8th and 9th Grades

8th/9th Grade Fall 2008

8th and 9th graders can take the following classes:

Sunday 5:00-5:30pm - Dinner for All Grades

Sunday 5:30-6:30pm

MaNishtana to Mattisyahu: The Journey of Jewish Music - David Bernay (8th/9th)

Gaming Jewish Literacy - Heidi Aycock (8th/9th)

Children of Abraham: Common Ground and Faith Differences in Judaism, Christianity and Islam - Judith Roth (8th/9th)

Women of the Bible - Yehudis Bluming (8th/9th)

Talmudic Ethics- R.Zalman Bluming (9th grade only)

Jewtopia: What's the Deal with Jewish Comedy - Ariel Krusch

Sunday 6:30-7:30pm

Hot Topics/Jewish Answers - Heidi Aycock (8th/9th)

Kabbalah for the Teenage Soul - R. Zalman Bluming (8th/9th)

What’s Our Story? - David Bernay (8th/9th)

Israeli Dancing—Itzik Lebovich (8th/9th)

J-teens - Carly Shubitz

Friends and Lovers: What the Bible Can Teach Us About Relationships - Judith Roth (9th grade only)

 

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Schedule of Sessions—Fall Semester

Fall 2008 Classes will meet

September 7, 14, 21, 28

October 5, 12, 19, 26

November 2, 9, 16, 23

December 7, 14 (End of Semester Program)

There is no Midrasha on November 30

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Ma Nishtana to Matisyahu: The Journey of Jewish Music—David Bernay

Music is an integral part of Jewish life and history. As music triggers a spiritual and emotional response in the listener as well as the performer, it is no surprise that Jews have integrated music in prayer and in celebration, in sadness and in hope throughout their history.

Both religious and secular, musical performance is also a method of self-expression and self-identity. Through interactive lessons and group performances, this class will explore what makes music “Jewish.” Styles from classical liturgy, Jewish folk, Mizrahi and Middle Eastern, to modern rap, hip-hop and reggae will be sampled in hopes of broadening our understanding of Jewish music, its function in history and today.

Gaming Jewish Literacy - Heidi Aycock

Whether you need to brush up on your Jewish Literacy or you just like good game s and puzzle s , this class will be fun and enlightening. We'll look at how games can help you study and design some of our own games for learning Jewish Literacy. You'll come out with great tools for all of your classes and great Jewish knowledge too.

Children of Abraham: : Common Ground and Faith Differences in Judaism, Christianity and Islam—Judith Roth

In this class we will gain a basic understanding of these 3 great religions. We will compare and contrast their beliefs about such topics as sin, human nature, God/Allah, heaven and hell, interpersonal relationships, the role of theology, religious law, history, death, and how to live in the world. Once these three monotheistic religions lived with each other with relative tolerance, peace, and cooperation. What has happened over the 1400 years since the establishment of Islam? What brings us all together; what separates us? Join us for enlightening and thoughtful discussions about Biblical and Rabbinic Judaism, the emergence of Christianity, and the "newcomer" - Islam.

Women of the Bible -Yehudis Bluming

This class will look to the amazing women of the Bible to inspire us! From Eve to the Matriarchs—Sarah, Rebecca, Rachel and Leah - to Ruth, Deborah, and Esther, the women of the Bible can be incredible models for us today. They demonstrate loyalty and love, courage and overcoming adversity, and so much more. We will use traditional and Chassidic interpretations of the stories of these women as the basis for our lively discussions.

Talmudic Ethics- R. Zalman Bluming

This discussion based class for 9th graders will build on many things you learnt in Hebrew School ,yet we now take your knowledge to the next step - in trying to decide modern difficult questions that challenge each one of us. When your heart is pulled in two directions, how do you know which tug to follow? Can the teachings of the Talmud help us decide?

What do you do if you find a brand new i Phone on the roadside? Must you jump into dangerous waters to save a friend? Is it really stealing is you download from napster? Can you ever lie to get into a college you have been dreaming of ? Should a d octor ever decide when it is time for an elderly person to die ? Do children have to obey their parents their whole lives?

Jewtopia: What's the Deal with Jewish Comedy - Ariel Krusch

We will explore the history of Jewish comedy through film, books and songs. We will look at religious and non-religious Jewish humor; and Jewish humor from around the globe, not just American Jewish humor. What role does humor play in Jewish culture and why have so many Jews been prominent comedians? And what makes Jewish humor Jewish anyway? What's the deal here?

What’s Our Story? - David Bernay

Storytelling is a core component of Jewish cultural history. In this class, we will discover how stories function as Jewish experiences, transmit Jewish values and reflect the diversity of Jewish history. A variety of stories and storytelling techniques will be explored through readings and dramatic role playing in order to deepen our understanding of storytelling and its role in Jewish culture.

Kabbalah and the Teenage Soul - R. Zalman Bluming

We will interactively study exciting Kabbalistic themes and some of the most mystical and intriguing parts of Jewish life. This Kabbalah class will leave you amazed, surprised and enriched in spirituality.

Hot Topics / Jewish Answers—Heidi Aycock

There's nothing like cloning to get a conversation started in the lunch room. But did you know that Judaism has something to say about many modern ethical questions? From capital punishment to animal rights to who gets to be your next of kin, Hot Topics can make a 50 minutes Midrasha class fly by like one of Michael Phelps' 100 meter swims.

Israeli Dancing—Itzitk Lebovich

Get your nose out of the books and your feet onto the dance floor! Come join us as we learn the special dances of Israel known as “rikudei am” - the “dances of the people”. No previous experience is required—just enthusiasm and a willingness to have fun while learning a bit of Israeli culture.

Friends and Lovers: What the Bible Can Teach Us About Relationships - Judith Roth

Have you noticed how much the Bible is devoted to interpersonal relationships? Have you noticed that when we study Bible, we primarily focus on people, their relationships and actions? In the Amidah, we focus on the matriarchs and patriarchs. Why?

In this class we will study the people of the Book to guide us in learning some truths about relationships, and wisdom about how to be better people to all we are involved with, friends, family, "lovers" including those who are acquaintances and/or challenging to us in our lives. What can we learn from the trials and tribulations of the men and women of the Bible to help us become better at who we are today?

We will focus on Adam and Eve, Abraham and Sarah, Rebekah and Isaac, Jacob, Leah and Rahel, Joseph and Potiphar's wife, Tamar and Judah, Moses and Zipporah, King David, Michal, Abigail and Bathesheva, Samson and Delilah, Naomi, Boaz and Ruth, Jezebel, Esther and Mordecai, and many others. We will explore their actions, words, history, psychology, and theology to teach ourselves how to live more fully with each other. This class is limited to 9th grade students; 8th grade students must receive the permission of the teacher to join.