While "Word of the Week" stems from the tradition of reading the weekly portion of the Bible in synagogues each Shabbat, it is neither dependant upon, nor necessarily aimed at, synagogue participation. "Word of the Week" instead attempts to inspire the young learners' speech and by extension their understanding of and interaction with the world. The program's guiding assumption is that the child's language is the most intimate and authentic framework for the internalization, utilization and preservation of spiritual and cultural meanings.

At the same time, "Word of the Week" is not dedicated to the acquisition of modern spoken Hebrew. Indeed, it was originally designed for Israeli children who already speak Hebrew. Currently, it is being implemented in four early childhood programs in North Tel Aviv and next year it is scheduled for seven more and for a new grade one class.

"Word of the Week" focuses on foundational Hebrew words from the Bible upon which Judaism rests, including Torah, Elohim, Shabbat, tov ve-rah, beracha, Adam, Avraham Avinu, Yisrael, Shelach et Ami, Asseret haDibrot, am segula, and shalom. While the deepest senses of such words provide avenues to a spiritual life, they are often lost upon those for whom Hebrew is a secular mother tongue, a lashon chol. "Word of the Week" provides an induction to Jewish culture through the attainment of the language of classical Jewish texts, lashon kodesh.

"Word of the Week" may therefore be equally pertinent to early childhood Jewish learners whose mother tongue is English. While the teaching of "Word of the Week" continues and expands in several Tel Aviv schools, project staff are considering ways to implement it in North America as well.