Youth Education
What should I know about Education?
Beth Adam’s Religious School is a vibrant and welcoming community. Our experienced teachers use dynamic and age-appropriate methods to expose our students to a range of topics. Our curriculum includes Jewish history, life cycle events, holidays, Jewish texts, values, and ethics, and theology. We encourage questioning. Most important to us is that students enjoy their Jewish experiences so that they continue to feel connected to the Jewish community for years to come. Our approach is contemporary and promotes personal responsibility and critical thinking. The Bar/Bat Mitzvah program is a two-year course of study during which students learn to read Hebrew and complete a research paper related to the theme of their Torah portion. We are more than a school – we build Jewish connections and community.
Religious School meets on Sunday mornings from 9:30 – 11:30 AM during the school year.
What about Bar/Bat Mitzvah?
At Congregation Beth Adam we understand the importance and value of Bar/Bat Mitzvah. We know that underlying the ceremony there must be a context and values. More than simply ensuring that a child is able to read Hebrew, our program focuses on giving our students the decision-making skills that they will require as they enter their teen years. The Bar/Bat Mitzvah ceremony becomes a celebration of growth and maturation knowing that there is still much growth and learning that lies ahead. It is a moment for families to pause and recognize that life is changing and children are assuming more responsibility.
Beth Adam’s original Bar/Bat Mitzvah liturgy gives voice to this in a very powerful way. Parents regularly report how meaningful the experience has been for them and their children.
Our two year program includes class work where students explore religious, philosophic, and decision-making issues. Additionally, students learn Hebrew and are guided by our rabbis through their independent study.
On the occasion of his/her Bar/Bat Mitzvah students help lead the service and read from the Torah, but more than this they also present their independent research. Typically the students present a 10-12 minute research paper that they have written with the support and guidance of rabbis. Students may also assume a social action project as a part of their preparation.
Classes meet on Sundays after Religious School during the school year and are taught by Rabbi Barr and Rabbinic Fellow Isaama Stoll. This is a wonderful opportunity for students and rabbis to interact on a regular basis.
The fee is $900 per child, per year and is due at the start of the school year. Students must also be registered for Religious School. Parents may pay both years of Bar/Bat Mitzvah Fees in full and in advance ($1,620) and save 10%.
What about Education Fees?
Annual enrollment fees are as follows:
- Pre-K $175
- Kindergarten – 1st $185
- 2nd – 3rd grade $185
- 4th – 7th grade $200
- Children (3 and Under) $50 per year or $10 per week per child on an as-needed basis
- Teen Program (grades 8 and 12) enrollment fee is $20 per student.
For a registration application please click here.
Teacher Assistant (TA) Program
Teens who have had a Bar/Bat Mitzvah are eligible to be a TA for the Religious School. This is a great opportunity for teens to connect to their Judaism and to impact the next generation of Beth Adam students. As a TA teens will learn about child development, classroom management, lesson planning, and teaching. For more information click here.
