Shalom families! Our Hebrew learning is off to a great start for the 2025-2026 school year. If you have any questions about what your student is learning in Hebrew, or you would like to support their learning at home, please do not hesitate to reach out to me.
PreK-3rd grades have been busy with the Alef Bet Song by Debbie Friedman. You can find this on YouTube if you aren't familiar with it. The students have also been focusing on a few letters each week. Our youngest students are starting with Alef, and moving through the Alef Bet in order. Our older students started looking at letters which spell Shabbat (Shin, Bet, and Tav). The goal of the introduction of Hebrew letters throughout the year, is to help the students become familiar with Hebrew. Your students will not be decoding as part of the goal of the year.
Our 4th graders are working on learning the Alef Bet in a more formal manner. They started learning letters and vowels on week one, with the goal of being able to decode Baruch atah Adonai eloheinu melch haolam. The students spend time each week reviewing the material from weeks prior and moving forward in their learning. Last week they spent time, discussing the different names for G-d which are found in prayers, blessings and the Torah. Your 4th graders should practice with their flashcards to help them commit the letters and vowels to memory.
Our 5th graders started the year with reviewing the Alef Bet, along with reviewing the basic blessings. The students looked at the Shabbat blessings, the Rosh Hashanah blessings and Sukkot blessings. the students have also been introduced to the Torah Blessings. The classes are not focused on learning to chant the blessings, but to decode them. The difference between decoding and reading Hebrew, is reading includes understanding what is being read on the page. Decoding is pronouncing the sounds on the page without fully understanding the words. In class the students, will learn the meanings of key words but will not be learning every word, which is why I will refer to their skill as decoding not reading.
Our 6th graders started the year with a quick review of the Alef Bet while diving into Mi Chamocha. The last two weeks, the students were introduced to some words which sound like English but are actually Hebrew. Ask them the Hebrew words for who, he, she, what, and fish - I hope they are able to share them with you. This past Sunday, the students were introduced to Abbott and Costello's "Who is on First" skit. Then the teachers shared with them a Hebrew skit based on the same concept.
Our 7th grade students, also started the year with a quick review while also looking at the Haftarah blessings. Your students should be able to explain to you that the Haftarah is not half the Torah but rather a reading from the book of Prophets. The goal of the 7th grade Hebrew program is helping the students prepare their Hebrew skills for B'nai Mitzvah class. This is the year students will be exposed to some of prayers and blessings they will not be leading at their service, but they should still become familiar with them. Students leave the 7th grade Hebrew class each month, as new students begin B'nai Mitzvah class.
I challenged the 5th graders, 6th graders and 7th graders (in Hebrew) to master the Alef Bet by the 3rd week of Religious School. Those who were able to prove they knew the Alef Bet with 95% accuracy or better were included in a drawing for an Amazon gift card. Mazel Tov to Theo S. (5th grade), Isabella S. (6th grade) and Alexa S. (7th grade) for winning the drawing. The 4th graders will have this same opportunity later in the year.
Ask your student what they have learned in Hebrew, share your knowledge with them and use this as a way to connect about being Jewish. I look forward to continuing to have fun with Hebrew with your students this year.
