Machon Beth Sholom is a wonderful way for teenagers to continue their Jewish education and involvement after religious school. MBS provides a wonderful, nurturing setting for your teens to learn in an environment that encourages questions and open discussion.

The MBS curriculum is based on topics that are engaging and timely for teenagers. They grapple with issues that are relevant to them, while at the same time study Jewish texts on the same topic, thus making the connection between Judaism and these issues. Students are also taught Hebrew language skills. Our 8th graders are also involved in a special Sunday Morning Program called Gesher. We also offer family programming so that MBS is a family venture. For a sampling of course offerings, click here.

The MBS Faculty is comprised of outstanding teachers and role models. The majority of our teachers are students at the Jewish Theological Seminary of America in various field of study including List College, Rabbinical School, The Davidson School and the Social Work Program. Each of our teachers bring to our community additional formal and informal Jewish educational experience from United Synagogue Youth and Camp Ramah, having served as Group Leaders and Roshei Edah (division heads) in those settings. All of our teachers bring with them a love of Judaism and Jewish living, an understanding of youth and a passion for teaching. The MBS students have formed quite a rapport with these outstanding educators.

MBS is an incredible way to get involved with social action and community service projects, to grow as a Jewish young adult and to nourish your “Jewish soul.” Join us!

The Gesher Program

We are very pleased to be able to continue a program in experiential education for our 7th and 8th grade Beth Sholom students. This program, “The Gesher Program”, is an opportunity for hands on implementation of the text and Jewish learning. The goal of this program is to go beyond the classroom to other formats for learning, in order to better prepare our Bat/Bar Mitzvah students for Jewish living.

One of the exciting aspects of this program is the integration of our 7th and 8th grade students. The ability to merge these groups on Sundays allows us to provide stronger connections across the grades. This sets the stage for closer connections throughout MBS and USY in later years.

The format of Gesher also provides for closer parental involvement in the educational process, through our Tfillot, our family programs, and in the living knowledge the students bring home.

The schedule for a typical Sunday is:

11:00-11:30 Tfillot with parents

11:30-11:45 Bagels and Brachot

11:45-1:00 Classes and Special Programs

Parents are encouraged to attend Tfillot on a weekly basis with their children. The service is a learning service that does not take longer than half an hour. It is lead by wonderful Tfilla educators who will explain and add sections to the service over the course of the year. We hope that each parent will take time to come and pray with us over the course of this year.

If you do not have Tallit and Tfillin for your child, please be in touch with us as soon as possible. This service is a wonderful opportunity for all of us to become comfortable wrapping ourselves in a Tallit and Tfillin.

Our Gesher curriculum is a two year unit, allowing students to move from the 7th to the 8th grade without repeating material. Within our curriculum are 10 units of study that delve into Life Cycle events and Jewish living. This year the topics will include Kashrut, Tfilla, Birth events and Love of Israel. Every unit includes a hands on Tikkun Olam project and a related program, speaker or off-site trip. We encourage parents to volunteer as chaperones for these visits.