WHO ARE WE?
The Gur Aryeh program at Main Line Classical Academy is dedicated to the proposition that children are never too young to learn great Jewish things. Accordingly, our program cultivates students who embrace the best of Western civilization as an organic element of their Jewish identity, are highly literate in Hebrew & Western texts and culture, are proud and educated Zionists, and are deeply committed to leading passionate Jewish lives.
These goals are achieved through a developmentally-appropriate sequence. In kindergarten and the elementary school years, students gain literacy in Hebrew, the Jewish prayer book, Bible, and fundamentals of rabbinic literature; and Jewish and Zionist commitment through music, art, and Judaic programming. In our high school, which runs from grades 7-12, students utilize their advanced Hebrew literacy to acquire a firsthand knowledge of foundational Jewish texts and ideas. These include in-depth study of large swaths of the biblical canon, rabbinic literature, Jewish and Zionist history, and medieval and modern Jewish philosophy.
Meet our Rosh Yeshiva and Program Director
Rabbi Tzvi Sinensky studied Jewish history and English literature as an undergraduate. He was awarded a prominent international prize recognizing his work in interdisciplinary education and holds a master’s degree in education.
Rabbi Sinensky earned his rabbinic degree at Yeshiva University in NYC and is currently pursuing a PhD in Jewish philosophy. He has held leadership positions at the Kohelet Yeshiva in Merion Station and the Rae Kushner Yeshiva High School in Livingston, NJ. He is a widely-published and highly-esteemed thought leader and educator in the Jewish community.
At Gur Aryeh, Rabbi Sinensky divides his time between teaching several classes; coordinating the Judaic Studies and Hebrew curriculum; and overseeing the Gur Aryeh faculty. He is the point of contact for families who are interested in learning more about the Gur Aryeh program at MLCA.
To contact Rabbi Sinensky, please email tsinensky@mainlineclassical.org.
THE FOUR PILLARS OF GUR ARYEH
I. JUDAISM AND WESTERN CIVILIZATION
While many Jewish educational programs teach Judaic Studies alongside Western culture, the relationship between the two subject areas is often left vague. At Gur Aryeh, we firmly believe that Western civilization is rooted in Jewish texts and values, and that learning about the Western tradition is an organic part of what it means to become an educated Jew. The curricular design of our Judaic Studies program, which fosters interdisciplinary learning by placing Jewish and other Western texts in dialogue, ensures that students emerge fructified by this interaction.
II. LITERACY
We believe that as bearers of the Jewish heritage, Jewish children should be given the opportunity to become highly literate in the Hebrew language and Jewish sacred texts and tradition.
Accordingly:
- The study of Hebrew language, a cornerstone of Jewish and Western civilization, lies at the heart of our curriculum. Our students emerge with the ability to read, speak, and write modern Hebrew with accuracy and elegance.
- At the same time, students become deeply acquainted with the fundamentals of biblical and rabbinic Hebrew, gaining the basic vocabulary, phonetic, and grammatical skills (dikduk) to become highly proficient in reading, decoding, and analyzing these texts.
- This firm foundation in Hebrew enables our older students to become highly literate in foundational Jewish texts and practice, with special emphasis on the prayer book, Bible, Rabbinic literature, and Maimonides, a great paragon of the synthesis of Torah study and the best of Western thought.
Further, as an outgrowth of our commitment to studying the classics, our students acquire an appreciation for the aesthetics of Jewish texts, practice, and culture. Thus, students learn to discern the literary qualities of various biblical genres, such as biblical prose and poetry, as well as the literary qualities of different biblical works.
III. ZIONISM
A strong commitment to Zionism, one of the greatest movements that Jewish culture has birthed, lies at the heart of the Gur Aryeh program. Through academic study and holiday observances, students gain wide exposure to modern Hebrew culture, the centrality of Israel and Jerusalem to Jewish civilization, and the history and roots of the Zionist movement. This offers a foundation for students to be armed with the knowledge to become knowledgeable advocates for Israel.
IV. PASSIONATE JEWISH LIVING
Through rich educational programming and by studying wide swaths of the Jewish canon, Gur Aryeh graduates gain a passionate commitment to living rich, textured Jewish lives. They see a personal connection with God, prayer, Torah study, and the performance of the mitzvot as foundational to their Jewish identity, and they develop an appreciation for the value of high Jewish culture, including literature, art, and music.
SCHEDULE & CURRICULUM
Daily Schedule
Judaic Studies classes meet every morning for K-1 students from 8:00-8:45am, and for 2nd grade and up from 7:45-8:45am. Hebrew meets four times a week for 45 minutes. Our carefully crafted curricular sequence enables students to progress toward mastery of Hebrew, Jewish practice, and classical Torah texts at a highly accelerated pace.
