What We Offer

Beth David Youth Programs

     We provide a thorough Jewish education to all children at Beth David. The knowledge they gain is a foundation upon which they build their adult spiritual and communal lives. We develop a community that will support them throughout high school.  

Shabbat Shelanu
     Shabbat morning hosts a cornerstone of our educational program. Shabbat Shelanu (Our Shabbat) consists of a lively and ruach (spirit) filled Jr. Congregation style service, a dialogue on the Torah portion of the week, and an interactive learning opportunity based on a yearly theme (ex. Jewish values, holidays, etc.). Shabbat Shelanu is for students in 2nd-7th grade.

Shabbat Katan
     Families with young children (infants to 1st grade) participate in various opportunities. We offer Shabbat Katan services monthly on Shabbat mornings. Parents and children sing, dance, hear stories, and learn the importance of building Jewish community. We also invite families of all ages to holiday and cultural programs throughout the year, including Rosh HaShanah, Yom Kippur, Sukkot, Chanukah, Purim, and more. 

Hebrew School
     Our Wednesday afternoon Hebrew School features a Hebrew program focusing on tefillah (prayer) and connects nicely to our Shabbat Shelanu program. We cover topics such as God, Jewish identity, Israel, and history. 

B’nai Mitzvah
     Our B’nai Mitzvah includes communal celebrations during our weekly Shabbat gathering and worship. Each bar or bat mitzvah learn various Jewish spiritual skills and forms a personal understanding of what each ritual element means to them. We believe that by preparing our young people properly for their b’nai mitzvah, we are preparing them for a lifetime of engagement in Jewish communal and spiritual life.
We’ve developed three b’nai mitzvah seminars that all students and their parents/guardians participate in during the year before their simcha:
          •    Honors and the Sanctuary:  In this session, we learn about all the honors of Shabbat morning, including which ones are assigned to family and friends. 
          •    Tefillah, Tallit, and Tefillin Boot Camp: Learning about prayer and related ritual objects is vital in bar and bat mitzvah preparation for our children and their families. This part of the process prepares the family to feel comfortable in services.
          •    Tzedakah and Gemilut Hesed: We study traditional texts and participate in activities highlighting differences between Tzedakah and Gemilut Hesed. A vital part of the b’nai mitzvah experience is realizing that the values we learn and celebrate in our community are most potent when we take individual action out in the world.

Jewish Teen Education & Engagement
     Our post-B’nai Mitzvah teen learning is accomplished in two groups: Hebrew High students (8th through 10th grade) participate in interesting and engaging conversations surrounding the ideas of Judaism in our everyday lives. In Confirmation (11th and 12th grade), the rabbi encourages students to develop a meaningful relationship with their “personal Judaism” before going to college.