Learners focus on Jewish holidays and Shabbat along with Jewish values and ideas as an introduction to the beauty of Judaism and Jewish life.
Learners build on their introduction to Jewish life by continuing to focus on Shabbat and holidays. A unit on God is an important element of this year’s learning.
2nd Grade: My Jewish Community
Second Graders focus on appreciating the importance of the synagogue – the building, people, and activities. Learners also begin Hebrew Through Movement.
3rd Grade: My Jewish Values
Learners gain deeper insight into important Jewish values through the lens of our biblical stories.
4th Grade: Israel: People, Places, Ideas
Learners embark on a geographical and historical study of the land, people, and state of Israel. The second half of the year is a look at Israel through the lens of STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts, and music).
5th Grade: Welcoming Communities: Immigration, Lifecycle, Synagogue
Learners focus on what it means to be a welcoming community by learning about Jewish immigration to America and lifecycle events in the home and the synagogue.
6th Grade: Turning Points in Jewish History
Learners explore five turning points in Jewish historical development: the Exodus from Egypt, the Prophets, the Talmud, the Holocaust, and the Founding of the State of Israel
7th Grade: Madrichol Training OR Jewish Identity Through the Weekly Torah Cycle
Seventh Graders have the opportunity to continue their learning through two paths: as Madrichol-in-Training (an opportunity to gain classroom leadership skills to prepare them to become Madrichol, teen assistants in our Religious and Hebrew School classes, or through our 7th grade curriculum, which focuses on Jewish identity through the Torah.
Seventh Graders must enroll in our 7th grade program, in which 70% attendance throughout the school year is a necessity for becoming a Bar or Bat Mitzvah at Am Shalom.
Please note that students becoming Bet Mitzvah in their 8th grade year are also required to be enrolled in Religious School.
Seventh graders only attend on Sundays, there’s no Hebrew option for 7th grade.
8th Grade: New Monthly Pilot Program meets Sundays 8:30-9:30am
If you have questions regarding school registration, please contact Rabbi Phyllis Sommer, our Director of Congregational Learning, by email or 847-835-4800.
Our Hebrew program begins in 3rd Grade. To best accommodate our Hebrew students and their families, we offer two options for Hebrew learning:
1:1 Online Learning: A 25-minute weekly individual session online, plus a Wednesday 30 minute online group enrichment class (5:00 – 5:30pm)
In-Person Class Learning on Wednesdays from 4:15-6:00pm at Am Shalom.
Alef Hebrew
Students begin to attend Hebrew classes and learn the alef-bet and basic decoding skills.
Bet Hebrew
Students solidify their decoding skills and focus on Avot v’Imahot and G’vruot.
Gimel Hebrew
Students continue to practice their skills with a focus on V’ahavta.
Dalet Hebrew
Students improve their reading skills and put all of the prayers into their toolbox with a focus on the Torah service and the Creation blessings.
Our 7th Grade students are not enrolled in our Hebrew School program, but continue their Hebrew learning through Bet Mitzvah tutoring and regular meetings with the clergy team in preparation for their service.
On Wednesday afternoons, students gather in the Social Hall before In-Person Hebrew School for a supervised hangout and snack time. Learn more here.
If you are considering joining Am Shalom and have questions about membership and/or our youth education programs, please contact Alyssa Latala, Chief Experience Officer, at 847.835.4800.
School Schedule for 2026-2027:
All Hebrew levels have the option for:
Hebrew options must be selected by August 1.
2026-2027 Early Bird School Fees (until July 1!)
Note that Hebrew School choices must be made by August 1. Fees for Pre-K and 8-10th grade are fixed.
All of your Am Shalom obligations must also be current or a payment plan arranged. For questions regarding payment, please contact Zoe Sherman, Director of Financial Management, by email or by phone at 847-835-4800.
Important Information
Concurrent Religious School registration is a pre-requisite for Hebrew School registration. Our Hebrew program begins in Third Grade.
If you have questions regarding school registration, please contact Rabbi Phyllis Sommer, our Director of Congregational Learning, at 847-835-4800.
