Religious School Grades K-12

We're excited about our plans for this year!

Judaica: Students will learn to cook Jewish food while thinking and learning about Jewish History, Values, and beliefs.

Social Justice: Students will participate in an active theater program that highlights justice

Hebrew: Hebrew will be taught online on Wednesdays and students will receive one-on-one tutoring on Sundays as part of the Hebrew “side by side” program.

Teens: Our teens will develop their leadership skills during a 10-week L'Taken program taught by Rabbi Lutz with a culminating trip to Washington DC

Madrichim: Teens can also receive leadership training and participate in team-building retreats

Click here to register

How will we collaborate with the Community School?

The SMS Religious School is part of a larger synagogue educational partnership called The Community School. The Community School, developed by Rabbi Adam Lutz, is a research-based collaboration between several synagogues in the greater LA area to provide cutting-edge, high-quality Jewish education. It focuses on project-based learning and a curriculum that emphasizes real-world issues and community problem-solving. Students look at the world through a Jewish lens - Jewish values, prayers, holidays - and internalize what they learn.

Through collaboration and team-building activities, students build connections with their classmates, gain self-confidence, develop critical thinking, and hone the 21st-century skills they need to succeed in school and become engaged, excited, and active Jewish adults.

About Rabbi Adam Lutz*

Rabbi Adam Lutz, the coordinator of the Community School, believes Jewish education should provide students with a "lab-like environment" to learn, explore, and apply Judaism.

Rabbi Lutz’ combination of technical prowess, educational expertise, and Rabbinic knowledge has allowed him to develop a religious school that relies upon all three of these skills. Instead of a top-down approach, he has designed a curriculum that meets children where they are, and shows how Judaism can help them navigate the modern world incorporating Jewish values. Rabbi Lutz' forward-thinking approach gives hope for the relevance of Jewish education.

*Please note - Adam Lutz is the son of our Interim Rabbi, Barry Lutz.

Hebrew is introduced in a playful and meaningful way, creating a positive first link between children and Hebrew.