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Our curriculum acknowledges that not only are our students part of the Beth Chaim community, but as Jews they are an essential part of a much greater community. Thus, when they learn to read and chant in Hebrew, they are spiritually, historically and culturally connected to Jews in Israel and all over the world who are reading and chanting the same prayers. By learning Hebrew, the students can feel a connection to all Jews, while honoring the memory of their ancestors. Each grade is centered on a particular theme, as well as a Jewish value. The classes are thought-provoking, focused on essentials of Jewish life and give each child a sense of their place within the many facets of Judaism. Our classrooms are joy-filled, interactive and creative! Keep scrolling down to view our Curriculum and our teachers' bios. |
Click here for Prayers for Practice Audio Files
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Click on the Curriculum above to download and print.
About Our Teachers |
| Shelby Meyer-Margolin – Education Director. Morah Shelby is currently on maternity leave. Morah Grace Munoz, (see Kitah Hey below), is filling in until Morah Shelby returns this summer. |
| Laura Wilson – Gan Katan (Kindergarten) Laura brings over 20 years of youth leadership experience to Beth Chaim’s Kindergarten program. This will be her fourth year engaging our youngest students in enriching activities focusing on Jewish holidays, celebrations and traditions in a fun and loving learning environment. Laura volunteers for Girl Scouts, focusing on community service projects and craft workshops. Laura loves nature, having worked and lived in Yosemite and Yellowstone National Parks. |
| Lara Groch – Kitah Alef (1st grade) and Torah Tots Lara has worked in the educational field for over twenty years, with students ranging from preschool age to teens. She took a transformative trip to Israel with Birthright and loves to visit family there. Lara brings energy, creativity and musical ability to our Beit Midrash. She has three children. |
| Kathleen Rubinfeld – Kitah Bet (2nd grade) Kathleen is in her 13th year teaching at the Beit Midrash. Her two (now adult children) became B’nei Mitzvahs at Beth Chaim. She loves spending time with her two grandsons! Kathleen enjoys working and playing with the younger members of the Beit Midrash– their openness, enthusiasm and energy spur her on to learn more about Judaism herself year after year. |
| Ellen Rosenbluth – Kitah Gimmel (3rd grade) Ellen (Morah Rose) has been a member of Beth Chaim for 12 years and has previously taught in our Sunday scool and has been a prior board member. For the past 3 years she has been a teacher at Richmond High and before that was a practicing attorney. She has a wealth of administrative and teaching experience and is looking forward to bringing that experience to Beth Chaim's Beit Midrash. |
| Alice Tankel – Kitah Daled (4th grade) Alice was born in Romania and moved to Israel as a young girl. She taught middle school science and earned an MBA before moving to the United States 12 years ago. Alice has two children. She is beginning her 5th year at Beth Chaim and enjoys teaching about Hebrew and Israeli culture. |
| Grace Munoz – Kitah Hey (5th Grade). Grace has been a teacher and her family have been members at Beth Chaim for 15 years. Her children attended the Beit Midrash from Kindergarten through their B’nei Mitzvahs, and remain involved in their Jewish community. Grace studied at Tel Aviv University during college. Prior to teaching at Beth Chaim, she practiced special education and disability civil rights law. |
| Lori Troyanovsky – Hebrew Power Hour This will be Lori’s fourth year teaching 5th grade Hebrew at Beth Chaim. Her Hebrew study began when she volunteered in the Israeli Army, and continued when she spent her senior year studying at Hebrew University in Jerusalem. She loves working with youth and spent many years working as a social worker with at-risk teens and their families. Lori has three children. |
| Ally Ferber – Kitah Vav (6th grade) Sundays Ally has been a member of Beth Chaim her whole life and went through the Sunday school and Hebrew school program. She had her Bat Mitzvah at Beth Chaim and became a Madricha immediately following until she completed high school. She graduated from Sonoma State with a Bachelors and teaching degree and began her passion of teaching in Kindergarten. She now is entering her third year of teaching fifth grade at a private school. |
| Ellen Severson – Jew Crew (7th grade) Ellen has been a member of Beth Chaim for 13 years and this will be her 5th year teaching 7th grade. She believes that hands-on learning is the best teaching model for understanding what Jewish values are all about. Ellen earned an MBA years ago and then worked in the financial world in San Francisco. She loves to hike and has been to Israel twice. |
| Samantha Hanlon – Hebrew Power Hour and B’nei Mitzvah trope mentor Sam has been a member of Beth Chaim for her whole life, going through Sunday school and Hebrew school from kindergarten to 7th grade, Bat Mitzvah and becoming a Madricha. Sam has been teaching at Beth Chaim for 9 years and also works from home as a college counselor for a nursing school in Utah. Her passion is teaching students their Torah portions and being a trope mentor. Sam has a daughter and infant son. |
| Tal Sendrovitz - Hebrew Power Hour Tal Sendrovitz is looking forward to her 3rd year of teaching Hebrew at Beth Chaim Congregation. Tal is passionate about sharing her native language with young students. She lives in Danville with her three children. Tal was born and raised in Israel, where she obtained an engineering degree and worked as an engineer until she decided 8 years ago to follow her passion and make a career change. Tal opened a bakery, Tal’s Patisserie, here in Danville. |