Shabbat School Vision

When the Lord spoke to me about the children on January 2, 2006, the first scripture He gave me was Psalm 78:1-7, beginning with:

     "I will open my mouth in a parable;   I will utter dark sayings of old, which we have heard and known, and our fathers have told us.  We will not hide them from their children, telling to the generation to come the praises of the Lord, and His strength and His wonderful works that He has done."

This is exactly what we do in Shabbat School.  Week after week, year after year, generation after generation, we share the story of G-d's people -- our family!  The pre-school curriculum presents the characters from the Torah and Tanakh as our relatives, and the lessons are organized month by month through the Jewish calendar year.  The children hear these stories when they are 3, when they are 4, and when they are in kindergarten.  The 1st through 3rd grades also have lesson themes based on ha moedim, God's appointed times -- the Biblical feasts (holidays) prescribed in Leviticus 23.  Grades 4 through 6 have lessons based on the weekly Torah portions.

As a Messianic synagogue, we want to pass on the history of our people with our G--, because:     

     "He established a testimony in Jacob, and appointed a law (Torah) in Israel, which He commanded our fathers, that they should make them known to their children; that the generation to come might know them, the children who would be born, that they may arise and declare them to their children."

We praise G-d that we have an ABUNDANCE of children being born at Beth Messiah!  And as we recite in services every week, we are to take His words and "teach them faithfully" to our children.  The Shabbat School teachers and their assistants (who are graduates of our Shabbat School!) are here to assist the parents of our congregation in sharing the words of G-d -- the story of His relationship with His people -- l'dor va dor (from one generation to the next).

And exactly WHY is this passing on of G-d's word so important?

     "That they may set their hope in G-d, and not forget the works of G-d, but keep His commandments."

We want our children (and their children after them) to set their hearts aright from the very beginning of their lives, for the G-d of Israel to be THEIR G-d, and for their spirits to be faithful to Him.  We want them to KNOW their G-d, to LOVE Him, and to SERVE Him ONLY.  Therefore we tell the children the amazing things that our G-d has done for us in the past, and we also give them opportunities to participate in what He is doing among us NOW.

In support of that vision, our Shabbat School classes meet after the Torah procession during the 11 a.m. Torah service on Shabbat (Saturday), and provide the following.

Ages 3 thru K:  In this first Shabbat School class, which a child may join as soon as he or she turns 3, we set the foundations for our 3-5 year olds.  We open class in prayer and help the children know that they can talk to G-d and have their own personal relationship with Him.  We use visual aids such as the felt board & figures to teach stories from the Torah and Tanakh, as well as from the B'rit Chadashah (also known as the "old" and "new" testaments or covenants).  We reinforce the stories and concepts through arts & crafts and music.  Our desire is to see our precious children hunger and thirst for the Lord.  We begin filling their minds and hearts with the knowledge of Yeshua and their heavenly Father here.

1st - 3rd Grades:  The children in this class love to READ the scriptures for themselves.  They learn to recognize and write Hebrew letters and words related to their monthly lessons.  There is a monthly scripture memory verse (with additional weekly verses for the ambitious ones), and all the lessons from that month are connected with the theme of that verse.  We do a lot of acting out of Bible stories, do more challenging craft projects, and concentrate on prayer requests in group prayer.  The children are encouraged to acknowledge Yeshua not only as the Messiah of Israell, but as their personal Lord.

4th - 6th Grade:  The lessons in this class come from the weekly Torah portion.  We also take a more extensive look at the scriptures in Hebrew.  The Torah portion is discussed and related to their daily lives at home, at school, and in their other activities.  Details of scripture are often brought to life by models, by games, and by focusing discussion on these details -- what they meant physically and spiritually and how they apply to us today.  There is a lot of DISCUSSION in this class.

If you would like further information about Beth Messiah's Shabbat School in Cincinnati, Ohio, please contact Sheryl Medina on this website.  Shalom!