Grades 7-12

Grades 7-9

Chai School allows our students to engage in meaningful learning that helps them form their Jewish adult lives. Students in 7th-9th grades will complete three courses each year that provide an opportunity for in-depth study on topics connecting students to Jewish heritage and preparing them to be active Jewish adults.  We are incredibly proud of our higher-than-average post B’nai Mitzvah retention rate, which reflects our congregation’s value of lifelong Jewish learning. Each year, approximately 80% of our students continue their studies through 12th grade.

Students in 7th grade will also continue with Hebrew once a week with the Rabbi and an educator to prepare for their B'nai Mitzvah, enabling them to lead a congregational worship service.

Course offerings include:

7th Grade

• Tikkun Olam and Judaism and the Environment
• Prayer
• Holocaust and Contemporary Antisemitism 

8th Grade

• Jewish Cooking
• Comparative Judaism and Comparative Religion
• Hot Topics

9th Grade

• Jewish Art/Exploring the Sources
• Modern Israel
• Jewish Identity

Confirmation and Beyond

Confirmation (10th Grade)

Rabbi Widzer teaches Confirmation. The curriculum focuses on issues essential to teenagers and teaches students “How to Make the Jewish Choice that is Right for Me.” Students engage in meaningful conversations that help them construct a Jewish identity that feels good for their lives. From theology to making Jewish choices, our Confirmation program ensures that students are able to confirm their beliefs.

This class leads to the Confirmation ceremony in which students acknowledge a mature connection to Judaism through their connection with family, Temple B’nai Shalom, and their classmates.

Post-Confirmation (11th and 12th Grade)

Also taught by Rabbi Widzer, the two-year Post-Confirmation program provides an informal setting to explore contemporary issues and help prepare students for their next stage in life.