Religious School

Our members should have already received their personalized link to enroll in Religious School.  If you haven’t already received it, or if you are not a member but are interested in enrolling your child in our Religious School, please contact education@melvillejc.org

Religious School Coordinator
Jodi Nadler
(631) 421-3224, ext. 17

Religious School for 2024-2025 will start on Tuesday, September 24, 2024.  Click here for the registration form.

Class Schedule – 2024-2025 (5785) School Year

  
Pre-K (Gan Terum)Tuesdays from 3:30 – 4:30
Kindergarten (Gan)Tuesdays from 4:15 – 5:15
Grade 8-9 (Tikkun)Thursdays from 4:30 – 6:15
  
  

General Information and Overall Philosophy

We believe that every learner is endowed with an innate sense of curiosity and that rather than creating a school in which a teacher acts as a “sage on the stage,” pouring knowledge into their charges’ minds, we are working to create a school in which students work on real world projects to find real world solutions, thereby empowering them to tap into and feed their curiosity. Through Project Based Learning, students learn to: understand the basics of spoken modern Hebrew; read Liturgical and Biblical Hebrew; learn the core prayers of Judaism; understand their history and heritage; connect their Jewish identities and Israel; and make real change in the world through a Jewish lens.
Therefore, Melville Jewish Center Religious School is now Project-Based.  This model is active, inclusive, accessible, and individualized.

Special Programming

Melville Jewish Center’s Religious School expects to hold monthly Shabbat services with a lovely Oneg for students and families.  In addition to our monthly services, students learn with clergy.  We have special events surrounding holidays such as Pizza in the Hut, creating a Purim Shpiel, baking Matzah, and celebrating Yom Ha’Atzmaut with spirit!

Our programming is age-appropriate.  Our Pre-K, K and Aleph, Bet classes are a unique opportunity for younger students to begin Religious School early and enjoy being part of our community.  These children are learning through play, art and small group experience; we set the tone early that Religious School is fun!  

Our older students lead services regularly during the school week.  This enables them to feel comfortable and confident as they head toward Bar and Bat Mitzvah.  It also gives them a sense of pride in their leadership roles.  Lastly, our oldest students take an annual field trip to the Holocaust Memorial and Tolerance Center in Glen Cove.