Light House: Making My Home Hashem's Home

This new curriculum, titled “Light House: Making My Home Hashem's Home, offers students a uniquely engaging learning experience that brings Jewish teachings to life.

“Light House: Making My Home Hashem's Home” builds upon Chabad of Gwinnett’s commitment to providing children with a personally meaningful journey of Jewish education. Developed by the International Chabad Children's Network (CKids), this comprehensive curriculum enables each child to deepen their understanding of their heritage in a meaningful and practical way that positively impacts their lives. 

Students will embark on an interactive and captivating journey through the year, focusing on various Mitzvot through the lens of making G‑d welcome in our world, through the Mitzvot we do in our daily lives . Each lesson focuses on a way to make our homes a place where Hashem is known. Topics covered include Shabbat, blessings, honoring parents, charity, and more aspects of daily Jewish life. Each lesson involves fun and exciting hands-on STEM activities and crafts, ensuring the engagement and enjoyment of every student.

Prayer-Tefilla 

This area is aimed at the study and understanding of prayer and the Siddur, focusing on the meaning of each prayer as well as some key words to remember.

As the students master each prayer, they will grow more comfortable with the Siddur. We will also include a general overview of Synagogue structure and dynamics. Once the student understands the routine, there’s a greater chance for interest and involvement.

Aleph Champ

Our Aleph Champ program offers an innovative Hebrew reading system that involves ten easily attainable levels for children to master. Beginning with letter recognition, our Hebrew reading program leads the students through phonetic decoding and reading, until they reach prayer literacy.

Students are motivated and have clear goals defined for them. This program is based on the martial art's motivational philosophy of color-coded levels and testing.

Aleph Champ Levels:
White Aleph Champion: Master the first 18 letters of the Aleph Bet.
Red Aleph Champion: Master all 32 letters of the Aleph Bet.
Orange Aleph Champion: Master the first 3 vowels with letter combinations.
Yellow Aleph Champion: Master the first 6 vowels with letter combinations.
Green Aleph Champion: Master the first 9 vowels with letter combinations.
Blue Aleph Champion: Master all the vowels and exceptions to the rules.
Purple Aleph Champion: Master reading familiar Prayers and Brachot.
Brown Aleph Champion: Master reading important Tefillot.
Grey Aleph Champion: Master reading from the Siddur in a timed fashion.
Black Aleph Champion: Master reading an average of 80 words a minute.
 

Holidays

Lessons on each Jewish holiday will fill the calendar as we proceed from Rosh Hashanah and the High Holidays in the early fall through the holiday of Shavuot in the late spring. The children will be exposed to the holidays through hands-on activities, games, contests, songs, and projects, thereby gaining knowledge, understanding and appreciation for the wealth of our tradition throughout the year. 

Jewish Values & Ethics

The students will read and discuss stories and case scenarios that have practical application to their everyday life. They will understand that our religion is based on a G‑d given set of values and morals.

Mitzvot

Children will be taught the meaning of Mitzvot (Torah commandments) and will be encouraged to enjoy the experience and pride that comes with the fulfillment of Mitzvot.  Some of the Mitzvot that are emphasized are Tzedakah, love of a fellow Jew, kindness, hospitality, honoring parents, Mezuzah, and Brachot (blessings).  The teachers will help each child develop a consciousness of proper Torah behavior towards
others - Middot Tovot - which is the acquisition of desirable character traits.

Jewish History 

Children will learn to view our Avot (Patriarchs) and Imahot (Matriarchs) and other Jewish heroic figures as role models. They will be taught morals and ethics from people highlighted in the weekly Torah portion. Your children will gain knowledge and love for the land of Israel and its people. 

Jewish Music & Song

Led by our teachers, the students will learn Jewish songs connected to the lessons being taught.

Arts & Crafts

The students will enjoy doing different art projects connected to Jewish holidays and Mitzvah themes that will add a taste of Jewish life to your home.