About the FHJC Religious School

Our Curriculum

Our Judaics Curriculum
FHJC Religious School offers a spiraling curriculum for Judaics that exposes our students to an expanding base of Jewish knowledge and encourages a mastery of ritual, prayer, and an understanding of Torah, Jewish identity and Israel. To engage our students and connect them to the Jewish narrative we explore how Jewish values and learning builds community and leads each child to thrive. We begin with a joyous experience of holidays and Israel, move on to investigate Jewish lifecycle and rituals and then delve into our students’ responsibility to their community. As our students mature, they wrestle with Jewish text, their relationship with the Jewish community and approach dilemmas they face every day from a Jewish perspective. Woven throughout the curriculum are essential life lessons that promote empathy and encourage resiliency. To learn more about the focus of each grade, contact the Religious School.

Our Hebrew curriculum
Hebrew is a tool that anchors our students to Jewish life. While we are much more than a Hebrew School, prayer skills and Hebrew decoding are a priority at the Forest Hills Jewish Center Religious School. Students begin their day with a traditional, musical, age-appropriate minyan, prayer service, learning key Hebrew prayers. Modern Hebrew is an integral part of every grade’s Hebrew learning. Bulletin boards, music and games create a rich Hebrew environment.
Even before Gan/Kindergarten, children have an opportunity to be exposed to Hebrew vocabulary through songs and games in our HaKen/Nest program. Hebrew names, holiday terms and songs familiarize our young students with the sounds of Hebrew. Using experiential methods, Hebrew letters are introduced in our Aleph class for first graders as is modern Hebrew vocabulary. By Kitah Bet, second grade, students can read one and two syllable Hebrew words. In grades 3-8, students build upon this foundation mastering prayers, basic conversational vocabulary and fluent Hebrew reading. We use technology to it’s best advantage to support Hebrew learning. Each child in 3rd grade and above receives a ½ hour per week of Hebrew tutoring with a teacher and one other student via
zoom and scheduled at your convenience.

Minyan / Prayer Services
At the Forest Hills Jewish Center, Religious School students in grades 3-Hebrew High participate regularly in Minyan. They don’t just learn about prayer; they develop prayer skills in an authentic and age-appropriate prayer service. Younger students experience prayer through weekly music sessions. Spirituality is nurtured in all grades through reflection and discussion. In addition, attendance at congregational worship is encouraged through our Shabbat on the Stoop and Junior Congregation.

Community Building and Enrichment
The FHJC Religious School is intentionally designed to be a safe space for sharing and growing. Each day at FHJC contains opportunities to support and sustain our students and their classroom community. Whether our students are participating in living their Jewish values or cooking together, they are building friendship bonds that will last. To learn more about our community building activities click here [should go to Learning Beyond the Classroom].