Makom

Welcome to Makom!

The Hebrew word Makom means “place” and it truly is the place to be as we challenge our youth, foster growth, and have fun! As we prepare for students' B'nei Mitzvah year, we wrestle with Torah, dive deep into our Jewish identities, and help build our communities by developing meaningful friendships with peers and with our incredibly talented staff. Our curriculum is infused with core Jewish values that help us understand and practice justice, empathy, mindfulness, curiosity, and more!

GRADE LEVEL FOCUSES

• Beth El’s 6th grade program places an emphasis on community building and building a strong 6th Grade cohort as it spends the year examining the concept of “using our Jewish voice.” Throughout the year, our students will explore the Biblical Prophets, American Jewish history focused on the Civil Rights Movement and look inward at how we can use our own Jewish voices to bring forward that change we want to see in this world. We wrap the year diving into different denominations within American Judaism and comparative religion where we learn about the differences of the major world religions in comparison to Judaism. In addition to 6th grade’s Judaics curriculum, our 6th grade students participate in Beth El’s Satellite Hebrew program where they will continue to learn and explore Jewish prayers, strengthen their Hebrew reading skills and participate in weekly T’fillah (prayer).
• Beth El’s 7th grade program places an emphasis on community building and building a strong b’nei mitzvah cohort, kicking off the year with our 7th grade teen retreat! We continue the year exploring our Jewish identity in a year of great transition! As our students are entering their teenage years, we will explore what it means to become a teenager and enter adulthood through Jewish text, history, and values. Mid-year we focus the winter semester on Holocaust Studies, utilizing curriculum designed by Yad Vashem and the USC Shoah Foundation. Finally, the 7th graders will conclude the year learning about the history of Israel and Judaisms unique connection to this land. Throughout the year, they will continue to learn and explore Jewish prayers, strengthen their Hebrew reading skills and participate in weekly T’fillah (prayer).
• Beth El’s 8th grade program places an emphasis on community building and continuing to strengthen the cohort through leadership building skill and connecting personal and Jewish values as they grow into their adulthood. We also spend the year learning and exploring the Jewish value of tzedakah and Jewish Philanthropy. The 8th grade class will form a philanthropic foundation and spend the year researching organizations that speak to issues of importance to the group. They will then receive grant proposals, diligently be in conversation with these organizations, and work towards funding projects that they are passionate about. The 8th graders will also continue to learn and explore Jewish prayers, strengthen their Hebrew reading skills and participate in weekly T’fillah (prayer).