Hebrew

The Goals of our Hebrew and Prayer Program

• Describe the structure and flow of a service
• Explain the themes of key prayers
• Know important Jewish words and phrases in Hebrew (“Jewish life vocabulary”)
• Understand (and retain) key words in Jewish rituals and prayer
• Recognize the letters and vowels of the Hebrew alphabet

• Recite key prayers at synagogue speed with no more than a few mistakes (For example: Sh’ma, V’ahavta, Avot, etc.)
• Participate in a Jewish service and in Jewish rituals (i.e. know when to sit, stand, sing along, wait while the leader leads, follow along in the siddur, etc.)
• Recite / sing blessings and other Hebrew songs / prayers in the home (For example: Ha’motzi, 4 questions, etc)
• Locate “support materials” to be able to recite / sing blessings / songs at home
• Respond to commands in Hebrew
• Decode and read simple Hebrew

• Develop a love of / connection to / affinity for Hebrew
• Develop a connection to Jewish community through Hebrew / prayer / Jewish rituals
• Value Hebrew as holy / sacred language
• Value the experience of Jewish prayer
• Develop ownership over his/her prayer life
• See him/herself in the narrative of the Jewish people as expressed through prayer
• Feel confident with his/her Hebrew skills and knowledge

Jewish Life Vocabulary

One of the important ways that American Jews connect to the Hebrew language is through key Hebrew words and phrases that are part of contemporary Jewish life. We have developed a curriculum for JQuest whereby “Jewish life vocabulary” is integrated into all classes and programs, including a Hebrew letter of the week (à la Sesame Street). By frequently hearing, using, and exploring Hebrew terms (such as shalom, mazal tov, tikkun olam, yasher koach, tzedakah, and more), our children learn to experience the world through Jewish values, and they develop an appreciation for Hebrew as a sacred, Jewish language.

Tefillah (Prayer)

Tefillah (prayer/communal worship) is at the core of the spiritual life of our community. Tefillah is also one of the ways in which Jews celebrate Shabbat and holidays, connect with K’lal Yisrael (the worldwide Jewish community) and take part in synagogue life. As such, we want our children to value the experience of Jewish prayer and be able to participate in tefillah at Temple Isaiah and around the world. We believe the best way to learn tefillah is to participate in tefillah. To that end, students in our community attend tefillah every time they come to JQuest. Our clergy, music specialists, and other prayer leaders teach about the meaning, history, and spirituality of prayer in the context of JQuest tefillah, and we strongly encourage parents to attend tefillah with their children.

Hebrew through Movement

“Hebrew through Movement” (עִבְרִית בִּתְנוּעָה) is a program in which students learn Hebrew by hearing and responding to Hebrew commands. Hebrew through Movement starts by laying a foundation of modern, spoken Hebrew, and it builds toward the goal of learning vocabulary related to the prayers in our siddur, synagogues, holidays, and other Jewish vocabulary. Hebrew through Movement introduces language in a playful and meaningful way, creating a positive link between children and the Hebrew language. Hebrew through Movement 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. Hebrew through Movement helps all children in our program develop a strong foundation of the Hebrew language and knowledge of a core vocabulary of Hebrew words. For more about this program, see http://www.hebrewthroughmovement.org.

Hebrew through Movement is based on ways that children learn naturally.  They learn:

• by moving about and doing.
• in an environment filled with positive emotional support.
• when they feel safe from the embarrassment of not knowing.
• when they can move forward at their own pace.
• when learning is joyful and playful.
• through songs, chants, and rhythmic activities.

By introducing Hebrew through Movement in Kindergarten and continuing through 6th grade, all children in our program will develop an aural foundation of the Hebrew language and knowledge of a large number of Hebrew words.  It is possible to develop ‘print literacy’ (i.e. knowledge of written Hebrew) via Hebrew through Movement, and the transition from aural language to print literacy takes place across all grades.  The transition to print literacy includes immersion in Hebrew-rich environments (such as using Hebrew classroom labels), exposure to the Hebrew alphabet in many different modalities, and developing a working knowledge of ‘sight words.’

