SCHOOL
Religious School: K-10th Grade
Developing a child’s Jewish identity is the principal aim of our religious school.
KKBE has an outstanding Reform Jewish curriculum which provides a comprehensive Jewish education for students in kindergarten through their tenth grade Confirmation. Students in Kindergarten through 2nd grade receive an introduction to Hebrew language and the Aleph Bet through their religious studies classes. Our 3rd through 7th graders receive 90 minutes of Hebrew instruction in addition to their religious school curriculum.
Grades K-7 meet on Sundays at KKBE from 10:30-12:30 for religious studies. During that time, students attend 20-minute T’filah Service in the sanctuary with our Music Director & Assistant Rabbi. T’filah is offered three different times to be grade-level specific. Grades 3-7 also meet from 9:00-10:30 AM on Sundays for Hebrew instruction.
Last year we had over 150 students in our religious school in grades K-10. We keep our teacher-to-student ratios small by having students from the College of Charleston serve as assistants as well as high school helpers.
KKBE students are prepared and confident! Our B’nei Mitzvah coordinator and our Rabbis work extensively with each young person and with their family to maximize the experience, value, and success of this major life-cycle event. Each Bar/Bat Mitzvah candidate’s family must be members in good standing of KKBE and the student must attend religious school classes for three consecutive years prior to their B’nei Mitzvah. Individualized B’nei Mitzvah preparation includes meetings with Rabbis, learning sessions with the B’nei Mitzvah coordinator, and weekly home study. Candidates’ families must be KKBE members at the time a ceremony is scheduled, which typically is three years in advance of the Bar/Bat Mitzvah.
HaSichah and Confirmation (8th – 10th Grade)
Through education, discussion groups, and experiential opportunities, KKBE helps our teens gain confidence in their Jewish identity. The goal is for teens to understand Judaism and its current issues, and learn to articulate their own thoughts and perspectives. Students meet on Wednesday nights, enjoying dinner and camaraderie.
Confirmation takes place at the end of the tenth grade. Confirmands meet regularly with the Rabbi to study what it means to be a modern Jew, explore social action issues and their own Jewish identity. Areas of study include theology, Reform Jewish philosophy, as well as ancient and modern Jewish history.
Each year, the Confirmation Class joins Rabbi Alexander on a trip to Washington DC to visit the Religious Action Center to learn about their work and the Jewish imperative for social justice. The Religious Action Center educates and mobilizes the Reform Jewish community on legislative and social concerns, advocating on more than 70 different issues, including economic justice, civil rights, religious liberty, Israel, and more.
At the conclusion of the year, the confirmands lead the congregation in a service created in part by the class, thereby affirming their faith in Judaism.
Religious School Registration
To register, please log in to your ShulCloud account by clicking the Login button in the top right corner of this page. Click “My Account” and select “Start a New School Enrollment” at the bottom of the page.
If you need assistance accessing a ShulCloud account, please contact the main office at (843)723-1090. If you have any questions about the upcoming school year, please email melanie@kkbe.org.
Religious School Pre Registration – For New Families Only
At KKBE, it is our policy that no Jewish child be denied a Jewish education due to inability to pay. Therefore, we offer our members need-based confidential custom payment agreements to cover expenses for Religious School Tuition. This program is funded in part by generous support from the Charleston Jewish Federation and the Annual Community Campaign.