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9 West Bonita Drive , Simi Valley, 805-581-3723

    Religious Education Program

    SUPPORT OUR RELIGIOUS SCHOOL

 

      GET A JUMP ON A SWEET NEW YEAR!

      Instead of sending New Year cards, consider sending a jar of honey. Last year over 14,000 jars of the sweet stuff were sent across the country, making a thoughtful and unique gift to family and friends.

      Send distinctive New Year's greetings across the country and around the world!
      For your payment of $13, your recipients will receive:

      -An 8 oz. plastic jar of kosher honey adorned with a colorful Judaic label and a gold band.
      -A personalized gift card wishing the recipient a "Happy and Healthy New Year."
      -A notice that a donation has been made in their honor to the CBE Religious School

      The honey is delivered by mail in time for Rosh Hashanah, which begins at sunset on September 8, 2010.

      You can order honey by completing an order form, or by placing your order on line by clicking on the honey jar below.

      You can get order forms from the school or temple, or       download one by clicking here.

      The Honey Sale is chaired by VP Schools Deborah Bass, deborah.bass.2001@gmail.com, (818) 321-5989. Feel free to contact her for more information.

       

    We will send a jar of honey to any CBE Staff Members you wish!!!

    YOU PAY ONLY $3 EACH to send a jar to our clergy and our Religious School Staff, Temple Office Administrator, and Preschool Director.

    Each jar that is received will have a list of everyone wishing joyous greetings for the New Year 5771. (One jar is sent and your name is listed as a contributor of good wishes for a Sweet and Joyous New Year), or YOU CAN SEND JARS TO ALL TEN STAFF MEMBERS FOR ONLY $25!  This cost is all-inclusive; packaging, shipping and an eight-ounce jar of pure Kosher honey.

    Click here for more info and a printable order form.

    If you prefer, you can order for all recipients online by going to the FUND DONATIONS selection below and donating to the Religious School Fund; just click $25 and put "honey donation" in the "special instructions" box.

    If every Temple Family sent honey to all staff members, we would earn over  $2,500.00 for the Religious School!!!!

    The deadline will be August 20, 2010 but - please DO IT NOW - Don't forget over the summer!

    THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT!

      OTHER WAYS TO SUPPORT OUR RELIGIOUS SCHOOL

      To sponsor the weekly school oneg or to help in the school office, reply to this email or contact School VP Deborah Bass at drbass1115@sbcglobal.net

     

    Click here for the complete school calendar for 2010-2011.

    RELIGIOUS SCHOOL REGISTRATION:

    For Religious School registration forms, click here. You can mail, fax or bring them to the temple or school.

    Both pages of the Religious School Registration Form must be filled out and signed for new AND returning students, or students will not be able to attend class.

    ALL SUNDAY CLASSES MEET AT THE NORTH CAMPUS (PRESCHOOL). All students attend from 9 AM - 12 PM, with B'nai Mitzvah Class from 12:15 - 1:15.

    Click here for directions to the North Campus (Preschool)

    Judaica High meets at the temple on Bonita.

    JUDAICA HIGH is held 6 - 7:30 PM Monday nights at the temple. All students who have become b'nai mitzvah or who are in 8th grade or higher are welcome to attend - no previous Jewish study or Hebrew is required. The three-year program leads to Confirmation at age 16 or at the end of tenth grade. This year's topics will include Anti-Semitism, the Holocaust, Jewish body ethics, and the Prophets. Join us for fun, food and enlightenment!

     

    Congregation B'nai Emet Religious School provides a program aimed at developing concepts that will strengthen the fabric of Jewish life and ensure the future of Judaism. Our goal is to deepen the Jewish experience and knowledge of students in order to strengthen their faith in God, love of Torah and identification with the Jewish people through involvement in the synagogue and participation in Jewish life.

    The School provides classes for Kindergarten through Judaica High School. With the exception of Judaica High School, classes are held on Sundays for three hours, including a half-hour morning service, a Judaica session based on the child's grade in public school and a session of Hebrew based on the child's competence. Grades 8-10 (Judaica High School) attend class weekly on Monday evenings.

    Curriculum

    Holiday Workshops
    This program is for children 4-5 years old. It meets once a month at the North Campus, starting in October. There are eight workshops focusing on Jewish holidays, tradition and culture. The class is subject to minimum registration.

