Learning at Netivot Shalom

Preschool

Netivot Shalom’s Preschool offers high-quality Jewish Early Childhood Education that provides a safe, nurturing, and supportive environment for children ages 2 through pre-K. The program is a developmentally appropriate, play-based immersion in a Judaic-rich environment. The curriculum flows naturally through the Jewish year, centering on the emergent interests and needs of the children. Exploring middot/Jewish values and guiding the children in discovering their Jewish identity are integral parts of our daily activities as we strive to develop the whole child socially, emotionally, spiritually, physically, and cognitively.

Our core program runs from 9 am – 1 pm, with an option to extend for a full day until 3:30 pm. Early morning care (8 am – 9 am) and extended care (3:30 pm – 5:30 pm) are also available. Our preschool offers rolling admission for children ages 2-5. Our kehillah (community) is open whenever you are ready to join. For more information, check out our page or contact Karen Llamas, the CNS Preschool Director, at preschool@netivotshalom.org or call 510-549-9447, ext. 110.

Children’s Shabbat Programs

Netivot Shalom welcomes people of all ages on Shabbat with great excitement and delight! When we are no longer sheltering-in-place, we will resume offering a range of child care and programming for children ages two through high school. For more information, see Children’s Shabbat Programs.

TAG: YOUTH EDUCATION (K-5TH GRADES)

TAG is a program that offers a variety of age-appropriate educational opportunities for children and families, the bulk of which take place on Friday afternoons and Shabbat mornings. There are three main pillars, or topics, that make up each area of study: Torah, Avodah, and Gemilut hasadim.

In addition to Shabbat programming during the school year, youth and their families may also work on their tagim (plural, “badges”) independently and turn in assignments for credit toward completion of their badge. We will use Google classroom to track badges, progress, and awards.

Upon completion of a badge, students will receive a physical badge representing their hard work. These tagim, badges, may be affixed to their Siddur Lev Shalem cover for all to see.

TAG meets on Fridays and Saturdays. Click here to register for TAG. Visit our webpage for more information about TAG, or contact Sacha Kopin, our Interim Youth and Family Education Director, at yfed@netivotshalom.org.

Bar/Bat Mitzvah – Amitim (6th and 7th Grades)

Amitim, meaning friends and fellowship, is Netivot Shalom’s B’nai Mitzvah program. Amitim provides a community where students and families share a special learning and growing experience together. This program helps to provide a foundation of Hebrew and synagogue skills, as well as engaging students in social action and Tikkun Olam.

The Amitim curriculum is divided into two components: Jewish Studies and Synagogue Skills. The Jewish Studies component is then further divided into trimesters for each of the two years of the Amitim Program. The topics for each year include: 

Jewish Studies Year 1

• Where Do I Stand? (Judaism’s Great Debates)
• Mentsch Training Academy (Social Justice & what it means to be part of a Jewish community) 
• Torah & Haftarah, culminating with 2-3 group sessions on how to write a drash *facilitated by Rabbi Chai* at the end of the year

Jewish Studies Year 2

• Kevah & Kavanah (What/Who is God and what is my relationship with God)
• Na’aseh V’nishmah (Social Justice and Tikkun Olam)
• Where do I Stand? (Philosophy)

Please click for more information about the Amitim program.

Amitim meets on Tuesdays. Click here to register for Amitim. For more information, contact Rebecca Goodman, Youth and Family Education Director, at yfed@netivotshalom.org.

Amitim students: click here to hear recordings of prayers and trope.

TEENS

We offer a variety of teen programs for post-B’nai Mitzvah through 12th grade. 

Aleinu focuses on Social Justice.

Teens in 8th grade through high school are encouraged to participate in any/all of our teen programs including youth group, madrichim, monthly youth gatherings, as well as regional USY events. Click here for more information.

Berkeley-Oakland Midrasha

Berkeley-Oakland Midrasha is an exciting, innovative, inter-congregational supplementary school cosponsored by Netivot Shalom and nine other synagogues. Midrasha engages Jewish teens through educational, social, and spiritual programming in order to strengthen their ties with their heritage and their community. It offers a broad range of interesting and challenging courses to students with a strong Jewish background and to those with little formal training or knowledge—classes range from Talmud and Hebrew to Jewish films and drama. Midrasha provides a warm social environment in the classroom and at weekend retreats.

Midrasha meets on Sundays from 3:30 – 6:00 pm at Netivot Shalom. For more information, check out the Midrasha website.

CHAI FIVE CAMPAIGN

For more information, contact Sacha Kopin, our Interim Youth and Family Education Director, at yfed@netivotshalom.org.