Youth

Kindergarten to B’nei Mitzvah and beyond

Our students grow spirituality and intellectually, continuing to be proud of their heritage and use their knowledge to make the world a better place.
Contact us for more information and schedules.

Click the blue tabs below for information on each program.

Beit Midrash

The Beit Midrash (TK – 7^th Grade)

At Beth Chaim’s Beit Midrash, we’re raising mensches.
Through playful and meaningful exploration of Jewish values, traditions, and stories, our learners grow not just in knowledge, but in heart and character. Our curriculum centers community, creating a safe and joyful space where children feel seen, supported, and celebrated. Here, each child has the opportunity to connect with Judaism in a way that feels personal, alive, and uniquely their own. We honor the full range of experiences—joys, questions, and struggles alike—and offer Jewish wisdom as a toolkit for navigating the world with compassion, courage, and curiosity.

All students meet on Sunday mornings from 9:15-12:15, and grades 3-7 come on Wednesdays from 4:30-6:30 for in-depth Hebrew study and Hebrew games. For more information, please contact our Education Director Shelby Meyer Margolin at educator@bethchaim.com .

Bar and Bat Mitzvah at Beth Chaim

B’nei Mitzvah are truly special for Beth Chaim’s students. In our tradition, young Jews do not “have” a bar or bat mitzvah. A girl becomes a bat mitzvah, and a boy becomes a bar mitzvah. It is not only performative; it is transformative. At Beth Chaim, we look at the nature of mitzvah (“commandment”) with an eye to setting spiritual practices of sharing, learning, and acting kindly towards others in the hearts of our young adults. We learn the practice of tefilah (“prayer”) and blessings, as a pathway to nurture awareness and create good habits. We aim to share the richness of Jewish tradition and to assist our students in leading a life of gratitude, meaning and joy.

In keeping with this change of status, preparations take place on all levels to welcome our young adults and give their families an opportunity to experience this event as truly awe-inspiring. Students prepare to lead prayer, read from our Torah scroll, share reflections about the texts, and take on new responsibilities.

For more information, please contact our Education Director Shelby Meyer Margolin at educator@bethchaim.com

Our Curriculum

We utilize Shalom Learning Curriculum in our K-7^th grade classrooms. Shalom Learning offers a deep, innovative, and playful study of Torah stories, Hebrew, Jewish culture, and Jewish traditions, all through the lens of Jewish Values. The activities foster connection between students and guide our mission to raise mensches.

For more information on K-2 curriculum, please click here

For more information on 3-7 curriculum, please click here

Madrichim (Teen Guides) Leadership Development Program– Looking Forward, Giving Back

We are very proud that many of our students come back after their Bar or Bat Mitzvahs to teach the new generation of students! Madrichim use their Jewish learning to assist teachers on Sunday mornings in classrooms and have opportunities to lead interest projects, such as making a movie, leading music or planning school-wide activities. We hold multiple leadership development trainings throughout the year to support madrichim’s personal growth. Madrichim give so much to our students and in return they receive respect and appreciation from the community, plus job references and college recommendations!

If you are interested in becoming one of our madrichim, click here for more information and an on-line application.
You can email Education Director Shelby Meyer Margolin at educator@bethcahim.com with any questions.

About our teachers

If you are interested in becoming a substitute teacher, please view this form for details.

Lara Groch – Gan Katan (Kindergarten) & Kitah Alef (1st grade)/Torah Tots/Tot Shabbat/PJ Library Parent Connector/Membership Board Chair
Lara has worked in the educational field for over twenty years, with students ranging from preschool age to teens. This is her 7th year teaching at Beth Chaim. Lara brings energy, creativity and musical ability to our Beit Midrash. She is married to Jeremy and has three children. Starting in January she will be on Beth Chaim’s Board as our Membership Chair.

Sarah Kuritz – Kitah Bet (2nd grade) & Kitah Gimmel (3rd grade)
Sarah was raised in Danville and after graduating from the University of Arizona, returned to the Bay Area. She has worked in the field of education for over 20 years in special education as well as subbing for both the San Ramon and Lafayette school districts. She also taught preschool and is currently earning her Masters in Elementary Education. Sarah was married in 2023 and has 2 children and a stepson. Her oldest Mathew is a freshman in high school and is also one of her madrichim. Her youngest Holden is 7 and in a 1st grade SDC class. Sarah will be taking over as the director of Fundraising come January.

Alice Tankel – Kitah Daled (4th grade) & Hebrew Tutor
Alice was born in Romania and moved to Israel at a young age. She taught middle school science and earned an MBA before moving to the United States 18 years ago. She is beginning her 10th year at Beth Chaim and enjoys teaching Hebrew and Israeli culture. Alice is married and has two grown up children, two dogs and a cat.

Haley Blackman – Kitah Hay (5th Grade)
Haley is a high school senior from the area that attended Beth Chaim Beit Madrash religious school growing up and had her Bat Mitzvah in 2021. She is passionate about teaching and connecting with the kids, as was a Madricha for three years and teacher for two years. Outside of Beth Chaim, Haley is the captain of her varsity cheer team and loves volunteering with the special needs community. She brings a youthful spirit to the Beit Midrash and loves to practice Hebrew and sing songs!

Jonathan Cohen – Kitah Vav (6th Grade) & Hebrew Teacher
Jonathan was born and raised in the Bay Area and had moved to Israel after college in San Diego. After serving in the Armored Corps, Jonathan studied at Ben Gurion University before moving back to California. He is married and has two kids, both of whom attend Sunday School. He loves to play board games and sports, watch movies and read books.

Grace Munoz – Hebrew Teacher
Grace and her husband Carlos have been members of Beth Chaim for 20 years, and she has been teaching at the Beit Midrash for all those years. Her 2 adult children were B’nei Mitzvahed at Beth Chaim, and attended Midrasha. Prior to teaching at Beth Chaim, she practiced special education and disability civil rights law.

Ellen Severson – Jew Crew (7th grade), Hebrew Teacher and B’nei Mitzvah trope mentor
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.

Tal Sendrovitz – Hebrew Teacher
New bio: Tal Sendrovitz is looking forward to her 8th 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 13 years ago to follow her passion and make a career change. Tal opened a bakery, Tal’s Patisserie, here in Danville.

Lori Troyanovsky – Hebrew Teacher
This will be Lori’s Ninth year teaching Hebrew at Beth Chaim. While attending U.C.Davis, she spent her senior year studying at Hebrew University in Jerusalem Lori began teaching Hebrew at Beth Chaim while studying for her Masters in Social Work. After many years working as a social worker with at-risk youth and their families, she decided to return to teaching. Lori has 3 children who went through the temple’s B’nai Mitzvah Program.

Maya Shumsker – Hebrew Teacher
Maya is a native Hebrew speaker growing up in Israel where she lived for over 20 years. Maya received her undergraduate degree in Graphic Design at the Avni Institute of Art and Design. She loves teaching children including her own 5 and 3 year olds. Maya is fluent in Hebrew, English, and Amharic (Ethiopian). Maya recently led a celebration at a synagogue where she educated the members on a Jewish holiday unique to Ethiopian culture called Sigd.