Judaism With Open Arms
27-35 Crescent St, Astoria, NY, 11102
ACI’s Hebrew School offers weekly after-school classes to students in grades K through 7th, with transportation available from local schools.
Our teachers incorporate art, visual media, movement, songs, technology and project based learning in their lessons. We aim to instill in our children a love and appreciation for their Jewish heritage, a sense of belonging in their local Jewish community, and a solid grounding for bar/bat mitzvah preparation.
The ACI Hebrew School program is divided into three levels:
-Kitah Aleph: For children ages 5 – 7 with little or no Hebrew language exposure or instruction.
-Kitah Bet: For children ages 7 – 9 with 1-2 years of experience with Hebrew language and Jewish concepts and traditions.
-Kitah Gimmel: For children ages 9 – 12, geared towards students with 3 to 5 years of Hebrew language exposure. Curriculum at this level includes reading Hebrew sentences with vowels, more advanced conversational Hebrew, and exploring topics of Jewish life and history.
In order to benefit from the full program, we encourage students to start in Kindergarten, but we welcome new students at all levels, and offer an online Ulpan program to support incoming students with their Hebrew studies.
Our experienced teachers are well equipped to adapt their teaching to a diversity of learning needs, and we have successfully integrated students who haven’t thrived at other programs because of learning differences.
Our Philosophy
Our age-appropriate curriculum includes the following:
-Teaching Hebrew reading and writing
-Fostering a sense of community and belonging amongst our students and parents
-Developing an understanding and appreciation of Jewish traditions, values, practices, and ethical behavior
-Educating our students about the history of the Jewish people and their connection to the land of Israel and understanding its relevance.
-Helping children understand the meaning and purpose of prayer and how and why we recite important blessings
-Teaching our students about the importance and significance of Jewish holidays and Shabbat
-Teaching our children Hebrew songs many of which figure prominently in our liturgy
The classes will consist of activities and lessons that use music, movement, and visual art, ensuring that children can learn in ways that are tactile, engaging and fun. Light snacks are served when students arrive but parents are encouraged to pack an extra snack on Tuesdays!
Schedule
Classes meet on Tuesday afternoons from 3:30 – 5:30 at the Astoria Center of Israel. Classes will be held on all Tuesdays when NYC public schools are in session and where there is no conflict with observed Jewish holidays.
Rabbi Josh holds office hours on Tuesdays from 3:30-5:30, and parents are welcome to meet with him or to sit in on any Hebrew School programs.
Typical Day
3:00 – 3:25: Student arrival, snacks, ice breaker activities, holiday themed crossword puzzles or word searches
3:30-4:00: Music with Morah Shanah. Students learn songs related to upcoming Jewish festivals & holidays as well as common prayers.
4:05-4:35: Hebrew language instruction with Moreh David
4:40 – 5:15: Jewish history, traditions, culture, holidays, understanding the Hebrew calendar with Morah Esther
5:20-5:30: Tefillah with the teachers and a d’var torah by Rabbi Josh in chapel or main sanctuary
Tuition
Non ACI member tuition for the 2025-2026 school year is $1,449 per child and $1,299 for each additional child .
ACI member tuition for the 2025-2026 school year is is $1,099 per child and $999 for each additional child
Payments may be made in two installments (due September 15th and February 15th) or broken up into 8 equal installments paid on the 15th of each month from September through April. Arrangements can be made with our office administrator Lizanne Fluxmon.
Tuition assistance is available on a limited basis. Application for tuition assistance can be downloaded here and forwarded to our office administrator at [email protected].
A $100 deposit is required in order to secure your registration; this will be collected on the registration form.
Transportation
Since 2014, ACI has been partnering with Astoria Express, which provides safe and dependable transportation from local schools. Upon arrival at ACI, our staff escort them from the bus to the building, where they usually have time for snacks and supervised activities before classes begin at 3:30. Parents are also welcome to make their own transportation arrangements, and space and wifi are available for any parents who wish to work from ACI during classes.