Programs
Adult Education
Exploring Judaism
Religious School
Sisterhood
Jewish Teens of Chico
Senior Sages
Gemilut Hasadim/Senior Assistance Program
Book Club
Tweens
Menchkins
Adult Education
Congregation Beth Israel offers a variety of Adult Education opportunities. At each Shabbat service there is a Devar Torah (Word of Torah). On Friday nights we have programs such as “Shabbat Scholars” (local University professors speaking on topics of Jewish interest) and “Hot Topics” (explorations of current issues from a Jewish perspective). Saturday morning services include a Torah reading, Torah study and discussion.
Rabbi Danan leads a Shabbat Shiur (Adult Study Group) on Saturday mornings at 9:00 a.m. during the school year. Topics have included Jewish Mysticism (Kabbalah), Introduction to the Talmud, and “The David Saga,” about the origins of the Israelite monarchy in the bible.
Rabbi Danan teaches a class on “Basic Judaism” for adults on Thursday afternoons during the fall semsester at CBI. This free class is suitable for those seeking to learn more about their Jewish heritage, as well as those exploring conversion to Judaism.
Rabbi Danan also teaches Judaism and Hebrew classes at Chico State. Students may take these classes for credit, as continuing education, or in some cases may audit (sit in on) classes with the Rabbi’s permission.
Prayerbook Hebrew is offered at the beginner level once a year for a fee. It is taught by Keren Carter, who also teaches intermediate prayerbook Hebrew and adult B’nai Torah.
In addition, Congregation Beth Israel frequently offers lectures, programs and classes on topics of interest to the community. Recent topics have included Current Events in Israel, the “New” Anti-Semitism, and Jewish Meditation. We also have an active Book Club that reads and discusses books of Jewish interest. We are always interested in new ideas for lifelong Jewish learning.
Exploring Judaism
Exploring Judaism is a program for anyone interested in learning more about Judaism, including Jews who want to learn more about their heritage, non-Jews curious about Judaism, and those seeking conversion to Judaism. Rabbi Danan teaches a weekly class during the fall semester that is free and open to all. Beginner Hebrew is also offered.
Those interested in Embracing Judaism (Conversion to Judaism) should contact the synagogue office, 342-6146, to set up an initial appointment with Rabbi Danan. In addition to taking the Exploring Judaism class, they will have other requirements, such as holiday observances, attending services and reading books on Judaism, over the course of most of the Jewish year from fall until spring.
Religious School
Religious education at CBI includes Menchkins (informal activities for young families), Religious School for kindergarten through Jr. High, and Confirmation Class for grades 8-10. Our director is Dr. Carol Edelman. Classes are held on Mondays (B’nai Mitzvah), Tuesdays for all children, Wednesdays (biweekly) for teens, and Thursdays as a second, enrichment day for older children. Family education events, Shabbaton and field trips are also offered. To receive information on registering for these programs, please contact us on the website or call the synagogue office, (530) 342-6146.
Mission Statement
Congregation Beth Israel’s Religious School strives to inspire and advance our children’s sense of Judaism. Our aim is to create an environment that excites and develops each child’s unique relationship to Judaism with tolerance, kindness, and respect to all of G-d’s creatures.
Particular emphasis is given to the following: connection to the Jewish community, Jewish holidays, culture, history, and mitzvah projects. Students will be offered Hebrew education with attention to prayers and B’nai Mitzvah preparation.
Curriculum
The students will learn about Jewish Identity, Jewish History, Jewish Holidays, Jewish Traditions and Ethics. We will incorporate music, dance, cooking, arts and crafts along with other resources to make the lesson plans interesting and complete.The CBI Religious School curriculum is set up on a two year basis in order to accommodate the divisions of the classes. There will be five classes as follows:
Alef-Four, Five & Six Year Olds
Bet-Seven & Eight Year Olds
Gimmel-Nine, Ten & Eleven Year Olds
B’nai Mitzvah-Twelve & Thirteen Years
Confirmation Class-Thirteen & Up
Alef-Four, Five & Six
Year One:
–Holidays: Introduction to all Holidays and the Study of Shabbat
–Hebrew: Hebrew Letters and Sounds
–Traditions/Ethics: Introduction to G-d, covering G-d’s Creations, G-d is One, In G-d’s Image, Thanking G-d, G-d’s Promise, G-d’s Gift of Shabbat, Talking to G-d, and G-d’s World
Year Two:
–Torah: Creation, Adam & Eve, Noah, The Tower of Babel, Abraham & Sarah, Isaac & Rebecca, Jacob & Esau, Joseph & His Brothers, Baby Moses, Let My People Go, Moses on the Mountain, Samson, Ruth & Naomi, David & Goliath, Solomon, Jonah & The Great Fish
–Hebrew: Hebrew Letters and Sounds
–Traditions/Ethics: Being Jewish and Mitzvot-Tzedakah, Visit the Sick, Feed the Hungry, Save the Earth, Derech Eretz, Welcome Guests, Guard Your Tongue, Talmud, and Torah
Students will learn mostly by participating in various projects. Craft projects such as painting a Tzedaka Box, Shabbat Candle Stick Holders, Challah Cover, Decorating a Draydel, and many other fun projects. Children will also learn about Israel, some Shabbat prayers and songs.
