Raker Religious School

Temple Solel's Raker Religious School is an environment in which Jewish children and parents can comfortably explore their heritage, history, values and culture. We also provide support for our teachers so that they can explore their own Jewish identities and have a better understanding of Judaism, including holiday celebrations, prayers, sacred books, and God.

We offer two classes for Preschoolers: Ganeinu, for toddlers and parents, will meet the 2nd Sunday of every month. When parents cannot attend, grandparents are welcome as well! The class focuses on Jewish holidays through crafts, songs and stories. Parparim, for our Pre-K students, will meet each Sunday when school is in session. Parents join the class for the first half hour and the last half hour. The curriculum includes Bible stories, holidays and Jewish symbols.

Our comprehensive curriculum integrates Hebrew prayers and Judaic studies for all students, beginning in Mechinah (Kindergarten) and through Chet (8th grade). We study Tefilah (Prayer), Israel, God, and the Jewish world we live in. There are many components to these subjects, and none stands alone. They all overlap and are enmeshed! These components include Hebrew, Torah, holidays, mitzvot, ritual, values and history. We believe in a multi-faceted presentation of information designed to engage all types of learners and we are thrilled that our teachers bring to the table a wide variety of teaching styles and skills. Art, music, stories, videos, texts, map study and field trips; as well as traditional texts, bring our subjects to life. Parents and siblings are brought into the process through family education programs, special events and activities.

All of our students in Mechinah (Kindergarten) through Chet (8th grade) meet on Sunday mornings. All students in Dalet (4th grade) through Zayin (7th grade) also attend classes on Wednesday afternoons. Students in 4th- through 12th grades participate in our annual Temple Solel Youth Retreat, typically held the last weekend in October in Prescott, AZ. The Retreat is open to Temple Solel students who are enrolled in either the Raker Religious School, the Pardes Jewish Day School or King David School.

We have a special Madrikhim (Teaching Assistant) program for students in 9th through 12th grades. Training is held during the Youth Retreat. During the 8th-grade year, we offer instruction and hands-on opportunities to prepare our young teenagers to assist teachers in the classrooms. Beginning in the 9th-grade year, those children interested in being madrikhim are assigned specific grades and teachers with whom they work. Our madrikhim are paid for their work. In addition to keeping our teenagers connected to the congregation and Jewish life, we hope the program helps to grow future religious school teachers, as well as future leaders for the Jewish community.