3rd – 6th Grades – Torah

Overarching Goals of Beth El’s Torah Curriculum

Our Torah curriculum is founded upon the overarching goals listed below. We hope that through engaging in learning within the outlined curriculum students will achieve…

• A deepened sense of connection with God, Torah, and the Jewish People
• The ability to relate Torah to one’s own life
• Recognition of Torah as a source of guidance in our lives
• A greater degree of comfort in reading and interpreting Torah texts
• Familiarity with the five books of the Torah
• Engagement in the ongoing dialogue the Jewish people have with Torah and their tradition.

3rd Grade Theme: Our Biblical Family Goals:

• Familiarity with and sense of connection to biblical patriarchs and matriarchs
• Understanding of the covenantal relationship between God and the first Jewish families, which continues through the present day
• Recognition of the family unit as a core value within Judaism and Jewish practice.

4th Grade Theme: Encountering God Goals:

• Valuing a sense of connection to God and recognition of the place of God in one’s life and in the world
• Gaining greater comfort speaking about God
• Understanding the variations in the relationships biblical ancestors had with God and how relationships with God evolve throughout one’s life
• Appreciating a sense of awe when thinking about and encountering God.

5th Grade Theme: Journeys to and through Israel Goals:

• Understanding of Exodus as part of the master narrative of the Jewish People – movement from slavery to freedom
• Exploration of the changes that occur with movement from family to people/nation
• Recognition of the obligations of being a member of a people/nation – to God & to other members
• Beginning to develop a sense of connection to the State of Israel.

6th Grade Theme: Kedoshim Tehiyu (And You Will Be Holy) Goals:

• To recognize Torah and Jewish tradition as a core foundation of our morals, values, and how we live our lives
• To have a deepened understanding of the role of mitzvah (commandment) in one’s life
• To understand how one’s actions impact others
• To value the holiness in oneself and in others.