The program
Jewish values, taught as something you live
Every week pairs one Jewish value with a story, holiday, blessing, or tradition that brings it to life. Children learn hakarat hatov — recognizing the good — by making a gratitude bottle. They learn ometz lev, courage of the heart, by naming something that scares them and finding a way through it. They learn shalom bayit, peace in the home, by practicing what good listening actually looks and sounds like.
The year follows the Jewish calendar, moving through Chanukah, Tu B’Shvat, Purim, Passover, and Shavuot. Hebrew vocabulary builds alongside the values content, one word at a time.
ShalomLearning is pluralistic. Families from every Jewish background and every level of observance are welcome, and no prior Jewish education is assumed.
By grade
What your child will learn
Pre-K & Kindergarten
Combined class · 40–45 min
Learning through the senses — story, music, movement, and hands-on crafts. Tasting honey and apples, building a model sukkah, making a tzedakah box. An adult stays with Pre-K learners; for Kindergarten it is recommended but off-camera is fine.
Grade 1
45 min
Discussion prompts, comparison questions, and interactive games. Students start asking why, and connecting Jewish values to their own choices, comparing the rhythm of Shabbat to an ordinary day. Caregiver presence is welcome but optional.
Grade 2
45 min
Deeper ethical framing, including b’tzelem Elohim — being created in the image of God — explored through Israeli art, music, and literature. Each lesson introduces an artist or author, and students explore original work in that style.
How it works
Built for families who move
Sundays, in your time zone
Regional cohorts — Americas (Eastern and Pacific), Europe/Africa, and Asia/Pacific. Class times are matched to family time zone and scheduling preferences.
Small groups, real teachers
Classes are capped at 8–10 students so every child is known by name. Sessions are live and synchronous in a COPPA-compliant Zoom classroom.
Up to 24 sessions, October to May
The 2026–27 program year runs from October 18, 2026 through May 23, 2027, closing with a Shavuot celebration and a look back at the year. Enrollment is rolling — your child can join at any point.
A little prep at home
Teachers reach out before class with the supplies needed for that week’s craft. Projects can be done together during class or between sessions, whatever fits your week.
2026–27 calendar
The year, session by session
Twenty-four Sunday sessions, beginning with gratitude in October and closing with Shavuot in May. Two flex sessions give each class room to revisit a value or catch up.
The partnership
Two organizations, one classroom
The Joint Religious Education Program is delivered by ShalomLearning in partnership with JWB Jewish Chaplains Council, a signature program of JCC Association of North America. JWB has served Jews in uniform and their families for more than a century, and sponsors this program in full.
ShalomLearning is a Jewish education nonprofit now in its fifteenth year, working with synagogues and community organizations across North America and in ten other countries.
Sign your child up for the year
Registration takes a few minutes. Enrollment is open on a rolling basis,
and there is no cost to military families.
Questions about the program? Email [email protected] or call 301-660-3800.