School of Jewish Studies (SJS)

School of Jewish Studies (SJS)

SJS begins on Wed Aug 30: 3rd-7th Grades & Sun Sep 10: K-2nd & 8th-12th

Am Yisrael School of Jewish Studies (SJS) At A Glance

Am Yisrael SJS is committed to creating a warm and nurturing environment to transmit a positive and meaningful religious and moral identity for our students. Following the guidelines of the Conservative Movement, we are a progressive Jewish learning community that aims to instill Jewish literacy, a sense of belonging to the Jewish people and encourage lifelong Jewish learning. Meeting the needs of each of our learners is essential.

Synagogue and School Registration is underway. Please register through your ShulCloud account.  If you are new to our community and want to learn about our dynamic School of Jewish Studies and engaging youth programming, please be in touch with our Head of School, Mr. Charlie Sherman via 847-708-1805 (mobile phone) or email csherman@amyisrael.org.

Our Mission Statement, Guiding Principles and Learning Goals are at the center of everything we do at Am Yisrael SJS. These core elements of SJS can be accessed by clicking here.

Each class in our School of Jewish Studies has its own webpage. From each website you can access our schedule of classes, class summaries, materials and resources, our school calendar and teacher bios. All of this information can be accessed in the links below, from youngest to oldest students.

SJS B’Yachad (Together) was formed to build and strengthen our SJS community. Our goals with the SJS B’Yachad are to help bring our families closer together and to offer support to our families when it may be needed. This year we look to continue to host mitzvah projects, support our families as needed, and hope to add more social gatherings for parents and families.

Class Meeting Days/Times

Gan, Alef & Bet (Kindergarten, 1st and 2nd Grades)

  • Sundays, 9:15 a.m. – 12:15 p.m.
  • Shabbat mornings one time per month from 10:15 a.m.-11:30 a.m. with Kiddush Lunch to follow

Gimel, Dalet, Hei, Vav & Zayin (3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th & 7th Grades)

  • Sundays, 9:15 a.m. – 12:15 p.m.
  • Wednesdays, 4:15 p.m. – 6:15 p.m.
  • Shabbat mornings one time per month from 10:15 a.m.-11:30 a.m. with Kiddush Lunch to follow

8th-12th Grades

  • Sundays, 9:15 a.m. – 12:15 p.m.
  • Madrichim & Madrichim-in-Training positions are on available on Sundays, 9:15 a.m.-12:15 p.m.; Wednesdays, 4:15 p.m.-6:15 p.m. and Shabbat mornings 10:15 a.m.-11:30 a.m. with Kiddush Lunch to follow

Family Shabbat Services

Mr. Charlie Sherman and Mr. E. Marc Nevins co-lead a family-friendly, spirited prayer service.  Rabbi Newman Kamin delivers an excellent D’var Torah.  Torah Chanting is one of the core components of Family Shabbat Services.  We have dozens of students and their family members who have chanted verses of Torah at Family Shabbat Services and on Torah-based Jewish holidays over the years.  Please click here for dates, times and more information.

As taken from our guiding principles of the school:

“Virtues and values are of central importance to everything we do at our school. The way we act; who we are; what we stand for; how we respond; how we view life and the world around us; our personal qualities, attributes and traits—all these reflect the degree to which we embrace our Jewish values.”

Updated August 1, 2023   14 Av 5783