Our Judaic program is designed to teach students the customs, traditions, and moral values of Judaism in a developmentally appropriate environment. In addition to daily classroom time dedicated to Judaism, these principles are incorporated throughout all areas of learning.
JEWISH VALUES
It is every parent’s dream to raise a “mentch”. We try our best to impart Jewish values in our children to help them to become responsible Jewish adults. There really is no end to teaching Jewish values, which permeate our whole curriculum. Examples include charity, blessings on food, prayers, learning to take care of our bodies and our belongings, caring for others and character development. They learn to be responsible participants in their school community. Our goal is to give the children the confidence that they need to make good choices and make a difference in our world.
JEWISH HOLIDAYS
Our children eagerly anticipate holidays such as Rosh Hashanah, Chanukah, Purim, and Passover. Before each holiday, Torah Academy EC has a spirit week during which we learn about how to meaningfully and joyfully participate in each holiday. We carefully select teachers who model and nurture Jewish values such as kindness, friendship, empathy, and respect for the environment and the rights of others. Our staff strives to instill our children with the joy of our rich heritage and customs.
SHABBAT
Although Shabbat lasts from sundown Friday until sundown Saturday, we celebrate Shabbat at Torah Academy every Friday. We celebrate Shabbat to commemorate G‑d creating the world in six days and resting on the seventh, so we too rest on the seventh day. Shabbat is a wonderful opportunity for children and families to take some time out from their busy schedules to enjoy one another. We make Friday a special day in Early Childhood by having a Shabbat parade every Friday morning, followed by our weekly Shabbat party. The party includes traditional Jewish music, song and dance, and blessings over Shabbat foods. Each week we choose a Shabbat Imma and Abba (hostess and host) from the class who bring in traditional Challah and grape juice. On special occasions, students are given the opportunity to bake the Challah themselves in our school kitchen.
BIRTHDAYS
Birthdays are a very important occasions in the life of our students. They celebrate the individual child, their personal accomplishments and the fact that they contribute to the world in a significant way. We make sure to mark the birthday of each of our students with a meaningful party, and a poster with the child's picture on it.