Chabad Hebrew School is Trendsetter in Creative Jewish Education

One of the basic duties of Jewish parents is to provide instruction and education to their children. At the Chabad Hebrew School in Valrico, children ages 3 to 13 can gain an understanding of the practices and traditions of Judaism in a comfortable and welcoming atmosphere.

Regardless of background or affiliation, the Chabad Hebrew School invites students to discover and explore the Torah and learn about Jewish history while understanding the relevance today. With a reputation as a trendsetter is creative Jewish education, Chabad Hebrew School offers students a positive Jewish experience.

“We are proud of our achievements in the field of Jewish supplementary education,” said school director Tzippy Rubashkin. “We think our program is the best Jewish experience your child can get in an after-school setting.”

Meeting every Sunday from 10 a.m. until noon for the duration of the academic school year, students at Chabad Hebrew School learn a variety of practices, including Hebrew reading and writing skills, basic prayers and expression about the Torah and religion, along with morals, values and ethical behavior mandated by the Torah.

“We keep our classes small so that every child gets individual attention,” Rubashkin said.

According to Rubashkin, the curriculum, which includes the Aleph Champ program — exclusive to Chabad Hebrew Schools — is modeled after the Karate martial arts system of motivational colored levels, which breaks up the Hebrew reading process into bite-size motivational levels, which makes it more kid friendly and exciting.

All teachers are Judaic practitioners. “They are the true life behind our Hebrew School,” Rubashkin said. “They actually live the material they teach — there is nothing like a living example.”

Offering Bar/Bat Mitzvah training, Chabad Hebrew School fosters awareness that this milestone is only the beginning of Jewish life and helps attain a greater appreciation of a Jewish adult’s responsibilities.

“We believe that the most important event in the life of a young person should be more that just rote memorization leading up to an anxiety-ridden recital of the Torah,” Rubashkin said. “We achieve this by providing each child the tools necessary to function as a Jew no matter what life brings.”

Registration is now open, and the first day of school was Sunday, Sept. 11. Children are always welcome to join during the school year and are also allowed to try the program for one week free of charge.

Regular rates are as follows: 3-year-olds — $450 including $50 registration and book fee; ages 4-13 — $500 including registration and book fee. Sibling discounts are available and synagogue membership is not required. The Chabad Hebrew School also offers payment plans and limited scholarships.