    Kindergarten and First Grades

    In Judaica, Bible personalities are studied, with emphasis on the Patriarchs and Matriarchs. Shabbat and holidays, with an emphasis on home celebration and symbols of the holidays, are learned. Values are studied through the giving of Tzedakah. Basic Hebrew Blessings, holiday vocabulary and the first ten letters of the Alef-bet comprise the curriculum in the Hebrew session. 

    Second and Third Grades
    Judaica teaches the uniqueness of Judaism, the concept of Mitzvah and some of the most important Mitzvot are emphasized, such as peace at home, telling the truth, repairing the world, honoring parents and Tzedakah. The history and major concepts of each holiday and how we relate to them are also studied. In Hebrew, the Alef-bet, vowels and reading of basic prayers are emphasized.

    Fourth and Fifth Grades
    Judaica explores some of the Jewish characters in the Bible, the situation with which they were confronted, what might we do in their place, and how these stories have relevance to our lives. Holidays are reviewed, with an emphasis on the social, political and religious aspects of each. Additional Hebrew prayers are introduced.

     
     
    Sixth and Seventh Grades
    The Torah is reviewed in depth, with the study of its importance and relevance to us as Jews today, its basis for our beliefs, its structure and basic familiarity. Biblical history is begun. More prayers are studied in preparation for the child's Bar/Bat Mitzvah service.
     
     
     

     

    Judaica High School
    This program involves a three-year cycle of classes for all students 13-16 years of age. The courses of study include the Holocaust, Sayings of the Fathers, Jewish ethics and Judaism in modern society. Upon completion, students receive their confirmation at a ceremony held at a Friday Night service. 

    B'nai Mitzvah
    One year prior to the actual date of the bar or bat mitzvah, students will start attending B'nai Mitzvah Class for one hour, 12:15-1:15, in addition to the regular Sunday schedule. The class will study the meaning of becoming a Jewish adult as well as learn additional prayers and melodies.

    Students are monitored and tutored individually in preparation for their special day. Additional tutoring is available during the week as the big day approaches. 

    Milestones in Jewish Education

    Each class will help conduct one Friday Night Shabbat service each year. At this service, the class will demonstrate achievement of the following milestones, based upon their level in school:

    Kindergarten and First Grades

    Students will participate in a consecration by reciting blessings, simple prayers and songs in English & Hebrew. They receive little torahs as well as certificates to welcome them to religious school.

    Second and Third Grades
    Hebrew and Siddur Initiation. Students will participate by leading some prayers and songs in Hebrew and English. Third graders receive beaded necklaces with their Hebrew names.

     

    Fourth and Fifth Grades

    Bible Initiation - Students will conduct much of the service. Fourth graders make their own prayer shawls and Fifth graders receive their own prayerbooks.

    Sixth and Seventh Grades
    Graduation - Sixth grade students present a Purim pantomime. Seventh graders will conduct their graduation service and read prayers they have written.
     
    Eight through Tenth Grades

    Confirmation - Held during Shavuot, all Judaica High School students will participate in a Torah service and confirmands will present a special program.

    Field Trips
    Depending on their ages, students will take supervised trips to local places of Jewish interest to take advantage of the many opportunities for Jewish learning available in the Los Angeles area.
     At the Skirball Museum
     
    Questions Regarding School:
    If you have any questions concerning your child's Jewish education time, please feel free to leave a message for the Vice President of Schools at (805) 581-3723 or contact School Administrator Meridith Patera at mspatera@earthlink.net.

       Meridith Shaw Patera has been involved in Jewish education since 1969, following her junior year at the Hebrew University in Jerusalem. A native of Long Island, NY, she received a BA in Political Science with a certificate in Middle Eastern Studies and an MAT in Social Sciences and Hebrew from the State University of New York at Binghamton. She has also done extensive coursework in Jewish education and administration. She has taught preschool through adults in public, Jewish day and congregational schools in New York, Florida, Texas and now in California. She has been with CBE Religious School since 1988 and became School Administrator in 1992. Meridith is the author of two books, Kings and Things: 20 Plays for Jewish Kids, and Skits and Shpiels,14 Plays for Grades 4 to 9, and several plays for adults. She lives in Moorpark with her sons Bennett, Sam and Max.