Education

A New Model of Jewish Education

There are so many ways to be a Jewish family. Some of us are drawn to synagogue affiliation, and some of us are not. Some of us prioritize sending our kids to Hebrew School, and some prioritize the value of our kids enjoying Jewish activities with their friends.

Jewish Journeys is a program for children in Kindergarten through 7th grade where joyful, creative, experiential Jewish learning is open to everyone.

We provide a rich and stimulating Jewish education that gives kids the freedom to discover Jewish learning based on their own passions and interests under the guidance of experienced Jewish educators.

Students can sign up for a full year of learning. Or, 3rd-7th graders can take 12-week elective classes that suit their interests. Jewish Journeys gives families the flexibility to choose what’s right for them.

Jewish Journeys

Jewish culture, religion & identity through joyful, creative learning

Jewish Journeys is “Hebrew School” reimagined.

Our purpose is to inspire joy in being Jewish so that children experience Jewish life, learning and community as vibrant and meaningful parts of who they are.

Students explore Jewish culture, holidays, rituals, values, prayers, texts, and Hebrew language through art, drama, music, cooking, creative writing, game design, and more.

We meet one day per week. Younger students, in Kindergarten through 2nd grade, attend an introductory program while those in 3rd through 7th grade select from a menu of 12-week elective classes in Jewish Studies and Hebrew.

We welcome kids from Jewish, interfaith and secular families who are curious and want to learn more about Judaism.

Jewish Journeys is where we come together for joyful, creative experiential Jewish learning. We welcome you to join us!

The Program

Grades K-2 – “Aleph Tav”

In this year-long class, students in kindergarten through second grade explore Jewish holidays, Torah stories and Hebrew through stories, creative projects, movement and prayer. Students engage the body, mind and spirit to explore customs, rituals, stories and foods associated with various Jewish holidays, learning the meaning behind each practice. Students delve into foundational Torah stories such as the Israelites’ enslavement and Exodus from Egypt with activities that guide them through the discovery of empathy, courage, and perseverance in the text and in themselves. Throughout the year, students study the Hebrew alphabet, practicing the mechanics of reading and writing as they learn to identify key Hebrew words and concepts. Twice per year, students share their learning, projects and skills with parents and community members during Jewish Journeys Shabbat services.

Grades 3-7 – Hebrew

Fall & Spring Semesters

Hebrew Foundations 1 & 2: In Hebrew Foundations classes, students are grouped into levels based on their background and proficiency. Students practice the basics of Hebrew reading: learning or reviewing letters and vowels, sounding out words, and exploring concepts and meanings of words commonly used in Jewish life and Hebrew prayer. The primary curricular resource is Hebrew Step-by-Step with additional resources and modalities for enrichment, such as Hebrew Through Movement, games and conversational Hebrew, to enhance student learning. Any student may enroll in Hebrew Foundations 1 in the fall. Students who wish to enroll in Hebrew Foundations 2 in the spring must have completed Hebrew Foundations 1 or have prior background. 

Grades 3-7 – Jewish Studies Electives

Fall Semester

The Ethics of Being You: Jewish Wisdom for Real Life: Some of the most important things we learn in life aren’t necessarily subjects we ever study in school— like knowing how to be true to yourself and how to choose the right friends. In this class, we’ll use The Illustrated Pirkei Avot, an ancient collection of Jewish wisdom in the form of a graphic novel, to explore some of life’s essential questions, like, “When should you stand up for yourself, and when does standing up for yourself become all about you?” “How do you know when something is your responsibility and when it’s actually not your job to fix it?” Throughout the class, we’ll turn our ideas into comics, graphic stories, and eye-catching posters that bring this powerful book of Jewish ethics, and our own ideas, to life.

Big Moments & Hard Questions in Torah: What if Torah were something you could step inside, argue with, draw, act out, remix, and see from a completely different point of view? In this elective, we’ll dive into some of the most dramatic, surprising, and challenging moments in the Torah—like the flood that destroyed all but those on Noah’s ark and the binding of Isaac by his father, Abraham, and Joseph’s brothers throwing him into a pit and abandoning him. We’ll enter the dramatic moments, wrestle with questions that don’t have easy answers, and explore the inner lives of our biblical ancestors as if they were speaking with us today. But this isn’t a sit-and-listen Torah class. Every week brings a new, hands-on way to encounter the text, such as improvising a scene from multiple angles, putting a character on trial, or making a life-size portrait to show their inner world. Come ready to read, question, move, make, debate, imagine—and see Torah differently than ever before.

