Shabbat Education Schedule

10:00 a.m.-noon on Shabbat
We welcome Knesset Israel students, Sinai Academy students, children and grandchildren of second home families, and students enrolled in the communal Hebrew initiative program with their parents. The Hebrew curriculum for K-7th graders is taught through a collaboration of students and staff from Knesset Israel, Sinai Academy of the Berkshires and Temple Anshe Amunim.

K-1st Graders 10:00-11:00 a.m.
Teacher: Eve Geller-Duffy. Using age-appropriate materials, Eve does an abbreviated service plus Torah stories and activities to reinforce their understanding of prayers, Jewish calendar cycles, tzedakah (charitable acts and good deeds), mitzvot (the commandments in the Torah), and the Hebrew aleph-bet. A kiddush of grape juice and challah is served.

2nd-3rd Graders 10:00-10:45 a.m.
Teacher: Darlene Weeks. The students study Torah, keeping somewhat parallel to the portion of the week structure. They study more deeply the prayers that they will be using in Jr. Congregation at 11:00. Reinforcement of Hebrew reading skills and the joys of Shabbat take place.

4th-6th Graders 10:00-10:45 a.m.
Teacher: Liat Lazarovich, Myrna Hammerling and rotating teen leaders. The Torah portion of the week is examined and interpreted, sometimes using creative dramatics, pre-scripted plays or the Chumash (5 Books of Moses) itself. Students are encouraged to bring the ancient words into modern lives and make the Torah a living document.

10:45-11:00 a.m.
2nd-6th graders join together to say the prayers over grape juice and challah at their own kiddush.

11:00 a.m.-noon
2nd-6th graders have an abbreviated service from Shacharit through Musaf, volunteering to lead the various prayers and identifying the respective functions of those prayers. They pick up the various tunes and words joyfully—with ruach (spirit). During their Torah service, students rotate with the honor of chanting the first three verses of the week’s Torah portion from the actual Torah scroll. Students as young as the second grade volunteer for the privilege of reading Torah—a thrill for their families and well as themselves.

7th Graders 10:00-noon
Teacher: Ruth Cohen, B’nai Mitzvah Coordinator. The B’nai Mitzvah class meets on Shabbat morning to absorb the full service in the main sanctuary as well as to practice with tutors their individual Torah and Haftarah assignments. They lead the Shacharit, Torah and Musaf services in advance of their Bar or Bat Mitzvah and become very familiar also with the elements of the Friday night and Havdalah services. They experience for themselves and learn from guided observation how to be an inspired prayer leader for the congregation (shaliach tzibur).

8-12th Graders Thursday evenings, 5:00-7:00 p.m. and Shabbat
Post B’nai Mitzvah students are always welcome to visit in the Junior Congregation and the main Shabbat service upstairs. They are often called upon to lead one of the services or to chant Torah or Haftarah. At Knesset Israel, the skills learned for B’nai Mitzvah are used proudly by our teens and enjoyed by the entire congregation long after the “big day.” Until our students are delivered safely to their college dorms, they are valuable Shabbat leaders at Knesset Israel. So much positive reinforcement ensures a comfort level with synagogue skills wherever they may be in their lives.

Special Shabbat Programs

Respite Time
A Shabbat experience for the rest of your life!” Chaya~Sharon Heller leads an enriching and empowering Shabbat experience through meditation, breathing, body awareness, story, wisdom and chant.

Tot Shabbat Monthly, 11:00 am-noon Ages: 0-5 years+parents
One Shabbat a month a parent-run and organized Tot Shabbat program is scheduled. Parents rotate leadership of a simplified service and a follow-up creative activity (rhythm instruments or permitted crafts). They share a kiddush of challah and grape juice. There is lots of ruach (spirit) and family fun during these sessions. In the warmer months, families are encouraged to bring coolers with lunch to socialize and play together in the synagogue’s wonderful backyard.

Other Shabbat Programs
Sometimes on Shabbat there are Lunch and Learn programs with guest speakers and Learners’ Minyan for adults who want to learn the prayers and are not quite ready for the pace of the upstairs service. On Saturday evenings study-sessions precede the Havdalah service and a light seudah (end of shabbat meal) is enjoyed. Knesset Israel is always open to trying ways of bringing participants to celebrate Shabbat together.