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Spring
Semester Courses Grade 8-10
Everything I learned about Judaism I learned
from Star Trek (8-10)
Hands-On
Judaism (8-10) Bring Judaism alive through a class that will allow you to experience first hand the different aspects of Judaism. We will study many of the ritual items we use in celebrating holidays and then create our own. At the end of this course you will leave with an enhanced collection that you have made yourself! Come ready to create and experiment as you take part in this hands-on course! Join us and experience the beauty of ritual items by making them yourself.
Holocaust
through the Eyes of a Child (8-10)
Out of the 6 million Jews that perished in the holocaust, 1.5 million of them were children. From infants to young children to adolescents to young adults, the chance of their survival was based solely upon their capabilities of performing forced labor in concentration camps and ghettos. From the beginning, Jewish children were sought out and discriminated against firstly with laws governing where they could and could not attend school and later in areas of science. Children that were not killed upon their arrival at a concentration camp were either hidden prior to their departure or utilized as prisoners, laborers, and subjects for Nazi medical experiments. Thus, of the 15,000 children imprisoned in the ghetto, only about 1,100 survived. We will also examine the art and poetry of these children as that was a way for them to express themselves. Grades 8-11
How to juggle
being a Jew in the modern world: Ethics for our lives (8-11) Just as Abraham received his call, not long from now, you will be called to leave the home of your mother and/or father. You will be free to choose the direction your life desires, and you will be fully responsible, both in a legal sense and a Jewish sense, for the choices you make. Ethics is about choices. In this course we will discuss the choices that are part of life. We will discuss the Jewish perspective on these choices: their philosophy, how they developed, their relevance in the modern world. We will discuss a wide range of subjects from medical dilemmas, to work dilemmas, to personal relationships. This course will provide you with knowledge that will be your blessing the rest of your life, as you face important choices. Grades 8-12
Advanced
Conversational Hebrew (8-12) Come to learn and improve your Hebrew speaking skills with a native speaker of the language. Learn everyday terms and phrases that will help you carry on a conversation in Hebrew. This class will immerse you in Hebrew related games and activities. It will improve your vocabulary and conversational skills. So come and experience the Hebrew language beyond the prayer book!
Comparative
Religions (8-12)
We all worship the same God Don't we? Learn
about similarities and
Grades 10-12
Creating an illuminated prayer book for all
occasions (10-12) The art of illuminating manuscripts is ancient and found in various corners of the world. An artist would dress the manuscript with gold and other precious metals, decorating the pages in different styles, sometimes depicting scenes that related to the content of the text. It seems that there was a merging of the two very serious enterprises. First, the writing of the text itself in the days that preceded printing, an effort done by an expert and usually producing a work of great importance. Second, the artist who enhances the importance of the text, with added content and seriousness. Illumination represents the joint effort of the scribe and the artist to convey the message embedded in the text. We will explore our prayer book to search for prayers that are personally meaningful. In partners we will study and interpret a prayer together. Next we will each illuminate that prayer and create an illustration that represents our understanding of the prayer. Then each student will write their own prayer, illuminate and illustrate it. We will assemble our work into one prayer book and print one copy for each student, and one copy for each congregation represented by our student body.
An Inside View of the Israeli Defense Forces
(10-12)
Come and learn everything you ever wanted to
know
Grades 9-12
Jewish teachings on
Afterlife, Sex, Creationism, and the Bethlehem
carpenter (9-12) This class will explore questions such as what happens after we die, what do Jews think about the Divine and sex. We will look at the official position of the Conservative movement on Israel, what is our role as Jews, on intermarriage, and the soul. After a few introductory sessions, the class will be devoted to dealing with questions specifically raised by the students. Some thinking outside the class will be necessary and an open mind is required.
7:35-8:30
Hip, Hot and
Hebrew (8-10) Have you ever wondered what your life would be like if you had been born in Israel? Learn about Israel from our Chaverot M’Israel teen ambassadors. Taught by our young and hip educators from Netanya, Chen & Tomer. We will spend time investigating and learning about everything from the film industry, to the arts, to TV, music, food, sports, and how holidays are celebrated in Israel. Learn where Israelis go to have fun. Learn what it is like to live in a country in conflict and how to enjoy the land and her people as well as how modern trends affect the Israeli teenager. Join us for this great interactive class and get a taste of what life is really like in Israel!
