Early Childhood Hebrew and Judaics Teacher

The Jewish Day School of the Lehigh Valley (JDS) is a community school located in Allentown, PA. The JDS is seeking a dynamic, professional, and highly motivated Early Childhood Hebrew and Judaic studies teacher for ages 3-5 to join our innovative and creative team of educators.
Candidates should have eligibility to work in the United States and a minimum of two years of teaching experience and/or participation in a teacher education program.

Curriculum and Instruction:
Teach Judaic Studies Content: Provide instruction on basic Jewish values, traditions, holidays (e.g., Shabbat, Rosh Hashanah, Passover, Chanukah), Jewish customs, and Torah stories. Focus on the development of foundational Jewish concepts such as tzedakah (charity), chesed (kindness), and kavod (honor) of friends and family.

Hebrew Language Instruction: Foster a positive attitude toward Hebrew as a language and Jewish heritage with an engaging introduction to the alef bet and basic vocabulary.

Connection to Israel: Establish a connection to the land of Israel and its people. Learn to celebrate Israeli traditions (Music, Art, Food, etc.) and culture.

Interactive Learning: Use a variety of age-appropriate teaching methods, such as songs, stories, hands-on activities, crafts, and play-based learning to introduce and reinforce Jewish concepts.

Storytelling and Jewish Texts: Use stories from the Torah, midrashim, and Jewish history to engage young students and help them relate to Jewish teachings. Weave moral and ethical lessons into these stories.

Classroom Environment:
Create a Positive, Nurturing Classroom: Assist in organizing classroom materials and supplies. Ensure that the classroom provides a Jewish and Hebrew-rich home away from home, with appropriate decorations, books, and learning tools. Establish a warm, caring, and safe learning environment.

Behavior Management: Set clear expectations for behavior and use positive reinforcement strategies to guide students’ actions. Foster a spirit of cooperation, kindness, and caring among students.

Integrate Jewish Practices: Model and incorporate Jewish rituals and practices into daily classroom routines, such as lighting Shabbat candles, saying blessings (brachot), and singing Jewish songs.

Student Development:
Foster Jewish Identity: Help children develop a sense of Jewish identity and pride in their heritage.

Support Social-Emotional Growth: Encourage social skills, empathy, and cooperation, supporting each child’s emotional well-being through Jewish values and teachings.

Differentiated Instruction: Tailor instruction to meet the diverse needs and learning styles of the children in the class.

Holiday Observances:
Celebrate Jewish Holidays: Lead students in celebrating Jewish holidays and Shabbat through activities, songs, crafts, and stories. Help students connect with the meaning of the holidays and understand their history in an age-appropriate framework.

Parental Communication:
Communicate with Parents: Maintain regular communication with parents through Class Dojo, emails, and informal discussions to share updates on classroom activities, student progress, and upcoming events. Participate in parent-teacher conferences to discuss students’ development and learning goals.

Involve Families in Jewish Learning: Encourage family participation in classroom activities, holiday excitement, and school events.

Professional Development:
Ongoing Learning: Attend school meetings and required trainings related to early childhood education, Judaic studies, and Hebrew language.

Collaboration with Colleagues: Work closely with other Judaic Studies teachers and Early Childhood directors and staff to ensure a consistent, integrated approach to Jewish education across the grade levels. Participate in team planning and school-wide initiatives.

The Jewish Day School is a dual curriculum Pre-K through eighth grade community school with families from a range of backgrounds and practices. We are located in picturesque Allentown, PA, a diverse yet close-knit Jewish community that prides itself on respect and openness with one another. We have multiple synagogues, glatt kosher meat and bakery goods, a glatt kosher dining experience at Muhlenberg College, kosher groceries available at several supermarkets, a beautiful mikvah, a large eruv, and a full-service JCC. Please visit our website at www.jdslv.org.