Religious Studies

The Gur Aryeh program at MLCA believes that children are never too young to learn great Jewish things.

The Gur Aryeh Judaic Studies and Modern Hebrew program at Main Line Classical Academy offers a rigorous and immersive experience in Jewish tradition, text, and culture. Our program holds together academic depth and a strong sense of community, which ensures that students engage seriously with Jewish learning while developing a living connection to Jewish life and identity.

The curriculum encompasses five areas of study:

1. Daily prayer (Tefillah) anchors the program, teaching students the structure, meaning, and melodies of traditional Jewish liturgy and deepening their personal relationship with God. 

2. Students also explore Jewish holidays in depth -- their historical and religious significance brought to life through rituals and communal celebration.

3. Central to the curriculum is the study of Tanakh (the Hebrew Bible) in the original language, with emphasis on the plain meaning of the text (peshat), grammar, vocabulary, and cantillation (trope). Students chant the text accurately and engage with the weekly Torah portion (parashat hashavua).

4. Modern Hebrew is taught four times a week by a native speaker, with a focus on conversational fluency, comprehension, vocabulary, and writing. 

5. Students also explore modern Israeli poetry and literature, strengthening their connection to the Hebrew language and to contemporary Jewish identity and culture.

Judaic Studies classes meet in the morning before the general school day. Throughout the year, students showcase their learning in Hebrew-language plays and performances at Hanukkah and at the end of the academic year.

The program is directed by Rabbi Dr. Tzvi Sinensky, a distinguished scholar who holds rabbinic ordination and a PhD in Jewish Studies from Yeshiva University. Widely published, Rabbi Sinensky has edited the posthumous works of Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks. Under his leadership, the Gur Aryeh program is intellectually rigorous, spiritually enriching, and deeply rooted in community.

Christian Studies at Main Line Classical Academy provides students with a fun yet scholarly and spiritually formative engagement with the Christian faith. 

Grounded in the ecumenical Apostles' Creed, the program guides students through Scripture, the history of Israel, and the development of the church across the centuries, while also nurturing habits of prayer and personal faith.

Students read and discuss the Bible with curiosity and care. They learn to interpret it in its historical and literary context while exploring how it speaks to questions of character, purpose, and daily life. Older students engage with church history and the theological traditions that have shaped Christianity from the early church onward.

Classes meet one to two times per week and are open to students of all backgrounds. The program is coordinated by Ms. Olivia Guerra.