by Talya Hyman Shalom New Haven Intern
Education remains a fundamental principle within Jewish tradition. The transmission of Jewish values, practices, and culture throughout generations ensures the continuity of our people, and beginning at a young age, instills in children an unparalleled sense of Jewish identity.
As the importance and core role of Jewish education is recognized, many parents opt to enroll their children at Hebrew School, a religious curriculum offered once or twice a week within synagogues. These Hebrew School programs teach children the intrinsic values of Judaism such as text study, Shabbat and the holidays, Hebrew language literacy, the importance of Torah, tzedakah (charity), and chesed (kindness).
With knowledge comes power. When our children are exposed to the beauty of Judaism through learning about our traditions, they become the keyholders of their own religious experience. That power, with its diversity and unity, enables them to pass the eternal messages of our faith on to others.
The following list is a guide to the Hebrew/Religious School offerings in communities throughout Greater New Haven for the 2019-2020 academic year. Please contact the synagogues listed for more information, and to determine the program best suited to your child’s religious and spiritual needs.
BETH ISRAEL SYNAGOGUE- WALLINGFORD www.bethisraelwallingford.org info@bethisraelwallingford.org | (203) 269-5983 —Sunday School
CONGREGATION BETH EL-KESER ISRAEL (BEKI)- NEW HAVEN www.beki.org | Ina Silverman, Principal principal@beki.org | (203) 389-2108 —Religious School (K-grade 7) —B’nai Mitzva Program —Meyuchad (for special needs students with support from the Jewish Federation of Greater New Haven)
CONGREGATION BETH SHALOM RODFE ZEDEK- CHESTER www.cbsrz.org | Belinda Brennan, Educator belinda@cbsrz.org | (860) 526-8920 Kivvun: —Hatchala (birth-4-year-olds) —Kadimah (K-grade 7) —Masah (grades 8-12)
CONGREGATION B’NAI JACOB- WOODBRIDGE www.bnaijacob.org | Lynn Ginzberg, Admin. Director cbj.school@gmail.com | (203) 389-2111 RELIGIOUS SCHOOL: —YAHAD (pre-K-grade 7) together with Or Shalom on Sunday mornings —Gan Hayeled Sundays (3-4-year-olds)
CHABAD OF THE SHORELINE - GUILFORD Rochel Baila Yaffe, Director | chabad@snet.net | (203) 533-7495 Jewish Kids Club / Chabad Hebrew School / Individual tutoring (all ages)
CHABAD OF MILFORD-THE HEBREW CONGREGATION OF WOODMONT- MILFORD www.jewishmilford.com | Rabbi Schneur and Mrs. Chanie Wilhelm, Directors | (203) 878-4569 —Jewish Kids Club/Hebrew School (4-6-year-olds)
CONGREGATION MISHKAN ISRAEL- HAMDEN www.cmihamden.org | Michelle Goldstein, Director mgoldstein@cmihamden.org | (203) 288-3877 —Religious School (pre-K-grade 3; grades 4-7) —CMI High (grades 8-12)
CONGREGATION OR SHALOM- ORANGE www.orshalomct.org info@OrShalomCT.org | (203) 799-2341 —YAHAD (pre-K-grade 7) together with B’nai Jacob on Sunday mornings —Bar/Bat Mitzvah Class (grade 7)
TEMPLE BETH DAVID- CHESHIRE www.tbdcheshire.org | Jodi Harris, Director education@tbdcheshire.org | (203)-272-0037 —Religious School (preschool-grade 7)
TEMPLE BETH SHOLOM- HAMDEN www.tbshamden.com | Gail Raucher, Director 1809HebrewSchool@gmail.com | (203) 288-7748 —Hebrew School (preschool-grade 7)
TEMPLE BETH TIKVAH- MADISON www.tbtshoreline.org | Cantor Mark Stanton, Educator cantor@tbtshoreline.org | (203) 245-7028 TBT Tots (2.5-5-year-olds) RELIGIOUS SCHOOL —Part of a Sacred Community (pre-K-grade 2) —Tools of our Heritage (grades 3-7) —The Chain of Tradition (grades 8-12)
TEMPLE EMANUEL- ORANGE www.tegnh.org | Olga Markus, Director school@tegnh.org | (203) 397-3000 —Religious School (pre-K-grade 7) —Post Bnei Mitzvah Program (grades 8-12) View our community directory of Hebrew Schools at jewishnewhaven.org/hebrew-schools.
This article is sponsored by the Jewish Foundation, offering needs-based assistance for Greater New Haven synagogue schools. Visit www.jewishnewhaven.org/scholarships to apply online by October 19, 2019.
And by the Center for Jewish Life & Learning (CJLL) of the Jewish Federation of Greater New Haven. Interested in Jewish Life & Learning? Contact Eliraz Shifman Berman | eshifmanberman@jewishnewhaven.org
