8th and 9th Grade courses - Fall 2010
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Course Descriptions
First Hour (5:30-6:30)
Israel Daily: Political and Legal Issues —Ilit Ostrovitch-Levi
Despite being a very small country, Israel daily is full of news that stem from its geographic
location and diversity of population. Many events and issues are being subject to extensive debate,
both local and international. In this class we will review the “hot” political and legal issues which are
on the Israeli daily agenda, such as the flotilla to Gaza and the reactions to it within Israel and among
the foreign nations, high profile criminal cases in Israel, the renewing of the peace process with the
Palestinians and many more and will discuss the different aspects and opinions regarding such matters.
Pray Like You Mean It – Rachel Galper
Yiddish Theater – Marshall Botvinick
In this course students will learn about the history, the authors, and the plays of the Yiddish Theater. Additionally, students will explore the relationship between the Bible/Midrash and the texts written for the Yiddish stage. The course will also feature a significant performance component. Students will learn basic acting techniques, and the course will culminate in a performance of short works written by Yiddish dramatists.
Sex in the Texts —Yael Ariel Goldschmidt
What do the Torah and Talmud have to say about sex? Is sex forbidden
before marriage and is it obligatory after marriage? Is all sex
permitted? How do different Jewish sources address homosexuality, birth
control, and sexual pleasure? In this course we explore the Jewish tradition on these and other questions about sex and sexuality.
Taste of Hebrew—Stephanie Rockitter
This class will focus primarily on developing skills in spoken modern Hebrew. No previous knowledge of Hebrew is required.
You be the Judge - Rabbi Zalman Bluming
Do you enjoy puzzles and problem-solving? Do you love the give-and-take of thoughtful discussion? Can you use logic and creativity to work your way out of challenging situations? Then this course is for you.
This course presents real cases brought before the beit din, the court system of Jewish Law. We provide the primary texts and ask you to grapple with the facts in order to arrive at satisfying solutions.
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Second Hour (6:30-7:30)
Jewish Voices, Jewish Choices: Wealth, Power, and Social Justice - Dr. Sandy Kessler and Dr. Noah Pickus
This fall our Midrasha class will consider several moral issues involving wealth, power, and social justice from a variety of Jewish perspectives. We will discuss questions such as: Is it OK to be wealthy? Is it fair that some kids have wealthy parents while others have parents who are poor? What role should money play in the lives of teens? In making career choices? In helping others? What is power good for? How does it influence relationships between parents and children, teachers and students, employers and workers, government and citizens? Should we support policies like the death penalty, affirmative action, and universal access to health care?
Making Art to Stand By – Rachel Galper
In Pirke Avot (Ethics of Our Sages or Fundamental Principles) Shimon the
Just tells us that the world stands on three things: Torah, Divine worship, and deeds of loving-kindness (1:2). Rabban Shimon Ben Gamiel tells us that our world rests on truth, justice, and peace (1:18). In this class we will explore art from Jewish and other spiritual traditions dealing with these "pillars" and then create our own pieces in diverse media for exhibition in the upcoming show at Judea Reform's art gallery.
God, Suffering, and the Problem of Evil - Ty Goldschmidt
We investigate the deepest religious problem: Why does a perfectly good God allow so much bad? The different answers presented by philosophers are identified. We then consider whether and how these answers find their place in the Jewish tradition, and whether and how the Jewish tradition can contribute to the answers.
Could evil be necessary for our having free will? Could evil help make us better people? Could evil be divine punishment? Does our tradition improve these explanations in any way? Does the Jewish experience with suffering provide any original and unique insights? The course will allow for exciting discussion and debate about these questions.
Taste of Hebrew—Stephanie Rockitter
This class will focus primarily on developing skills in spoken modern Hebrew. No previous knowledge of Hebrew is required.
Israeli Culture—Ilit Ostrovitch-Levi
Israel enjoys a diverse culture and population. Jewish
people from around the world have brought their cultural and religious traditions with them to Israel,
creating a melting pot of Jewish customs and beliefs. In this class we will observe and review different
cultural aspects of Israel from music, movies and literature to sports and cooking and see how they have
evolved over the years.
J-teens: Social Connections in a Traditional Jewish Context - Yehudis Bluming
We will focus this semester on different kinds of social connections in a Jewish context.
Traditional Judaism is full of wisdom that is relevant for living our lives today. We’ll talk about relationships and social connections that are important to our lives, like romance and cliques, friendship and fame, rebellion and happiness—but we’ll add the wisdom of traditional Judaism to the discussion.
Kabbalah and the Teenage Soul - Rabbi Zalman Bluming
We will interactively study exciting Kabbalistic themes and some of the most mystical and intriguing parts of Jewish life. We’ll apply these mystical teachings to our own lives. This Kabbalah class will leave you amazed, surprised and enriched in spirituality.