CBI Religious School
Join CBI and Religious School
Religious School Questionnaire (Please fill out once you have registered)
CBI is a village – a place of warmth, inclusion, and belonging for all. Our kids love (yeah, really!!) coming to our Religious School because it’s they know they will spend time learning with friends, in small classes with lots of personal attention from our dedicated and caring teachers. Many of our students describe CBI as their “happy place.” And nothing makes us happier than that.
As Orange County’s only Religious School associated with the Conservative Movement. We offer a real depth of learning — our kids become proficient in Hebrew and gain comfort in the synagogue service, encounter sacred texts, and discuss and debate Jewish values and ideas. At the same time, our teachers focus on creating experiences that are fun, engaging, age-appropriate, and meaningful. We welcome students of all levels of Jewish background and different kinds of learning needs.
We welcome you to be part of our community of learning and connection!
Grades K-1
Our youngest students meet on Sundays, 9:00am-12:00pm. Together, they learn about Jewish holidays and values through stories, art, food, and drama. We are especially proud of our music and tefilah (prayer) programs, which help even our littlest CBIers to feel comfortable in a synagogue setting. We begin introducing them to the Hebrew letters and sounds, to prepare them for what’s to come in older grades.
Grades 2-7
Our students in grades 2-7 meet on Sundays, 9:00 am-12:00 pm, and Wednesdays, 4:15 pm-6:00 pm. They learn to read Hebrew, with an emphasis on tefillah (prayer) skills and vocabulary. Our goal is that they should be comfortable participating in a synagogue service anywhere in the world. In addition, students learn about Torah, Jewish values, Israel, and the cycle of the Jewish year. In our oldest grades, we offer an in-depth exploration of Jewish history and B’nai Mitzvah skills, including more advanced siddur (prayerbook) fluency and Torah trope.
Daniel Zembrosky Youth in Art Fund
We provide unique art experiences for our students. With support from the Daniel Zembrosky Youth in Art Fund, our students will have hands-on experiences creating significant Jewish ritual objects.
Shabbat Experiences
Throughout the school year, we celebrate Shabbat with our synagogue community. Our students all participate in leading Kabbalat Shabbat (Friday night) services for the whole congregation.
Family Education
Our 6th and 7th Graders and their parents participate in a series of Family Education classes, including dedicated time with our Rabbi and Cantor. As students prepare for their B’nai Mitzvah, this is a wonderful opportunity for families to learn and bond together, engage with big Jewish ideas, and gain experience with skills like writing a d’var Torah (sermon) or selecting a mitzvah project.
Madrichim Program for Teens, Grades 10-12
Click here to apply for the Madrichim program
Our excellent Madrichim program trains teens to work in our religious school with our younger students. Through this program, they continue their Judaic education while also learning important leadership and teaching skills. This program also provides many of our teens with their first job experience. Teens can choose to volunteer in this program to earn valuable community service hours.
Hebrew High – Grades 8-12: Learning & Dining Together
In Hebrew High we focus on personal growth, spirituality, and character development through a Jewish lens. We discuss issues related to our teens’ lives and provide them the opportunity to explore their values with Jewish texts and discussions with our rabbis. We emphasize critical thinking and discussion in a safe sacred space.
Our Hebrew High is also an important social time for our teens. We provide a kosher meal for every session so that they can meet and catch up with their CBI friends.