Education at Beth Torah

Congregation Beth Torah is deeply committed to providing a quality Jewish education for all members. We host many activities that blend fun and learning while building a Jewish identity through school, family and social involvement.

Education is a cornerstone of our congregation's commitment to the future. We offer a five-day preschool and kindergarten program, youth learning center classes, Bar & Bat Mitzvah classes, Confirmation and post-Confirmation classes, Hebrew language learning, and Adult Education-providing a remarkable range of opportunities to learn more about our faith and traditions, about our history, and about ourselves.

Preschool and Kindergarten
Small classes provide a nurturing, loving environment to help children develop a positive self-image. The school promotes creative play, fosters academic growth, and invites parental involvement. We celebrate all Jewish holidays and hold a weekly Kabbalat Shabbat service to enhance a child's identification with Judaism. All teachers are degreed in education or child-related fields. Some scholarships are available.

Children 12 months through kindergarten enjoy daily activities. A "Parent & Child" program for 12- to18- month olds is during the school year. We aim to have a summer experience to remember, offering a summer camp program where children learn while they play. The summer camp includes many activities, adventures, projects, and special entertainers.

Esther Cohen has been the Director of Beth Torah Preschool and Kindergarten since 1985 when the school opened. She earned her B.A. and Early Childhood degrees from McGill University. Esther loves working with parents, teachers and children alike. Under her guidance, the school has grown from serving eight children to almost 200.

Learning Center / Hebrew School
Our mission is to provide members of Beth Torah and their children with learning opportunities and experiences that will create love and respect for our heritage while leading to lifelong commitments to Jewish practices. We offer primary classes for grades K-12, a 3rd grade Consecration class, Bar and Bat Mitzvah classes, and a 10th grade Confirmation class. We also offer a post-confirmation class for those individuals wanting to continue their education. Learning Center classes are held on Wednesdays from 4:45 p.m. to 6:45 p.m. and on Sundays from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon during the school year.

Our curriculum concentrates on a combination of Siddur/prayer book Hebrew, Jewish observance, Jewish life cycles and customs, and Jewish history. We are proud that many of our post-Bar and Bat Mitzvah students regularly lead Shabbat and Holiday services.

Ruth Schor has been the Educational Director of Beth Torah Learning Center/Hebrew School since 1997. Ruth was born and raised in Israel. Since coming to the United States in 1979, Ruth has been involved in Jewish education throughout the Dallas area. Through her leadership and training, Ruth strives to instill in the students and their families a sense of love, appreciation, and commitment toward Jewish learning and practices.

Adult Education
We recognize that congregants of all ages want to continue learning about Judaism, and we have created numerous programs throughout the year to meet these needs.

The highlight of our Adult Education Program is the annual Mark A. Siegel Scholar-in-Residence weekend. For one weekend each year, we bring in a respected expert in a particular area of Judaic study to hold discussions and presentations.

Other educational events include monthly study sessions with the rabbi, a weekly Mishna Study Group, Rosh Chodesh: Monthly Learning for Women, an afternoon Yom Kippur study session, the Shavuot Eve study session, and our A.C.E. (Adult Continuing Education) series.

This year, Rabbi Raskin is introducing Derech Torah, a comprehensive 20-week course of study emphasizing major Jewish beliefs, practices, historical events, and modern trends.