"There are few more important and lasting gifts we can give our children than a quality education and the knowledge of who and what they are and where they come from. Perpetuating our knowledge, heritage, values and culture is an integral part of the Jewish tradition-indeed, it is what has kept us intact over these thousands of years."

The Torah, Deuteronomy 6:7, commands us to “teach our children”. Our goal is to instill within our children pride in our vast legacy, so that through study, they will add to the body of Jewish knowledge and actively be involved in the religious and civil Jewish community. To be a member of the Jewish community, one must have knowledge of the profound lessons of our tradition. Our curriculum focuses on observance of holidays and Shabbat, Torah, laws and customs of life cycle events, Siddur, and values derived from our sacred texts. Our school is committed to a sincere connection to Israel evidenced by our relationship with several elementary schools in Nahariya. We teach the dynamics of geography and politics in the Mid-East as they impact on the security of the State of Israel.

Our Religious School offers 4 hours of traditional instruction for children in 3rd through 7th grade. Part of the Dalet( 6th grade ) class curriculum involves attendance at a participatory Shabbat morning service followed by a lively study session based on the week’s Torah portion. Weekly attendance on Shabbat is an integral part of the 6th grade curriculum and is linked directly to the Bar/Bat Mitzvah preparations and requirements. Other grades have a Shabbat requirement, 6 for Aleph and Bet students, and 10 for Gimmel students. These may include attendance on Shabbat morning and Friday evening services.

Studies have shown that the continuity of the Jewish people has been linked to our commitment to the use of Hebrew in study and prayer. We introduce the children to basic Hebrew vocabulary and stress the meaning of key words in both the Siddur and the Torah portions to aid them in feeling a greater connection to the texts. Kindergarten, Sunday School 1&2 children are part of an innovative program, Hebrew Language Initiative through which they are learning conversational Hebrew. And, above all, we teach the children the importance of observing Mitzvot in our daily lives.

Our goal is that our students will learn to participate knowledgeably in religious services, to present a positive example of what is best in Jewish values, to be committed to the State of Israel, and “to learn and to do”. We hope to instill within our children pride in our mutual historic destiny and trust that they will lovingly pass our Judaic treasure on to their children.

Family Education has been an important adjunct to all Religious School programs. We offer a wide variety of opportunities for parents to learn with their children as well as opportunities for their own personal enrichment. Dalet and Hey families participate in Family Shabbat Learning Services. We plan family trips to local museums to enhance the Jewish experiences of both the children and parents. We have brought in unique programs which enrich our curriculum such as a scribe, Yemenite Jewish culture, Israel Boot Camp, and Jewish improvisation.

Academic Assistance
Temple Emanuel Hebrew School offers an academically assisted class for those students who function better in a smaller environment and can benefit from a more individualized curriculum taught by a teacher specially trained in this area. This program is partially funded by a grant from UJA Federation of Northern New Jersey and is open to the community.

Sunday School
Sunday School which meets once a week for 2 hours is available to children in Kindergarten, First and Second grade. Our Sunday School is part of a pilot program, Hebrew Initiative, whereby the children are beginning to speak Hebrew in the classroom. This program is part of an innovative technique of teaching spoken Hebrew created by contemporary language specialists. In addition, the children learn simple prayers, learn Hebrew songs, study our customs and holiday observances as well as review the simple meaning of the Torah portions. Their learning is enhanced through songs, story telling and crafts.

Club Katan, 4 year olds
We offer a monthly class to 4-year-old children who will be entering kindergarten in the coming year. The children learn about our traditions, holidays, simple prayers and blessings. Through story telling, crafts, games, and songs, the children are engaged in a delightful program of learning.

Hebrew High School

The Board of Education, the Board of Trustees, and the administration of Temple Emanuel are proud to announce a cooperative effort with the Bergen County High School of Jewish Studies. We are delighted to inform you that our Hebrew High School students attend a branch of the Bergen County High School of Jewish Studies at our Temple Emanuel campus. What does this mean to your teenager?