Hebrew at Yachad
Yachad utilizes the Behrman House Hebrew pedagogy, focusing on decoding and learning Hebrew letters through commonly seen Jewish words and phrases. The Behrman House program includes two levels of learning, starting with Shalom Hebrew for our beginners and moving towards Hebrew in Harmony for our advanced learners who are ready to tackle prayer-based Hebrew.
Yachad focuses on 5 main Hebrew elements:
Tefila (prayer) in Hebrew (K-6th Grade)
Students attend tefillah at Yachad in two forms, traditional prayer and tefilah electives. This allows students to learn prayer through a medium of thier preference (ex. art, music, drama). We also ask that families attend Shabbat morning services to experince tefilah as a family unit.
Jewish Life Vocabulary (K-6th Grade)
By infusing Hebrew vocabulary and letters into the learning environment at Yachad, we aim to expose learners to the Hebrew that will enable them to participate in Jewish life in America, ie phrases like mazel tov (congratulations!), bikur cholim (visiting the sick), and b’tzelem Elohim (in the image of God; as well as words like t’shuvah (repentance), tanach (the Jewish bible), and mezuzah. Familiarity with these words not only lays the groundwork for successful Hebrew decoding, it also transmits important Jewish values and cultural elements.
Hebrew Through Movement (K-4th Grade)
HTM is taught by our Yachad lead educators who have taken the intensive HTM training. Lead educators will both be able to (1) utilize HTM’s highly-developed version of ‘Simon Says’ in which teachers give verbal commands and the students follow with corresponding movements and (2) incorporate these words into the everyday language of the lesson and classroom. Vocabulary words largely focus on those related to Jewish holidays, blessings, prayers and Jewish values/living. Sight words are incorporated in the classroom space. HTM is intended to prime students to read Hebrew with a fun, movement-based activity that is motivating and engaging!
Hebrew Decoding – (5th and 6th Grade)
Students begin with Behrman House’s Shalom Hebrew program which focuses on decoding quickly and accurately. The program incorporates key cultural words (shalom, mitzvah, mezuzah, tzedakah), movement, and writing practice to give students a range of modalities. Our most advanced hebrew learners use the Hebrew in Harmony program which teach Hebrew through prayers that they will see during Tefilah.
Dual Language Programming (K-1st Grade)
For students whose household is dual language and/or attended a dual language pre-school. Designed to review ECC dual language goals and continue Hebrew learning. Classes are offered Thursdays at an individual rate.