Fifth Grade

In fifth grade we work on expanding and strengthening each student’s Hebrew vocabulary and reading skills. The students gain a more in depth view of Jewish living and customs. A close look at modern Israel as the land of our people is discussed at length. Students learn about the historic context and symbolism of Holiday traditions and laws. The spiritual message is made clearer to the students at this age.

Hebrew -The fifth grade class continues to work on and refine their reading and grammar skills. Script letters are mastered through the copying of printed text into script as well as other writing drills. Students are introduced to Trope Chanting of Torah and Haftorah. The Torah service is rehearsed in class. Students gain a greater understanding of the specific content and sequence of the service. They also become accustomed to their Hebrew names and how they are called up to the Torah for an Alliyah.

Holidays-Holidays are discussed in the context of when and where they occurred on the timeline of world history. The specifics of how each holiday is celebrated and observed is explored in the context of students soon having such responsibilities after their B'nai Mitzvah. Students gain greater awareness of the various streams of Judaism and the way that different families and types of Jews observe Judaism.

Blessings, Prayers and Songs - Students learn the translation and meaning of songs as well as the first paragraph in the Shma Ve’ahavta. Students are expected to memorize this paragraph.

Biblical & Modern History - Both ancient and modern history are studied. Significant emphasis is placed on knowing the Biblical characters, including the family tree of Abraham, which was first introduced in the fourth grade. Each lesson gives special emphasis on what comprises the Tanach and the meaning of each component. Classical Torah legends, historical facts and parables are referenced to help define the meaning of each aspect of our studies. The history of Zionism and the modern state of Israel is studied. The lives of modern Jewish historical figures such as Theodore Herzel, David Ben-Gurion, Golda Meir, and more recent Israeli leaders are at the center of this study. The aim is to instill knowledge and pride for Israel and the Jewish people.

Jewish Living - We discuss and read about Jewish values and how it refines our sense of morality, our sense of fair play and our overall behavior and identity in today’s society. We discuss real life situations that help us better understand the stories read in class. We discuss Mitzvot and why and how we should react to acts of kindness.

Texts and Teacher Resources:

• Jewish Holidays
• Basic Judaism – Volume 2, Torah
• Student Activity Book
  The New Siddur Program – Book 2 with Prayer Skills Workbook