew support on Zoom (in addition to the in-person Hebrew on Tuesdays). Choice of: Sunday mornings, or Monday or Thursday afternoons.

Also includes:
Grade 6 Launch of the Journey of Becoming B’nai Mitzvah Family Program (currently scheduled for Sunday, October 25, 2026)

Grade 6 learners experience community building and engaging Jewish learning activities every week and focus on the Jewish life cycle, Making a Difference in Our World, Jewish holidays, four weeks of a Yad Vashem Holocaust Learning Unit, Hebrew prayer reading and fluency, learning the Saturday Shabbat morning service at tefillah prayer services and more. Grade 6 families all join together in the fall for the Grade 6 Family Launch: Journey of Becoming B'nai Mitzvah to begin the B’nai Mitzvah process. Hebrew is offered for 45 minutes in person, with an extra 1:1 individual 10-minute weekly Zoom session.

Learn about our Fees and Registration

GRADE 7

Jewish Learning

Meets

Tuesdays, 3:30 - 5:30pm
Weekly 1:1 Hebrew Zoom tutoring

Our Grade 7 learners explore Jewish Identity, Reform Judaism and other Jewish movements, Becoming B’nai Mitzvah, the Holocaust, Israel, Hebrew prayer review and engage in a number of Mitzvah projects. Our program punctuates the B'nai Mitzvah year as our learners go through the Journey of Becoming B’nai Mitzvah process together!

Learn about our Fees and Registration

\GRADES 8-12

Mitzvah Mester
Join other LT 8th and 9th Graders on Tuesday nights to have fun while doing good! Led by Matt Pearlman, our Youth Engagement Coordinator and special guest activists, we’ll learn about key social justice issues, develop leadership skills and engage in hands-on projects each week to help repair our world. Past Mitzvah-Mester projects include baking for HOPE soup kitchen, Midnight Run preparations, sandwich-making for Grassroots Grocery and many more meaningful community service experiences. For more information, contact Matt Pearlman at mpearlman@larchmonttemple.org.

Madrichim (KESHER Teacher Assistant Program)
All 8th – 12th graders are invited to serve as a madrich/a (teacher assistant) in our KESHER Religious School program. Questions? Contact Matt Pearlman at mpearlman@larchmonttemple.org. Applications are available towards the end of August.

LarFTY and NFTY (Grades 8-12)
Join our high school youth group! Led by our teens, LarFTY (Larchmont Federation of Temple Youth) offers programming designed and led by a peer-elected board. LarFTY has exciting programs available for all high schoolers, including social action, weekly Starbucks meetup with Matt Pearlman, religious, cultural, educational, an annual ski trip, social activities and more. Questions? Contact Matt Pearlman at mpearlman@larchmonttemple.org.

Confirmation (Grade 10)
Grade 10 learners have the extraordinary opportunity to spend the year learning with Rabbi Sirkman in Confirmation Class. Highlights include Tuesday night learning dedicated to developing one’s own theology, a trip down south for the Civil Rights Journey and participating in a special Shavuot Confirmation service at the end of the year.

Diner Dialogues (Grade 11 & 12)

11th and 12th-grade learners meet with Rabbi Sirkman weekly for Diner Dialogues at the Nautilus Diner!