For more information about Hebrew through Movement and to see videos of it in action, please visit hebrewthroughmovement.org

Hebrew Boot Camp

Building on years of Hebrew learning in JQuest, students participate in a 12-week “Hebrew Boot Camp” as a pre-cursor to their b’nai mitzvah tutoring.  In the Hebrew Boot Camp, students work one-on-one with a Temple Isaiah mentor or parent using an online and hands-on program called “Let’s Learn Hebrew Side-By-Side,” an exciting opportunity to learn to decode and read Hebrew in a way that ensures motivation, consistency, and focus.  Our nationally-recognized Hebrew Boot Camp helps students very successfully to become Hebrew readers, and it makes for a smooth, easy transition into b’nai mitzvah preparation. 

B’nai Mitzvah Preparation

Children at Temple Isaiah learn many skills that are essential for becoming b’nai mitzvah through their participation in JQuest, including skills related to Hebrew and prayer. At the same time, we believe the b’nai mitzvah preparation process must include the child’s parents, and that the learning specific to b’nai mitzvah should take place slowly over time. Therefore we have several b’nai mitzvah preparation programs in 5th, 6th, and 7th grade, during which parents and their children delve more deeply into Torah interpretation, the nature of prayer and mitzvot, the structure, flow, and meaning of Shabbat services, and the meaning of becoming bar/bat mizvah.  More details about the b’nai mitzvah preparation process, including a detailed timeline, are provided during 5th and 6th grade.

Hebrew and Prayer Curriculum

Hebrew and Prayer Curriculum in Grades Preschool-2:

• Jewish Life Vocabulary
• Hebrew through Movement – Once/week
• Tefillah – Once/week
• Exposure to Aleph-Bet

Hebrew and Prayer Curriculum in Grades 3-4:

• Jewish Life Vocabulary
• Hebrew through Movement – Twice/week
• Tefillah – Twice a week
• Begin transition from oral literacy to print literacy

Hebrew and Prayer Curriculum in Grades 5-6:

• Jewish Life Vocabulary
• Hebrew Through Movement Twice a week
• Tefillah – Twice/week
• Continued transition from oral literacy to print literacy
• B’nai Mitzvah Prep (with parents)
• Hebrew Boot Camp - 3 months before B’nai Mitzvah Tutoring

Hebrew and Prayer Curriculum in Grade 7:

• Jewish Life Vocabulary
• Tefillah – Shabbat morning service once/week
• B’nai Mitzvah Prep (with parents)
• B’nai Mitzvah Tutoring - 7 months before B’nai Mitzvah

Testimonials

“I was apprehensive to see the introduction of the new Hebrew program in Isaiah, but after seeing both my kids working through the program, I can’t imagine Hebrew being taught any other way.” -JQuest parent

“I witnessed the light bulb going off when my son decoded Hebrew for the first time during Hebrew “Boot Camp”.  He was excited when he recognized the words from Tefillah and Jewish life vocabulary learned in JQuest.” -JQuest parent

“My Hebrew School memories include tedious workbooks and homework.  I was worried about how I was going to keep my son motivated and how to keep his Jewish education a positive experience.  JQuest is the answer!  The program allows for a child to develop their Jewish identity, values and culture in fun and creative way. JQuest focuses on making our children better human beings rather than just a proficiency in reading Hebrew.” -JQuest parent

“Hebrew Boot Camp gave my daughter and me a chance to bring all her JQuest hebrew experience together and quickly advance to be a hebrew reader. Easy, fun, and a great memory from her Bat Mitzvah preparation that we will have forever.” - JQuest parent

“The Hebrew Boot Camp was an entertaining and refreshing way to learn the Hebrew alphabet! I appreciated that it could be done at home with a family member.” - JQuest teen