Shoresh
Shoresh
Shoresh (Root)
Grades PK, K & 1
What do we hope our children and their families will gain from the Religious School experience? How will it influence our community, both now and in the future? Our Eitz Chaim Sunday Program will offer our Shoresh (root) students in grades Pre Kindergarten (ages 3 & 4 by 9/1), Kindergarten, and First the information and skills to realize Reform Jewish ideals and values in their daily lives. Our curriculum will enable our students’ entrée into the continuing study of Jewish texts, history, holidays, life cycle, culture, and values. Engaging our children and families through virtual, experiential learning is a fundamental tenet of our Eitz Chaim philosophy. Our learners will be involved in a curriculum emphasizing GOD, TORAH, G’MILUT HASADIM, ISRAEL, and HEBREW, allowing them to embrace Judaism lovingly.
The school year will be divided into trimesters of approximately eight weeks, and each trimester will be framed by a big topic of God & Spirituality, Torah, or Am Yisrael. Children will be with a team of Jewish Learning Guides (teachers) and Madrichim (teen aides). Students and Parents in grades Pre Kindergarten through First will also participate in family education programs, Shabbat Rishon Services, and other special occasions during the year.
We are committed to Jewish learning that is relevant, inspirational, and transformative. Our school aims to provide our students and their families with the tools to meaningfully participate in the Jewish community, with pride in their Jewish heritage, and with the awareness that their actions will shape the future of the Jewish people. Successful Jewish learning environments are built upon a culture of excellence where teachers share their expertise and wisdom and students take responsibility for their learning and success. We expect our staff to provide the sense of caring and concern that enables our students to support one another and challenge themselves to grow as individuals. We model the thoughtfulness and mutual respect we seek to promote in our students.
Shoresh Sunday Class Sessions
Grades PK, K and 1 - 8:30 AM - 11:30 AM
October 1, 2023 - May 5, 2024
Shoresh (Roots) Special Events
Shabbat Rishon Dinner, Service & Consecration
Friday, December 1, 2023 - 5:45
Family Education Morning
Sunday, October 29, 2023
8:30 - 11:30
Garinim Sunday Preschool Program!
Our Garinim (Seeds) program meets on Sunday mornings from 8:30 AM to 11:30 AM and is available to members and non-members of Congregation Bnai Shalom. The cost for the program is $400 for the year. Children will be with our expert, long-time preschool teacher Nancy Rotatori and one or two experienced teen assistants.
In our preschool classroom, your child’s curiosity and passions will be nurtured with Jewish learning experiences and Jewish celebrations, all taking place in the context of synagogue life. We support the “whole child” — including social, emotional, cognitive, and physical development. We offer indoor and outdoor structured and unstructured play, Hebrew language learning, basic Jewish skills in prayer and holiday observance, a specialist in early childhood Jewish music, and so much more!
If you would like to discuss our program via phone, please contact Rabbi Eiduson at 508-366-7191 Ext. 204. If you are interested in our program, go to https://www.cbnaishalom.org/form/garinim-application.html, fill out the application, and our Executive Director, Stephen Winer will be in touch.
Consecration
Consecration is the solemn dedication to a particular purpose or service, usually religious. The word consecration means “association with the sacred.” Persons, places, or things can be consecrated. Here at Congregation B’nai Shalom, we see the education of a Jewish child is a joint venture shared by both family and the Jewish community. Children begin to build their Jewish identity by what they experience at home. Indeed, for the very young, the most influential teacher of the Torah is the parent. One’s fundamental values and attitudes towards life are acquired in the home. In addition, most children receive their formal Jewish education in a synagogue religious school, attending after-school and weekend classes. In these classes, children study Hebrew, Bible, and Jewish history. They celebrate Jewish holidays and reinforce Jewish values. Students experience Jewish culture via art, music, dance, drama, and literature.
Every religion has ceremonies to mark rites of passage. Ceremonies mark important learning milestones; Consecration marks the beginning of formal Jewish study, bar/bat mitzvah the entry into adolescence, and Confirmation of the approach to adulthood. In most Reform congregations, Consecration takes place at the beginning of religious school, usually kindergarten, or whenever a child begins their Jewish education. The ceremony is sometimes held as part of the Simchat Torah celebration, but we have it as part of our Shabbat Rishon service in December. This allows our kindergarten students to become accustomed to our building, teachers, and rabbis. Consecration in December will be a lovely and meaningful ceremony for children and families.
Hebrew Through Movement!
Shalom and welcome to עִבְרִית בִּתְנוּעָה, or “Hebrew through Movement,” a language acquisition strategy in which students learn Hebrew by hearing and responding to Hebrew commands. Hebrew through Movement is an adaptation of James J. Asher’s Total Physical Response (TPR). Hebrew Through Movement is being used in Jewish congregations, day schools, camps, early childhood programs and other settings. HTM does not teach communicative Hebrew, but students can easily move on to other Hebrew forms (as early childhood and day school colleagues will attest). And camps just have a lot of fun!
