Our Religious School is a vibrant, engaging and inclusive community dedicated to partnering with families to lay the groundwork for the next generation of engaged, informed, compassionate Jews through fun, interactive, meaningful experiences. We are one of the largest Religious School programs in the country, boasting nearly 800 learners! Our amazing team of teachers and teen madrichim (assistants) create a warm, welcoming, environment that guides learners to develop a strong sense of Jewish self, while experiencing the power of community and belonging. We empower our learners to grow into adults who proudly embrace their Jewish identity and see the world through Jewish eyes.
We recognize and celebrate the unique talents, identities, and perspectives that each learner brings to our program. We strive to create an environment that is safe, welcoming, and supportive, fostering a culture of respect, inclusion, and belonging. To support this, our Religious School team includes both a teacher and a student support specialist, working together to ensure that all learners feel valued.
Interested in having your child(ren) attend Religious School?
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Kindergarten-6th Grade Sunday Program:
Undeniable energy and joy fill our building on Sunday mornings!
Our K-6 Sunday program includes hands-on experiences that delve into Torah, Jewish holidays, rituals, history, t’fila (prayer), God, Israel, and the Jewish life cycle. Our curriculum fosters connection, critical thinking, creativity, and an open-minded approach to understanding Jewish traditions and values. To enhance this learning, students participate in a variety of special activities including art, music, clergy connections, Israeli dance, guest speakers, library visits, and cooking. Through engaging discussions, interactive activities, and immersive experiences, we provide a strong foundation for our learners to engage with our rich heritage while inspiring a love for the joy of Jewish life.
We are proud to provide multiple opportunities for families to create lasting Jewish memories and strengthen connections, including grade-level family programs, Shabbat dinners, holiday celebrations and our annual all-school family Good Deeds Day.
4th-6th Grade Online Hebrew Program
In addition to our Sunday Program, 4th-6th grade learners participate in weekly, online, one-on-one, 20-minute Hebrew sessions. This individualized model allows us to meet each learner where they are as they learn to decode the Hebrew aleph-bet (alphabet) and gain proficiency with blessings and prayers, which will not only help prepare them for B’nai Mitzvah but also arm them with the skills necessary to comfortably participate in t’fila (prayer services) throughout life.
Our goal is to enrich our learners’ exploration of Judaism, provide opportunities for socializing and building friendships, and inspire teens to engage with Judaism in personally meaningful ways.
N’tivot meets Sunday evenings from 5:30-7:30pm. Each session consists of a community dinner and either a grade-level core class or student-selected elective. Highlights throughout the year include our Chanukah party, teen-led Good Deeds Day focused on social action programs and Yom HaShoah (Holocaust Remembrance Day) program.
Because we know how important connection and friendship are to our teens, to help make our N’tivot community as inclusive as possible, we are relaunching our Peer Buddy Program. Buddies receive training and offer friendly support to students who may benefit from extra peer connection opportunities.
7th Grade
Core: Holocaust Intensive (8 weeks)
Trip/Program: 7th Gr. Late Night @ TRS, US Holocaust Memorial Museum
8th Grade
Core: Comparative Judaism (4 weeks) & Comparative Religions (4 weeks)
Trip: 8th/9th Gr. Baltimore or Philadephia Day Trip (location alternates each year)
9th Grade
Core: Israel Today (4 weeks) & Being a Mensch (4 weeks)
Trip: 8th/9th Gr. Baltimore or Philadephia Day Trip (location alternates each year)
Sample Electives: On the Air: Podcasting for a Purpose, Voices of Israel: A Cultural Mosaic, Mystical Creatures & Judaism, Jewish Cooking Through the Holidays, Jewish Jams: The Music of Judaism, Jewish Humor, Jews and Social Movements, The History and Art of Pickling, Jewish Genealogy, Speaking Truth to Power, Jewish History Through Film, Clay & Culture: Crafting Jewish Traditions, Shutter & Spirit: Jewish Stories Through Photography and Fried & Festive: Chanukah Foods
A highlight of our Religious School program is the 10th grade Confirmation year, which meets on Sunday evenings from 5:30-7:30 PM and includes dinner. This transformative year strengthens our students’ connection to the TRS community while providing a solid foundation in Jewish values and a deep understanding of Reform Jewish ideology and identity. Key elements of the program include weekly sessions co-taught by clergy and our esteemed Confirmation teacher as well as our highly anticipated New York City trip exploring ‘Jewish New York’ with our clergy and staff. The year culminates with the Confirmation service, which is led by the Confirmands themselves.
Many of our learners choose to continue their Jewish education through 11th/12th grades and gather on Sundays bi-monthly from 7:45-8:45 PM for food, friendship and discussion, to better understanding current events and topics relevant to their lives through a Jewish lens. The 11th/12th graders help identify topics of interest. Sessions are taught by clergy and our Religious School Director, with whom the students have built relationships over the years.
