About Us
providing a roadmap for lifelong learning
The Jewish Community Religious School is a program for all Jewish children of Central Oregon. We are a coalition of parents and teachers aligned to provide a rich and transformative Jewish and Hebrew education for our children.
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Our Community Religious School program delivers classroom education, mitzvah projects, weekly Hebrew courses and more. Students learn about Jewish holidays, customs and ceremonies, theology and prayer, ethics and values, Hebrew and Torah, Jewish history and Israel. Our teachers are knowledgeable, warm and nurturing. They encourage curiosity, compassion and critical thinking in students of all ages.
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We are a small community and rely on our parents to help with classroom setup and special events. Each family is expected to volunteer for one religious school day or one event.
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Classes meet twice a month during the school year.
Please email our parent liaison at nataliedhorwitz@gmail.com for more information, including schedule information.
RELIGIOUS SCHOOL
Religious School helps students:
• Develop a strong Jewish identity
• Apply Jewish ethics and thought to their lives
• Recite prayers with comprehension
• Understand the rituals and meaning of Shabbat, holidays and festivals
• Participate in community mitzvah projects and adopt the practice of tzedakah
• Learn about Israel’s history, geography and modern life
• Build community and connect with other Jewish students in Central Oregon
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Kindergarten and First Grade:
Oh, how our little ones enjoy their mornings at Religious School. They adore their teacher, Mimi Feldman, who is warm, enthusiastic and so much fun! And they love the time they spend with each other. The children sing, listen to stories, learn about the Jewish holidays, and take a pretend trip to Israel, “flying” in their chairs lined up like seats on an airplane and visiting many sites of interest on the map. They perform “acts of loving kindness,” or in Hebrew, gemilut chasadim, introducing them to Jewish values and the concept of social justice known as Tikkun Olam: Repairing The World. They get their hands dirty planting vegetables, doing Judaic craft projects, cooking potato latkes or making hummus.
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Second through Seventh Grade:
Children in the upper grades study lessons from the Torah and discuss how these lessons translate into their daily lives. They practice prayer, focusing on meaning to strengthen their connection to the Jewish people and to Israel. They explore our Jewish history and the rituals and traditions of the holidays. As young Jews, they are encouraged to perform daily acts of gemilut chasadim to make the world a better place.
HEBREW SCHOOL
In Hebrew School, students learn to read Hebrew and appreciate its importance as a “Holy Language” that, although dating back to ancient times, continues to connect Jewish people around the world. The curriculum incorporates a variety of teaching methods and materials, with a focus on basic reading, comprehension and writing.
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The JCRSCO offers four Hebrew classes: First year, Second year, Third year and Fourth year. Most students enroll in Hebrew around eight years old or when entering third grade. They continue their studies and progress through the levels, which allows enough time for them to become proficient in Hebrew and ready to prepare for their Bar/Bat Mitzvahs.
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Hebrew School meets weekly after school. For more information, including a schedule, please email aciocan@gmail.com