RELIGIOUS EDUCATION
At Temple Hesed religious opportunities abound for all.

HEBREW SCHOOL
Our Hebrew School meets one afternoon per week, typically from 4:30 - 6:00 PM. The school prepares students from 4th to 6th grades for Bar/Bat Mitzvah.

ADULT EDUCATION
Temple Hesed offers opportunities for life-long learning. Programs cener on not only learning abou Judaism, but on how to live more fulfilling Jewish lives.

SHABBAT SCHOOL
Temple Hesed Shabbat School meets on Saturday mornings from 9:30 A.M. to 12:00 noon. Sessions are held from September through May, depending on the Jewish holiday schedule. The classes are held in the spacious classrooms located in the lower level of the Temple, where a fun and stimulating program helps our children explore the full religious and cultural aspects of Judaism. At Temple Hesed we also offer an estensive Family Education Program allowing parents to learn with, and from, their children!

Classes, from Kindergarten through Confirmation (10th. Grade), are taught by a fine staff of dedicated, experienced teachers. Confirmation candidates have the privilege of studying with the Rabbi. Class sizes are small, ranging from two to twelve students.

The mitzvah of tzedukah is encouraged. Students bring in weekly donations; each class selects one or more charitable groups for their collections. Recipients include Jewish National Fund, United Jewish Appeal, Lackawanna United Fund, Ronald McDonald House, Save the Rainforest, Humane Society, Braille Institute, Children International, St. Francis of Assisi Kitchen, and Israel's Red Cross.

Temple Hesed students learn about their Jewish heritage by studying Bible stories, traditional practices, Shabbat and holidays, Jewish history, the land of Israel, and contemporary ethical issues. Basic Hebrew prayers and songs are also learned. Junior and Senior Youth Groups meet while the children's service is being held. Varied programming keeps the interest high for these older students.

The entire school participates in an array of programs geared to the holidays: the annual "Succarama" to learn all about Sukkot, individual classroom seders for Pesach, a Maccabia run by the Youth Groups; a school Tu B'Shevat seder, preceding a "feed the birds" project, where students string Cheerios, pretzels, and and roll pine cones in peanut butter and bird seed, to be hung on trees the building; a Purim carnival beautifully presented by the Senior Youth Group; classroom Passover seders, to which parents are invited; a closing program where good attendance and generous tzedukah-giving are recognized with prizes and awards.

We believe that it is vital for our children to understand their Jewishness, to take pride in their Jewish heritage, and to remain Jews. Temple Hesed Shabbat School provides a solid background for a lifetime of Jewish study for children being raised in the Jewish religion.