Hineni, the Hebrew word for “I am here,” is our alternative, individualized program for 7th–12th graders. Teens work individually with a mentor to identify events and activities that are tailored to their interests, schedule, and needs. The teens reflect and process these experiences quarterly with their mentor. There are also several opportunities for Hineni participants to gather during the year.
There is an undeniable energy and joy that fills our building on Sunday mornings!
Our K-6 Sunday program includes hands-on experiences that delve into Torah, Jewish holidays, rituals, history, t’fila (prayer), God, Israel, and the Jewish life cycle. Our curriculum fosters connection, critical thinking, creativity, and an open-minded approach to understanding Jewish traditions and values. To enhance this learning, students participate in a variety of special activities including art, music, clergy connections, Israeli dance, guest speakers, library visits, and cooking. Through engaging discussions, interactive activities, and immersive experiences, we lay a strong foundation for our learners to engage with our rich heritage while inspiring a love for the joy of Jewish life that our learners will carry with them throughout their lives.
We are proud to provide multiple opportunities for families to celebrate Shabbat together and engage in grade-level and whole-family programs throughout the year. Our hope is that these experiences help families create lasting Jewish memories and strengthen their connections to one another.
In addition to our Sunday Program, 4th-6th grade learners participate in weekly, online, one-on-one, 20-minute Hebrew sessions. This individualized model allows us to meet each learner where they are as they learn to decode the Hebrew aleph-bet (alphabet) and gain proficiency with blessings and prayers, which will not only help prepare them for B’nai Mitzvah but arm them with the skills necessary to comfortably participate in t’fila (prayer services)
Teen Religious School Programs
Our Teen Religious School programs offer dynamic, supportive and engaging spaces for teens to explore their Jewish identity, engage with Jewish traditions, and build connections with their peers. Through a variety of activities, including thought-provoking discussions, social events, community service projects, and hands-on experiences, teens are encouraged to reflect on their personal relationship with Judaism. Our programs focus on leadership, social responsibility, exploring multiple facets of Judaism, helping teens cultivate a strong sense of community and a deeper understanding of Jewish values that will guide them throughout their lives.
Please read more about our offerings below:
Our goal is to enrich our learners’ exploration of Judaism, provide opportunities for socializing and building friendships, and inspire them to engage with Judaism in a way that is personally meaningful to them.
Teens begin each session with a community pizza dinner together before heading to core or elective sessions.
7th Grade
Core: Holocaust Intensive (8 weeks)
Trip/Program: 7th Gr. Late Night @ TRS, US Holocaust Memorial Museum
8th Grade
Core: Comparative Judaism (4 weeks) & Comparative Religions (4 weeks)
Trip: 8th/9th Gr. Baltimore or Philadephia Day Trip (location alternates each year)
9th Grade
Core: Israel Today (4 weeks) & Being a Mensch (4 weeks)
Trip: 8th/9th Gr. Baltimore or Philadephia Day Trip (location alternates each year)
Sample Electives: On the Air: Podcasting for a Purpose, Voices of Israel: A Cultural Mosaic, Mystical Creatures & Judaism, Jewish Cooking Through the Holidays, Jewish Jams: The Music of Judaism, Jewish Humor, Jews and Social Movements, The History and Art of Pickling, Jewish Genealogy, Speaking Truth to Power, Jewish History Through Film, Clay & Culture: Crafting Jewish Traditions, Shutter & Spirit: Jewish Stories Through Photography and Fried & Festive: Chanukah Foods
A highlight of our Religious School program is the 10th grade Confirmation year, which meets on Sunday evenings from 5:30-7:30pm and includes pizza dinner. This transformative year strengthens our students’ connection to the TRS community while providing a solid foundation in Jewish values and a deep understanding of Reform Jewish ideology and identity. Key elements of the program include weekly sessions co-taught by clergy and our esteemed Confirmation teacher and a New York City trip exploring ‘Jewish New York’ with our clergy and staff. The year culminates with the Confirmation service, which is led by the Confirmands themselves.
Many of our learners choose to continue their Jewish education through 11th/12th grades and gather bi-monthly on Sundays from 7:45-8:45pm for food, friendship and discussion. to better understanding current events and topics relevant to their lives through a Jewish lens. The 11th/12th graders determine the course of study and identify topics of interest. Sessions are taught by clergy and our Religious School Director, with whom the students have built relationships over the years.
Hineni, the Hebrew word for “I am here,” is our alternative, individualized program for 7th–12th graders. Teens work individually with a mentor, who helps the student identify events and activities that are tailored to his/her interests, schedule, and needs. The teens reflect and process these experiences through culmination projects. There are several opportunities for Hineni participants to gather during the year.
