Goals - Students will:
- develop an understanding of how B’nei Yisrael were constituted as the Jewish people through their brit (covenant) with God.
- explore how the laws of Torah help provide the foundation for a just society.
- learn about the biblical origins of the major holidays.
- continue to explore the evolution of God concepts through God’s role in the book of Shemot (Exodus).
- begin to develop an appreciation of Israel as the Jewish homeland.
- review Shema and its blessings and increase mastery reading and chanting these prayers.
- develop comfort with the prayers in the (evening) ma’ariv service.
- learn Bircat Hamazon, the blessing after the meal.
- begin to develop a Modern Hebrew vocabulary, to include such categories as greetings, family and school words, food, clothing, and time.
- continue to reinforce Hebrew reading and writing skills.
- gain experience in writing a class D’var Torah and chanting/leading prayers in services.
Topics:
- Book of Shemot, relevant Midrashim, and Commentary
- The covenanted relationship between God and the Jewish people
- Exploring God’s role in the book of Shemot (redemption and revelation)
- Israel as a homeland to the Jewish people, developed from a macro view of early Jewish history
- Tolerance and Sho’ah (Holocaust) utilizing the Paperclips Curriculum
- Review of Shema and its blessings
- The (evening) Ma’ariv service
- Bircat Hamazon
- Building on basic modern Hebrew vocabulary
- Continued study of Hebrew writing and reading
- Increasing reading fluency and prayer chanting in services
- D’var Torah
- Leading prayer
Fifth Grade class services: Gimmel (grade 5) will lead 1-2 Friday evening services in the sanctuary including creative, personal prayer developed by the students.
Grade 5 Retreat: Students spend a weekend celebrating Shabbat together and exploring the curriculum-related theme of “Mysteries, Miracles and Mysticism.”
