Blanche Bayar Religious School
Every child in our community is created B’tzelem Elohim, in the image of God, with a divine spark. Each has unique interests and passions related to Judaism, and our program is designed to guide each child’s academic, social, and emotional learning so that they and their families are an integral part of the school chaverah (friendship community), synagogue kehillah (congregation community) and klal Israel (Jewish people community) today and in the future.
Blanche Bayar Religious School is committed to meeting the needs of every learner and the comfort of every family through a variety of different school experiences, programs, Shabbat and holidays services, family learning and youth groups that enable everyone to engage in meaningful, communal experiences throughout the course of the year. BBRS is dedicated to providing Jewish education that will spark the love of learning and appreciation for the traditions of Judaism. It is our strong belief that Jewish education is a lifelong process that starts at birth and continues through high school and beyond.
CLICK HERE for a detailed grade-by-grade curriculum overview.
Early Childhood
Our preschool-aged children participate in a NEW monthly Jewish Adventures class on Sunday mornings that introduce them to holidays through songs, stories, and snacks. Adults join their children for fun and learning together.
Our Jewish music program — Tkiya Wee Jam — is open to infants through preschoolers, weekly on Sunday or Thursday mornings. Wee Jam is a fun and interactive music experience involving singing, movement, puppets, stories, bubbles, and more.
Kindergarten & 1st Grade
The foundations of Hebrew are introduced through Hebrew Through Movement, a program that introduces Hebrew in a playful and meaningful way, creating a positive initial connection between children and the language. Children learn Hebrew by hearing and responding to commands in modern, spoken Hebrew with a goal of making the prayers in our siddur, as well as synagogue and Jewish vocabulary, more easily accessible.
Students are exposed to an overview of Israel, holidays, Torah stories, and the synagogue through hands-on, engaging projects and experiences.
2nd Grade through 5th Grade
In these elementary grades, students learn to proficiently read Hebrew. Once they have mastered fluent decoding at their own learning pace, they move into the Sulam Tefillah program where they learn prayers and progress at their own rate. Once a week, all students meet in small groups to work on their individual levels and move up the Prayer Ladder as they demonstrate proficiency.
In each year, classes focus on various Judaic topics including Israel, holidays, Bible, Jewish identity, Jewish values and ethics and more.
6th Grade
Focusing on their approaching b’mitzvah, students learn how to chant Torah with Cantor Lorna Wallach. They practice their skills by leading Shabbat services for youth and taking part in synagogue services to develop comfort on the bimah.
The curriculum focuses on life cycle events and how Judaism recognizes and celebrates them. Learners study what mitzvot are, as well as practical and creative suggestions on how to observe them. Learners explore the wisdom of Jewish sacred texts and examine through a Jewish lens the kind of adults they want to become and how the practice of mitzvot can help them achieve their goals.
7th Grade
Students learn about the Holocaust in an age-appropriate curriculum from the stories of young people who survived and those who helped them. Through online discussions and engaging activities, learners gain a personal connection to history and explore issues of ethics and personal responsibility.
Seventh graders study the Torah portion of each week with Rabbi Ari Isenberg as they explore how to connect these ancient words to their lives. An exploration of Judaism’s great debates exposes students to the value conflict at the core of each historic debate and prepares them to apply Jewish values to similar conflicts in our society.
Contact Us
We love to hear from our BBRS families … and new families! Please reach out to us with any questions.
Blanche Bayar Religious School at Congregation B’nai Israel
160 Millburn Ave, Millburn, NJ 07041
973-379-1134
Director of Congregational Learning – Rabbi Julie Schwarzwald // 973-262-3717
Congregational Learning Administrator – Susan Kashan