Bet-Seven & Eight
Year One:
–Torah: Creation, Cain & Abel, Noah Abraham, Sodom & Gomorrah, The Binding of Isaac, Isaac & Rebecca, Jacob & Esau, Jacob & Rachel, Joseph & his Brothers, Joseph in Egypt, Moses in Egypt, & The Ten Plagues
Prophets: Crossing the Sea of Reed, The Supreme Gift, An End to Wandering, Deborah, Gideon, Samson, Ruth, Samuel & Saul, David, King Solomon, Elijah, Jonah, Jeremiah, Job, Esther, Daniel, Ezra and Nehemiah
–Holidays: Study of all Holidays
–Hebrew: Reading Hebrew
–Tradition/Ethics: Exploring Being Jewish
Year Two:
–Tradition/Ethics: Exploring Jewish Wisdom Holidays: Study of all Holidays
–Hebrew: Reading Hebrew
Students will also learn about Mitzvot, Israel, and additional Shabbat prayers and songs.
Gimmel-Nine, Ten & Eleven
Year One:
–Torah: Before the First Jew, The Stories of Abraham, The Stories of Isaac, The Stories of Jacob, The Joseph Story, The Story of Exodus
–Holidays: The Deep Meaning of Jewish Holidays
–Hebrew: Hebrew through Prayers
–Tradition/Ethics: Being Jewish
Year Two:
–Prophets: Amos, Deborah, Elijah, Ezekiel, Hannah, Hosea, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Jonah, Miriam, Nathan, Rahav, and Solomon
–Holidays: The Deep Meaning of all the Jewish Holidays
–Hebrew: Hebrew through Prayers
–Tradition/Ethics: Being Jewish and the Holocaust
Twelve & Thirteen Year Olds
B’nai Mitzvah Class
Year One:
–Torah: In depth study of all B’nai Mitzvah Torah Portions
–Hebrew: Reading & Practicing the Prayers for Bar/Bat Mitzvahs
–Tradition/Ethics: Jewish Values and Mitzvah Projects
Confirmation Class-Post B’nai Mitzvah
This class is designed and developed to further the Jewish education of students who have already had a Bar/Bat mitzvah. Rabbi Danan teaches this biweekly class. The curriculum is geared to group needs and interests and may include Jewish history and heroes, hot topics, and comparative religion. A different theme or two is emphasized each year over the three year program, leading to Confirmation at the end of 10th grade.
Religious School Committee
The role of the Religious School Committee is to serve as an advisory board to the Director, and to support the Religious School in providing a meaningful Jewish education for CBI’s children. To fulfill this role, the Committee monitors programs, provides a forum for parent issues, reviews Religious School policies, and recommends policy changes to the Director. The Religious School Committee promotes communication with all arms of the temple including the parents, other members of the congregation and the CBI Board.
Religious School Staff
Director
Dr. Carol Edelman
Teachers
Lisa Rappaport
Ruth Gordon
David Zeichick
Rabbi Julie Danan
Class aides: Charles Danan, Charlette Naiman
Sisterhood
The objective of Haverot, the sisterhood of Congregation Beth Israel, is to foster and further the highest ideals of Judaism, to promote close fellowship among our members, to cooperate with the congregation in activities that are religious, social and educational, and to serve Jewish and humanitarian causes.
Jewish Teens of Chico (JTC)
JTC is our Jewish teen youth group for high school age youth. There is usually at least one activity for the month, organized by the teens. Activities include social and cultural events, sports and camping, Jewish holiday celebrations and service projects. Currently, the teens are planning a service trip to Guatemala for summer, 2010. The advisor of JTC is Jeremy Miller, and the officers for 2009-2010 are Ryan Carter (president), Charles Danan (vice-president) and Alex Thompson (treasurer). Arielle Danan is chaiperson for the Central America service trip.
Senior Sages
CBI Senior Sages (age 50 and better) are invited to a monthly brunch with the Rabbi, including socializing and discussion or a speaker. Seniors are also found participating actively in a variety of general CBI programs, including services, sisterhood, committees, book club and more. They are invited to programs at the Religious School as well.
Gemilut Hasadim/Senior Assistance Program
Help out Senior Sages who are in need by simply making a sunshine call, visiting their home and/or driving them to a CBI event. Let’s think outside our own schedules and think about the extra space inside our cars. Next time you visit a CBI event, please contact Kristy Bresette to see if there is someone you can help get there too!
If you are interested in volunteering for any of these services, please click the link below. You will find a detailed map of senior locations and their individual needs.
Click Here for More Information
Tweens
CBI Tweens are youth in grades 5-7. They plan their own monthly social events, such as bowling, miniature golf or movies. The Tweens also participate in some service projects at the synagogue. This program currently awaits a parent sponsor.
Menchkins
The Menchkins Program
At Congregation Beth Israel
Our name comes from “Mensch,” the yiddish word for a fine person with good values.
WHO are the Menchkins? Menchkins are the youngest members at CBI, aged birth to Kindergarten.
WHAT do Menchkins do? In addition to attending general events at the synagogue, the Menchkins have their own group for age appropriate play, socialization, and introduction to the basic rituals and traditions of Judaism. Our Menchkins program offers a variety of activities including educational playgroup, and Tot Shabbat with the Rabbi.
WHERE do Menchkins meet? The Tot Shabbat program and the educational playgroup both meet at the synagogue. The potluck Shabbat dinner rotates among member’s homes.
WHY does the Menchkins group exist? The mission of the Menchkins group at CBI is to create an early interest in and love of Judaism in our children. Our goal is to inspire in them a life-long journey into the richness and beauty of our religious and cultural heritage. Additionally, the Menchkins group provides an avenue for our young children to play and learn with other Jewish children in the community.
HOW can you join Menchkins? Contact our Parent Coordinator, Lisa Rappaport at lisarappaport4@yahoo.com for the current schedule and to get on our contact list.
WHEN do the Menchkins meet? A new schedule of events is being created for fall, 2009. Contact Lisa to receive a full calendar of events and consult the Newletter for any changes or additions to the schedule.
