Temple Sinai of Saratoga Springs, New York

Religious Education and Youth Groups

Temple Sinai is proud of its educational offerings and activities for the youths and adults of our congregation.

Religious School
Temple Sinai's Religious School program is in session on Wednesday evenings and Sunday mornings from September through May. The Wednesday Hebrew program is a four year program. Students should start studying Hebrew in the fourth grade and continue in the Hebrew program through 7th grade. Most families schedule Bar/Bat Mitzvahs for the spring of 7th grade of the fall of 8th grade. Post Bar/Bat Mitzvah students are involved in the program as teacher's aides.

Hebrew students are currently using Mitkadam, a Hebrew curriculum recently developed by URJ. This program is self-paced, allowing students to grasp material and attain mastery at their own rate. A detailed overview, with samples of the material is available at www.urj.org.

Students enrolled in the Hebrew program participate in a thirty minute Tefillah (prayer) period at the end of the evening led by one of the rabbis. This provides the students with an opportunity to develop further their prayer skills, through learning additional material not covered on Sunday mornings. Our school has developed a list of Hebrew prayer objectives for the Tefillah period, as well as a schedule of prayers to be taught over the course of this school year.

Satisfactory completion of each year of Hebrew study is dependent upon regular attendance. Since Hebrew classes meet only one and a half hours per week, and students work at their own pace, regular attendance is very important.

Periodically throughout the year, each student's progress will be assessed and parents will receive mid-year and year-end progress reports. If there is concern about a student's progress, parents will be notified so that arrangements may be made to provide assistance to the student.

The Sunday morning (Judaica) program includes the study of religious, historical and cultural aspects of Jewish life.

The religious school enjoys a full complement of skilled and dedicated teachers as well the services of other members of the congregation who volunteer to assist with special programs, field trips and holiday celebrations.

Click here for more information about the Temple Sinai Religious school program.

Bar and Bat Mitzvah Studies
Students who are becoming Bar or Bat Mitzvah at Temple Sinai must attend at least three years of both the Sunday Judaica and the Wednesday Hebrew programs prior to their Bar/Bat Mitzvah celebration. During the year leading up to the Bar/Bat Mitzvah celebration, each Bar or Bat Mitzvah student participates in a special program which includes individual study with the rabbis and a tutor, development of a Mitzvah Project and a monthly class for Bar/Bat Mitzvah students and parents. Mitzvah projects have included-

The 5% Tzedakah Project - Started in 2006 by Josh Silverman with the goal to have bar and bat mitzvah students donate at least 5% of the gifts they receive from their bar or bat mitzvah to the charity or charities of their choice.

Confirmation Class
Post Bar/ Bat Mitzvah age youth may participate in a three-year program which includes an intergenerational learning experience, culminating in a confirmation ceremony held at Shavuot. Students in the confirmation class have the opportunity to serve as teacher's aides and Israeli folk dance instructors in the religious school programs.

Youth Groups
Temple Sinai has an elementary youth group for children in grades 3 through 5, a junior youth group for 6th through 8th graders and a senior youth group for grades 9 through 12. Youth programs have included retreats at the UAHC Eisner Camp in Great Barrington, MA, shul-ins at Temple Sinai, and a variety of other social and community oriented activities.

The Senior Youth group (grades 9-12) is affiliated with NFTY which affords the opportunity for broader programming as well as a larger geographic scope of involvement.

Adult Education
Temple Sinai's adult education offerings range from Hebrew language instruction to challah baking to Jewish viewpoints on contemporary issues to classes on Torah and Talmud study.

Call the Temple at (518) 584- 8730 regarding any of the educational programs offered at Temple Sinai.