Prek-6th Grade

The Religious School of Congregation Beth Yeshurun serves the Jewish educational needs of the children of Congregation Beth Yeshurun in Pre-Kindergarten through Sixth Grade. The aim of our Religious School is to provide the child with a firm Jewish foundation encompassing moral and ethical values coupled with spiritual growth which can be built upon throughout the elementary and high school years and later into college and adulthood. 

"At Beth Yeshurun Religious School, our children blossom as they explore their heritage, forming cherished memories and friendships that enrich their young lives. The joy of learning traditions and values in such a warm, welcoming space is a gift that shapes their spirits with every class."  - Rebecca and Chris Stelzer

Curriculum:

 We are proud to be a partnering institution with The Goldring/Woldenberg Institute of Southern Jewish Life (ISJL). As a participant, we use the ISJL spiraled curriculum which incorporates ten key content areas: Community, Jewish Holidays, Mitzvot and Jewish Values, Tanach (Torah, Prophets, and Writings), God, Hebrew and Prayer, Israel, Culture and Symbols, Jewish Lifecycle Events, and Jewish History. The curriculum is developmentally appropriate, nurturing students’ Jewish identity, equipping students to live rich and meaningful lives. 

• Pre-Kindergarten: Focus on introducing children to the joys of Judaism in their everyday lives and integrating Judaism with the seasons of the year 
• Kindergarten: Focus on Jewish holidays and stories from the Torah, and community
• 1st Grade: Focus on Jewish holidays and the role mitzvot play in our lives
• 2nd Grade: Focus on values, community, lifecycle, and Israel 
• 3rd Grade: Focus on God, Torah, mitzvot, Jewish values, and Jewish holidays
• 4th Grade: Overview of Prophets looking at their actions and impact on Judaism, and an exploration of the role God plays in our lives
• 5th Grade: Focus on important Jewish values, living as Jews through lifecycle events, and a unit on Israel
• 6th Grade: Study of the Torah in greater depth, identifying major themes that occur, and the relevance the Torah has in our everyday lives
• Hebrew: In the primary grades, the focus will be on learning Hebrew letters, the sound that each letter makes, and printing them. The 3rd grade year will be a transitional year as students start forming words and begin learning prayers. Students in 4th - 6th grades will focus on learning various prayers in the Shabbat evening and morning services.

We are proud to provide Gesher to the community. Gesher, which means bridge in Hebrew, is an inclusive Jewish learning program designed for preschool and elementary school age children who have been unable to access a Jewish education in a traditional setting. The program meets monthly and aims to incorporate a multi-sensory approach to learning. Gesher is funded through a Local Impact Grant from The Jewish Federation of Greater Houston and synagogue membership is not required to participate in this program. For more information, contact Sheryl Eskowitz  or 713-255-8040.

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Please contact Education Director, Sheryl Eskowitz, or Religious School Program Assistant, Malka Plummer,for any questions or concerns. The Religious School office number is 713-255-8034.