Cheder

In all but name, our Cheder is completely different from the old-style Jewish educational establishments that generations of children have endured! We have revamped what we teach and how it is taught, with qualified teachers, small classes and continuous assessment.

Our Cheder is headed by Louise Weinberg. It starts every Sunday during termtime at 10.00am and ends at 12.00 noon, and parents are asked to take turns to stand guard alongside our security officer.

We were one of the first UK Chedarim to adopt the Aleph-Champ reading programme, developed in America, which motivates children using a colour system to chart their progress. Students go on to learn Hebrew reading, writing and translation skills, Jewish history, our values, laws and customs, understanding the Torah, and the structure and meaning of the synagogue service.

We arrange an annual Cheder Shabbaton in Hale, plus outings to places of Jewish interest. Families are encouraged to get involved, with parents’ evenings and a breakfast Minyan for pre-Bar and Bat Mitzvah children and their parents.

Cheder Prospectus
Download the Hale Cheder prospectus (PDF format, requires Adobe PDF Reader)

Bar Mitzvah and Bat Mitzvah Classes
In the school year in which girls turn 11 and boys turn 12, they are eligible for Hale’s special 2-year Challenge Programme, designed to prepare them for their Jewish coming of age. Challenge is led by the Hale Youth Leaders, Avner and Sarah Brodie, and is designed to relate Jewish values to aspects of contemporary society and developing life skills, using film and IT resources to stimulate group discussion and lively interaction.

From January to June of the year of their Bar or Bat Mitzvah, students will be invited to join special workshops about issues of concern to young adults, led by Rabbi Joel and Rebetzin Ruthie Portnoy. Every year, this privileged group also enjoys a Residential Shabbaton together.

Childrens Programmes

Our Shabbat Clubs have replaced the old-style static children's service with a dynamic combination of prayers, songs and games, designed to occupy and educate the kids during the Shabbat morning service during term-time. Our Director of Children's Programmes, Louise Weinberg, co-ordinates separate Shabbat Clubs for different age groups:

• For School Years 3-6 at 10.50am
• For School Years Reception-Yr 2 at 11.25am
• For Nursery at 11.25am

The Aleph Bet Club is a fun-oriented after-school club for children, run by Louise Weinberg and her team. It takes place on Tuesday and Thursday afternoons from 4.00 - 4.45pm, and on Sunday mornings from 9.00 -9.45am. Children from Reception to Year 6 inclusive enjoy a lively curriculum which includes basic Hebrew reading and writing, the meanings of our prayers, the Jewish calendar and traditions, and stories from the Torah. They can be met at the bus stop and an after-school snack is provided.