Temple Emanu-El

Religious School Registration is Now Open!

We are so happy to welcome your child to our 2024-25 Religious School program at Temple Emanu-El of Long Beach. Registration is now online! Please complete the following form to register your child/children for the Fall. Also, complete the attached medical form.

Shabbat led by Religious School Classes

Every month Religious School class leads our service. First and Second graders have led beautiful services, as does our youth group. It is an inspiring evening enjoyed by parents and students.

Note: You must complete a separate registration and medical form for each child.

The Religious School for grades 1st–4th will be meeting on Mondays from 4:30–6:00; 5th graders meet 4:15-6:00; and 6th-8th graders meet 6:00-7:30, following the Long Beach school calendar. 

The first day of Religious School in 2024 will be announced. During parent orientation we strongly recommend at least 1 caregiver attend.

Religious School

Our Religious School is the eternal spring of our temple. Our in-classroom instruction provides a modern pathway for our youth to not only learn about Jewish culture and heritage, but to provide them with the experiences and memories to cultivate a lasting identity to Judaism. It is our goal that while our children learn about Jewish customs, history, Hebrew, holidays, rituals, music and traditions, they develop pride and a love for the Jewish faith. It is our responsibility to expose our youth to all necessary information but it is our primary goal to help each student grow to be kind, thoughtful, charitable, tolerant, forgiving, grateful, empathetic and mindful; Mindful towards others, regardless of faith, orientation, challenges or beliefs. We want to help develop children to be a positive reflection of what it means to be Jewish, especially in a diverse, inclusive world. It is our hope that our Religious School students will continue their relationship with G_d and Judaism and our Temple after their Bar/Bat Mitzvah. They are our future. As the Torah says: Teach them well”. We promise to do that, and more…

Bar and Bat Mitzvah Preparation

Our curriculum is based on reinforcing our Hebrew and Blessings-fluency in preparation for the student’s b’nai mitzvot. We explore the topic of Mitzvot as a whole and what our responsibility is to perform and honor these mitzvot (commandments).

It is our goal to help all of our students to be aware and proud of their Jewish identity.

– Sandy Schumer, RS Coordinator

Our Youth in the News

B'Nai Mitzvah Students Prepare Personal Pouches for the Community's Needy

The City of Long Beach and the Long Beach Police Department received 100 bags filled with personal care items for those in need in our community. The bags were generously donated by Temple Emanu-El B’nai Mitzvah students who volunteered to participate in the Personal Pouch Project led by Religious Education Director, Sandy Schumer, and Rabbi Jack Zanerhaft. The students each filled nine personal pouches with items including hand sanitizer, masks, toothbrushes, toothpaste, lip balm, socks, hats, gloves and more. Personal Pouches were also put together specifically for children with small toys, cards and crayons. Tags with encouraging words written by the students were attached to the outside of the pouches. The LBPD will be distributing the pouches to the homeless in our community.