stablished by parents in 1998, our children’s Jewish studies program is designed and dedicated to providing our children with a positive Jewish experience, an understanding of their heritage and history, and a sense of belonging to a diverse community with a unique culture. Our objective is to ensure our students learn not just the “what” but the “why” with an emphasis on arts, music, culture and fun.

Our program values Judaism as a dynamic living religion. Certain themes and goals are integrated throughout all levels of our program. Our students learn to question what it means to be a Jew and how being Jewish affects our values, beliefs, and behaviour. Together, students and teachers will ask the question “Who am I?” and explore what a Jewish identity means personally, within the family, the Jewish community, and the community-at-large. A key component of the program is respect for the broad spectrum of multi-culturalism, which exists within Judaism.

These issues will be explored through discussion and debate, music, drama, language, holidays, bible stories, Torah, and Jewish rituals, as well as, history and current events. Volunteers The Danforth Jewish Circle children's Jewish studies program is organized and administered by a dedicated legion of volunteers ably, assisted by professional teaching and program development support.

Classroom and program volunteers are also an integral part of our programming. Volunteering not only provides the many extra hands and feet we need to run our program, it improves parent/school communications, and ensures our fees remain affordable. It is the combination of staff and parents working together, for the benefit of our children, which makes our school a special place. We welcome new ideas and input. To ensure the continued growth and ongoing improvement of our Jewish Studies Program, we need our parents to volunteer.

Our Children’s Jewish Studies Program meets Thursday afternoons.

Sample Curriculum

• GRADE sk/1: Orientation to Jewish Life - Holiday Traditions & Rituals
• GRADE 2: Jewish Life Cycles and The Synagogue
• GRADE 3: Bible Stories and the Jewish calendar
• GRADE 4: Diaspora Jewry: Jewish Movements and Sects
• GRADE 5: Social Action
• GRADE 6: Jews Around the World and Ethical Decision Making
• B'NAI MITZVAH: Who am I in relation to the world? A hands-on coming of age journey
• ALL GRADES: Hebrew

Funding

The Danforth Jewish Circle membership generously supports our children’s program by providing both core funding, as well as, tuition bursaries to families in need.

Special thanks go to the Jewish Connection Partnership, the Miles Nadal JCC, and the UJA Federation of Greater Toronto whose grants have enabled our program to flourish and grow.

For More Information or To Reach our School Directly: Telephone (416) 831-7301

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