Curriculum

PreK-K (Gan Katan)
  • Saturdays: 9:30-12:15
  • Children explore the stories from Bereshit (Genesis), including Creation through the Joseph narrative. Students engage in movement, games, songs, art, and drama.
  • During shiur tefillah (tefillah lesson), students learn prayers in depth, focusing on both how to recite the prayers as well as key Hebrew words that offer insight into the meaning behind the prayers.
  • Students sing and dance in age-appropriate tefillah each week with IKAR’s clergy.
  • On Shabbat, students participate in“Hebrew Through Movement,” a language acquisition strategy in which students learn Hebrew by hearing and responding to Hebrew commands. You’ll see students running, jumping, playing, dancing, and just having fun as they learn Hebrew along the way!
Kindergarten (Gan)
  • Saturdays 9:30-12:15
  • Tuesdays: Kitah Kef 4:00-6:00pm (optional)
  • Through movement, drama, games and art, students explore the stories of Bereshit (Genesis, focusing on key messages from each story.
  • During shiur tefillah (tefillah lesson), students learn prayers in depth, focusing on both how to recite the prayers as well as key Hebrew words that offer insight into the meaning behind the prayers.
  • Students sing and dance in age-appropriate tefillah with IKAR’s clergy.
  • On Shabbat, students participate in“Hebrew Through Movement,” a language acquisition strategy in which students learn Hebrew by hearing and responding to Hebrew commands. You’ll see students running, jumping, playing, dancing, and just having fun as they learn Hebrew along the way!
  • On Tuesdays, K/1 students can choose to participate in Kitah Kef (“Fun class”) during which they explore mitzvot, Israel, and holidays through project-based learning.
1st grade (Kitah Aleph)
  • Saturdays 9:30-12:15
  • Tuesdays: Kitah Kef 4:00-6:00pm (optional)
  • Children learn Bereshit (Genesis) stories from Creation through Joseph, determining what each story might teach us about how to be the best people we can be.
  • During shiur tefillah (tefillah lesson), students learn prayers in depth, focusing on both how to recite the prayers as well as key Hebrew words that offer insight into the meaning behind the prayers.
  • Students also sing and dance during clergy-led tefillah each week.
  • On Shabbat, students engage in“Hebrew Through Movement,” a language acquisition strategy in which students learn Hebrew by hearing and responding to Hebrew commands. You’ll see students running, jumping, playing, dancing, and just having fun as they learn Hebrew along the way!
  • On Tuesdays, K/1 students can choose to participate in Kitah Kef (“Fun class”) during which they explore mitzvot, Israel, and holidays through project-based learning.
2nd grade (Kitah Bet)
  • Saturdays: 9:30-12:15
  • Tuesdays: 4:00-6:00pm + (optional) Hebrew 6:00-6:30pm
  • Children explore Shemot, the Exodus narrative, considering what lessons we might learn about courage and empathy.
  • During shiur tefillah (tefillah lesson), students learn prayers in depth, focusing on both how to recite the prayers as well as key Hebrew words that offer insight into the meaning behind the prayers.
  • Students engage in spirited tefillah each week.
  • On Shabbat, students engage in“Hebrew Through Movement,” a language acquisition strategy in which students learn Hebrew by hearing and responding to Hebrew commands. You’ll see students running, jumping, playing, dancing, and just having fun as they learn Hebrew along the way!
  • Through Project-based Learning, students explore ethical mitzvot (commandments) such as “Betzelem Elohim”, in the image of God and ritual mitzvot such as the laws of Shabbat and kashrut (Jewish dietary laws)
3rd grade (Kitah Gimel)
  • Saturdays 9:30-12:15
  • Tuesdays 4:00-6:00pm + Hebrew 6:00-6:30pm or on Zoom.
  • Students learn Torah thematically. Drawing upon the stories of the TaNaCh (Bible) and Rabbinic commentary, they grapple with essential questions such as “When should we speak up?” and “When is lying justified?” In doing so, they learn how the Torah and Jewish texts can serve as a guide for how they live and act in the world.
  • During shiur tefillah (tefillah lesson), students learn prayers in depth, focusing on both how to recite the prayers as well as key Hebrew words that offer insight into the meaning behind the prayers. Students also engage in age-appropriate tefillah each week.
  • Through Project-based Learning, students explore ethical mitzvot (commandments) such as “Betzelem Elohim”, in the image of God and ritual mitzvot such as the laws of Shabbat and kashrut (Jewish dietary laws).
4th grade (Kitah Dalet)
  • Saturdays 9:30-12:15
  • Tuesdays: 4:00-6:00pm + Hebrew 6:00-6:30pm or on Zoom.
  • Students learn Torah thematically. Drawing upon the stories of the TaNaCh (Bible) and Rabbinic commentary, they grapple with essential questions such as “When should we speak up?” and “When is lying justified?” In doing so, they learn how the Torah and Jewish texts can serve as a guide for how they live and act in the world.
