Lesson Information | Congregation Torat El - Monmouth County Conservative Synagogue

Lesson Information

  1. Exciting times are ahead! We will work closely together to ensure success!
  2. The student’s expectations for a Shabbat morning are: Haftarah with Brachot, some Torah reading, Torah Service, Musaf, concluding prayers, Shabbat morning Kiddush, Friday night Kiddush, selected Friday night prayers.
  3. Lessons are 30 minutes long unless otherwise agreed. Please be prompt.
  4. Approximately 4 weeks prior to the Bar/Bat Mitzvah, the 30 minute lessons will be replaced by ‘Bimah Lessons’ of at least 60 minutes in length.
  5. If a lesson takes place after 5 P.M. or when no one else is in the building except the student and me, another adult must be present.
  6. Parents are encouraged to be in the room while the lesson is taking place. At home, parents should be as involved in the child’s preparation as possible.
  7. Please be prepared for every lesson. 90% of all learning will be accomplished at home in between lessons. Being prepared will ensure that all goals are achieved.
  8. If the student is stuck or unsure, they should call or text me on my cell phone (see cell number above) or they should email me (see my email address above). They should not wait until the next lesson, nor should they call me at my temple or home phone.
  9. Practice time is approximately 20 minutes a day to start. Every time something new is learned, it should be reviewed every day. Once fluency in a prayer/blessing/verse is achieved, that should be practiced at least 3 times per week.
  10. Attendance at Shabbat services is crucial. The student should attend at least 2 Saturday morning services plus at least 1 Friday evening service per month. I will personally take attendance on Saturday mornings, and you need to let me know when your child attends on Friday night.
  11. Lessons will continue throughout the year. If the child needs to miss a lesson, that lesson should be rescheduled. If rescheduling is not possible, extra assignments will be given to make up for the lost lesson time.
  12. If the student will be out of town for an extended period, please let me know as far in advance as possible so that I can prepare work for him/her to do while away.
  13. If replacement materials are needed, call , text, or email me immediately.
  14. Materials (CD’s and Torah/Haftarah portions) will be provided to you. If you do not have a copy of Siddur Chadash, please purchase one from the Temple office.
  15. If family members and/or friends would like to read Torah, please have them contact me. I will provide materials (CD, tikkun text). They must read directly from the Torah scroll.
  16. If the student is ill, he/she should stay home. If the student feels up to it, we will either reschedule the lesson or conduct the lesson telephonically.