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.
Program
GRADES K-3
Camp LT Option
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 Through Movement, Jewish values and holidays. The Hebrew learning portion of this curriculum is a nationally renowned program called Hebrew Through Movement. This program introduces Hebrew in a playful and meaningful way, creating a positive first link between children and Hebrew. The learners learn Hebrew by moving and doing, through being in a positive emotional environment, and through joy and play. At tefillah (prayer), learners are introduced to Jewish songs and basic prayers such as the Barchu, Shema, prayers for gratitude and peace.
GRADES K-3
Alternative Option: Family Discovery
Meets
Three times a month, usually two Sundays 12:45 - 2:00pm and one Shabbat or holiday celebration.
Family Discovery is a Jewish learning and living program built upon the Family Education Group model. Families or a parent/child come together several times a year for joint learning, small-group Jewish experiences and Shabbat/Holiday celebrations. Older and younger siblings are always welcome to participate in Shabbat and Holiday Family Discovery events.
GRADE 4
Weekly Learning Option
Meets
-
Wednesdays 3:45 – 5:45 pm
And -
Hebrew Instruction, choice of:
Mondays In-Person 3:45 – 4:30 pm
Thursdays Zoom 4:45 – 5:30 pm
Sundays Zoom 10:00 – 10:40 am
Grade 4 learners experience engaging Jewish learning activities every week at our STEAM program that includes art, drama, Israel, music and more. Grade 4 learners specifically focus on middot/Jewish values, Jewish holidays, 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. Every other year, Grade 4 learners join with the Grade 5 community for a retreat up at the URJ Eisner Camp (currently scheduled for October 28-30). 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 Through Movement.
GRADE 4
Alternative Option: Family Discovery
Meets
- Three times a month, usually two Sundays 12:45 - 2:00pm and one Shabbat or holiday celebration.
- Wednesdays 3:30 - 4:15pm (in-person) or alternative days (by 30 min Zoom session), Hebrew
- Wednesdays 4:15 - 5:00pm (optionial) Stay for Club LT (informal and social Jewish activities)
- 4th & 5th Grade Retreat, (March 25-27, 2022) URJ Eisner Camp.
Family Discovery is a Jewish learning and living program built upon the Family Education Group model. Families or a parent/child come together several times a year for joint learning, small-group Jewish experiences and Shabbat/Holiday celebrations. Older and younger siblings are always welcome to participate in Shabbat and Holiday Family Discovery events. Hebrew is offered for 30 minutes online with a choice of days, or in-person on Wednesdays with an option to stay for Club LT (informal and social Jewish activities). Every other year, Grade 4 learners join with the Grade 5 community for a retreat up at the URJ Eisner Camp.
GRADE 5
Pathway Option: Weekly Learning
Meets
- Wednesdays, 3:30 - 5:30 pm (in-person), Jewish Learning and Tefillah (services)
- Mondays 3:30 - 4:15pm (in-person) or alternative days (by 30 min Zoom session), Hebrew
- Mondays 4:15 - 5:00pm (optionial) Stay for Club LT (informal and social Jewish activities)
- 4th & 5th Grade Retreat, (March 25-27, 2022) URJ Eisner Camp.
Alternative Pathway Option: Family Discovery
Meets
- Three times a month, usually two Sundays 12:45 - 2:00pm and one Shabbat or holiday celebration.
- Mondays 3:30 - 4:15pm (in-person) or alternative days (by 30 min Zoom session), Hebrew
- Mondays 4:15 - 5:00pm (optionial) Stay for Club LT (informal and social Jewish activities)
- 4th & 5th Grade Retreat, (March 25-27, 2022) URJ Eisner Camp.