  • During shiur tefillah (tefillah lesson), students learn prayers in depth, focusing on both how to recite the prayers as well as key Hebrew words that offer insight into the meaning behind the prayers. Students also engage in age-appropriate tefillah each week.
  • Through Project-based Learning, students explore moments in Jewish History and Israel, grappling with Essential Questions such as:
    • Why are there 2 Hanukkah stories and should we learn them both?
    • Why does Judaism continue to change overtime? Are there limits to how far Judaism can and should change?
    • What are pros and cons of Israel’s Law of Return?
5th grade (Kitah Hey)
  • Saturdays 9:30am-12:15pm
  • Tuesdays: 4:00-6:00pm + Hebrew 6:00pm-6:30pm or on Zoom.
  • Students learn Torah thematically. Drawing upon the stories of the TaNaCh (Bible) and Rabbinic commentary, they grapple with essential questions such as “When should we speak up?” and “When is lying justified?” In doing so, they learn how the Torah and Jewish texts can serve as a guide for how they live and act in the world.
  • During shiur tefillah (tefillah lesson), students learn prayers in depth, focusing on both how to recite the prayers as well as key Hebrew words that offer insight into the meaning behind the prayers. Students also engage in age-appropriate tefillah each week.
  • Through Project-based Learning, students explore moments in Jewish History and Israel, grappling with Essential Questions such as:
    • Why are there 2 Hanukkah stories and should we learn them both?
    • Why does Judaism continue to change overtime? Are there limits to how far Judaism can and should change?
    • What are pros and cons of Israel’s Law of Return?
  • Students learn trope (cantillation markings) with Hazan Hillel in preparation for their B’nai Mitzvah.
6th grade (Kitah Vav)
  • Saturdays 9:30am-12:15pm
  • Tuesdays: 4:00-6:00pm + Hebrew 6:00pm-6:30pm or on Zoom.
  • Students learn about the role of Neviim, the prophets, with a particular focus on what each prophet can teach us about how to be our best selves and pursue justice.
  • Students discuss issues of identity and Jewish responsibility, exploring what it means to become a Jewish adult. They also consider the complexities of Israel as a Jewish democracy.
  • During shiur tefillah (tefillah lesson), students learn prayers in depth, focusing on both how to recite the prayers as well as key Hebrew words that offer insight into the meaning behind the prayers. Students join the main service for tefillah each week.
  • Students work with clergy on writing a D’var Torah (words of Torah) which they deliver to their peers.
  • Students learn the Torah service and Musaf with Hazan Hillel in preparation for their B’nai Mitzvah.
7th grade (Kitah Zayin)
  • Saturday September – December, 9:30am-12:15pm
  • Tuesdays 4:00-6:30
  • Students explore Oral Torah, Rabbinic laws, and commentary with a focus on Jewish ethical dilemmas.
  • Students engage in group B’nai Mitzvah projects. Working in teams, they identify issues they care about, learn with IKAR’s rabbis about what Judaism has to say about those issues, explore strategies for taking action, and then create an education campaign for our IKAR community.
  • In collaboration with Righteous Conversations Project, students learn about the Shoah through connecting with a survivor and creating original art based on the survivor’s story.
  • Students consider the continuous and complex conflicts in the Middle East and articulate their hopes for Israel’s future.
Community Days (PreK-7th)
  • 8-10 Saturdays/year: Holiday-themed programming 9:30-12:15
  • Students already enrolled in Limudim automatically participate in our community day holiday celebrations including experiential learning and lots of fun!
  • Some students might choose to enroll in Community Days only. Usually, these are students who attend Jewish Day School and want to be part of our Limudim/IKAR community. Before enrolling in Community Days, please reach out to our team to
    discuss why this is the best option for your family.

Ivrit (Hebrew)

On both Saturdays and Tuesdays, students have specific periods dedicated to Hebrew.

Saturday

Students hear the sounds of Hebrew by engaging in spirited tefillah (prayer) each week. When students learn to read Hebrew in 4th grade, they’ll be able to match the sounds to what they see on the page. In addition, PreK-2nd graders also participate in “Hebrew Through Movement”, an oral language acquisition strategy.

Tuesday

K-6th grade students have the option of participating in group in-person Hebrew on Tuesdays from 6:00-6:30. 4th-6th graders can also choose private Hebrew tutoring on Zoom. Students earn different colored bracelets as they pass levels of Elite Ivrit, learning to read and sing prayers along the way!