Spring Semester

Judaism in the Wilderness: Judaism is filled with traditions that connect us to the rhythms of nature and remind us that we are part of the living world around us. As a people who wandered through the wilderness, became farmers, and marked time through agriculture, many of our laws, practices, and holidays tie us directly to the land. We have blessings for rain, thunder, harvest, immersing ourselves in water, and experiencing countless natural phenomena. Judaism reminds us that we are connected to the land every single day. In this elective we will learn about the Jewish calendar, marking time with natural processes and celebrating the land-based component of each holiday as we search for insight on how our ancestors cared for and connected to the Earth. We will spend time outside together, planting in conjunction with Spring holidays, creating Jewish ritual items from natural materials, cooking foods that tie us to land, making calendars that highlight Jewish and personal time markers, and connecting with the deeply Jewish concept of Radical Amazement–wonder and curiosity at the magnificence of the world.

The American Jewish Immigrant Experience: This class traces the story of Jewish immigration to America— why Jews left Europe, what they brought with them, and what changed when they arrived. We’ll investigate the immigrant experience through stories, photographs, maps, artifacts, primary sources, music, and, of course, food. We’ll meet people like Emma Lazarus and explore her famous words about America, immigration, and welcome. We’ll investigate what it was like to arrive at Ellis Island, explore Jewish immigrant neighborhoods, and discover how immigrants created synagogues, schools, businesses, newspapers, theaters, mutual-aid societies, and new forms of Jewish American culture. And, finally, we will cook some of the classic recipes that have come to define Jewish American culture. Immigration isn’t just a story about moving from one place to another. It’s a story about memory, adaptation, belonging, and how people make a new home without leaving their history behind.

Please note the following change in the afternoon schedule for 2026-27:

• Jewish Studies classes will take place during the first half of every session and Hebrew classes will take place during the second half. Tefilah Time, during which all students learn Hebrew prayer, takes place between Blocks 1 and 2. Please see the school calendar for details.
• We make every effort to accommodate students’ first choices for electives, but sometimes we are unable to do so. Signing up for both semesters at the start of the school year maximizes students’ opportunities to enroll in their preferred electives. 

Shabbat & Celebrations

Twice per year, families come together for a special service in which students of all ages share the projects they’ve been working on and celebrate Shabbat with their families, peers, teachers, and community. A Jewish Journeys Shabbat may feature a Torah-inspired art exhibit, a theatrical performance, an original Jewish music composition, a short skit in conversational Hebrew, a zine of students’ creative writing, or a delicious offering of handmade challah and Israeli salads. In addition, we gather as a community for various holiday celebrations to bring together affiliated and independent families for connection and learning.

Family Gatherings

As part of Jewish Journeys, your family may participate in Jewish activities throughout our region such as meeting up on Rosh Hashanah, getting together at someone’s house for a potluck Shabbat, gathering at a local community kitchen to cook a meal for the hungry, or celebrating the holidays together.

Program Costs & Registration

We believe in making Jewish education accessible to all of our children. Our scholarship fund is available to help those for whom these costs would be a hardship. If you cannot afford the cost of tuition, we encourage you to speak in confidence with Rabbi Rachel Barenblat, Co-President Natalie Matus, or our congregation treasurer before the start of the school year. You can set up a time to talk using our Contact Form.

If you are in a position to help, we strongly encourage you to support our scholarship fund to support Jewish families with fewer resources. We are deeply grateful to Sally Gottesman, the Jewish Federation of the Berkshires, and the Harold Grinspoon Foundation, who provide foundational support for our learning endeavors.

K–2nd Grade Full Year Program

• $ 350  for CBI members
• $ 500  for non-members

3rd–7th Grade

Your family must be a member of Congregation Beth Israel in order to enroll in grades 6-7.

• $ 500 full-year program of 4 electives for CBI members only
• $ 700 full-year program of 4 electives for non-members (available only in grades 3-5)
• $ 125  per elective for CBI members 
• $ 175  per elective for non-members (available only in grades 3-5)

B-Mitzvah Preparation Fee (Grade 7)

• $ 1000 children must also be enrolled in Jewish Journeys