Hebrew Through Movement introduces Hebrew in a playful and meaningful way, creating a positive first link between children and Hebrew. Hebrew Through Movement (HTM) is supported by the latest brain research on learning, providing an aural foundation for Hebrew that opens the door to more facile Hebrew decoding and reading.
We hope you will enjoy using this program and will be pleased with how happily and productively your children learn.
Thu, April 25 2024
17 Nisan 5784
Upcoming Events
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Sunday ,
AprApril 14 , 2024NO SCHOOL - VACATION
Sunday, Apr 14th (All day)
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Saturday ,
AprApril 27 , 2024
Shabbat, Apr 27th 4:00p to 7:00p
Bring your quiet crafts (such as knitting, origami, embroidery, etc.) and come hang out with the CBS Nerds in the Beit Midrash from 4-7pm on April 27, ending with Havdalah. We'll also have some coloring books on hand for those who don't have portable crafts. Please don't bring things that make a lot of mess or noise. Under 18s welcome with their adults. Open to everyone. No RSVP needed. Note: because this event is during Passover, we ask that you do not bring food. -
Sunday ,
AprApril 28 , 2024NO SCHOOL - VACATION
Sunday, Apr 28th (All day)
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Sunday ,
AprApril 28 , 2024
Sunday, Apr 28th 5:00p to 5:45p
All are invited to come and create a minyan for each other as we remember our loved ones who have died in this brief memorial service and the opportunity to connect with others. -
Monday ,
AprApril 29 , 2024
Monday, Apr 29th 7:00p to 8:30p
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Tuesday ,
AprApril 30 , 2024
Tuesday, Apr 30th 7:30p to 9:00p
Program dates: December 5, January 9, Feb 6, Mar 5, April 30 and May 28. All of these dates will be 7:30-9pm After a wonderful opening program with scholar Rabbi Andrea Cohen-Kiener, Spiritual Journey Group will focus on the teachings of Rabbi Kalonymous Kalman Shapira with excerpts from 'Conscious Community: A Guide to Inner Work.' Those of you who bought a book in advance of the Shabbat program with Rabbi Cohen-Kiener should bring their copy of the book. Those whose orders we took or confirmed at the program will receive their books on December 5th. You need not have attended the opening session to attend other sessions this year. All are welcome. If you did not pre-order a book, please purchase from an online seller, either new or second hand, to have your own copy for this year's series. A small no. of copies of excerpts will be available for the first couple of sessions for those who need. There is a free version of the textavailable online but the translation is quite varied from the one we are using. Rabbi Kalonymous Kalman Shapira was the Rebbe of the Warsaw Ghetto. One of the last Hasidic masters of Europe, his manuscripts were buried and later rediscovered. He sought ways to bring spirituality and mindfulness practices into daily life and awareness, bringing together spiritual seekers to do this work in community. -
Saturday ,
MayMay 4 , 2024B'nai Mitzvah Service
Shabbat, May 4th 10:15a to 12:15p
We celebrate the coming of age of a young person on or after their thirteenth birthday. A minimum of four years of Jewish education is required, although we work individually with children with special needs to ensure that all children can celebrate this important life cycle moment. The ceremony marks the arrival at the ‘age of mitzvot’ – the age at which an individual in the Jewish community has learned how to live according to Jewish ethics and principles and is given greater responsibility for continuing their learning and practice. Join us on the Temple Livestream https://www.cbnaishalom.org/livestream.html -
Saturday ,
MayMay 4 , 2024
Shabbat, May 4th 12:00p to 4:30p
Women’s Kallah: Nutrition and Your Beautiful Self! Presented by Judy Palken, MNS, RD, LDN. CBS Sisterhood is thrilled to bring Kallah back. A Kallah is an opportunity to learn and schmooze with your friends while enjoying a light lunch, tea, and Havdalah. All adult women are welcome. We will gather on Saturday afternoon from 12:00 – 4:30 pm in Marlborough. The location will be emailed to you after you have registered. Our speaker, Judy Palken, is a registered dietitian who translates the science of nutrition into practical recommendations for health. She has a master’s degree in clinical nutrition from Cornell University, and spent many years in Boston hospitals, with a specialty in cardiac nutrition. More recently, she has worked in nutrition research in the Division of Preventive and Behavioral Medicine at the University of Massachusetts Medical School in Worcester. Currently Judy develops nutrition classes, teaching how great food choices and other behaviors can reduce inflammation, promote good health, and help us to feel our best. In this presentation, Nutrition and Your Beautiful Self, we will look at food and behavioral choices that can help us to look our healthy, glowing best! Topics will include foods that protect our skin, give us well-nourished hair, and help us to maintain a youthful appearance. Lots of gorgeous paintings will be included. -
Saturday ,
MayMay 4 , 2024Tot Havdallah Shabbat
Shabbat, May 4th 3:30p to 5:30p
Come visit with our furry friends for a special afternoon Tot Shabbat. -
Sunday ,
MayMay 5 , 2024
Sunday, May 5th 10:30a to 11:30a