Religious School
Religious School Registration Form
SCHOOL MISSION STATEMENT
The Santa Monica Synagogue’s religious school seeks to immerse each child and family in Jewish life and learning. Our children’s Jewish identities are deepened and grow ever more meaningful through discussion, study, art, music, and dance; and through their observance of Jewish holidays and life events. Through their study of Jewish history and their experience of Jewish culture, language, ritual and text, our children deepen their spiritual life through prayer, increase their connection with Jews here and throughout the world, and engage in acts of tzedakah (social justice) and tikkun olam (repair of the world).
WHAT WE OFFER
Bagels and Blocks introduces pre-school children (and their parents) to Jewish holidays and practices. This once-a-month, Sunday morning program makes learning fun through interactive stories, songs, crafts and cooking projects.
Kindergarten, First, Second, and Third graders attend religious school on Sunday mornings. They learn about holidays, rituals, bible stories and Jewish values through art, music, and stories.
Fourth and Fifth graders attend Hebrew school on Sunday mornings and Tuesday afternoons, studying Hebrew, holidays, prayer, and ethical behavior.
Sixth and Seventh graders attend Hebrew on Sunday mornings and Tuesday afternoons, studying Hebrew, prayer, history, and Torah. These two years are also geared toward preparing our students for Bar and Bat Mitzvah.
Eighth through Eleventh grade students attend our Tuesday evening program, arriving at the synagogue at 6:00 for dinner and socializing. From 6:30-7:30 pm they attend classes in Jewish ethics, Torah study, and contemporary Jewish thought. In addition, our eighth graders travel to the east coast for a Jewish New York Experience, our ninth and tenth graders participate in our international exchange program, TALAVI (Tel Aviv, Los Angeles and Vilnius) and every two years our teens travel to Washington, DC to participate in a Social Justice seminar at The Religious Action Center.
Confirmation takes place in the twelfth grade. The students meet monthly with Rabbi Marx. They end the year by leading their confirmation service.