Middle School Jewish Knowledge Curriculum
The Jewish Knowledge class focuses on three important parts of Jewish study:
Navi (or prophets)
Jewish Holidays and laws
Weekly Torah Portion.
Navi is the study of Jewish history beginning after the Five Books of Moshe. Students are exposed to the values and lessons we learn together from the people of our past. Stories are taught in depth so students understand the timeline of events, significance to Jewish people and take-home messages gleaned. Jewish holidays explore the various laws and customs associated with each holiday, as well as, general understanding and reasoning behind the holiday. The weekly Torah portion is a summary of what Jews read in Synagogue the upcoming Shabbat and lessons found therein. Jewish knowledge provides a large scope of information and ideas to strengthen your child's connection to the Jewish people and Jewish calendar year.
Course Objectives:
View Judaism as a lifelong source:
A source for a philosophy
A source for answers
Identifying as a Jew:
Mastering a working knowledge of basics of Jewish history (Abigail, David, Solomon)
Mastering a working knowledge of the basics of Jewish law (Shabbat, Holidays, Charity)
Mastering a working knowledge of the basics of Jewish philosophy (sacredness of life, Tzedaka, Tikun Olam)
Mastering a working knowledge of the basics of Jewish character (slow to pursue vengeance and anger, pursuant of justice and peace)
Subjects covered in Jewish Knowledge:
Navi (Prophets)-
Knowledge of Jewish History:
Know what occurred and When
Know the characters record
Understand History requires perspectives:
Nation
Kings
Individuals
People’s character
Knowledge of Law and Ethics
What we can learn that still applies
How to understand what happened at the time
Skills:
Crystallized knowledge acquisition
Short/Long term information recall
Working with a Partner (Chevrusa) or Group (Chevrah)
Staying on task
Working together
Dividing tasks
Setting smaller objectives to reach larger goals
Reading
Translating
Dinim (laws)-
Learning Law:
For Knowledge
For Practice
Understanding the Reasoning Behind the Laws
Middle School Jewish History Curriculum
6th grade
Modern Israel
1. Geography
2. Climate
3. Cities of Israel (Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, Haifa, Be'er Sheva, Eilat, Tiberias)
4. political system
5. Economy
6. Transportation
7. I.D.F.
8. Educational system
7th-8th grade
Holocaust
1. How Germany was affected by the loss in World War 1.
2. Germany between 1920-1933.
3. Rise of Hitler to power.
4. Germany between 1933 and the outbreak of World War 2.
5. Jews of Germany 1933-1939.
6. Nazis and Polish Jews (A. ghettos B. Concentration Camps C. Death Camps- specifically Auschwitz)
7. Germany at war 1939-1945
8. Peoples who assisted the Nazis in the Holocaust
9. Bystanders
10. Righteous Gentiles
11. Jewish world 1945-1948.