YFE Preschool-5th Grade Curriculum

Youth and Family Education Overview for 2020-2021 

Educating our children so that they grow to be literate and confident Jewish adults who find meaning in their identity and their tradition.  

YFE ENDURING UNDERSTANDINGS 

Judaics – Understanding various points in the history of the Jewish people that can provide meaning and relevancy to my life today.  

Holidays/Rituals – Knowledge about Jewish holidays enables me to connect to my Jewish ancestors through culture, community, traditions, and spirituality.  

Hebrew – Familiarity with Modern Hebrew connects me to the greater Jewish people as well as traditions in Judaism.  

Community – Building relationships in the Jewish community makes me feel connected and part of a people.  

Prayer – Prayer is the mode and language that can help me deepen my relationship with God and my spiritual self.  

Tikkun Olam – Helping to repair the world and bring justice to it is our Jewish responsibility.  

Israel – Israel is the Jewish homeland and is a part of our history, past and present.  

Preschool – Getting to Know You 

Major Themes: 

• The Torah and Torah Stories 
• Tzedakah  
• Holidays and Rituals – Shabbat/Havdalah, Rosh Hashanah/Yom Kippur, Chanukah, Passover and many more 
• Community  

Kindergarten – The Jewish Calendar 

Major Themes:  

• The Jewish Calendar 
• Torah Stories  
• Holiday and Rituals – Shabbat/Havdalah, Sukkot, Tu B’Shvat, Purim and many more 
• Tikkun Olam 

Grade 1 – My Jewish Community 

Major Themes: 

• Torah Stories – Adam and Eve, Tower of Babel, Abraham and Sarah, Isaac and more 
• Holiday exploration 
• Community – identifying communities and what stands out in the Jewish ones, visiting clergy, exploring the temple, connection to the larger Jewish community

Grade 2 – Jewish Values – Middot  

Major Themes: 

• Torah Stories – Mitzvot are in the Torah (hospitality (Sarah), kindness (Rebecca), Shalom Bayit, and forgiveness (Jacob, Esau and Joseph))  
• Holiday exploration  
• Tikkun Olam – Mitzvot from the Torah can be shown through action  
• Community – Derech Eretz, Hachnasat Orchim, honoring parents/grandparents/adults in your life  
• Israel – Symbols of Israel (Magen David, lion, and flag), geography (where is Israel located), and who lives in Israel 

Grade 3 – God: Where can holiness be found? 

Major Themes: 

• Torah – sacredness in Time, Space, Deeds and Faith, lashon ha’rah, korbanot – offerings, where is God found in the Torah and kashrut 
• God – Where can holiness be found? 
• Holidays and Rituals – Shalosh Ragalim – major festivals – Sukkot, Passover, and Shavuout  

Grade 4 – Israel 

Israel is the overarching theme for the 4th grade year. Topics and themes will connect back to Israel. 

Major Themes: 

• People and places in Israel connected to the Torah stories, holidays, history, and today. 

Grade 5 – Prophets 

Major Themes: 

• History – Early Israelites through US Jewry 1880s 
• Tanach (Torah/Nevi’im/Ketuvim) – Knowledge of the prophets and what goes beyond the Torah – Moses, Amos, Devorah, etc. walking the walk, actions, role modeling, Kevah (practice)and Kavanah(intention)