The Irving and Edith Friedman Academy of Jewish Learning
An Introduction
The Irving and Edith Friedman Academy of Jewish Learning–the Religious School–is a community of learners and teachers who make the heritage of the Jewish people come alive. Our Religious School has two-year-olds who come once a month to our Tot Holiday program. Their laughter and joy in learning rings through our halls.
Adult learners, a more reserved lot, meet weekly to study Hebrew, Bible and Talmud, Jewish cuisine and even a taste of Yiddish.
Enrollment Policy
No child will be denied enrollment into the Religious School based upon financial circumstances. The Education Director works confidentially with each parent to ensure that their child’s needs will be met. Scholarship forms are available in the school office. Students may enroll at any time during the year. Parents of gimel-aged and older children must be members of the Congregation at the time of their child’s registration.
General Information
The Religious School curriculum is a cumulative program as each year’s instruction builds upon the previous year’s foundation. We place emphasis on teaching how to read and write the Hebrew language and on learning prayer. we offer a wide variety of other topics, including Jewish holy days, Bible, ethics, Jewish practices (symbols and ceremonies), and people in the contemporary Jewish world. Rounding out our curriculum, we offer studies of Jewish history, including the State of Israel and the Holocaust. Our task is to ensure that our children become capable of carrying out the responsibility of keeping the Torah as living presence in their lives.
Tot Holiday Program
This once a month program is a prereligious school introduction to Jewish life and the Jewish holy days. Children enjoy Jewish stories, songs, arts and crafts projects, the outdoors and more!
Our Religious School Program
Kindergarten, First and Second Grade: These classes are an introduction to the Jewish world–the Jewish home, traditional books, religious symbols, and holiday activities that are part of home and synagogue celebrations.
Aleph and Bet: Children in the Aleph and Bet classes study Torah through Bible stories. They also study the lives and writings of the Prophets, the meaning of tzedakah and mitzvah. Students begin their journey into Hebrew reading and writing.
Gimel: The Gimel class studies the evolution of the Jewish people from the Middle Ages to contemporary Jewish-American life. Students also learn about the Bible, the Midrash, the Mishnah and the Talmud and how they have been interpreted through the ages. Hebrew language learning continues.
Daled: Students in the Daled class continue to study Jewish history, with emphasis on the Holocaust and modern Israel. They also begin preparation for their b’nai mitzvah by learning the Friday night and Saturday morning services.
Hay: Students learn how to chant their Haftarah and read from the Torah. They also concentrate on learning the symbols and the rituals of Jewish life-cycle events, gaining an understanding of the joy of living and celebrating life in a Jewish manner. It is a year of tremendous growth and study for these students as they work one-on-one with the rabbi and cantor.
Our B’nai Mitzvah Program
As our younger students approach their bar and bat mitzvah celebrations, they learn not only their Torah and Haftarah portions, but also lead the congregation in Friday evening and Saturday morning services. They become full-fledged members of the Jewish community, but more importantly, they become knowledgeable participants who can lead our services. These young people continue to build their Jewish education upon the foundations that were set when they entered Religious School as kindergarteners eight years earlier. Following their b’nai mitzvah celebrations, students enter the Confirmation Academy.
Our Confirmation Program
Most of our b’nai mitzvah choose to continue in the Confirmation Academy, a three-year program in which the rabbi and cantor help build students’ knowledge and understanding of what it means to be a Jew, as well as how to handle the societal issues that all teenagers face. The Confirmation Academy features guest presenters each week who engage the students in challenging discussions. Topics range from “The Secret Jews of New Mexico” to “The Jewish Artist at Work” to “Jewish Views of God”.
Fee Schedule
Fees listed below are for members of the Congregation and include registration, books and supplies.
Tot Holiday, 2–4 year-olds (meets once a month): $100
Kindergarten, First and Second Grades (Sundays only): $275
Aleph, Bet, Gimel and Daled (Sundays and Mondays): $400
Hay (bar and bat mitzvah class) (Sundays, Mondays and special tutoring sessions): $675
Confirmation Academy (Wednesdays only): $275