Dear TBE Families,
We are thrilled to announce that registration is now live for our two new pathways to Jewish life and learning! The first pathway is BaBayit: Jewish Time Experience, a new multigenerational program connected to the Jewish calendar based in the home. The second pathway is BaDerech: On Our Path, an interactive, modality-based program which will include remote student instruction.
Please note: to ensure that we are able to prepare fully for the launch of the school year, the registration deadline is Monday, September 21, 9:00 PM.
Important registration guidelines: The registration form uses conditional logic to open certain questions and options. Please go through the form in order. Because BaBayit is a household-based program, registration for BaBayit appears at the top of the form in the parent section. BaDerech registration appears in the student information section for each child.
7th graders are required to participate only in Kesher, which is listed as a BaDerech modality, and B’Mitzvah prep.
BaBayit: Jewish Time Experience
“Judaism teaches us to be attached to holiness in time; to learn how to consecrate sanctuaries that emerge from the magnificent stream of a year.” - Abraham Joshua Heschel
BaBayit, meaning in the home, will inspire families and individuals (of all ages, life stages, sizes and structures) to take a deep dive into bringing the magic and meaning of the Jewish holidays into their homes while connecting deeply with a cohort of other participating families and individuals. The program will be staffed by TBE’s clergy and full time learning team and will be linked to our communal holiday celebrations throughout the year. Families will connect through periodic gatherings as a program cohort, centered around the ritual of Havdalah on Saturday evenings. While this program will include Zoom meetings, it will also include home observance, family activities, dinner discussions, and the option for distanced, in-person gatherings.
Our vision for BaBayit is as a congregation-wide transformational movement, bringing households together through the joy of home-based engagement and learning.
BaBayit will require participation by all members of the family. We hope that families will seriously consider this option and that it will bring both joy and transformation to your home experiences!
Some students participating in a BaBayit may also want to participate in a BaDerech modality. You can find this option on the registration form.
We will welcome our BaBayit households to our programs on Thursday, October 1, when we will kick off our program and prepare for Sukkot together.
BaDerech: On Our Path (Grades K-7)
“A person learns Torah from the place that their heart desires.”- Avoda Zara 19a
BaDerech, meaning on our path, will engage children in learning about the Jewish calendar year through specific chugim, modalities, including visual arts, science & technology , performing arts, cooking and book club.The program will include weekly hour long sessions and opportunities to connect further for “studio” time when students can work on their craft or project. Attendance for these sessions and also for Hebrew in grades 4-6 is required as part of the TBE B’Mitzvah policy. During registration, families will sign up for a session for the first half of the year, and will have an opportunity to change their schedules or modality for the Spring registration.
Grades K-3
Students in grades K-3 participating in BaDerech can choose one of the following modalities (Chugim): Cooking, Performing Arts, Visual Arts and Book Club. The sessions will include community building, experiential learning and 10-15 minutes of Hebrew Through Movement, during which students will learn simple Hebrew vocabulary by responding through action to words instructing them to sit, walk, etc. Please note that some modalities are not offered to our youngest students for safety reasons and that the grade groupings are different for some modalities because of the developmental needs of the students. In addition, some modalities may require an adult or older sibling supervision.
We are so excited to be able to offer the choice of a Sunday option or midweek option. Details for date/time are provided in the registration.
Grades 4-6
All modalities listed above (Grades K-3) are offered to students in grades 4-6 participating in BaDerech. Each modality will challenge our older students in meaningful and exciting ways that meet the developmental and the different learning styles of our students. In addition to cooking, performing arts, visual arts and book club, students in grade 4-6 can also sign up for STEM (Science & Technology).
We will welcome our BaDerech families to our programs on Sunday, October 4, with a car parade! We’ll celebrate Sukkot together and families will have the opportunity to pick up material boxes for their child/ren’s modality. BaDerech Sessions will start on Sunday, October 18, 2020.
Hebrew (Grades 4-6)
All students in grades 4-6 participating in either BaBayit or BaDerech are required to enroll in our B’Mitzvah Hebrew program. Through the skill of Hebrew decoding, the Hebrew program at TBE has two elements: small group learning and 1:1 learning. Families will register their child(ren) for a weekly Hebrew session in which your child’s group will meet as a community via Zoom for 30-minutes of fun, games and activity-based instruction to introduce new content.
Please note: The Hebrew schedule in the registration form reflects ONLY the group sessions. Your child/ren’s teacher will contact you to schedule 1:1 sessions.
Our 4th-6th grade Hebrew experience will begin on Sunday, October 18, after Simchat Torah to allow families to deeply engage with and participate in the many TBE high holiday related experiences and to allow students to adjust to the new structures and schedules of the secular schools.
Kesher (7 grade)
Students in 7th grade participating in either BaBayit or BaDerech are required to enroll in Kesher (connection), a values based community building program that meets once a week. Students participate in relevant gender-based, peer-to-peer discussions facilitated by our dedicated staff.
B’Mitzvah Prep (Grades 6-7)
Students in 6th and 7th grade will continue with B’Mitzvah tutoring and B’Mitzvah family programs. Any student in 6th or 7th grade will also be required to participate with their family in Shabbat morning services to be held 10-12 times throughout the year. These 45-60 minute learning services will help all members of the family gain familiarity and comfort with the meaning of and participation in Shabbat liturgy to deepen the B’Mitzvah experience for all. Led by our dynamic Rabbinic Intern, Ryan Leszner, this will be a fun, engaging learning and prayer experience.
If you have questions regarding any of our programs please contact Danielle Jeuneux, Administrative Assistant K-12 Learning Programs, djeuneux@tbewellesley.org or call 781-997-4215. In addition, if you would like to join us for an informational session about BaBayit and BaDerech, we will host two Zoom calls to share more information about the programs, to walk through the registration form, and to answer any questions.
Wednesday, September 16, 7:30-8:30 PM
Register in advance for this meeting: Here
Thursday, September 17, 12:00-1:00 PM
Register in advance for this meeting: Here
We are so excited to begin a year of innovation, creativity, and deep connection. Click here to begin your registration for 5781!
L’shalom,
The TBE Learning Team
