grades 6-8

GRADES 6-8

Monday afternoon in-person OR Tuesday evening online

Our Gesher (“Bridge”) program for middle school students meets together in-person at Temple Beth Sholom on Monday afternoons from 4:30-7:00pm (includes dinner!) OR online on Tuesday evenings from 7:00-8:30pm. Gesher has several components:

Judaic Studies classes by grade-level 

Grade 6: Hebrew

Hebrew Reading and Decoding, grouped in Beginning and Intermediate levels.

Taught by Mason Duboff and Chaim Lieberperson

Grade 7: Modern/Conversational Hebrew 

Includes a reading component

Taught by Lior Friedman

Grade 8: Challenges and Choices

A Jewish Teen’s Guide to a Balanced Life

Taught by Diana Rosen and Seth Cohen in person/Student Rabbi Luisa Sinacore online

*Prayer Class*

Learners will cycle into this trimester class based on the date of their B’Mitzvah service. The focus in on prayers they will lead during the service and an introduction to Torah cantillation.

Taught by Cantor Segal

Tracks comprised of mixed grade-levels

Creative Arts: Through the integration of arts and Judaism, learners can explore their passions and build skills in areas such as theater, creative writing, dance, music, photography, and visual art.

Science: Learners can explore the intersection of science and Judaism in areas like environmental science, chemistry, physics, medical biology, and more.

Technology: Learners will experience the implications of technology and Judaism through coding, programming, digital film and art, video game design, Minecraft, and social media.

Tefilah – In-Person Only

Our Gesher learners use the natural setting in which it occurs to learn prayer. Learners have opportunities to help lead this service alongside the Cantor, and all participants develop the lifelong skill of prayer literacy. While Tefilah will not be a component of our online offering, we encourage families enrolled in this modality to take advantage of Tefilah opportunities offered through Temple Beth Sholom every Friday at 6:00pm and every Saturday at 10:30am. Shabbat services can be attended in-person or viewed online.