Shalom Chaverim

Our program for students in grades Pre K-6 is designed to instill a knowledge of Torah, Hebrew prayers, and Jewish virtues. We are an egalitarian, largely interfaith community honored with expert teachers bringing history, relevance & joy to learners of all ages and backgrounds.

We use a curriculum based on identifiable units of essential understanding and skills, as well as activities and parent information. Our curriculum is divided into the above three threads which interweave throughout the course of the year. 

We meet on Sundays - approximately 2x/month from 9:30–11:30 a.m.

9:30 a.m.     Prayer service (parents welcome!)

9:45–10:30 a.m.     Perek Alef (1st period of curriculum based classroom learning)

10:30 a.m.     Recess/snack/socialize time

10:45–11:30 a.m.    Perek Bet (2nd period - projects to enhance 1st period/support this year’s themes)

Additionally, we will go on 1-2 field trips, such as the Contemporary Jewish Museum and/or Urban Adamah.

Our Teachers

Fanny Stein - General religious ed.

Born and bred in Brooklyn and moved to Manhattan as an adult, Fanny holds a Master’s degree in Education. She taught reading and language arts in New York City.  After moving to California, Fanny worked in the art field with her late husband and owned an art gallery in Sausalito. Later, Fanny taught at the JCC preschool in San Rafael as well as the religious school at Congregation Rodef Sholom, also in San Rafael. When Fanny moved to Cotati, she became involved in the religious school here . She is a longtime BIJC youth educator:  from J School to Shabbat Connect and now, Shalom Chaverim School.

Fanny has three daughters and five grandchildren all within 20 minutes of each other. Her 102 year old mother lives with her and Fanny is her primary caregiver.

Teresa Piotrokowski - Art, Games, and General religious ed.

Teresa is a current Shalom Chaverim and Hebrew Language parent, as well as the mother of our most recent Bar Mitzvah, Gabe.  Teresa grew up doing and helping teach many art projects in religious school.  Teresa has been involved for many years in some form or another at BIJC, as a part of the extended Piotrokowski family, longtime core BIJC members.

Judith Helman - General religious ed. & Hebrew familiarity.   (General prayer/knowledge, separate from the Hebrew Language Program)

Fanny & Judith

(Photo taken at BIJC Hanukah Youth/Families event 2021, downtown in Petaluma)

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HEBREW LANGUAGE PROGRAM:

Grades 3 & 4 and Grades 5-8: 

We are again offering a Hebrew Language component to our youth education, in order to foster more understanding of the Shabbat service, as well as prepare for the B’nai Mitzvah program.  Our Hebrew Language teacher, Judith Helman, is a former religious school principal and longtime Bat and Bar Mitzvah tutor. This program is open to 3rd- through 8th-graders. Judith uses a variety of prayer sheets etc. that she has created herself over many, many years, as well as apps & notebooks. In-person she adds  manipulatives & well as teaching synagogue skills in the sanctuary.

Grades 5 to 8:

Tuesdays, 4:00 to 4:50 p.m. via Zoom 

Grades 3 & 4:

Tuesdays, 5:00–6:00 p.m. via Zoom

and some Sundays for all Hebrew Students