Youth Education Centre: Approach to Jewish Learning

We strive to create an atmosphere and community of warmth, excitement, and love of Jewish learning in which students in JK through to Grade 10 Confirmation acquire:

• Jewish literacy, skills and knowledge
• Values of life-long Jewish learning, mitzvot and g’milut Chassadim
• Commitment and connection to Judaism and Israel
• Appreciation of Jewish history, roots and culture
• Sense of belonging to the Jewish community

Through a combination of creative and hands-on learning experiences, students will develop a sense of community and belonging to Holy Blossom Temple, the Jewish communities within Toronto and Canada, the broader Reform movement and Israel.

The development of skills and knowledge will enable our young people to read Hebrew, participate comfortably and capably in t’fillah (worship services), master the basic skills required to study Torah, and observe and celebrate holidays throughout the Jewish calendar.

To attain these goals, we rely on an integrated curriculum and experiential/creative teaching models.  Our teachers are dynamic, enthusiastic, and positive Jewish role models for our students. We aim to create a partnership between teachers and parents at home, to support and encourage Jewish learning and living, and we are grateful for the support of our congregation, who places importance, and values Jewish learning, at all ages.

Not only is our goal for our students to gain Jewish skills, but also, to form meaningful relationships and ties to their peers and to our congregational community. All students are encouraged to continue along their path of Jewish Education beyond B’nei Mitzvah, to Confirmation in grade 10, and take their well-deserved place in a photo on our wall.