Jewish Community High School

The JCHS Community Teaching Certificate

The Community Teaching Certificate represents the most popular JCHS Certificate program. Our Teaching Certificate is well-respected nationally, and students receiving this Certificate have been hired at synagogues all across North America.  Upon completion of this 80-credit program, students will have a solid background in Judaic and Hebraic studies and a sufficient familiarity with educational methodology to prepare them as entry-level teachers in Jewish supplementary schools.

They will learn:

• Basic texts and resources
• Jewish values
• Hebrew language skills
• Basic teaching skills and techniques in the teaching of holidays, history, stories and Bible

A recent survey of JCHS alumni demonstrated that over half of Teaching Certificate graduates were earning extra money during their college years, and beyond, by working in Religious Schools, Jewish youth groups, Junior Congregations, and Jewish summer camps.

This certificate is also available to seniors graduating from Jewish Day Schools upon successfully completing the college-level education course.

Isaac Mayer Wise Reform Teaching Certificate Program

This program is a URJ-sponsored two-year course of Jewish studies for 11th and 12th grade students who have been Confirmed. Its goal is to train future religious school teachers and leaders for the Reform movement.

Objectives

• Acquire knowledge of the history of Reform Judaism
• Show proficiency in the reading of Hebrew and understanding of basic Hebrew prayers
• Demonstrate basic knowledge of Bible through a Reform Jewish lens
• Demonstrate basic teaching skills by student teaching weekly under the aegis of the student’s home congregation
• Demonstrate knowledge of educational theory as covered in the Education curriculum.

Subject Requirements

• Reform Judaism Today
• Hebrew (Those students who pass a Hebrew proficiency exam at the beginning of the year may choose another elective course in its place, if available.)
• Bible Survey
• Educational Theory and Methodology

Credit Requirements

14 credits after the completion of Confirmation in a URJ-affiliated religious school. Students attend class one night a week, and enroll in a supervised student teaching program at a Reform synagogue for both years. Synagogues offer an additional formal study component.

NOTE: Along with the Teaching Certificates, seniors may receive college credits through an arrangement with Gratz College.