About the TBI Religious School
Temple Beth Israel has a dynamic comprehensive Youth Program. Our Jewish studies begin in Kindergarten and continue through 12th grade. Religious School meets on Sunday morning for grades K through Eight, and the program includes music, art and Family Education in addition to general curriculum.9th and 10th grades meet on Sunday afternoon, and Confirmation is held at the end of 10th grade. Our students then graduate to Coffee House Judaica, a class for post-confirmands on Wednesday evenings that addresses contemporary teen issues from a Jewish perspective. We also have a Bnai Mitzvah program, which includes Hebrew study, Shabbat Service attendance, community service, mitzvot performance, and intensive family programming. Hebrew School meets on Thursday afternoon, beginning in fourth grade (with a third grade option) through seventh grade. Eighth graders are given the option of continuing their Hebrew studies with conversational Hebrew.
Our Youth Activities include three active youth groups and another one on the way. Our 5th & 6th grade youth group meets monthly and engages in social and community activities. Our 7th & 8th graders also meet monthly to participate in both local and regional programs. Our High School Youth Group, FYGBI (Fresno Youth Group Beth Israel) is associated with NFTY, the National Federation of Temple Youth. High Schoolers meet regularly on Wednesday evenings to discuss issues and plan programs. They are involved in many facets of Temple life, including conducting Shabbat services, volunteering during special events, sitting on committees, and working in the Religious School. Additionally, FYGBI participates in regional events and engages in social and social action events in Fresno.
For younger children, we offer K'tanim, a Friday evening enrichment program. K'tanim allows youngsters to observe Shabbat with all their senses while their parents participate in Shabbat services. We also hold monthly Family Services which are conducted in part by children from the Religious School. Our goal is to involve every youth between the ages of two and eighteen in some aspect of Temple life. Our youth program is always being revised and upgraded to meet this goal.
Upcoming Events
FEBRUARY
9 & 16
No School
23
9:30-12:00 6-8 Grade Family Education
MARCH
14
Family Potluck & Purim Service
21-23
Hatikvah at Camp Newman(7th & 8th Grades)
Weekend at Camp Newman (5th & 6th grade)
25
7:30 Youth Education Committee Meeting in TBI Library
28
FYGBI Service with Rabbi Winer
28-30
FYGBI Fresno Conclave
30
5th & 6th Grade Bowling Trip
APRIL
6
Model Seder
13 & 20
No School
MAY
30
Teacher Appreciation Service
Weekly Meetings for Teens
FYGBI Moadone
Every Thursday night except during vacations
from 7:00 PM-9:00 PM. High Schoolers hang-out, do homework, and watch Friends
together, all teens in grades 9-12 welcome
Coffeehouse Judaica every 1st and 3rd Wednesday.
Topics of current interest for post-Confirmation students (11th & 12th
grades)
FYGBI General Meeting
4th Thursday during Moadone
Serve Dinner at Poverello House
Temple Beth Israel night is the third Tuesday of each month
4:45-5:45
Confirmation News:
-Guest teachers for February are Roberta Bavin and Rabbi Josef Germaine
For further information about events listed on this page contact Jeanna at
the Religious School 432-2141
Please contact our Webmaster with questions or comments.
