BESTT Grades 3-7

2022-2023 Schedule, Faculty & Curriculum - Grades 3-7
Grades 3-7 meet two times per week for a total of 3½ hours per week. That gives us about 12 school days to educate your children to be functional Jews in the world. The overall objective of these grades is to provide our students with the knowledge, respect and love of elements of the Siddur, Hebrew language, Bible, History, Jewish rituals and a basic Jewish understanding of God. Prayer during weekday sessions and classroom discussions will be occasions to help students develop in their spiritual growth.

Kitah Gimmel - Grade 3
Sundays, 9:30 am - 12:00 pm
Teachers: Aliyah Lasky & Debbie Kronick
Wednesdays, 4:15 - 6:00 pm
Teachers: Becky Kahn & Aliyah Lasky

Sundays - Shalom Learning
Teacher: Debbie Kronick
An interactive, values-based, and pluralistic curriculum to help children develop a positive Jewish identity. This class is based on core values that include Teshuva (taking responsibilities for your actions), B’Tzelem Elohim (honoring the image of God in ourselves and others), Shalom (helping to create a calmer and more peaceful world) and more.

Sundays & Wednesdays - Hebrew Prayer Skills "Tiyulim: Journeys A Hebrew Primer"
Teacher: Aliyah Lasky
Tiyulim means “journeys.” Tiyulim takes students on a journey toward mastering Hebrew decoding skills and on a tiyul through the state of Israel. Students will learn to decode Hebrew with an emphasis on words and phrases found in the siddur as well as the performance of short prayers. Students will also benefit from the online primer Prayertech app for practice at home.

Wednesdays - Bible Studies "A Child's Bible"
Teacher: Becky Kahn
 We will explore the Bible as Jews have done for centuries - by pondering personalizing and wrestling with the text.

Kitah Daled & Hay - Grades 4-5
Sundays, 9:30 am - 12:00 pm
Teachers: Aliyah Lasky & Laurel Krausman
Wednesdays, 4:15 - 6:00 pm
Teachers: Robby Erlich & Becky Kahn

Sundays & Wednesdays - Jewish Life & Learning “Building Jewish Identity”
Teachers:  Aliyah Lasky & Becky Kahn
Students will explore key concepts of Jewish living by exploring our community, the Jewish calendar and life-cycle events, history and heritage, and our sacred texts.

Sundays & Wednesdays - Hebrew Prayer Skills: "Journeys Through the Siddur - Shabbat Morning"
Teachers: Laurel Krausman & Robby Erlich
The heart of our T’Filah. Students will learn the theme  and location in the siddur of each prayer. They will explore key roots that build a language connection. Accompanying short stories will provide students insight into each prayer’s spiritual meaning. 

Kitah Vav & Zayin - Grades 6-7
Sundays, 9:30 am - 12:00 pm
Teachers: Aleks Salkin & Laurel Krausman
Wednesdays, 4:15 - 6:00 pm
Teachers: Hazzan Krausman & Robby Erlich

Sundays - Israel  "Artzeinu: an Israel Encounter"
An insider’s guide to the people, history and culture of Israel. Students will travel to several of the most culturally and historically significant places in Israel in an exploration of the essence of Israel..

Sundays & Wednesdays - Hebrew Prayer Skills "Journeys Through the Siddur: Torah Service and Concluding Prayers" and/or "Journeys Through the Siddur: Friday Evening"
The heart of our T’Filah. Students will learn the theme  and location in the siddur of each prayer. They will explore key roots that build a language connection. Accompanying short stories will provide students insight into each prayer’s spiritual meaning. 

Wednesdays - Jewish Life & Learning “Living Jewish Values”
Students will explore sixteen of the most important—and sustaining—values of our tradition using a workbook/journal format that invites student reflection.