Our CBI Religious School seeks to impart the most important aspects of Judaism to our students and to build a sense of community and shared values, while having fun. We aim to convey meaningful content in the context of a warm, inclusive learning environment.

“Enduring understandings” are big ideas that have lasting value beyond the classroom. It is what we want our students to retain even if they forget many of the details covered. Enduring understandings require exploration and engagement, and they provide a larger purpose for learning.

Here are some of the enduring understandings we strive to impart:

• I am part of the Jewish family, starting with my own, to my synagogue, all the way to my connection to Am Yisrael (the Jewish people).

• We have a responsibility to use our Jewish values to help us be better people and to help others (friends, community and the world) to live healthier lives.

• The Torah is our guide to living a good Jewish life. Reading as well as interpreting Torah is our right and responsibility as Jews.

• Holidays help us connect to our traditions, our community, and the world.

• Observing and celebrating Jewish life-cycle events bring a sense of sacredness to our lives.

• We are all created in the image of God, who expects us to act morally, ethically, and justly.

   Aided by the innovative curriculum of the Goldring/Woldenberg Institute of Southern Jewish Life (ISJL), our Religious School Director and our educators think deeply and plan carefully for how they convey these big ideas to our students. They are our Religious School compass, framing the questions and guiding our learning.