JEWISH LEARNING

Jewish Learning

An education at Rashi speaks to a student’s mind, heart, and soul. Our students study Jewish texts, values and concepts in academically rigorous learning environments. There is a strong focus on making “text to self” connections so that students recognize the relevance of Jewish lessons to their everyday lives; we approach Jewish learning as a modern, living subject. Children learn to see the world through a Jewish lens, becoming proud and knowledgeable Jews with strong Jewish identities.

Torah

The study of Torah emphasizes interacting with the ancient text and connecting the stories to contemporary issues. We approach Torah as a living document, a foundation for informed questioning that serves as an inspiring resource and a guide for how to live a meaningful life. Students study the Hebrew Bible as well as later Rabbinic texts, often exploring how an idea has developed from Biblical times to today.

Hebrew Language

At The Rashi School, our World Languages Department is rooted in a mission to cultivate real-world language proficiency and intercultural understanding in our PK–8 students. Based on our hours of instruction, our goal is for students to achieve a Novice High to Intermediate Low level of proficiency, in both Spanish and Hebrew, by graduation, enabling them to communicate effectively across all four language modalities—listening, speaking, reading, and writing—in everyday contexts.

We view language acquisition not only as a practical skill but as a doorway into broader human connection. Our Hebrew program fosters deep ties to Jewish identity and Israeli culture and our Spanish program expands students’ global awareness and cognitive flexibility, empowering them to engage meaningfully with diverse cultures and communities.

Prayer

The understanding of prayer and its intention helps students learn about themselves and develop and a common bond with other members of the Jewish community.

Our goal is that prayer (t’fillah) helps connect students to Jewish tradition and enhances their spirituality. Students are encouraged to talk about God and to think about their relationship with the divine. Students learn the words and historical background of prayers while also considering the meaning of the prayers to their own lives. Rashi students participate in youth-centered and often youth-led t’fillah either once or twice a week depending on their age and all of our students end the week with a joyful Kabbalat Shabbat on Friday afternoons.

Holidays

As a Jewish school, holiday celebrations are part of the cycle of the school year. Both within the classrooms and as a larger school community, the power and excitement of holidays are felt. Holidays give us an opportunity to truly live a life inspired by joyful Judaism. Students look forward to casting bread into the Charles River in anticipation of Rosh Hashanah, shaking the lulav and etrog in the Sukkah on Sukkot, lighting the Chanukah candles for Chanukah, being part of a costume parade on Purim, and many more such joyful representations of Jewish life.

Israel

Rashi students develop a deep engagement with Israel through the study of Israeli culture and history. Through our ongoing relationship with the Leo Baeck School in Haifa, our Grade 8 students and their Israeli peers travel and learn together in both Israel and the Boston area. These travels create real and lasting connections between our students and their Israeli peers, and it plants the seed of ahavat Yisrael (love of Israel) within our graduates.