Adult education

We invite the Jewish community to experience the joy of learning together as we present many opportunities through our Adult Education programme. Beth Shalom hosts the Auckland College of Hebrew Studies. The courses are a mixture of Torah Study, Lectures, Hebrew lessons (reading and conversation), singing, bagels with cream cheese and smoked salmon, camaraderie and learning.

Hebrew School

Click here for an application form [NB: Adobe Acrobat Viewer is required].

Our Sunday School is in session from 9.30am to 12:00 pm during the Sunday mornings of the New Zealand school terms. The school is led by volunteers who teach Judaism with sincerity, love and enthusiasm. We want the children to enjoy coming and to leave with something meaningful. Learning comes not only from books. Stories, singing, games, arts and crafts and trips make learning enjoyable and memorable.

Our Hebrew School students are grouped by age, spending two years in each class.

Our Junior class caters for children from 6 to 8. The children learn beginning Hebrew from our Hebrew Heritage books. The class is split in half, with a teacher working with one group, and a senior with the other.

Our Young Standards class caters for children from 9 to 11. Here they continue their Hebrew at the next level in their Hebrew Heritage Book 1. They also are split into two groups with a teacher working with one, and a senior with the other half.

Our Older Standard class if for ages 11 to 13. They are broken into two groups, the younger group working with the Hebrew Heritage Book 2. The other group is the Bar/Bat Mitzvah students, who learn and work with 3 sources: Hebrew Heritage Book 3, Torah Skills and the Siddur. There are two teachers in this class.

Our Senior class comprises ages 13 to 15 and they help with classes and tutoring of students needing extra help. These students then continue their Jewish studies with the Rabbi.

The morning starts with a welcome and a prayer in the Sanctuary by the Rabbi, then progresses to Hebrew language classes. After morning tea, students have Bible Stories and Jewish experiences where the hands-on activities take place, such as arts and crafts, baking, dancing and singing. Rabbi Patti is Co-Principal and has designed our programme to consist of two, year long studies, Ha-Olam and Ha-Shana respectively. These two courses of study alternate so each student will experience both within their two year class stay.


Kadimah College

The concept of education has always held a place of paramount importance for the Jewish people.   In this respect the Jewish Community of Auckland is no different from Jewish communities all over the world.   The concern of the community is to provide a Jewish education for its youth over and above the secular education they would receive as a matter of course.

Kadimah College was founded in 1971 as a result of monies left by the late Bernard Goldwater for the purposes of providing Jewish children in Auckland with an appropriate education.   Kadimah has grown from its small beginnings with just 7 pupils to now being a vibrant college of about 180 children.   The Intermediate classes, Years 7 and 8, were added in 1986.   With a licensed Preschool attached, Kadimah currently provides for children between age ages of 4 and 13.  There is a Friday Kabbalat Shabbat class for 3 year olds.

Kadimah has a strong tradition of academic excellence.   The aim is to extend all students to realise their potential, while at the same time giving additional support to those with special needs.   The school is concerned with the development of the whole child.

One of the great strengths of Kadimah is the low teacher student ratio.   It is Kadimah policy that no class will have more than 25 pupils; junior classes are set at 23.   The Preschool is registered to take 25 children (and by law may not exceed this number).   A waiting list for entry is maintained.   Certain levels may not be able to accept more pupils.

You can email Sue Nevezie the principal for more information: principal@kadimah.school.nz 

View the web site www.kadimah.school.nz

Or write to the school:  PO Box 68 135, Newton, Auckland

Phone: 64+9+373 3072
Fax: 64+9+366 6121

To conclude, a quote taken from the Accountability Review Report, undertaken by the Education Review Office (ERO) in 2004.   ERO Reports are conducted on all private and state schools every three years.  “Kadimah College continues to provide a range of high quality learning opportunities for students from diverse backgrounds.   The ongoing commitment of the staff to providing stimulating and challenging environments for students to learn and succeed is evident throughout the school.   The obvious pride of the students, the staff and the parents in what they achieve through their shared commitment to learning is a notable feature of the school community. … The close relationships between staff, students and parents underpin a learning community that celebrates its achievements.”