Kadima@BJ combines the essence of the BJ experience with a creative learning model. We focus on an integrated educational model where students learn by doing and practicing, and where the Jewish values of hesed (caring connections and relationships), kavod (honor), and ahrayut v’areyvut hadadit (responsibility and interdependence) are woven into daily life. 

A sample Kadima schedule:

• 3:00-3:50 PM: Early care* (for students who are enrolled)—students can do homework or play games, use art supplies, and have quiet time to decompress after the school day
• 3:50-4:00 PM: Rolling arrival—students meet with their class
• 4:00-4:25 PM: Opening ritual—a musical tefillah experience combined with community building and Torah learning with our music educators and BJ rabbis
• 4:30-4:45 PM: Snack time (including food-based berakhot) and zeman kehillah (class- or grade-based social-emotional learning activities)
• 4:45-5:55 PM: Learning block—students will cover various topics such as prayer, God, or Jewish holidays through shared source material, and will have time to work on projects that allow them to gain a deep understanding and personal experience of the material
• 5:55-6:00 PM: Dismissal
• 6:00-6:30 PM: Late care* (for students who are enrolled), will include pizza, and students can do homework, relax, socialize or play games.

* Early Care and Late Care is a separate enrollment and a separate payment.

The doors open for Kadima at 3:50 PM and pick up is at 6:00 PM, with doors opening at 5:55 PM.
We offer early care and late care. Early care is from 3:00-4:00 PM and late care is from 6:00-6:30 PM. Late care includes pizza for the children. You can pay per session, for a package, or per semester.

• Single Session: $20
• 3-pack: $54
• 6-pack: $100
• First Semester (full semester): $165
• Second Semester (full semester): $195

Tuition for grades K-3 will be $2500, and $2200 for grades 4-6 for the 2026-2027 school year. All Kadima registrations include attendance at our Family Retreat for the student and one adult to attend.

Financial aid is available to families whose budgets may not allow them to cover the full cost of our programs. (See What if I cannot afford the standard tuition? below.)

Hebrew Homepage will be separate from tuition and you will receive a follow-up with registration details to register and pay directly with the JCC. 

We offer monthly Shabbat dinners for students of all ages and their families. Tot Shabbat is for families with children ages 5 and under, Likrat Shabbat is for Kadima-aged students (K-6), and Hitoreri is for students in 8th-12th grades.

Families who plan to attend most or all of the dinners can purchase a “bundle” to pay upfront for the dinners at a discounted price. If you do not purchase the bundle, you will have the option to pay per dinner. BJ subsidizes the cost of Shabbat dinners in an effort to make our family programs more accessible. If cost is a barrier to participation, please be in touch with Rabbi Deena.
Bundle pricing: $200 per adult/$140 per child • Pay per dinner pricing: $36 per adult/$25 per child

In the 2026–2027 school year, Kadima@BJ will cost approximately $ 350,000 to run, not including the cost of included retreats for each student and any overhead costs (security, operations etc). The “standard” cost of tuition already includes a subsidy per student, and we additionally offer about $25,000 a year in financial aid. All together, tuition generates about $290,000, meaning that Kadima@BJ will run a projected deficit of $60,000. Historically, this deficit has been subsidized by the BJ operating budget.

For all students, tuition covers the cost of Kadima@BJ part-time educators and full-time staff; weekly snacks, security personnel, and all supplies and materials.

In addition, tuition covers the cost of three music educators to lead tefillah, support staff such as a curriculum coordinator and an inclusion coordinator, as well as a low student-to-teacher ratio to provide our students with the personal attention they need to thrive.

Tuition also includes the cost of a retreat for one child and one adult per family.

If the cost of Kadima tuition would cause financial hardship (having to go without paying other essential bills) for your family, please fill out this application for financial aid. 

Based on available aid, Kadima@BJ is pleased to be able to provide need-based tuition assistance to families who would not otherwise be able to afford tuition. To evaluate individual needs, we require some information about an applicant’s financial situation, including income and other financial pressures. Every application is reviewed on its own merits, and awards are granted by a three-person Financial Aid Committee of full-time BJ staff members through a confidential review process. If you have questions about the financial aid process, please reach out to Rabbi Deena Cowans, Director of Family Life and Learning, at dcowans@bj.org.

Yes and no. The Kadima@BJ curriculum is designed to give students a firm grounding in Jewish life, with emphasis on community, belonging, and spirituality. While Kadima@BJ is a great way for kids to build their Jewish identity and find a Jewish home, it is not meant to be a one-stop shop for everything Jewish. We require all Kadima students to come on Shabbat as many times per year as their grade (e.g. a 6th-grade student must attend at least six Shabbat morning services per year), and we strongly encourage you to celebrate holidays and make Jewish life a part of your home. The BJ staff is invested in supporting you and your family in building a rich Jewish life. Check out our calendar to see what events are coming up soon, or reach out to Rabbi Deena to talk about how your family can get more plugged into the BJ community. We know that each student learns at a different pace and begin Kadima at different times in their lives, which is why we’ve partnered with Hebrew Homepage for direct Hebrew language learning at a discounted rate for Kadima families.