The goal of MSJE is to teach students about the essentials of being Jewish and instill a sense of pride in them. MSJE promotes a sense of spirituality and a sincere pride in their culture. Themes taught across grades include:
Torah (תּוֹרָה) – Learning & Jewish Knowledge
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Focus: Stories from the Torah, Jewish holidays, values, and Hebrew language
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Why: Torah is central to Jewish life and identity. Teaching Torah helps students understand Jewish history, ethics, and culture.
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Examples in Curriculum:
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Weekly Torah stories with age-appropriate morals
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Learning Hebrew letters and basic vocabulary
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Exploring holidays through their Torah roots
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Avodah (עֲבוֹדָה) – Spirituality
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Focus: Prayer, blessings, rituals, and building a personal relationship with God
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Why: Reform Judaism values personal expression and spiritual exploration. Introducing basic prayers and concepts fosters this early on.
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Examples in Curriculum:
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Learning simple prayers (e.g., Shema, Modeh Ani, blessings over food)
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Making ritual objects like challah covers, mezuzot, or kiddush cups
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G’milut Chasadim (גְּמִילוּת חֲסָדִים) – Acts of Loving Kindness / Ethical Living
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Focus: Mitzvot, tikkun olam (repairing the world), being a mensch
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Why: Reform Judaism places a strong emphasis on social justice and ethical action as a way of living Jewish values.
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Examples in Curriculum
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Mitzvah projects (e.g., food drives, cards for elders, caring for animals)
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Learning about being kind, welcoming, and fair
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Role-playing and stories about doing the right thing
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These themes, along with observance of all major Jewish holidays, will be taught using a project based curriculum that includes:
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Varied Source Materials. Each grade will use age-appropriate materials to aid in learning. This could take the form of textbooks, packets, articles, and using art to illustrate aspects of Judaism
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A Diversity of Activities. Teachers are encouraged to include projects, movement, and other activities to keep students excited about learning
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Parent Participation. Involvement of the parents serves to reinforce the child’s interest and facilitates the learning process.
The Understanding of Charity. The concepts of tzedakah and mitzvot are included at each grade level with appropriate projects.
Kindergartner & First Grade:
The major activity for the kindergartner & first grade student is getting acquainted. Curriculum for K/1 provides for concrete hands-on experience enabling the children to begin to form ideas as to what being Jewish entails, including the concept of mitzvah and values. Additionally, the children will begin to learn the Aleph-Bet in a creative learning style through coloring, picture recognition, and games. Beginning Torah stories will be presented on an age appropriate level such as the Creation, Noah, and the story of Abraham and Sarah as the first Jewish ancestors. Children will will be introduced to various blessings such as lighting Sabbath and holiday candles, bread, and other foods.
Second Grade:
Our 2nd grade Hebrew School curriculum invites students to actively live their Jewish values while building friendships, curiosity, and confidence. Each week begins with students reflecting on the mitzvot they’ve done and documenting them in their personal Mitzvah Projects. These reflections help bring to life core concepts like tzedakah, derech eretz (respect), and caring for the Earth. Through age-appropriate Torah stories, students learn about figures like Noah, Ruth, and Queen Esther and bring those lessons to life through art, music, and discussion. Students also explore the Jewish calendar with interactive celebrations for holidays. Hebrew literacy is woven throughout the year as students build their letter recognition, practice simple words, and create personalized flashcards and vocabulary games
Third Grade:
Our 3rd grade curriculum at MSJE is designed to help students build a meaningful connection to Jewish tradition through stories, symbols, language, and community. We explore Torah stories from the book of Genesis, which we examine through the lens of core Jewish values such as kindness, hospitality, and gratitude. Through dynamic discussions, art projects, storytelling, and music, students engage with lessons and develop their own Jewish voices.
Over the course of the year, students take a “virtual journey through Israel” using The Great Israel Scavenger Hunt textbook as a guide. On this journey, we “visit” important sites in Israel ranging from the Kotel to the Negev, and explore the historical and cultural significance of these sites. Hebrew is embedded throughout our curriculum in art, song, and Hebrew Through Movement (an immersive, kinesthetic approach to language acquisition). Students are also formally introduced to Hebrew decoding.
Fourth Grade
In 4th grade, we focus on helping students both deepen and broaden their connection to Judaism, and to support them as they continue to build a strong Jewish identity. Students begin to engage in studying the actual text of the Torah in translation and, wherever possible, in Hebrew. Students continue learning Hebrew through a variety of modalities, including Hebrew through Movement, textbooks, and art. Finally, they explore how core Jewish values, such tzedakah and ometz lev, are reflected and reinforced through our holidays as well as in daily life.
Fifth Grade
In our 5th grade Hebrew School program, students deepen their connection to Jewish life by learning to speak, read, and write in Hebrew with greater fluency and confidence. Weekly lessons focus on practical language use—like introducing themselves, forming full sentences, and holding simple conversations using Hebrew pronouns, classroom vocabulary, and verbs. Students develop their Hebrew literacy skills through work in their textbooks, flashcards, games like "Around the World," and creative projects. Writing is practiced, and students also learn the structure and vocabulary of key Jewish prayers including the Shema, Barchu, Etz Chayim Hi, and Ein Keiloheinu.
Jewish learning is woven throughout the year with engaging lessons about holidays and often paired with music, crafts, and cultural exploration. Students explore the land of Israel, its cities, and traditions, while also discussing important values like menschlichkeit, kindness, and loving your neighbor (V’ahavta l’reicha kamocha). Through their Mensch Books, class discussions, and hands-on mitzvah-focused activities, students reflect on how Torah and Jewish tradition can guide their behavior and choices. Whether singing “Hinei Ma Tov,” crafting a holiday spinner, or leading a Hebrew presentation, 5th graders are empowered to take pride in their Jewish identity and express it with both heart and voice.
Sixth Grade
In 6th grade, students engage in a dynamic and thoughtful year of learning that bridges Jewish tradition with modern identity as they prepare for their Bar or Bat Mitzvah. Through creative projects like crafting “Here I Am” paintings and performing skits, students explore weekly Torah portions (Parsha Plays), Jewish holidays, values like teshuvah and tzedakah, and key moments in Jewish history. Class discussions are enriched with films, music, games, and pop culture connections—from Wall-E to Taylor Swift—encouraging students to ask big questions and make Jewish learning personally relevant. Hebrew language skills are developed and include fun activities like Giant Memory and Hebrew Through Movement, with students progressing toward reading prayers such as the Shema and Amidah. The year culminates in meaningful student-led presentations that reflect each child’s evolving understanding of their Jewish identity and community role.
Seventh Grade
Seventh grade is a transformative year as students prepare to become Bar or Bat Mitzvah and take their place as full members of the Jewish community. Our curriculum, Becoming and Belonging, is designed to deepen students' understanding of what it means to live a meaningful Jewish life in today’s world. We explore the traditions and prayers that shape the Bar/Bat Mitzvah journey, engage with the concept of mitzvot (commandments and good deeds) and perform mitzvot for the community, and wrestle with questions of Jewish identity in modern times. Through music, debate, storytelling, art, and social action, students discover how Jewish values can guide their decisions and help them make a difference in their communities. They’ll leave the year not just ready to chant Torah—but to live it.