Grades K–8 meet weekly on Sundays, 9:30 AM – 12:00 PM, following the Somerville Public Schools calendar with a few exceptions.
Each week at Temple Bnai Brith’s Children's School, students gather on Sunday mornings from 9:30 AM to 12:00 PM for a joyful, hands-on learning experience rooted in Jewish values and community. Our multi-age classes allow children to grow from beginners to explorers to experts within the same group, learning collaboratively and teaching one another along the way. Groupings are fluid and responsive, especially during Hebrew decoding and prayer exploration, when students are supported based on their individual ability and interest.
Our program blends Hebrew language and Jewish learning with music, art, storytelling, and outdoor play, all within an inclusive, nurturing environment where every child is seen, supported, and celebrated.
Note: Four-year olds ready for a weekly drop-off program are welcome!
Our program is open to all.
Tuition is $1,200 per student.
There is an additional Non-Member Fee of $750 per student.
Scholarships are available to TBB members.
Building Foundations Through Joyful, Hands-On Learning
Our youngest learners in Pre-K and Kindergarten begin their Jewish journey through joyful, play-based exploration. Each week, children engage with the rhythms of Jewish life through songs, stories, movement, and seasonal crafts. We follow the Jewish calendar, introducing holidays and traditions in ways that feel natural, meaningful, and connected to their lived experiences.
Children learn about Shabbat, Havdalah, and holiday rituals through hands-on practice and circle time, while beginning to explore prayers like Modeh Ani and the Shema. They also get to know the Alef-Bet and basic Hebrew words. Through Torah stories and classroom conversations, we introduce derech eretz—the Jewish way of kindness and respect—helping children grow socially and spiritually in a warm, inclusive environment. Parents are invited to join in throughout the year for family celebrations and experiences that make learning come alive.
People of the Book: Stories, Questions, and Big Ideas
In 1st and 2nd grade, children begin to explore what it means to be part of a tradition that treasures learning. We focus on the Torah as our central storybook, full of layered meaning and questions—not just answers. Through the stories of Bereishit (Genesis) and Shmot (Exodus), students build Jewish literacy and begin to understand how Torah connects to holidays, values, and real-life choices. They learn about the structure of a Torah scroll and even begin creating their own midrash—interpretive stories rooted in tradition. Each Hebrew letter is introduced with its own tale and sound, helping students build a foundation for decoding.
We also introduce Jewish theology in age-appropriate ways, asking big questions like: “Who is God?” and “How do we talk to or about God?” Students deepen their understanding of brachot (blessings), continue learning key Shabbat prayers, and begin connecting Jewish values to action. This year, they’ll learn about food justice and participate in a service project that brings their learning to life beyond the classroom.
We Are What We Do: Judaism as a Call to Action
In 3rd and 4th grade, students explore Judaism as a living tradition rooted in action, ethics, and justice. Building on the Torah stories and values introduced in earlier grades, they dive deeper into Jewish teachings about food justice, climate justice, and housing justice, uncovering how these modern concerns are grounded in ancient texts and traditions.
Students study biblical prophets and the role of prophecy in the Tanakh, and connect their messages to modern Jewish leaders and change-makers like Abraham Joshua Heschel and Bella Abzug. Along the way, they’ll reflect on their own potential as emerging leaders and activists, and learn practical tools for creating change in their communities. Hebrew learning focuses on decoding skills and exploring the meaning behind key prayers.
The class works together toward the shared goal of leading prayers at two family Shabbat gatherings, helping students feel proud and confident in their growing Jewish identity. Holidays and Israel are explored through a values-based lens, encouraging thoughtful, age-appropriate conversation and connection.
Jewish Identity: Where are we going?
In 5th and 6th grade, students take a deeper look at what it means to “live Jewishly” by exploring key moments in Jewish history when individuals and communities had to adapt, rebuild, and reimagine their identities. Through powerful stories of real people across time and place, students learn how Jewish values, mitzvot (commandments), and community have shaped—and continue to shape—our world.
They also investigate contemporary Jewish movements and organizations, using their own interests to guide class projects, research, and presentations. This culminates in a student-led tzedakah day or drive, where learners teach the community about a cause they care about. Hebrew learning continues with a focus on fluency and prayer meaning, and students work together to lead portions of family Shabbat services. Sixth graders begin their B’nai Mitzvah journey with individual tutoring and a special 10-session class taught by the rabbi, where they explore their personal Jewish identities, deepen their learning, and begin their mitzvah projects.
This year empowers students to see themselves as part of a long, evolving Jewish story—and to imagine their own place within it.
B’nai Mitzvah and Beyond: Claiming Our Voices
In 7th and 8th grade, students step into a new phase of their Jewish journey, deepening their learning, asking hard questions, and stepping into leadership. This year builds on the foundation of B’nai Mitzvah preparation and moves into a more mature exploration of what it means to be Jewish in a complex world. Students explore themes of moral courage, justice, and responsibility through Torah, Jewish ethics, and the study of the Holocaust, using Facing History & Ourselves to understand both historical context and the choices individuals and communities make in the face of injustice.
We also dive into contemporary issues like racism, antisemitism, immigration, LGBTQ+ rights, and climate justice, asking: what does Judaism have to say about these issues—and how can we act on it? Prayer learning goes deeper, helping students understand the structure, themes, and personal meaning of the service as they continue to grow as prayer leaders and spiritual thinkers.
This class is a space for students to wrestle, reflect, and find their own voices—as Jews, as learners, and as change-makers. Students continue to work with their B’nai Mitzvah tutor, and students who have already become b'nai mitzvah continue to learn and teach as they see that Jewish study is a lifelong endeavor.
- It's back! Rabbi Eliana is relaunching her B'nai Mitzvah course for TBB members in grades 5–8; check it out!
