This year students master reading and writing Hebrew script. Devotion to tradition, faith, and study in Diaspora communities have contributed tremendously to the Judaism that we practice today. The origins of the Jewish community of America and what we have in common with other Diaspora communities is the key issue of the Hadarim . Students will investigate their personal family histories, how and why they came to America, and the struggles that moved the Jewish people around the world during the Middle Ages and modern era. Each unit teaches one prayer or set of prayers grouped by theme.
Students practice for fluency of reading and chanting.
They also learn elements of grammar and vocabulary that cultivate a sense of the meaning of our religious texts. They will compare what they know of other ancient peoples to our own beginnings. Through their study of some of the struggles and crises that the Israelites endured, they will come to appreciate how our people found ways to adapt the religion and lifestyle of Judaism in order to preserve the law and the spirit despite challenging circumstances. Units will concentrate on the history of the Jewish people from ancient days through the early Middle Ages, the development of Jewish legal literature, and the role of God and theology in faith, accommodation and endurance. The sixth grade year concentrates on the Amidah prayers, Torah service, and closing prayers.