CURRICULUM, Grades K-5
The curricular sequence for grades K-5 lays the foundational knowledge and competencies for our students to achieve mastery of Hebrew and a deep understanding of prayer, Shabbat, the holidays, the weekly Torah portion, and Jewish practice. Equally important, it fosters a love of Judaism, Torah, and the Land of Israel.
Both our Judaic Studies and Hebrew curricula proceed in two 3-part sequences. In Judaic Studies, the first three years utilize a wide range of modalities to provide our students with an understanding of the basic concepts and practices of Judaism, while the next three years expose students to the fundamental concepts, language, and texts of rabbinic Judaism. In Hebrew, the first three years cultivate literacy in modern Hebrew, including conversational Hebrew, vocabulary, reading, writing, and the basics of grammar. The next three years emphasize advanced Hebrew fluency coupled with systematic study of the fundamentals of biblical grammar. Hebrew classes are conducted in the Hebrew language (Ivrit be-Ivrit).
Upon completion of this six-year sequence, students speak, read, and write in Hebrew with a high level of facility, have a deep connection to and understanding of the fundamentals of Jewish life, and are equipped to study a wide range of classical biblical and rabbinic texts in their original Hebrew.
CURRICULUM, Grades 6-12
In Grade 6, students begin to apply their exceptional Hebrew skills to the study of a wide range of canonical Jewish texts. These advanced courses are divided into trimesters. This enables students to encounter a wide range of genres and content areas, and to emerge upon graduation with a textual foundation characterized by both breadth and depth of the classical Jewish canon.
In Judaic Studies, students engage in a sequence of Mishnah and Talmud study, two trimesters of Jewish history, and a year-long intensive course in Jewish philosophy. Special attention is paid to Maimonides, a paragon of the synthesis of Torah study and the best of Western thought.
In Hebrew, while continuing to speak in Hebrew throughout instructional time, students study Humash and the major books of Scripture. They conclude their course of study with an in-depth examination of Holocaust and Zionist history. This ensures that they are prepared to step foot onto college campuses as highly-educated advocates for Israel.
The broad sweep of each trimester’s texts opens numerous opportunities for interdisciplinary integration, particularly with other subjects in the humanities, reinforcing our students’ identity as heirs to the Jewish and larger Western traditions.
Upon high school graduation, our students emerge possessing command of the Hebrew language as well as a wide swath of texts and ideas that lie at the foundation of the Jewish and Western civilizations. Laden with this knowledge, they step into the Jewish future not to adapt to its anticipated demands but to shape and determine them.
Gur Aryeh FAQ’s
What does "Gur Aryeh" mean?
The phrase is meaningful on several different levels. It translates as “lion cub” and its original appearance is in Genesis 49.9, where the patriarch Jacob is allotting blessings to his children and uses this phrase to describe his son Judah. Maharal of Prague, the great 16-17th century Jewish thinker and mystic to whom tradition ascribes creation of the Golem, used “Gur Aryeh” as the title of one of his tractates. Finally, Aryeh is the Jewish name of Asya’s father, Leon Chernyak, whose teachings inspire much of MLCA’s vision and curriculum.
Who is sponsoring Gur Aryeh?
Gur Aryeh is sponsored by Matt and Asya Sigelman.
Is there a charge for the Gur Aryeh program?
For the academic year 2021-2022, Matt and Asya Sigelman are personally covering all costs of the program for interested families.
Who is running Gur Aryeh?
The vision and curricular content of the program is developed by Rabbi Tzvi Sinensky in close collaboration with Matt and Asya Sigelman.
What's the daily schedule?
Judaic Studies classes meet every morning for K-1 students from 8:00-8:45am, and for 2nd grade and up from 7:45-8:45am. Hebrew meets four times a week for 45 minutes during the school day. Our carefully crafted curricular sequence enables students to connect deeply with Judaism and the Hebrew language while simultaneously progressing toward mastery of Hebrew, Jewish practice, and classical Torah texts at a highly accelerated pace.
What is the Hebrew Curriculum?
The first three years cultivate literacy in modern Hebrew, including conversational Hebrew, vocabulary, reading, writing, and the basics of grammar. The next three years emphasize advanced Hebrew fluency coupled with systematic study of the fundamentals of biblical grammar. Hebrew classes are conducted in the Hebrew language (Ivrit be-Ivrit). In Hebrew, while continuing to speak in Hebrew throughout instructional time, students study Humash and the later Scriptural writings at an accelerated pace in the original Hebrew. They conclude their course of study with an in-depth study of Holocaust and Zionist history. This ensures that they are prepared to step foot onto college campuses as highly-educated advocates for Israel.
