700 Hebrew Schools Open This Fall With New Curricula to Build Jewish Identity and Pride
This Fall, over 700 shluchim around the world opened their Hebrew School doors again, welcoming their students back with contagious enthusiasm and renewed excitement.
And they aren’t just opening their doors to students, but to new ways of teaching core Jewish values.
At the center of this year’s launch are two new CKids curriculum tracks, designed to engage students and bring Yiddishkeit to life, transforming classrooms into spaces of growth, action, and connection.
This fall, students are diving into two brand-new CKids curriculum tracks that promise to make their Hebrew School experience both memorable and personal:
“My Jewish Treasures” – designed for kindergarten through second grade – invites children to uncover the many gems of Judaism. Sixteen lessons built around Jewish stories, values, and traditions lead children on a journey of skill-building and personal growth. As students embark upon a treasure hunt, complete with a treasure map and chest, they collect “treasure tokens” to fill their personal treasure boxes with reminders of their inner treasures: tools that help them maximize their own kindness, confidence, and Jewish pride.
Students in grades three through five will embark on “Israel Quest”, a hands-on journey through Jewish history that brings to life the story of our people in the Land of Israel. Through interactive projects and creative storytelling, children will experience the resilience of Am Yisroel and the unbreakable bond between the Jewish people and their homeland. The curriculum poses a central question: what does it mean to belong to Hashem’s chosen nation, and how does one live it today?
“You can see the kids light up with each lesson,” said Mussie Sasonkin, Shlucha and educational director of Chabad of Akron in Akron, OH. “It’s always really enticing material and honestly fun for the teachers to discover the material alongside the class.”
The best part? “It’s so simple. My staff tell me year after year: engaging material makes a world of difference. They don’t have to spend extra effort getting the kids interested because the curriculum is so well done. Instead, teachers can focus on helping students get everything from the lesson and stay hands-on and interactive – which is what you actually want to see happening in the classroom.”
Hebrew School staff aren’t the only ones excited for the coming year’s lessons. Children, parents, and even grandparents are celebrating the newest classroom explorations, too.
“I see how excited my grandkids are – they love it so much that they don’t want to miss even one week,” shares a grandparent in Mrs. Sasonkin’s Hebrew School. “I wish we had had materials like this when I was growing up, and when I was raising my kids. If we’d had lessons like these, we would have actually wanted to go to Hebrew School and learn about Judaism!”
The curriculum reflects a broader mission to make Jewish education personal, relevant, and inspiring for every child.
“The Rebbe envisioned a world where Jewish education reaches and resonates with every Jewish boy and girl,” says Rabbi Mendel Kotlarsky, executive director of Merkos 302. “This year’s CKids curricula anchor students in the fundamentals of Jewish identity and a deep love for Eretz Yisroel. In today’s climate, especially since October 7th, that foundation is more critical than ever.”
The Rebbe’s vision is reaching a record number of children in 5786.
“Our first day was amazing,” shares Shlucha Sara Bluming, Hebrew School director and co-director of Chabad Potomac in Potomac, MD. “The children were so absorbed in the activities. They soak up the information so easily when it’s this much fun. For students and teachers both: everything just flows. You can see the children really getting the most out of the lessons.”
With hundreds of schools launching this year, Jewish families worldwide can look forward to a year where Hebrew School is more than just a class: it’s a highlight of the week, where Jewish pride, personal growth, and simcha are natural and fun.
This year’s CKids Curriculum was developed by:
Mrs. Mushky Loewenthal | CKids Director, Curriculum Director
Mrs. Chavie Ash | Content Developer, Curriculum Vaad
Mrs. Sara Bluming | Content Developer, Curriculum Vaad
Mrs. Devorah Gancz | Curriculum Developer
Mrs. Chana Gansburg | Curriculum Developer
Mrs. Mushky Adler | Curriculum Editor
Mrs. Chana Burston | Curriculum Editor
Mrs. Miram Esther Wilhelm | Curriculum Editor
Mrs. Shayna Freedman | Piloter
