Beit Rabban, TBZ’s afterschool learning program, is committed to helping learners discover value in Jewish traditions for their lives now and in the future. We strive to provide an integrated Jewish living and Hebrew language learning experience aimed toward producing moments of meaning and artifacts for Jewish living. We meet on Wednesdays from 4:00-6:00pm. Learners build Jewish vocabulary and language skills through exposure and use with each other and with their families.
Shorashim – The Roots
Shorashim means “roots” in Hebrew. Roots grow because they are allowed to spread out and find their nourishment in the ground. Over two years, our Shorashim will become rooted in Jewish traditions and begin to discover how they are connected through time and space to other Jewish people, Jewish places and Jewish objects. They will acquire and practice Hebrew language skills using Hebrew Through Movement and mnemonics based on the Orton-Gillingham approach.
Alef (Kindergarteners and First Graders)
In Shorashim Alef, young Jews explore concepts, holidays and tools foundational to engaged Jewish living. Throughout that exploration, they are encouraged to make connections to their own lives and they conclude each learning unit by producing something meaningful and/or useful for their own practice. Learners will learn Hebrew words related to what they are learning, as well as be exposed to songs and blessings necessary.
Bet (2nd & 3rd Grades)
In Shorashim Bet, young Jews continue to explore concepts, holidays and tools important to Jewish living, primarily through the stories of our tradition. Throughout their exploration, they are challenged to make connections to their own lives and they conclude each learning unit by producing something meaningful and/or useful to their own practice. Learners will learn Hebrew words related to what they are learning, as well as be exposed to songs and blessings.
Ilanot (4th & 5th Graders
Ilanot are strong trees that grow out of deep roots (the shorashim of the years before). A common theme will be explored through a variety of modalities, including: cooking, visual arts, music, text study, etc. This year includes Ulpan Beit Rabban, a Hebrew language intensive. All of the themes build a foundation for their mechina learning and continued Jewish living.
Mechina (6th grade/Pre-B’Mitzvah*)
Mechina means “preparation.” In Mechina, learners prepare to become B’Mitzvah* through an immersive learning experience with their age cohort. Over two semesters, they will learn Torah and haftarah trope systems, how to navigate the Tanakh, how to ask text-based questions and seek out answers as well as how to craft those questions and answers into a d’var Torah. Students will have the opportunity for 1:1 time to hone their skills before transitioning to their tutors.
Rimonim (B’Mitzvah year)
The rimonim are the silver crowns on the Torah. Also, rimonim stand for pomegranates, which are fabled to have as many seeds as there are mitzvot in the Jewish tradition (613). Our Rimonim discover what it means to be B’Mitzvah through experiments in Jewish living.
*B’Mitzvah-a gender-neutral expression of bar or bat mitzvah, literally meaning “of the commandment”