What is the Judaic Studies curriculum?
In Judaic Studies, the first three years utilize a wide range of modalities to provide our students with an understanding of the basic concepts and practices of Judaism. The next three years deepen students’ understanding of these fundamentals, simultaneously exposing them to the fundamental concepts, language, and texts of rabbinic Judaism. In Judaic Studies, students engage in in-depth study of rabbinics as well as Jewish history and Jewish philosophy. Special attention is paid to Maimonides, a paragon of the synthesis of Torah study and the best of Western thought.
Will my child learn Hebrew?
Absolutely. By the time they are set to complete elementary school, students achieve a high level of fluency in modern Hebrew, and are quite comfortable speaking the language freely.
How large are the class sizes?
Class sizes in Gur Aryeh range from 2 to 6 students per class. The outstanding teacher-to-student ratio allows our students to receive highly individualized attention from the teacher, and for the teacher to customize the curricular goals to the needs of the students in the class.
I want my child to have a strong Jewish education but am concerned about academic overload. How do you strike that balance?
The Gur Aryeh classes are academically rigorous, and are also carefully designed to foster a love of Judaism, Hebrew, and Torah study. In order not to overwhelm our students with additional out-of-school work, there are no tests or homework in the program. At the same time, if a family requests additional learning materials so a student can review at home, teachers are happy to provide study aids for students to be able to reinforce their learning beyond the classroom.
We want our child to feel connected to Judaism and also to receive a first-rate Jewish eduation. Can you really accomplish both?
Absolutely. Our program is crafted to accomplish both of these goals. In the younger grades in particular, there are numerous experiential learning opportunities, with a special emphasis on music and artistic activities that enable students to connect with and own their Jewish identity. Students in the Gur Aryeh program convene regularly to celebrate the Jewish holidays over the course of the school year, and, where possible, family members participate in these programs as well. At the same time, our students thrive on being intellectually challenged in the classroom. Their fast-growing knowledge of Hebrew and Judaism, and self-confidence in their ability to navigate Jewish texts independently, gives them a unique sense of ownership of their tradition that is truly exceptional.
Zionism is very important to our family. How do you connect students to Israel?
Zionism is one of the cornerstones of the Gur Aryeh educational mission. We connect students to Israel through a wide range of educational methods, including regular exposure to native Hebrew speakers, immersion in modern conversational Hebrew, studying modern Hebrew poems and songs, and drawing connections between the various holidays and the land of Israel. The celebration of Yom Haatzmaut is a major event for the Gur Aryeh community. The Bible curriculum provides a foundation for the ancient connection between the Jews and the land of Israel, and our high school Zionism class offers a comprehensive course of study that prepares students to step foot onto college campuses as highly-educated advocates for Israel.
Do students need to come from a specific religious background to be accepted to the program?
Not at all. Our students and their families come from a range of religious backgrounds and levels of observance. They are unified by a passion for Judaism, the Hebrew language, Zionism, and the importance of providing a rich educational program that produces well-rounded Jewish children and young adults.
We're very interested in sending our children, but our child has a limited Judaic and/or Hebrew background. Is that a deal-breaker?
Absolutely not. Each incoming student receives a pre-assessment to give us a strong sense as to his or her overall knowledge and ability. In some instances, a child who has been accepted to the program will be encouraged to prepare for the program through independent tutoring during the summer prior to the academic year. We work closely with each student and family to make sure the student is positioned for success in the program.
Is there homework or tests?
No. While the learning in class is fast-paced and rigorous, there is no work beyond the learning that takes place in the classroom.
I'm very interested in the program, but am not sure my child can participate in both the Judaic Studies and Hebrew programs. Can I enroll my child for just one or the other?
Yes. While we encourage families to enroll children in both parts of the program so they can gain from the full, complementary components of the curriculum, we recognize that not every child is able to attend both sets of classes. Each curriculum is independent of the other, enabling students who can only participate in one set of classes to learn at the same level as the other members of the class.
This program sounds incredibly exciting, and could be the perfect fit for my child and family. How do I learn more?
Please be in touch with our program director and Rosh Yeshiva, Rabbi Tzvi Sinensky, at tsinensky@mainlineclassical.org to learn more. You can also follow us online at facebook.com/GurAryehatMLCA and instagram.com/gur.aryeh. We look forward to answering any questions you may have about the Gur Aryeh Program at MLCA.