Activities/Service > Education > Beit Yeladim

Beit Yeladim

Children's House - the teaching of Jewish religion and culture for children between the age of 4 and 14

Beit Yeladim has only existed since 2001 - but in this short time we have achieved much. In addition to preparing children for Bar and Bat Mitzvah, the Beit Yeladim offer or coordinate special child-friendly worship services, holidays, Shabbat dinners for families with children and - last but not least - a stimulating environment for Jewish children and their families. Activities have been possible thanks to a strong partnership between the synagogue, parents, children and teachers.

The purpose of Beit Yeladim is to inspire children to feel a connection to the Jewish people and spirituality, and the Hebrew language, and an incentive to live according to Judaism ethical values.

Values

Beit Yeladim is founded on the values of progressive Judaism, including:

• A flexible Judaism, which is changing over time



• Equality between men and women, also in the synagogue



• Girls and boys have equal status in the religious education



• For children with one Jewish and one non-Jewish parent Jewish education is viewed as essential to the perception of the child as a Jewish



• Jewish ethical values, which includes reverence for life, respect for people and property, kindness in practice (g'milut chasadim) and charity (tzedakah), social justice and peace, nature conservation and the humane treatment of animals



• Talmud Torah (study of Torah ): the free and easy training and proper education of children and adults in Jewish history and literature, thinking and behaviour, and the Hebrew language as the foundation of Jewish life and essential for its survival through the generations

Generally, the emphasis is that a liberal philosophy is a part of the course, understood such that there are not "one correct" form of Judaism. The children are informed about various Jewish strings and the importance of respect for other religions.

Teaching

Education aims to give children knowledge of:

• Jewish identity



• Jewish heritage and history



• Religion: Holidays, Shabbat and life cycle, the content of worship service



• Jewish ethics

Tuition is divided into four groups according to age:

Aleph: age 4 - 6

The teaching is organized according to children in kindergarten and preschool age. There is no real teaching, but lots of creative activities, songs, music and movement to music, history narratives with visual materials and the manufacture of homemade stuff to convey it as the teacher told about.

The following topics are included in teaching:

• Jewish holidays and its underlying history and special symbols, prayers, music, food or other appropriate subjects



• Shabbat and how this is celebrated, including the learning of blessing over candles, wine and bread, Havdalah, the spice box, Havdalah candle



• Jewish symbols, such as Magen David, Chanukkiah, kippa, Tallit



• Tzedakah charity



• Stories from the Bible - eg the creation of the world, Adam and Eve

The parents of the youngest children are very welcome to join in the beginning to participate in class.

Beit: age 7 - 8

Content is now a little more school-like and may be given homework. Tuition remains aligned kids maturity level and knowledge of Judaism. Their knowledge and level of knowledge can be very different, so it may be necessary to ask individual parents to talk about or review certain topics at home. Emphasis continued emphasis by repetition of the previously learned, with the addition of new music and song, and creativity and produce their own things that relate to teaching.

The following topics are included in teaching:

• Continued repetition and learning about the Jewish Holidays



• Continuous learning about people from the Bible



• Tzedakah and Mitzvah



• Repeat and learn new blessings: Shema, Shabbat blessings, Ma Tovu, Barchu, Mi Chamocha, Ose Shalom



• Speech on Jewish values



• Introduce synagogue and synagogue symbols



• About Jerusalem



• A little about the old days - such as reading aloud from works of fiction suitable for children

Gimmel: age 9 - 10

Instruction in the more traditional topics continues, and there will always be some repetition of old material, while nothing new. In preparation for their B’nei Mitzvah teaching Hebrew during this period, also knowledge of Jewish history in Europe (not the Shoah) as well as questions and discussions about ethics and morals.

The following topics are included in teaching:

• Focus in Hebrew, in relation to the alphabet and prayers



• Continuous learning about people and stories from the Bible and moral dilemmas associated with the stories



• In-depth about Pesach and its related blessings



• Knowledge of Havdalah and Chanukka blessings and songs



• Introduction to Mishnah and Talmud



• Yiddishkeit – shtetl life / ghetto life - how Jewish life was lived in the old days, listening to klezmer music



• The Jews of Spain, the Golden Age period - Maimonides - cohabitation between Muslims, Catholics and Jews, integration



• Speaking of what the Bar / Bat Mitzvah means - individually and generally. Reflect on own situation and Jewishness



• Geography - map of Israel - where Jews live there - how do they look?



• Moral - about being a Jew in a non-Jewish environment

Teachers

Our teachers have all the necessary knowledge about Judaism, are Hebrew knowledgeable and has practical experience with children.

Where and when

Aleph, Beth and Gimmel classes meet at 10:30 to 12:30 on Sundays in the first full weekend each month (see syllabus). Please see the calendar for details about when the Beit Yeladim meet.

Required four children to create a teaching class.

Location: Unitarernes Hus, Dag Hammarskjölds Allé 30, 2100 København Ø

For more information

Please call at +45 23 70 97 57 or email: shirhatzafon@mail.dk.