GRADE 6
Pathway Option: Weekly Learning
Meets- Tuesdays, 3:30 - 5:30 pm (in-person), Jewish Learning and Tefillah (services)
- Mondays 3:30 - 4:15pm (in-person) or alternative days (by 45 min Zoom session), Hebrew
- Mondays 4:15 - 5:00pm (optional) Stay for Club LT (informal and social Jewish activities)
- Grade 6 Family Shabbaton (currently scheduled for March 19, 2022)
Grade 6 learners experience community building and engaging Jewish learning activities every week and focus upon 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 winter for a Grade 6 Family Shabbaton to begin the Journey of Becoming B’nai Mitzvah process. Hebrew is offered for 45 minutes online with a choice of days, or in-person on Mondays with an option to stay for Club LT (informal and social Jewish activities). Grade 6 families all join together in the winter for a Family Shabbaton to begin the Journey of Becoming B'nai Mitzvah.
Alternative Pathway Option: Family Discovery
Meets
- Twice a month (in-person usually Sundays 12:45 - 2:00pm) and one Shabbat or holiday celebration per month
- Mondays 3:30 - 4:15pm (in-person) or alternative days (by 45min Zoom session), Hebrew
- Mondays 4:15 - 5:00pm (optional) Stay for Club LT (informal and social Jewish activities)
- Grade 6 Family Shabbaton (currently scheduled for March 19, 2022)
Bar or Bat Mitzvah? Please Note:
If a Grade 6 learner plans to become Bar or Bat Mitzvah at Larchmont Temple, the learner must participate in either Grade 6 Family Discovery OR the Grade 6 Weekly Learning program as well as our overall process for Bar and Bat Mitzvah preparation. While the groups are divided by the ages of the children, we work closely with each family to decide which group/s are the best choice based on each family's make-up and needs.
GRADE 7
Jewish Learning
Meets
- Thursdays, 3:30 - 5:00pm (in-person), Jewish Learning
Our Grade 7 learners explore Jewish Identity, Reform Judaism and other Jewish Movements, Becoming B’nai Mitzvah, the Holocaust, Israel and engage in a number of Mitzvah projects. Our program punctuates the B'nai Mitzvah year as our learners go through the process together. - Tuesday: B’nai Mitzvah Preparation: Hebrew and B’Nai Mitzvah Classes
Your child’s schedule for B'nai Mitzvah Preparation depends upon your child’s Bar or Bat Mitzvah date.
B’nai Mitzvah Scheduled for September - December of Grade 7 Year
Meets
- Tuesday Afternoon Hebrew if needed from 3:30 - 4:15 pm or 4:15 - 5 pm (time by arrangement)
Bnai Mitzvah Scheduled for January - June of Grade 7 Year
Meets
- Fall Tuesdays: 3:30 - 5 pm for Hebrew and B'nai Mitzvah Class
- Spring Tuesdays: 45 min Hebrew if needed from 3:30 - 4:15 or 4:15 - 5 pm
Bnai Mitzvah Scheduled for September - December of Grade 8 Year
Meets
- Fall Tuesdays: 45 min Hebrew from 3:30 - 4:15 pm or 4:15 - 5 pm 3:30 - 5 pm for Hebrew and B'nai Mitzvah Class
- Spring Tuesdays: 3:30 - 5 pm for Hebrew and B'nai Mitzvah Class
GRADES 8-12
Madrichim (KESHER Teacher Assistant Program)
All 8th - 12th graders are invited to serve as a madrich/a in our KESHER Religious School program. Questions? Contact Yael Greene, Youth Engagement and KESHER Program Coordinator, ygreene@larchmonttemple.org. Applications are available toward the end of August.
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, religious, cultural, educational, and social activities. Pre-COVID, LarFTY's year included a ski trip weekend in Vermont, an overnight shul-in, volunteering, apple picking, and weekly Starbucks meet ups. There are also lots of NFTY (North American Federation for Temple Youth) Regional and North American events! Questions? Contact Yael Greene, Youth Engagement and KESHER Program Coordinator, ygreene@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 to the Religious Action Center’s L’Taken Seminar, 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 monthly — either online or in-person — for Diner Dialogues at the Nautilus Diner (when back in person!).
