5783 Tuition and Program Overview

The tuition above is for the 2023-2024 school year. We are committed to the Jewish education of all our children, and tuition should not be a barrier. If tuition costs present a problem for you, you are encouraged to contact our treasurer, our Executive Director of Operations, Margaret Farmer, or Rabbi Toba Spitzer, to discuss alternative financial arrangements.

Non-member option*: We invite families to participate in Nitzanim (Pre-K), Gan (Kindergarten), Alef (Grade 1), Bet (Grade 2), or Gimel (Grade 3) for one year as non-members. After one year membership is required. All families with children enrolled in Dalet (Grade 4) and above are required to be members. 
Learn about becoming a member.

Program Information

Locations 

• Sunday Religious School: Cabot Elementary School (229 Cabot St, Newtonville)
• Shabbat and weekday in-person programs: Dorshei Tzedek (60 Highland St, West Newton) 

Shorashim (Roots) Program for Children 5 and Under

Shorashim means "Roots" — our families with young children are the roots of our community! Our Shorashim programming, run by the wonderful Morah Devora Rohr, includes monthly Shabbat morning and holiday programs, and once-monthly Religious School. The Sunday Religious School component of Shorashim is called Nitzanim, which means "Buds." Caregivers join their children on Sunday mornings for the first 30 minutes. 

Saturday Shabbat morning family program for Nitzanim (3 y/o-Pre-K) and Gan (K) meets at Dorshei Tzedek (60 Highland St, West Newton). Begin the morning with Shabbat songs, stories, and movement (siblings of all ages welcome!), followed by childcare. Join the congregation at 12:00 pm Kiddush lunch. 

Our monthly Nitzanim (Pre-K) Sunday School session meets at Cabot Elementary School (229 Cabot St, Newtonville)

• 9:30-10:00 am: Mini minyan — song, movement, and more for kids and grown-ups together!
• 10:30 am-12:00 pm: Nitzanim children's program

Sunday Religious School for Kitot Gan through Zayin (Kindergarten-7th Grade) 

We will meet in person at Cabot Elementary on Sundays from 9:30 am-12:00 pm for Kitah Gan (Kindergarten) through Kitah Zayin (7th grade). Each week we will begin together as a community of grownups and children and then students will split up by Kitah (grade level) to explore Jewish holidays, Torah, Jewish culture, and Jewish history. There will be opportunities for family and parent learning throughout the year. 

Sunday Schedule:

• 9:30-10:00 am: Zman Bayachad with Grown-ups and Children
• 10:00 am-12:00 pm: Kitah (class) time & Caregiver Cafe
  • While children are learning, grown-ups are welcome to stay for coffee and schmoozing 
  • Grown-ups are expected to attend Family Education and Bagel Brunches (1 time per semester with more for 6th and 7th grade)

Weekday Religious School for Kitot Gimel through Vav 

We are excited to continue our small group and one-on-one approach to Hebrew and Tefillah (prayer) learning on Zoom and in person, with more weekday options for our older students.  

In order to hire enough one-on-one tutors, we have added an additional fee of $300 for those who wish to do one-on-one tutoring. This $300 amounts to an additional $15 per tutoring session for the 20 sessions throughout the Religious School year. No one will be turned away for lack of funds. 

Weekday Religious School Details
Kitah Gimel (3rd grade): Students will meet in small groups at Dorshei Tzedek (60 Highland St, West Newton) for a one-hour Hebrew class on Tuesdays. Students will be placed in either a 4:00-5:00 pm class or 5:15-6:15 pm class. The Gimel Hebrew curriculum is centered on learning the Hebrew alphabet and decoding. This important year serves as a foundation for all future Hebrew and Tefillah (prayer) learning. The small group creates a dynamic and engaging learning environment for our newest Hebrew learners. 

Kitot Dalet through Vav (4th-6th grade): Students will have one-on-one or small group Tefillah (prayer) tutoring online or in-person at Dorshei Tzedek (60 Highland St, West Newton) according to learning needs. All in-person tutoring will be on Tuesdays, and online tutoring will be offered throughout the week. Tutors will help students learn to lead a prayer service, work on their Hebrew decoding and grammar skills, and explore the meaning of each prayer. 

Rosh Hodesh for Gimel through Vav: This event happens roughly once a month from 4:00-6:00 pm. At Rosh Hodesh, students will come together at Dorshei Tzedek (60 Highland St, West Newton) for a Rosh Chodesh (new Hebrew month) celebration that will include a student-led Ma'ariv (evening service) and electives.