10th Grade

10th Grade - Spring 2010

10th Grade Midrasha Syllabus—Spring 2010

Topic: Important Questions in Judaism

Instructor: Rabbi Leah Berkowitz;

Classes meet Sundays from 5:30-7:30 If you cannot attend class, please contact Rabbi Berkowitz at rabbiberkowitz@judeareform.org for a make-up assignment.

January 10—Is there such thing as a good Jew?

January 17 Do you need to believe in G-d to be Jewish?

January 24- TBA for those not going to the L’taken Seminar

January 31 Guest speaker TBA

February 7— Jewish views on death and dying OR thinking Jewishly about college. . .

February 14—Guest Speaker TBA

February 21— Why do people choose Judaism? What are the different denominations of Judaism?

  Assignment Due (see below): Investigative Judaism

February 28— What makes a Jewish home? What makes a Jewish relationship?

March 7— Guest speaker TBA

March 14— What does Judaism have to say about dating and sex?

March 21—What does Judaism have to say about GLBTQ issues? and Wrap-Up.

Investigative Judaism:

Checking out Another Worship Experience 

Your mission: In a few weeks, you will be asked to submit a report about your visit to a Jewish worship service that is not at your own synagogue. You might go to Hillel, Chabad, Beth El, Chapel Hill Kehillah, Judea Reform, or someplace of your own choosing. Try to go someplace you have never gone before. You may go on Friday night or Saturday morning.

Answer the following questions:

·     Ask someone who is a member there why they chose this congregation and what they like about it.

·     Ask the rabbi/service leader about one thing that was different at this service and why they did it that way.

·     Make up a few of your own questions to ask people in that congregation during your visit.

·     Ask yourself: What was similar/different from your usual worship experience? What did you like/dislike about this worship experience?

 Submit a one-page report of your experience and the answers to your questions in class on Sunday, February 21st.

 

 

Fall 2009 -

Welcome to this year's 10th grade Midrasha class. We are planning a very exciting year of learning and celebration. As you may know, the year is divided into two parts: an exploration of other faiths in the fall, and further learning about Judaism in the spring.

 

We begin with an unforgettable first semester learning about Judaism by comparing our faith to that of others. Experiencing the rituals of Sikhism, Hinduism, Buddhism, various forms of Christianity, and Islam will give us new perspective on our own theology and practice. This means that we'll be traveling on most Sunday mornings to various religious institutions around

our community. We'll be relying on parents to share the transportation responsibilities and they are welcome to stay and attend the religious service s with our class.

 

This spring, Rabbi Leah Berkowitz will be teaching a new Midrasha course, entitled "Tough Questions, Jewish Answers." Do I have to believe in God to be Jewish? Is there a difference between being a good Jew and a good person? Does God care whom I marry? After spending a semester learning about other faiths, now we'll take a semester to explore our own, by asking ourselves these questions and more. Feel free to contact Rabbi Berkowitz with questions in advance so we can work them into the syllabus. This class will be on Sunday evenings from 5:30-7:30pm @ Midrasha.

 

We are also planning a weekend - January 22-25, 2010 at the L’taken Social Justice Seminar of the Religious Action Center in Washington in the spring. You'll hear more about that in the weeks to come.

 

 

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Community Midrasha 2009-2010

10th Grade Fall Program:

Introduction to Plurality and Diversity within the Community at Large

Facilitated by Dr. Margarita Suárez suarezm@meredith.edu

Car Pool Coordinator:  Ms. Leslie Kreizman kreizman@unc.edu 

August 23, 2009 - December 13, 2009

Drop off and Pick up students for field trips at the Judea Reform Education Building except for Nov.22, when we will meet inside the vestibule of the synagogue. 

  1. Aug.  30   Midrasha Initial Gathering / Orientation (11:00- 12:30)

    This session is for parents and students.  Please meet in the sanctuary at Judea Reform, at 11:30am.  At this meeting Margarita Suarez will discuss the first semester curriculum and Leslie Kreizman will coordinate transportation for the field trips.  Judea parents and students should remain following this session to discuss Kabbalat Torah, formerly called Confirmation, with Rabbi Berkowitz. 

  1. Sept. 13 VISIT 1  First Pentecostal Church ( Svc. 10:50 - 12:45)

    Meet at at 10am.  We will discuss the nature of Pentecostalism before we leave for the church at 10:25am.  The church is located at 2008 Carver St. in Durham.  Pentecostalism is a very conservative denomination.  Be prepared to hear from the far right wing of Christianity.  Students should be back to Judea by 2pm. 

