← All years
GRADE 5 · AGE 10 · FRUIT Peirot

A Jewish Life

Lifecycle. Children journey through the milestone moments of a Jewish life — birth to memory — feeling that Jewish tradition has wisdom and comfort for every moment of being human. Tender units (divorce, death) carry advance family notice and opt-outs.

THE CHILD’S BOOK

13 printable chapters, 164 pages

Read the pages a child holds, exactly as they print — a painted story, the work that follows it, and one Hebrew word a chapter written by hand.

Open the book →

LOOKS BACK

Turns Grade 4’s wide view of the people inward, to the profound arc of one Jewish life.

LOOKS AHEAD

Grade 6 will place Torah and leadership in the child’s hands as they become B’nei Mitzvah — a lifecycle moment they now understand.

How growth is shown

SIGNATURE PROJECT

“The Circle of a Jewish Life” lifecycle portfolio

COMMUNITY ROLE

Lead Torah-service blessings; visit/honor elders

TIKKUN OLAM

Bikkur cholim and honoring elders

The Golden Threads this year

  • I Am a Blessing

    “Who am I becoming?” Ethical reflections, a d’var Torah, and a B’nei Mitzvah vision.

  • Our Beautifully Diverse People

    K’lal Yisrael as a lived commitment — whose voices are missing, and who am I to them?

  • I Belong and I Contribute

    Lead Torah-service blessings and full T’filah segments; mentor younger grades.

  • The Hebrew & T’filah Ladder

    Torah and Haftarah blessings; leading prayer; chanting for B’nei Mitzvah.

The year, unit by unit

15 units · 25 planned sessions

  1. 1The Circle of LifeWhat a lifecycle moment is; what makes a Jewish life1 sessionTeacher kit →
  2. 2Birth & Birth StoriesJewish and personal arrival stories (all paths to family)1 sessionTeacher kit →
  3. 3Brit Milah & Simchat BatWelcoming rituals and the meaning of a Hebrew name1 sessionTeacher kit →
  4. 4AdoptionJudaism honors adoption; creating meaningful new rituals1 sessionTeacher kit →
  5. 5ConsecrationCelebrating the start of Jewish learning1 sessionTeacher kit →
  6. 6Becoming B’nei MitzvahResponsibility for one’s own mitzvot at 133 sessionsTeacher kit →
  7. 7The B’nei Mitzvah CeremonyHistory and order of the service; Jewish adulthood3 sessionsTeacher kit →
  8. 8ConfirmationChoosing to continue; the link to Shavuot1 sessionTeacher kit →
  9. 9Conversion — Jews by ChoiceRuth’s story; welcoming Jews by choice fully3 sessionsTeacher kit →
  10. 10MarriageChuppah, ketubah, sheva brachot; the value of simcha3 sessionsTeacher kit →
  11. 11DivorceThe get; families take many shapes (advance notice)1 sessionTeacher kit →
  12. 12Aliyah — Choosing to GoChoosing to move your life to Israel, and what that decision costs and gives1 sessionTeacher kit →
  13. 13AgingHonoring elders; the ethical will1 sessionTeacher kit →
  14. 14DeathMourning rituals that comfort; memory as a blessing (advance notice)3 sessionsTeacher kit →
  15. 15The Circle, In Your Hands — CelebrationAssembling the lifecycle portfolio and presenting it to the congregation1 sessionTeacher kit →

Hebrew this year

Nativ Level 4

Read smoothly enough to lead — Kiddush, the Torah blessings, and Kaddish.

Reads: Long Kiddush · Birkot HaTorah (Torah blessings) · Ki Mitzion · Mourner's Kaddish

  • ⌒not word by word
  • ְsounded, or silent?
  • קִדּוּשׁmaking Shabbat holy over wine
  • בִּרְכוֹת הַתּוֹרָהthe blessings before and after Torah
  • כִּי מִצִּיּוֹןsung as the Torah is carried
  • קַדִּישׁsaid in memory, together