Youth & Education

Temple Beth Zion, founded in 1850, is a historic Reform congregation and a charter member of the Union of American Hebrew Congregations (UAHC), known now as the Union for Reform Judaism (URJ). We are committed to the vision of a Jewish future that will lead our congregation into its third century of leadership in the Buffalo Jewish Community.

We, the members of Temple Beth Zion, respect our Temple's Classical Reform heritage. We proudly embrace what we believe to be the legacy of that heritage: Each generation must imbue the Covenant at Sinai with meaning in the context of the contemporary world, while forging another link in the unbroken chain of tradition that has connected Jews to one another through the ages.

The sacred task of educating our children is a principal function of the Temple Beth Zion community. From their earliest years we invite families with young children to experience Shabbat at our Tot Shabbat services. Children enrolled in the Play And Learn School (PALS) celebrate the Jewish holidays and Shabbat through song, story, crafts and traditional foods.

In the Religious School, our classroom curriculum and family education programs are based upon Jewish values that are the essential elements found in our Jewish tradition. The on-going study of Torah is inextricably linked to the creating of a strong Jewish identity. The success of our educational programs in providing children with a positive Jewish foundation is dependent on a strong commitment from the family. Participating together, teachers, children, parents and congregants can create a community that promotes lifelong Jewish learning.

Religious School meets on Sundays, 9am – 11:30am, at the Broder Center for children in Kindergarten to 7th grade. Sunday Tots meets monthly on Sundays. 3rd – 6th graders also attend on Tuesdays or Thursday afternoons. An optional Hebrew Enrichment class is offered for 1st & 2nd graders on Thursdays.

Our teachers are constantly working to provide enriching opportunities for Jewish learning and religious exploration. Holidays and celebrations will be taught according to individual grade curricula and will be integrated with the students' general course of study. Each class will study prayers and blessings and will participate in tefillot (services) beginning in Kindergarten. The study of Hebrew and participation in tefillot are vital to fulfilling our goal of having students become comfortable in the synagogue..

Who's Who in Our School (836-6565)

Director of Education Susan Goldberg Pardo, ext. 131

Special Needs & Judaic Curriculum                       Hope Bongiorno, ext. 129

Hebrew Curriculum                                                Renee Herman

Family Education                                                   Betsy Abramson, ext. 139

Education Assistant                                                Adrienne Barnett, ext. 112

Clergy                                                                     Rabbi Harry Rosenfeld, ext. 138

                                                                               Rabbi Laurie Green ext. 137

Cantorial Intern Penny Myers, ext. 130

Religious School

Sunday Tots – 2^nd Grade Sundays @ Broder 9:00 - 11:30am

Our goal in the early primary grades is to foster and strengthen Jewish identity through a wide variety of positive Jewish experiences. We seek to improve our children's understanding of Jewish values, symbols, holidays, customs, and rituals. Children in Pre-Kindergarten (Sunday Tots) - Grade 2 will learn about the many faces and places of Jewish life and learning.

3^rd – 6^th Grade Sundays @ Broder 9:00 - 11:30am AND Tuesdays @ Delaware 4:30 - 6:00pm OR Thursdays @ Broder 4:30 - 6:00pm

Students in grades 3 - 6 attend school twice weekly, every Sunday and either Tuesdays (Delaware) or Thursdays (Broder Center). Judaic instruction and Hebrew language instruction are included both days.

Grade 7 and B'nai Mitzvah Sundays @ Broder 9:00 - 11:30am

All 7th graders will be meeting weekly on Sunday mornings. Our seventh grade curriculum also includes additional programs that bring all of our seventh graders (and often their families) together. These programs are critical to the Bar/Bat mitzvah process, and are essential to building a strong, respectful and holy community among our students.

Hebrew

Hebrew is incorporated throughout the entire school program beginning in Kindergarten. The Hebrew program at Temple Beth Zion is designed to

- To recognize basis Hebrew vocabulary, based on holidays and prayer.

- To read, write and understand prayer book Hebrew.

- To feel comfortable and familiar with our prayer book.

- To participate as leaders and members of TBZ.

- To participate in home celebrations and holidays.

teach students:

Additionally, all students will participate in Hebrew enrichment activities that dramatically enhance their reading skills, their grasp of grammatical concepts and their vocabulary.

Grades 8 through 12 The High School of Jewish Studies

Broder Center for Jewish Education Wednesdays 6:30 - 8:30 PM

Temple Beth Zion 8^th – 12 grade students participate in the community High School for Jewish Studies 'Hebrew High', run by the Bureau of Jewish Education. A separate course offering booklet and registration form is sent out from the Bureau of Jewish Education during the summer, prior to the beginning of each new school year.

Temple Beth Zion

Aaron and Bertha Broder Center for Jewish Education

700 Sweet Home Road, Buffalo, New York 14226

(716) 836-6565

Sanctuary, Chapel and Cofeld Judaic Museum

805 Delaware Avenue, Buffalo, New York 14209

Robyn C. Garner, Designer