The CHAI Curriculum is designed to facilitate lifelong Jewish learning within Reform congregations. It is designed for Religious School students grades1-7, Religious School teachers, Education Committees, congregational Boards of Directors, parents of children ages 0-14, and families with children ages 7-14. It focuses classroom learning on Torah, Avodah and G'milut Chasadim and expands beyond these topics in other educational programs. CHAI lessons are based on the "Understanding By Design" curriculum development model, which is widely used in the field of general education.
COMPONENTS
Click on a link in the chart to see detailed information about each component, or read the overview of all the components below.
Adapting CHAI: Learning for Jewish Life for Conservative Synagogues
Now Available! CHAI Israel Strand Sample Lessons for Grade Level 3, 5, and 7!
Level Three - A Tale of Three Cites - Workbook Pages
Level Five - Defending Israel - Workbook Pages
Level Seven - Reform Judaism in Israel - Workbook Pages
Curriculum Core: Torah, Avodah, G'milut Chasadim
CHAI lessons utilize an approach that begins with desired outcomes in mind. The lessons aim to nurture "enduring understandings," values that have lifetime meaning for all Jews. The curriculum core is designed around the fundamental lessons of Torah, avodah, and g'milut chasadim. Each level of the curriculum core consists of 27 one-hour lessons.
Level 6 Curriculum Core: Resources for Making a Difference Day Project
Contains a variety of resources to use in conjunction with Level 6 G'milut Chasadim lessons.
Level 7: Family Education Lesson Materials
Download a variety of materials and make copies for each family attending the program.
Mitkadem: Hebrew For Youth
The Mitkadem curriculum is a five-year program beginning with Hebrew letter recognition and decoding skills, and progressing through the study of a series of blessings, prayers and ritual observance. It is a self-paced, individualized, comprehensive program of Hebrew learning for youth that embraces Hebrew as a sacred Jewish language through t'filah (prayer) and Torah. Mitkadem is divided into ramot (levels) based on students' competency level rather than grade level.
Teacher Development
An important distinguishing feature of the CHAI curriculum is the intensive teacher support and training which accompanies it. The Union is committed to helping congregations implement the program. A full range of professional resources and ongoing assistance are available to support the CHAI educational initiative in every congregation.
Family Education
The CHAI Initiative includes a complete Family Education curriculum with three components: 14 ready-to-teach lesson plans, a Jewish Family Education Guide and a Family Shabbat Workbook. Each can be ordered separately.
Early Childhood Parent Education
The CHAI initaitive offers nine complete sessions to help parents of children in the early childhood setting create a Jewish home and nurture the Jewish identity of their children. Topics include how to raise caring, compassionate children, how to create a Jewish home, sibling rivalry in Jewish texts -- and homes -- and Jewish education choices beyond pre-school.
Parent Education for School-Age Children
Parent Education sessions provide parents with the tools they need to be Jewish teachers and role models for their children. The series is based on the same components as the Curriculum Core: Torah, Avodah, and G’milut Chasadim.
Temple Boards (The Role of Temple Boards) &
Religious School Committees (Rethinking Jewish Education)
In order for Jewish Education to succeed, partnerships need to be built between professionals and volunteer leaders. The CHAI Initiative offers two separate and complementary guides to take congregational leaders through a process that helps clarify the integral roles they play in building a community of learning, learned Jews.
MORE ABOUT CHAI
CHAI represents a Reform Movement collaboration between the Union for Reform Judaism, Hebrew-Union College--Jewish Institute of Religion, the National Asociation of Temple Educators, and the URJ Press. Ongoing evaluation of CHAI is conducted by the Jewish Education Service of North America.
CONTACT US
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The Union for Reform Judaism
Department of Lifelong Jewish Learning
633 Third Avenue
New York, NY 10017-6778
212.650.4110
Fax: 212.650.4199
educate@urj.org |
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URJ Press
633 Third Avenue
New York, NY 10017-6778
212.650.4120
Fax: 212.650.4119
press@urj.org |
