Reed Religious School

1. To inspire our children with a positive faith in Judaism.

2. To train them for the responsible acceptance of their role in the Synagogue and in the Jewish community.

3. To inculcate in them the universal ideal of Israel’s prophets and sages, to explore the teachings of Judaism and the ideals of the American democracy, for the reciprocal influence they should have on each other, leading toward our children’s dynamic involvement in service for freedom, brotherhood and peace, for all people of every color, faith and background.

4. To stimulate their sense of community with their fellow Jews in all parts of the world, and to preserve their relationship with the land of Israel and the land hallowed by our people’s memories and hopes, and with those spiritual and cultural developments that its revival in our time has made possible.

5. To guide them in self-identification with the Jewish people of the past, emulating its heroes, aspiring to its ideals and devoted to its continuance.

6. To provide them with a happy, interesting and inspiring experience in the practice of Judaism; in the home, the school, the Synagogue and the community, and also in the appreciation of Jewish art, music and literature.

7. To prepare them to utilize their Jewish faith, ethical standards and traditional insights of Judaism in meeting their personal problems.

8. To lead them toward the full understanding of insights and principles contributed by Reform Judaism and a deep appreciation of K’lal Yisrael.

9. The curriculum, which attempts to achieve these aims, must begin with the actual experiences of our children and must add many important elements of the Jewish heritage that are not present in the experience of average Jewish children in America. The study of Hebrew is an indispensable element in the achievement of this purpose and must play an important part in our course of study. Above all, our purpose must be to stimulate a process of continuous learning which extends beyond the prescribed program of the Religious School and lasts as long as life itself.