The Beth El Talmud Torah is open to all children of Beth El members from Pre-Kindergarten through 7th grade. The school focuses on Hebrew, prayers, and general Jewish studies. As the children grow older, their studies focus them on preparation for their B’nai Mitzvah and issues of Jewish life. The curriculum has been developed over the last 30 years with refinements each year. The school faculty is handpicked and trained to provide an excellent learning experience for our children.

The different age groups attend school on the following days/times:

Sundays: 9:30a.m.-12:30p.m. preK-7th grades
Tuesdays: 4:15p.m.-5:15p.m. Optional Hebrew classes for 3rd-6th grades
Wednesdays: 4:15p.m.-6:00p.m. 2nd-6th grades
Saturdays: 9:00a.m.-9:45a.m. 6th & 7th grades (as Bar/Bat Mitzvah date approaches)
Saturdays: 9:45-10:30a.m. Optional Hebrew classes for 3rd-6th grades

7th grade also meets 5pm-6pm on Friday evenings that are followed by Erev Shabbat services (see Event Calendar)

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Education and Youth Director:

Karen Kosowski
karen@betheldurham.org
682-1238 ext.170

Our Mission:

The Beth El Talmud Torah recognizes that Jewish education is a lifelong process, involving children and their parents in individual, family, and intergenerational learning. Our goal is to encourage, guide and support students of all ages on their journeys toward discovering what it means to be Jewish.

The School will provide its students with a strong, proud sense of Jewish identity through exposure to the richness and joy of Judaism and Jewish life, giving them the ability to participate in Jewish community life.

The School’s Goals:

The School strives to provide an education that will foster the growth of Jewish individuals, homes and communities -- both now in Durham-Chapel Hill and in the ongoing lives of our students and their families.

1. Spirit of engagement and enthusiasm for Judaism
2. Understanding of history, observance and ethical teachings, which will allow the concepts of Torah, mitzvot, tzedakah and tikkun olam to inform everyday living:

• Relationships and values: personal, family, Jewish community, the State of Israel, broader community, and humankind
• Awareness and understanding of rituals of daily life, holidays and life-cycle events, and synagogue and private prayer
• Ability to contribute to the sanctuary life of their community

1. Preparation for lifelong Jewish learning:

• Ability to read and understand biblical/prayerbook and modern Hebrew – a living legacy of moral and ethical thought leading to community- and world-building action.
• Ability to navigate classical texts
• Appreciation for Jewish literature, poetry, music and art

Audio Files:

• Shabbat Candle Blessing
• Friday Night Kiddush
• Hamotzi
• 3rd paragraph of the Shema
• Torah trope
• Shabbat melodies for services
• More audio files for weekday & Shabbat services are available at http://www.sidduraudio.com/
• USY Project Z'Mirot:
  This USY project is a great online source for Jewish Songs. www.usy.org/songs/browse_songs.php

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Beginning August 1, 2011 you can link or re-link your VIC card for Talmud Torah for Harris Teeter’s TIE (Together in Education) program.

Thanks to the ‘10-’11 school year participants, Harris Teeter recently sent us $161.84. Thank you! Please remember to re-link in August.

You may do so online at www.harristeeter.com/default.aspx?pageId=172 or the next time you're at Harris Teeter, simply tell your cashier (during check-out) that you want Beth El's account number, 5883 , linked to your Harris Teeter VIC card.  Once the account number is linked, every time you shop during the 10-11 school year, 2% of your Private Label purchases will be contributed to the Beth El Talmud Torah (a great way to do a "double-mitzvah" when you shop for our food drive). You may link to more than one school and Harris Teeter will split the donation.

Cards must be re-linked each school year.

Torah Study
Click here to read the Third Grade Class' response to their '05-'06 Torah Study (PDF 2.67 MB)