B’Yahad-Together (Religious School)


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B’Yahad (Together) teaches our youth how to adapt to modern Jewish life, helping them find skills, meaning and joy in living their Judaism.

REGISTRATION / TUITION INFORMATION 2024-25

B'YAHAD RELIGIOUS SCHOOL CALENDAR 2024-25

 

Our B’Yahad Religious School Program is a new way of learning for our youth that is designed to make the traditional Religious School model more experiential, relevant, and fun for our children. “B’Yahad”, meaning “Together,” builds on the synagogue’s tagline and vision: “Living Y/Our Judaism Together” by integrating the successful programs we run for youth and families: USY (Youth Group), Mishpacha (Family Programs), and Shabbat and Holiday Programs. 

 

This shift towards the experiential redefines what our “classrooms” look like by providing more opportunities for learning through doing, with simulated life-cycle events, holidays, and Jewish experiences.  

Curriculum

Our spiraled curriculum preserves the high-quality teaching of foundational skills that encourages each students to live Jewishly: reading Hebrew, applying the values of Torah and rabbinics, Tzedakah (charity), and Mitzvot (commandments) to their lives, and enhancing their relationship with God through the learning and practice of traditional prayer.

Hebrew and Tefilla (prayer) are taught by skill level, allowing for students to progress at their own pace, with individualized attention to each student.  The Hebrew focus is on reading, with prayer book comprehension in older grades. The Tefillah focus is on service participation and leadership, as well as having an appreciation and understanding of the meaning of each prayer. 

Torah and Judaics are taught using a 3-year spiraled curriculum. 

  • 3rd-6th grade students are combined for group instruction to introduce units with experiential activities, and then broken up into smaller groups for age-appropriate discussions and activities. 
  • K-2 students have a separate learning experience on Sundays that provides a foundation for religious studies including an introduction to the synagogue, basic Jewish ideals and concepts, values and mitzvot, Jewish customs and ceremonies, prayer and Hebrew reading readiness. This structure is also part of our 3-year spiraled curriculum.
  • 2nd grade students are integrated into the older group on Tuesdays to foster a transition to more advanced learning.

Students share and celebrate the Jewish Holidays throughout the year with hands-on learning and experiences, along with units throughout the year on Israel and Jewish history.

The B’Yahad Experience

  • K-1st grade students attend on Sunday mornings, 9am-12pm. 
  • 2nd-6th grade students attend on Sunday mornings, 9am-12pm and Tuesday afternoons, 4pm-6pm. 
  • 7th-8th grade Students attend on Tuesday afternoons, 4pm-6pm for a combination of activities including B’nai Mitzvah Class, Madrichim-in-Training & Jewish Leadership Skills, and Junior USY. Madrichim-in-training may be asked to attend occasional Sunday mornings to help further their training and work with the younger students.

Madrichim Program for High School Students

Our high school students are offered an opportunity to work as paid interns and leaders within our B’Yahad program. Madrichim work closely with our younger students to serve as role models and tutors as they lead small group discussions, activities, and help students progress in their Hebrew and Tefilla with one-on-one tutoring. Each of our Madrichim is given a role that is tailored to their own strengths in a supportive environment that helps our future Jewish leaders grow as leaders and expand their own expression of Judaism. 

Confirmation

Students in 9th & 10th Grade may participate in this post-Bar/Bat Mitzvah study program with Rabbi Metz.

B’Yahad is now open for enrollment for Kindergarten through 8th grade! 

High school students, if you are interested in our Madrichim or Confirmation Programs, contact Nichole Chorny.

 

Nichole Chorny  became Anshei Israel's Cantorial Soloist in May 2014 and began serving as Education & Youth Director in July 2020. As a native Tucsonan, Nichole has deep roots in our Jewish community which include working at CAI since 2006 in the capacity of working with families in our Religious School and B'nai Mitzvah Program. With the expansion of her role, Nichole has developed and nurtured meaningful relationships with congregants of all ages and continues to develop family and youth programming, along with synagogue-wide programming for cross-generational engagement. She encourages life-long Jewish learning by continuing to grow lay-leadership, post-Bar/Bat Mitzvah service leaders, and Torah/Haftarah readers. Nichole has a passion for fostering a love of Judaism in CAI's congregants of all ages.

Nichole works closely with Rabbi Metz and is responsible for coordinating congregational services. In addition, she officiates life-cycle events, coordinates the B'nai Mitzvah Program, B'Yahad Religious School Program, and USY. Nichole also teaches music in the preschool and is the director of CAI's adult and youth choirs.  

Nichole met her husband Joel on a Birthright Israel Trip and have two children.

Come learn with us!
Tuition scholarships are available.

For more information about CAI's B'Yahad Program please contact

 Nichole Chorny, Cantorial Soloist and Education & Youth Director.