Gan Israel Hebrew School is a place where the joys, values and traditions of Judaism are brought to life. We feel it is essential that this experience be a positive, cheerful and enjoyable chapter of your child’s maturing process. The goal of our school is to instill in the children feelings of pride and affection for their heritage. We believe this can best be accomplished in an atmosphere of joy and warmth. 
The Approach
We focus on the beauty and significance of our heritage through discussions, workshops and hands-on projects. We emphasize Jewish values and ethics. Mutual respect and tolerance for fellow human beings are taught as basic principles of the Jewish faith.
Philosophy
Our school is a contemporary learning center that successfully caters to Jewish families from all walks of life. Our school welcomes every Jew, regardless of religious background or level of observance. It is for this reason that our school does not require any membership or prior affiliations as a condition for enrollment.
Curriculmn
Our program is designed to actively involve students, and to keep the children motivated and enthusiastic. The curriculum is taught through a variety of mediums such as, games, drama, songs, arts and crafts, workshops and holiday celebrations. Parents are regularly informed of their child’s progress and the lessons covered in his/her classes. Through our monthly class summary we give the parents an opportunity to be involved in their child’s Hebrew School experience. For a more detailed description of the curriculum, please see below.
Bar and Bat Mitzvah
As the students near the age of Bar/Bat Mitzvah, special training will be offered to prepare them in a meaningful way for the special event. The training for Bar Mitzvah and Bat Mitzvah are not identical and follows the Halacha (Jewish Law). This program is offered independent from our Hebrew School.
For more information please contact Chabad at 410-340-0371.
Chabad Hebrew School Curriculum
Below is an overview of the CHS curriculum. The particular activities and studies your child will partake in will depend on his/her age group.
Hebrew
Beginning with letter recognition, this program leads the students through phonetic decoding, reading comprehension and writing.
Torah (Bible) and Jewish History
The children are introduced to the characters and stories of the Bible. They are given an overview of Jewish history starting with creation to the giving of the Torah to modern day Israel.
Holidays
Hands-on lessons on each Jewish holiday will fill the calendar as we proceed from Rosh Hashanah and the High Holidays through the holiday of Shavuot. The students will have a deeper understanding of each holiday, traditions and customs. Chabad Religious School will also host holiday celebrations for our students and their families.
Jewish Values and Ethics
Using various texts the students will read and discuss stories and case scenarios that have practical application to our every day life. They will understand that our religion is based on a set of Divinely ordained values and morals.
Mitzvot: Why We Do What We Do
Why do women light Shabbat candles? Why is Shabbat such a special day in the week? Why do we have a Mezuzah on our doors? This class will teach basic Mitzvot and provide insightful meaning of more complex Mitzvot.
Arts and Crafts
Art projects are incorporated into our curriculum to add to the excitement for the upcoming holidays and Mitzvot. Our projects will have Jewish holiday and Mitzvot themes and will add a taste of Jewish life to the home.
Extra Curricular
We will offer a variety of extra curricular activities such as special guests, Friday night dinners, Holiday celebrations, and contests. These events will allow our students to experience Judaism in its entirety.
