KESHER Hebrew & Tefillah Resources

Hebrew Learning and Tefillah (Prayer) Resources

Hebrew Learning at KESHER

Our goal is for our KESHER learners is to not only be comfortable in a Shabbat Service setting and know the main prayers and rituals associated with Jewish holidays (such as Chanukah blessings, Passover's Four Questions, and more), but to also have positive feelings about Hebrew.

Kindergarten - Grade 3

Our Kindergarten - Grade 3 learners participate in a nationally renowned program called Hebrew Through Movement. As explained on their website, Used in many Jewish congregations, day schools, camps, early childhood programs and other settings, HTM is an adaptation of James J. Asher's method of Total Physical Response (TPR) and introduces Hebrew in a playful and meaningful way, creating a positive first link between children and Hebrew. HTM is supported by the latest brain research on learning, providing and aural foundation for Hebrew that opens the door to more facile Hebrew decoding and reading; learners learn Hebrew by moving and doing, through being in a positive emotional environment, and through joy and play.

Grades 4 - 7

In Grade 4, our learners start to decode the words and prayers and songs they have already been exposed to through Shira (singing), Tefillah (prayer), and Hebrew Through Movement. Based upon the "unintended consequence" of extraordinarily successful Hebrew online learning during the pandemic, our 4th - 6th grade learners will meet weekly online in small groups to learn the letters, vowels and build their repertoire of Hebrew prayers. Grades 4 & 5 will meet for 30 minutes weekly and our Grade 6 learners meet for 45 minutes weekly. A choice of days and times will be made available to you over the summer once you complete registration. Grade 7 Hebrew takes place during the Tuesday in-person program.

If you prefer for your 4th - 6th grade child to learn Hebrew in person, please click here to sign up for in-person Hebrew that will meet at the following days and times:

Grade 4 In-Person Hebrew: Wednesdays 3:30 - 4:15 with an added opportunity to stay for Club LT Informal and Social Jewish Activities from 4:15 - 5 pm. To sign up, please click here.

Grade 5 In-Person Hebrew: Mondays 3:30 - 4:15 with an added opportunity to stay for Club LT Informal and Social Jewish Activities from 4:15 - 5 pm. To sign up, please click here.

Grade 6 In-Person Hebrew: Mondays 3:30 - 4:15 with an added opportunity to stay for Club LT Informal and Social Jewish Activities from 4:15 - 5 pm. To sign up, please click here.

Tefillah (Prayer) Learning at KESHER

We have two goals with our learners. The first is engage our learners spiritually...they have many questions about God, creation, why bad things happen and how we can bring about more peace in the world. The second is to help our learners become "Jewish citizen" who can attend Friday night and Saturday morning Shabbat services. In Kindergarten - Grade 3, we introduce some of the basic prayers such as Barchu, Shema and Oseh Shalom. Grades 4 & 5 learn the Friday Night Kabbalat Shabbat service and in Grade 6 we add the Saturday morning Shabbat service (including the Torah service) to their repertoire. In the Fall of 2021, our Grade 7 learners will also participate in Tefillah, so that they can catch up from a year of Tefillah on Zoom.

Click here to download KESHER's Prayer Packet.

Below please find resources to help our 4th - 7th grade learners learn how to sing many of the prayers and songs we sing at LT Tefillah/Services. The prayers appear in alphabetical order.

Adonai S'fatai Tiftach: Melody by Craig Taubman