THE JEWISH WELFARE BOARD

Jewish children are the future of the Jewish people.

At the Talmud Torah we believe that children who gain a sense of appreciation, enjoyment and fulfillment in their faith and religious tradition, will grow to be Jews who will strengthen the foundations of Jewish life, help perpetuate our rich heritage and ensure the continuity of Judaism and the Jewish people.

MISSION

The mission of the Talmud Torah is to instill a strong sense of Jewish pride and identity in our children by enriching their knowledge of basic Judaism, Jewish History, Ethics, Jewish Values, Hebrew reading and writing and Israeli culture.

STRUCTURE

The Talmud Torah is opened to all children from the age of 4 to 13 years old. For the Hebrew classes, the students will be divided into 4 groups according to their level of Hebrew proficiency.

For the rest of the curriculum, the students will be rotated among 3 different stations to ensure that they get maximum exposure to the different activities and topics. The 3 stations are:

•  Parasha of the week.
•  Jewish topics, including Jewish history.
•  Arts and crafts on a Jewish theme/Jewish home.

For this, the students will be grouped according to age:

•  GROUP 1: 4 - 6 years old
•  GROUP 2: 7 - 9 years old
•  GROUP 3: 10 - 13 years old

GENERAL CURRICULUM

To provide a more well-rounded Jewish education for your child, we have developed a comprehensive curriculum that would include many relevant and important topics:

HEBREW From recognizing the shape and sound of the Alef Bet to reading, writing and speaking with fluency in the language, a course has been developed to ensure that each child will receive maximum exposure to the language. Siddur proficiency will also form a part of this course.

PRAYER Students will be taught to pray with confidence. They will also be taught to understand the meanings of these prayers so that they have the opportunity to ultimately say these prayers with more meaning. The course will include Shabbat prayers and also a primer on the synagogue service. This will help students acquaint themselves with the order of Jewish prayer in a typical synagogue service.

HOLIDAYS Students will be taught about the many Jewish holidays and the different laws, customs and rituals that accompany each of them. Teaching about the holidays will be accentuated by appropriate stories, games, prayers, crafts and mini-dramas to engage the student's interest.

BIBLE AND JEWISH HISTORY From the time of the creation to the settling of the Jews in Eretz Yisrael, stories and projects on these topics will enhance the student's knowledge and understanding of the dynamics that shaped our formation as a people. The course will also include the era of the Jews under Persian rule, continuing through the writing of the Talmud. The will also help frame the unfolding of Jewish law. A Torah perspective of the importance of Israel in Judaism and off current events affecting the Jewish people will also be imparted.

JEWISH LIFE This course explores all the aspects of creating a Jewish home and living a Jewish life. It's special emphasis will be on the various Mitzvot combined with learning good character traits. Students will also be taken through the "Jewish Life Cycle" as they take themselves through the life of Jewish child beginning with birth, circumcision, baby naming, Bar/Bat Mitzvah, Marriage, etc.

To make the various topics more interesting and fun, songs, dances, arts and crafts, games, drama, parties and ceremonies will be integrated into the teaching syllabus.

Special activities are conducted for special events and holidays. Parents are most welcome to join their children and participate in all our special activities.

SCHOOL HOURS

The Talmud Torah program will run on Sunday from 0930 - 1245hrs. There will be two breaks of 15 minutes each during the morning. During these breaks, the teachers will closely supervise the students.

A short assembly session will be held from 1230 - 1245 hrs. This will be a meaningful time of sharing school experiences and a lively singing session to bring the school day to a rousing close.

DRESS CODE

Students are encouraged to come to Talmud Torah in comfortable clothing and male students must wear a kipa/yarmulke at all times during school hours.

PARENT/SCHOOL COMMUNICATION

Ample communication between parents and school is very important to insure that Talmud Torah be a meaningful and pleasant experience for your child. Please note that some of our school notices will be sent home with your child. Do check your child's school bag for these notices and call us if you have any concerns regarding your child's performance and progress.

ON DISCIPLINE

At Talmud Torah we strive to create an atmosphere that reflects our lofty Jewish values. We take pride in our student body that understands that respect for teachers, respect for each other and each other's property and ourselves, are essential for successful learning.

FOOD

Children will be served a Kosher snack at 1030hrs. As the Talmud Torah only serves Kosher food, parents are advised not to send any non-kosher foods or snacks with their children.

SECURITY

There is 24-hour security to watch over the school premises. We also work with the Jewish Welfare Board Security Group to ensure operational security is appropriate to the venue.

A NOTE TO PARENTS

Growth in Judaism is a lifelong process. Its successful incorporation into our lives depends on knowledge and practice acquired in the early years. As parents, you know that these important years pass by all too quickly. Your children are at a crucial stage in their personal development - to grow in their Jewishness, they need your enthusiastic support.

At Talmud Torah, we work together with families to foster a sense of the joy and challenge that comes with Jewish living. Without your support and participation, we can't be as effective as we want to be. We do best in partnership with parents, working together to nurture these young minds.

We look forward to having your children join us at the Talmud Torah. We will ensure that they have the opportunity to develop their understanding and love for Judaism in a warm and safe environment.

To register your child for Talmud Torah,

please call Rabbi Mordechai Abergel at (065) 9731 2181 or Revital Shalev at (065) 9145 7931.