  1. Sept. 20 Rosh Hashana (2nd day) – no class
 
  1. Sept. 27 VISIT 2  Fisher Memorial United Holy Church (Svc. 11 - 12:45)

    Meet at 10:30am to drive to 420 Piedmont Ave. in Durham.  This is an African-American Church, small but very important in the religious life of the Durham Community.  The church is led by Bishop Elroy Lewis and is affiliated with the United Holiness denomination.  Students should be back to Judea by 1:15pm 

  1. Oct. 4 Evening class – 6-7:15pm  Conversation class 1   

    (This class will happen close to sundown, as it is the 2nd day of Sukkot.)

    “How Christians Use Scriptures”

    Meet  inside the Judea Reform Education Bldg for a discussion of how Christianity understands the Hebrew Bible as a rich source for the proof of the validity of the New Testament.  What are the important passages cited by Christian proselytizers as proof for the validity of the messiahship of Jesus and the authority of the New Testament?  How should we answer those who want to convert us to Christianity? 

  1. Oct. 11  Simchat Torah – no class
 
  1. Oct. 18 VISIT 3  St. Barbara’s Greek Orthodox Church  (Svc. 10:15 - 11:30)

    Meet at 9:45.  We will attend services with St. Barbara’s Greek Orthodox congregation at their temporary home on 1113 W. Main Street in Durham.  “Orthodox” means “true belief” from the Greek words “orthe” and “doxa.”  Their worship is quite formal with much singing.  Their “Divine Liturgy” is entirely in Greek.  This church is part of the Eastern Orthodox Church which includes other national churches such as the Bulgarian and Russian Orthodox.  Students should be back at Judea by 12:30pm. 

   

  1. Oct. 25 VISIT 4 Sri Venkateswara Tenple  (Intro session 10:30-11:15; Svc. 11:30 – 12:30)   Meet at 9:30am to travel to the temple located at 121 Balaji Place (Use 121 Baliji Place in GPS & Mapquest)  (9421 Chapel Hill Road)  Cary.  Students should be back by 1:15pm.
 
  1. Nov. 1  VISIT 5   First Presbyterian  (Svc. 11 - 12)

    Meet at 10:30am to drive to First Presbyterian Church, 305 E. Main St. In Durham.  We will attend their services and then have lunch with some First Presbyterian youth and their ministers following worship.   Students should be back to Judea Reform by 2pm. 

  1. Nov. 8  VISIT 6   Sikh Gurdwara   (11:30 - 12:30 intro session; 12:30-1:35 worship; 1:35-2:15 lunch)   Meet at 10:45am to travel to the Gurdwara located at 3214 Banner in Durham (not far from Durham Regional Hospital).  This session will include a session of introduction to Sikhism, attendance at part of their service, and the “lungar” or communal meal.  (Great veggie Indian food!)  Back at Judea by 2:45pm.  Margarita will probably be at the American Academy of Religion meeting this weekend.
 
  1. Conversation class 2, 11:15am – 12:30pm – “Judaism and Christianity: The Growth of Early Christianity and Rabbinic Judaism in the 1st Century”

    How did Judaism and Christianity become 2 separate faiths?  What is the origin of Christian belief and why is the history of our relationship so painful?  Why do Christians proselytize? 

  1. Nov. 22 VISIT 7 Center for Muslim Life, Duke University – (lunch and conversation 11:30 – 1pm)

    Meet inside the front doors of Judea Reform synagogue – NOT THE EDUCATION BULIDING. At 11am.  We will travel to Duke to meet Imam Abdulah Antepli, Muslim chaplain at Duke, who will host us for a lunch and a conversation about Islam.  (Possible witnessing of Muslim prayer).  We should return to Judea by 1:30pm. 

  1. Nov. 29 Thanksgiving – no class
 
  1. Dec. 6  VISIT 8   Buddha’s Light International Society  (Svc. 10-11:30)

    Meet at Judea’s Education Building at 9:00am to drive to the International Buddhist Progress Society in Cary.  We will experience a Buddhist worship experience in Chinese and will meet with the Venerable Chueh Chuan afterwards to answer our questions.  Students should be back to the Judea Reform Education Bldg by 12:30pm 

  15. Dec. 13 Final Potluck Dinner / conversation class 3 -   6-8:30pm

    “Religious Differences in Your Life”

    This special concluding program will begin at 6:15 with a pot luck dinner program for parents and students at the Judea Reform Education Bldg.  We will have a discussion of universalism and particularism and their contrasting influence.  When is it best to emphasize our universal similarity to all human beings?  When should we focus on being Jews, set apart from the rest of the world?  How do these factors play a role in our life choices such as college, marriage, child rearing, career choices, and spiritual quest?  Wrap up and evaluation.  We should be done by 8:30pm. 

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