About Our Religious School
Temple Emanuel of Tempe’s Religious School offers a dynamic Jewish learning experience for students from Tots through 12th Grade. As the only Reform congregation in the East Valley, we proudly serve a diverse and welcoming community. Rooted in Reform Jewish values, our school is here to help each student grow into a confident and connected Jew. Through engaging lessons, prayer (t’filah), song, Torah, mitzvot, Hebrew, and community celebration, we empower children and teens to explore their Jewish identity in meaningful and lasting ways.
️ Our Mission
Our mission is to help children, youth, and families become:
- Jews who affirm their Jewish identity and engage with their community.
- Jews who embrace Torah, mitzvot, and Jewish celebrations in meaningful ways.
- Jews who feel a deep connection to the Land of Israel.
- Jews who value Hebrew and prayer.
- Jews who pursue justice, righteousness, and loving deeds.
- Jews who live in tune with the Jewish calendar and lifecycle.
- Jews who honor every individual as created in the image of God (tzelem Elohim).
- Jews who care for the global Jewish community.
- Jews who actively participate in synagogue life.
We believe learning thrives in an environment where every student feels seen, respected, and valued. Our approach includes:
- A safe, inclusive, and joyful atmosphere
- Respect for individual learning needs
- Celebration of diverse family backgrounds
- A foundation of kindness, empathy, and respect
Temple Emanuel’s Religious School weaves together Hebrew, Jewish values, holidays, Israel education, and community-building—helping students grow as knowledgeable, confident Jews and compassionate human beings.
From Tots to Teens
From Alef-Bet and blessings in Pre-K to prayer fluency and leadership development in high school, our curriculum grows with your child. Every grade combines joyful Jewish experiences with age-appropriate learning, ensuring each student builds a strong foundation for lifelong Jewish engagement.
What Makes Us Unique
- Student-centered, integrated curriculum
- Multisensory Hebrew and Judaica instruction
- Weekly t’filah (prayer) and community-building
- Family education, holiday celebrations, and social events
- Leadership opportunities for teens as Madrichim
- Classes for every age—from Tots to Post-Confirmation
Curriculum Overview
Pre-K
Objectives
- Familiar with blessings for the home and holidays
- Articulate the importance of blessings and when to use them
- Introduction to Hebrew letters, Hebrew songs, and fingerplays
Hebrew Familiarity
- Motzi, Kiddush (short), Alef-Bet
- Hebrew words for home and everyday life: colors, shapes, items in houses
Holidays
- Shabbat candles, Sh’ma, blessings for food (e.g., apples and honey)
- Familiarity with ritual objects and basic blessings for all holidays
Judaica
- What, how, and why of Mitzvot
- People to People / People to God
Implementation/Notes
- Multisensory curriculum
- T’filah, Hebrew through Movement
Kindergarten
Objectives
- Familiar with blessings for the home and holidays
- Introduction to Hebrew letters: consonants and vowels
Hebrew Familiarity
- Motzi, Kiddush (short), Alef-Bet, Hebrew vocabulary
Holidays
- Shabbat, Passover, Four Questions, Shehecheyanu
Judaica
- Ritual objects and basic blessings for all holidays
- Mitzvot and relationship to God/others
Implementation/Notes
- Alef-Bet Yoga, Hebrew through Movement
- T’filah, Memory goals (Sh'ma, Kiddush, etc.)
1st Grade
Objectives
- Identify all letters of the Alef-Bet including final letters
- Blend letters to form basic Hebrew words
- Recognize and recite basic prayers
- Recognize Hatikvah and its meaning
Hebrew Familiarity
- All Aleph-Bet letters and sounds, prayers for holidays
- Bar’chu, Yom Tov candles, lulav and etrog, Chanukah candles
Holidays
- Fall/Winter focus: Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, Sukkot, Simchat Torah, Chanukah
Judaica
- Connection to Israel, Parshat HaShavua
Implementation/Notes
- T’filah, multisensory curriculum
- Create Alef-Bet book, Hebrew through Movement
- Memory goals: Sh’ma, candles, Kiddush, Motzi
2nd Grade
Objectives
- Deepen prayer reading and recitation
- Master Alef-Bet consonants and vowels
- Learn Hebrew numbers
Hebrew Familiarity
- Hebrew numbers 1-10, vowels, prayer reading
- Adonai S’fatai Tiftach
Holidays
- Purim, Yom HaAtzmaut, Lag B’Omer, Shavuot
Judaica
- Weekly parashah, sacred stories
Implementation/Notes
- Hebrew through Movement, Drama with stories
- Multisensory curriculum, T’filah
3rd Grade
Objectives
- Recognize, read, and recite prayers
- Develop connection to the Jewish Community
Hebrew Familiarity
- T'filah
- Decoding of the Aleph Bet (Multi-Syllabic Words)
Judaica
- God Talk & Holidays
- Torah
Implementation/Notes
- Class rotations, creative activities, community building
- School-wide events, T’filah, Hebrew 2x/week
4th Grade
Objectives
- Mastery of Barchu - Mi Chamocha (Self-Paced Course)
Hebrew Familiarity
- Continued prayer fluency
- Understanding of Friday Night Prayers
Judaica
- Prayer meaning, Immigration - Coming to America
Implementation/Notes
- Classroom community, school events, T’filah and Hebrew 2x/week
5th Grade
Objectives
- Mastery of Amidah - Aleinu (Self-Paced Course)
Hebrew Familiarity
- Understanding of Friday Night Service Prayers
Judaica
- Prayer Meaning
- Torah with a Jewish lens, Israel geography and people
Implementation/Notes
- Creative activities, classroom community
- T’filah and Hebrew 2x/week
6th Grade
Objectives
- Read and chant full Shabbat morning service
Hebrew Familiarity
- Fluent and accurate chanting of all prayers
Judaica
- Jewish identity, Torah
- Jewish History
Implementation/Notes
- Creative activities, school events, T’filah 1x/week
7th Grade
Objectives
- Middot (values)
Judaica
- Jewish identity relevant to student lives
- Mitzvah Club
Implementation/Notes
- Community building, school events, T’filah 1x/week
- Connection with DYE (Ahrayut)
8th–9th Grade
Objectives
- Middot (values)
- Hadracha (leadership)
Judaica
- Jewish Identity—relevant to students’ lives
- Leadership opportunities as Madrichim
Implementation
- Creative and engaging activities
- Classroom community building
- School Wide Holiday Events
- T’filah (1x a week)
- Ahrayut – connection with DYE
Confirmation (10th) & Post Confirmation (11th/12th)
Objectives
- Middot (values)
- Hadracha (leadership)
- Rabbi engagement
- Becoming a Confirmand
Judaica
- Jewish Identity—relevant to students’ lives
- Leadership opportunities as Madrichim
Implementation
- Creative and engaging activities
- Classroom community building
- School Wide Holiday Events
- T’filah (1x a week)
- Ahrayut – connection with DYE
B’nei Mitzvah and Beyond
- Our program is a balance between leadership development, community building and Jewish education with input from students.
- 8–9th grade will have 1 hour of class weekly with a dedicated teacher or guest
- 10th grade (confirmation) will have 1 hour every other week with the Rabbi or guest
- 11–12th grade will have 1 hour monthly with the Rabbi or guest
- We will include at least four social events a year specific to this age group
- All classes will be held on Sunday Morning
Wed, July 30 2025 5 Av 5785