Each Jewish holiday has a story — dramatic, celebratory, and contemplative — but all rich in meaning, tradition, and timeless wisdom. Whether it's fighting for justice and an escape from slavery, celebrating identity and the power of our culture, or recalling the resilience of the Jewish people, each holiday presents a special chance to learn more about our history. What if our school curriculum drew from Jewish holidays? Picture a calendar that combines history, art, science, and theater— all based on the rhythm of the Jewish holidays and traditions.

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Welcome to the School of Jewish Life. Here is your official class schedule:

1st Period: Ethics — Reflections on Yom Kippur
Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, is a day to look over what we have done, seek forgiveness, and vow to be better individuals. In Ethics class, children discuss the values of teshuvah (repentance), tefillah (prayer), and tzedakah (charity). They teach empathy, responsibility, and the strength of second chances. It's a spiritual do-over — an illustration that we can be better individuals.

2nd Period: Environmental Science — Sukkot Building Lab
Sukkot, the Feast of Tabernacles, calls us out to temporary shelters called sukkahs, as our ancestors did 40 years ago in the desert. Science class examines the cycles of agriculture, ecological living, and religious significance in nature. Students can construct model sukkahs or learn about the lulav and etrog (four species). The holiday teaches us to thank nature, live, and enjoy the world around us.

3rd Period: PE & Music — Simchat Torah Celebration
Simchat Torah is the climax and start of the cycle of reading Torah — a celebration of joy with dancing, singing, and rejoicing. During PE and Music, students participate in hakafot (processions with the Torah), compose happy songs, and study songs sung for centuries. This class is about movement, family, and respecting the never-ending learning cycle. It reminds us to recall that Torah is not a book — it's joy, rhythm, and relationship.

4th Period: Art — Hanukkah Creations
Hanukkah, the Feast of Light, celebrates the rededication of the Holy Temple by the Maccabees upon their conquest of the Greeks. The miracle of oil—eight days' supply from one — sparks imagination, symbolism, and expression. In art class, students may make menorahs, paint the temple, or cover dreidels with glitter and hope-filled messages. Hanukkah teaches us that we can achieve light, belief, and identity despite the darkest adversity.

5th Period: Theatre — Purim Rehearsal
Purim is a Broadway show with costumes, drama, plot turns, and a message. The Book of Esther is the tale of a Jewish queen who takes a risk to save her people and Jewish culture. In theater class, kids bring the story to life through Purim spiels (comedies), masks, and dramatic readings. It celebrates secret identities, courage, and advocacy, with hamantaschen and joyful noise on the side.

6th Period: History — Passover 101
Passover (Pesach) is the most significant historical lesson and one of the most important Jewish holidays in the calendar year, commemorating the Israelites' escape from slavery in Egypt. The holiday revolves around the seder, a symbolic meal in which we read the Haggadah and pass on the story of freedom from generation to generation. In History class, we learn about oppression, resistance, and redemption themes by comparing the ancient Exodus with contemporary freedom movements. It's learning about who we are, where we are from, why freedom is essential, and how we should never take it for granted.

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Every class and holiday has something critical to offer and consider: courage, creativity, gratitude, reflection, and joy. Together, they are a curriculum not only for school but for life.