Youth

Kindergarten to B’nai 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-7th grade)

Sessions are from 9:15 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. on Sundays. We recognize both Jewish and secular holidays, planning our calendar so you can enjoy special time with your families.

From the 3rd grade and up, Beit Midrash students study Hebrew on Tuesday or Wednesday. In this session, students work on leading the service and Hebrew enrichment in small groups or 1:1 learning.

Here is a summary to help understand the time commitments required for each grade:

Grades K-7 (all grades): Sundays from 9:15 a.m. to 12:15 p.m.
Grades 3-7: Tuesdays or Wednesdays. Scheduled individually or in small groups.

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.

The B’nei Mitzvah training includes:

“Jew Crew” (7th Grade) — On Sundays, Jew Crew combines Tikkun Olam (social justice) experiences and environmental education (such as hiking), along with volunteer opportunities at Beth Chaim. Midweek, it focuses on honing skills for the ceremony: Torah chanting and making Jewish ritual a dynamic part of one’s life.
Monthly B’nei Mitzvah Family Class — students and adults attend a monthly class with Rabbi Dan. Here we form our community, study together, and kvell (rejoice) as our young people take the lead into the future.
Attendance at Shabbat services — At least 10 Shabbat morning services and 4 Friday night services before the bar or bat mitzvah.
At least 8 hours of volunteering for Beth Chaim as a family.
Attending private trope and D’var Torah study sessions.
Participating in the B’nei Mitzvah Tzedakah Fund.

A complete guide to the B’nei Mitzvah program, including details of all requirements, can be downloaded here.

Our Curriculum

Our curriculum acknowledges that our students are not only part of Beth Chaim Congregration, 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!

Download the Curriculum

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.

Ava Pedersen – Gan Katan (Kindergarten)

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.

Leo Pedersen – Kitah Gimmel (3rd grade)

Alice Tankel – Kitah Daled (4th grade) and Kitah Hey (5th Grade) & Hebrew Tutor
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 Vav (6th 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.

Ellen Severson – Jew Crew (7th grade), Hebrew Tutor 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.

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 Tutor
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.

Lori Troyanovsky – Hebrew Tutor
This will be Lori’s Eighth 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 three teenage children.