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, movement,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, learn through movement, 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 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 continue learning Hebrew through a variety of modalities, including Hebrew through Movement, and textbooks. 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 5th grade, students deepen their connection to Jewish life while building greater confidence in Hebrew reading, writing, and speaking. Through games, Hebrew Through Movement, creative projects, and conversation, students strengthen their vocabulary and literacy while learning key prayers such as the Shema, Barchu, Etz Chayim Hi, and Ein Keiloheinu. Jewish learning is woven throughout the year as students explore holidays, Israel, and values such as kindness, menschlichkeit, and loving your neighbor. Hands-on activities, music, discussion, and mitzvah-focused projects help students connect Jewish tradition to their everyday lives and take pride in their Jewish identity.
Sixth & Seventh Grade
In 6th and 7th grades, students explore what it means to live a meaningful Jewish life as they prepare for their Bar or Bat Mitzvah and their growing role in the Jewish community. Through Hebrew and prayer study, Torah, Jewish history, holidays, mitzvot, and discussions of modern Jewish identity, students connect tradition to their own lives and experiences. Creative projects, music, debate, storytelling, games, social action, and community service encourage students to ask thoughtful questions and put Jewish values into practice. By the end of the program, students are prepared not only for the rituals of becoming Bar or Bat Mitzvah, but to understand the meaning behind them and carry their Jewish identity forward with confidence.