The Kehila Sunday School, directed by volunteer members who co-chair the Education Committee, reflects the dynamic style of the Community. At present, the Sunday School is held at Bethesda Chevy Chase High School. There are over 70 children in the school, both member and non-member children. The children are divided into classes based on age and Hebrew skill. The Community employs a Coordinator to help the school run efficiently, and Kehila school graduates are used as ozrim (aides) in the classrooms.

Sunday mornings start at 9:15 A.M. with morning music with David Shneyer. This is an opportunity for the children in the Sunday School, their parents, and the adults attending the adult education lecture series to ease into the day with Jewish and Hebrew songs, stories, and Yiddishkite. Music usually concludes with communal sharing of information about upcoming activities and the recognition of birthdays and other life-cycle events.

The philosophy of the Sunday School is to establish in each child a love for Judaism and for Jewish culture and tradition. To do so, Kehila believes that a foundation in Hebrew, particularly an ability to read and a familiarity with the basic Shabbat service, is important. The Sunday School morning is divided into three class sessions, Judaics, Hebrew, and Chuggim or clubs. Each year a unifying theme ties the school curriculum together. Past themes have included Jewish ethics and values, traditions, the Jewish diaspora, the environment, and the prophets. In the chugs, children are able to pursue hands-on Jewish oriented activities such as music and klezmer, poetry, crafts, cooking, and folk dancing. Special programs are organized that highlight Jewish themes for the children such as mitzvah days, tzedakah and the homeless, tikkun olam (repairing the world), the Holocaust, and our own heritage and roots.

Kehila encourages parents to reinforce that which is taught in the Sunday School program by working together with their children on homework assignments and discussing materials and concepts presented in the classroom. Since classroom time is limited for Judaics and Hebrew study, student cooperation with the teachers is important and parental guidance with homework or other assignments is essential. In this way, each child benefits more fully from the program.

The Kehila Sunday School is not intended as a "drop off" facility, and parents are encouraged to attend the Sunday morning adult education program while their children are in class. As stated before, the Community believes that an important message is transmitted to children when they know that their parents and other Community members value Jewish education for themselves as well as for their children.

Additional midweek Hebrew classes (at an additional charge) can be arranged if there is sufficient interest among parents and students. Students who become bar/bat mitzvah during the school year are expected to complete that year of study in the school. Parents of students who choose to prepare for bar/bat mitzvah arrange privately for extra tutoring in Hebrew and also may arrange special planning meetings for the ceremony through David Shneyer.

The Machon Program provides students an additional Jewish educational experience and enrichment through discussions among students and presentations by outside speakers. The Machon Program is open to post Bar/Bat Mitzvah students and meets for approximately one hour on Sunday mornings.

Contact us for more information on Kehila Sunday School.