Our Model
jLAB Class Schedules
Saturday: 9:30 AM – 12:00 PM (Grades K-5)
Monday: 4:00 – 6:00 PM (Grades 6 & 7)
Monday: 7:00 – 8:00 PM (Grades 8-10; 8 & 9 meet twice monthly, 10 meets weekly)
Wednesday: 2:00 – 5:00 PM (Grades K-5)
Thursday: 3:30 – 5:00 PM (optional jLAB Hebrew Club for all grades)
JLAB OFFICE CONTACT INFORMATION
305.538-7231 or 305.532-4756
barb@tbsmb.org or gabby@tbsmb.org
Our jLAB community is built on partnership, curiosity, and purpose. Together, we strive to be lifelong learners of Jewish history, ritual, and text, while seeking meaningful connections to holiness in our daily lives. Guided by our shared values, we cultivate compassionate leaders who are committed to social justice, community responsibility, and the ongoing work of tikkun olam – repairing the world.
Our Core Values
Kehilla (Community)
We foster a warm, inclusive environment where every learner feels known, valued, and connected to their peers, teachers, and Jewish life.
Talmud Torah (Jewish Learning)
We believe in deep, thoughtful learning that makes Judaism come alive - from Torah stories to ethical dilemmas, from holiday rituals to modern Jewish life.
Ivrit (Hebrew Language)
Hebrew is the language of our tradition and our prayers. Our goal is to make Hebrew both accessible and meaningful, helping learners feel confident and empowered in synagogue and other Jewish settings.
Avodah (Worship)
We guide learners to find personal meaning in prayer and spiritual expression. They explore traditional prayers, write their own reflections, and learn to lead portions of services.
Tikkun Olam (Repairing the World)
We emphasize social responsibility, encouraging learners to take action and make a difference locally and globally.
Experiential learning at its best
Our innovative jLAB program brings Jewish learning to life through cooking, music, theater, digital media, STEAM, and more. By tapping into the creativity and curiosity of our learners, we help them internalize Jewish values in tangible, lasting ways.
A Partnership with Families
We know that Jewish learning doesn’t stop in the classroom. We see parents as partners and offer opportunities for family engagement, holiday celebrations, and conversations that extend Jewish learning into the home.
Welcoming Every Learner
Whether your family is Reform, Conservative, traditional, interfaith, or just beginning your Jewish journey, jLAB is a welcoming and affirming space. We support a wide range of learners with different strengths and needs, and we’re committed to creating an inclusive environment where all children can thrive.
Limmud (Curriculum)
Our curriculum invites learners into a meaningful and engaging exploration of Jewish life, learning, and identity. Through the study of Jewish holidays and rituals, Hebrew language and prayer, blessings, and core values, learners build lasting connections to the traditions, practices, and beliefs that shape Jewish living.
Learners encounter the richness of our sacred texts through Torah stories, prophetic teachings, and narratives spanning from ancient times to the present day. By exploring these texts, learners discover connections between Jewish history and their own lives, developing both personal meaning and moral understanding. Through discussion, storytelling, role-play, and other interactive experiences, learners are encouraged to reflect on the choices and challenges faced by our biblical ancestors and consider how Jewish values guide their own decisions.
Our program also explores the history, resilience, and achievements of the Jewish people, fostering a deep sense of identity, pride, and belonging. Stories of courage, creativity, leadership, and perseverance inspire learners to see themselves as active participants in the ongoing Jewish story. Central to our learning is the value of tikkun olam – repairing the world – and the understanding that each of us has a responsibility to contribute positively to our communities and the wider world.
Learners also study key events that continue to shape contemporary Jewish life and identity, including the Holocaust and the founding of the State of Israel. Israel is explored both as the historic homeland of the Jewish people and as a vibrant modern country, with attention to its diverse society, accomplishments, complexities, and evolving story.
Tefillah (Prayer)
Tefillah (prayer) is a meaningful and essential part of the jLAB experience. Learners are introduced to Jewish prayers and melodies through music, building familiarity and comfort with Jewish worship over time. Learners participate weekly in communal Tefillah, developing confidence with Reform liturgy, understanding the meaning behind traditional prayers, and learning how prayer can create connection to community, to Jewish tradition, and to their own spirituality.
Through singing, reflection, and shared worship experiences, learners cultivate both Keva (the structure and words of prayer) and Kavanah (the intention and personal meaning we bring to prayer). Our goal is for learners to feel at home participating in a wide range of Jewish communal settings and to experience prayer as a source of joy, reflection, and belonging.
During every jLAB session, our jLAB community gathers for a spirited Tefillah led by Mason Duboff, Barb Shimansky, and the clergy of Temple Beth Sholom. These gatherings are filled with ruach (spirit), music, and community, and families and guests are always warmly welcome and encouraged to join us.
Ivrit (Hebrew)
Our Hebrew program is designed to build confidence, fluency, and comfort with reading Hebrew. We are proud to be an #OnwardHebrew program, which includes the following components:
- Hebrew Through Movement (part of our Saturday morning experience for Grades K-5)
- Hebrew usage in tefillah/worship (a 30-minute experience each Saturday, Monday, and Wednesday)
- Jewish Life Vocabulary (Hebrew words integrated into all aspects of our curriculum)
- Hebrew decoding introduced with attention to sound-to-print learning
Hebrew decoding is introduced as an optional opportunity in Grade 4, allowing learners to begin developing foundational skills. In Grades 5–7, Hebrew decoding becomes a core part of the curriculum, ensuring that all learners gain the skills needed to read and engage with Hebrew text with increasing independence and confidence.
For learners who are eager for additional practice or enrichment, we offer an optional Hebrew Club on Thursday afternoons. This add-on experience provides a supportive, engaging environment for learners to strengthen their Hebrew skills, build fluency, and deepen their connection to Hebrew through interactive and collaborative activities.
Together, these offerings create a balanced approach that supports both skill-building and a positive, meaningful relationship with Hebrew learning.
Wednesday Afternoon “Labs”
K-5 learners participate in our Wednesday Labs – dynamic, hands-on learning experiences that bring Jewish learning to life through creativity, exploration, and choice. Labs are an important part of the jLAB educational model, giving learners the opportunity to pursue areas of interest while engaging with Jewish ideas, culture, values, and community in meaningful ways.
By offering a range of experiences that reflect different passions and learning styles, our Labs encourage curiosity, collaboration, and personal connection. This learner-centered approach helps children see Judaism as an integrated and vibrant part of who they are, while fostering ownership of their own Jewish journey.
Tzedakah
The mitzvah of tzedakah (righteous giving) is woven throughout the jLAB experience and reflects our commitment to compassion, responsibility, and community engagement. We encourage learners to see themselves not only as supporters of meaningful causes, but also as emerging leaders and changemakers who can make a positive impact on the world around them.
Learners participate in regular tzedakah collection and learn about the values of generosity, justice, and communal responsibility through hands-on experiences and discussion. Recipient organizations are selected by our jLAB Tzedakah Council – giving our learners the opportunity to lead with purpose and help guide jLAB’s commitment to tikkun olam (repairing the world).
B-Mitzvah
We are honored to partner with you as your child prepares for the milestone of becoming a B-Mitzvah. This journey offers an opportunity for deeper connection with Jewish tradition, peoplehood, and faith, as learners grow in knowledge, confidence, and personal meaning.
Our preparation process is designed to make this sacred rite of passage both enriching and memorable for learners and their families. Along the way, families engage in meaningful learning experiences, including one-on-one meetings with our clergy and shared sessions with other B-Mitzvah families. Together, we create a supportive and communal pathway toward this important celebration.