Israeli
Dancing (8-10) Do you like to dance? This class is open to anyone who wants to learn the basics of Israeli dance. You will get an introduction to many styles, some modern and some more traditional. This class promises to keep you moving and have a lot of fun!
Jews in
Sports (8-10)
Jews have participated in organized sports since ancient times. We will look at the history of the Jewish presence in sports and attempt to answer many intriguing questions. What kind of influence did their Jewishness have on these athletes? We will focus on the athletes, teams, and others associated with sports with the emphasis on the ethical issues they face as Jews. This class will also be looking closely at the history of the Cincinnati Reds in conjunction with the Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame. This will be a fun class as we delve through the material and find out what it means to be a Jew in such public arenas
Grades 8-11
Beginner Hebrew (8-11) Come and learn and improve your Hebrew speaking skills with a native speaker of the language. Learn everyday terms and phrases that will help you carry on a conversation in Hebrew. This class will immerse you in Hebrew related games and activities. It will improve your vocabulary and conversational skills. So come and learn Hebrew beyond the prayer book! This class will be for those that know none or basic Hebrew.
“Kosher Chicken Soup For The Soul”: Pirke
Avot: (8-11) Pirke Avot is one of the earliest and the best of the “How to…” books. It provides direction on “how to” live a moral and ethical lifestyle. We will analyze sections of this classic Jewish work and have lively classroom discussions from each of the chapters of this masterpiece. We will also compare various selections from Pirkei Avot to the ethics that should be part of today’s society.
Madrichim
Workshop: Teaching Assistant Program (8-11) So the principal has asked if you would “help out”,” be a teacher’s aide”, or ”be a madrich”. You have lots of questions including “just what does this involve?”. Explore what it means to be an effective Jewish educator by taking this exciting, interactive course! Participants in “Madrichim Workshop” will discover what’s involved in working in a Religious School setting. Through a variety of activities including role-playing, speakers, presentations, discussions, and journaling, students will gain a clear understanding of the administrative, interactive, and creative aspects of being a top-notch madrich. Madrichim play an important supporting role and most Religious Schools could not run effectively without their teen assistants. Come and explore how you, too, could make a positive contribution to a Religious School.
Grades 9-11
Crimes
Scenes and Natural Disasters: Art as Midrash (9-11) We will explore two complex stories that have been depicted throughout the ages: Cain & Abel and Noah’s Ark. First, we will explore the biblical passages, interpret it in pairs, and then discuss what we think each story means. Then we will look at artists’ representations of these stories and discuss the meanings and messages their works convey. Finally, we will create our own interpretation in a piece of art.
Jews in the
News: Current Topics in the News Involving Jews (9-11) Each class we will review a current issue topic that occurred in the news which involved one or more Jewish people. We will examine how this makes us feel as fellow Jews. Did the event and the person’s actions make you feel proud to be a Jew? Do you think actions like these effect the way the world views the Jewish people? Should we as Jews care about what the world thinks of us? Should we continue to strive to be a 'Light unto the Nations' or is that not so important? In this class there are no wrong answers. Through discussion of current events involving Jews the students will be able to voice their opinions and beliefs in a safe environment, learning about themselves, their Jewish identities and their peers. Grade 12
Senior Seminar
(12) Look back, look forward, move on…Your final Mercaz challenge! You’ve made it this far—it’s time for the final round! In this class, you and your classmates will reflect on your experiences of these past 4 years and how they will impact your future. It is here that we will help to prepare you for the next stage in life as you leave your homes and congregations. Push yourself to your Jewish limits—think critically and listen carefully to each other and to guest speakers on topics that affect you as you move forward in life. We will focus on the real decisions you will address in college from issues around dating, diversity, self-expression, confronting anti-Semitism and more. You will gain the skills to continue your Jewish journey in understanding who you are as Jewish individuals and how that fits into the greater Jewish world. Your class will plan and execute a senior project of their choosing and plan the graduation ceremony together during the course of the year.
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