RS-Middle School Programs - 6th,7th,8th - Temple Sholom of West Essex

Middle School Programs - 6th,7th,8th

Jewish Studies

The 6th graders spend the majority of their Jewish Studies class learning about the Holocaust.
In addition, classroom discussions will relate to the life issues of a pre-teen as they prepare for becoming B’nai Mitzvah.

Hebrew

Students participate in a weekly Hebrew class where they will discover the meaning of prayers and how relatable they are to their lives.
Tefillah with our Cantor is also part of the 6th grade program on Wednesday nights
All 6th graders have a 20-minute personalized ONLINE Hebrew lesson weekly to work on reading and chanting prayers. These lessons are in addition to Wednesday nights and help the students:
- Build confidence
- Polish the skills needed to be prepared to work with our Cantor for B'nai Mitzvah lessons
- Benefit from personalized lessons that meet their learning styles

Jewish Studies

The 7th grade program covers many topics such as Shabbat, life cycles, Jewish foods, mitzvot, holidays, and Israel.
In addition, 7th graders focus on the social, spiritual, and emotional elements of becoming a teenager: including, peer pressure, gender norms, self-esteem, and social responsibility. This curriculum integrates Jewish wisdom into lessons specifically designed for the developmental milestones that occur during 7th grade.

Hebrew

Students continue their Hebrew studies with individual appointments with our Cantor.
On Wednesday nights, students participate in Tefillah with our Cantor.

8th graders meet twice a month. They meet at the Temple, in classmates' homes, a local restaurant, and sometimes online.
Students participate in conversations around events and issues happening in our world today while learning what Judaism has to say about it. They create meaningful connections to their own lives and think critically to form their own opinions, through a Jewish lens.
8th Graders have the opportunity to work as Madrichim Teen Leaders in the Religious School, guiding our younger students toward a positive Religious School experience. The Madrichim provide assistance in the classroom, act as mentors to our younger students. Madrichim can also assist with Tefilah, work in the office or shadow a student with a disability or learning challenge. Leadership training, supervision and resources are provided. Students can be paid or earn community service hours. Madrichim work on Tuesdays 4:00-5:45pm or Wednesdays 4:00-5:45pm.