Congregation B'nai Israel

"A home for your total Jewish experience on the Southside of Atlanta"

 

Middle School

Sixth Grade

As students continue to develop intellectually and spiritually and prepare for their bar and bat mitzvah celebration, they will delve deeply into Jewish sources and critically examine three core areas of Judaism: Torah, God and mitzvot. Students will study the weekly Torah portion, using a sophisticated and multi-faceted approach, exploring traditional and modern commentaries on each weekly Torah portion, and probing the text for its multiple layers of meaning. Students will also explore the concept of mitzvah, a divine commandment or obligation, and the relevance of particular mitzvot in their everyday lives.

Content Areas: God, Mitzvot and Jewish values, Tanach (Torah)

Big Ideas:

1. The Torah is a modern text that can speak to us in modern times.

2. We study rabbinic commentary (what the ancient rabbis wrote) to learn about our Jewish history and beliefs.

3. We interpret Jewish texts to look for meaning in our modern lives.

4. Exploration of God is a central part of Judaism.

5. Mitzvot are commandments.

6. We study Hebrew as a way to understand more about the prayers we say.


Seventh Grade

As children continue to develop, so do their intellectual abilities. With their increasing maturity comes an ability to understand abstract concepts and to learn through a process of inquiry and discovery. The 7th grade curriculum responds to this intellectual development, delving deeper into Jewish topics and learning to understand them in a critical way while still respecting the active learning styles of many 7th graders. Role-play, debates, drama, art, and other interactive and fun activities make up the core of the 7th grader's learning experience. In their study of Jewish holidays, students attempt to grapple with the theology inherent in the different holidays, the different meanings ascribed to the holidays throughout the ages, and the variety of ways Jewish holidays are celebrated in the Jewish world today. Likewise students examine the Prophets and the Writings and learn to probe the texts for their multiple layers of meaning. They will also continue to develop their Hebrew reading skills and vocabulary, and learn to read and recite the prayers of the Torah service and the concluding prayers.

Content Areas: Hebrew and Prayer, Jewish Holidays, Tanach: Prophets and Writings

Big Ideas:

1. The Prophets and Writing are important Jewish texts.

2. During Jewish holidays, we read particular Jewish Torah portions.

3. Jewish people can add to the traditional customs of Jewish holidays to make them unique to their own family.


Eigth Grade

After years of intensive study of Judaism's timeless traditions and values, students will now turn their attention to the Jewish modern world, beginning their study with two major events in the 20th century which continue to shape our Jewish lives today: the Holocaust and the creation of the modern State of Israel. Students will also study the history of the modern State of Israel.

The 8th grade is a time when students experience the pressures of the adolescent world -- the need to conform, to go along with the crowd, to be accepted. Many other issues that teens deal with, such as obedience to authority, indifference to others, making moral choices grounded in popularity rather than conscience, the courage to speak out against wrong, are critical to understanding how evil can triumph. Studying the Holocaust helps young people understand that history is not inevitable. The Holocaust happened because of individual choices, people who chose to legalize discrimination and violence as well as people who chose to do nothing, that ultimately led to mass murder. In the end, we hope that studying the Holocaust will teach them how to live meaningful, good, and courageous lives that will bring about a more just world.

Content Areas: Israel, Jewish History, Mitzvot and Jewish Values

Big Ideas:

1. Zionist ideologies have had an impact on modern Judaism and Israel.

2. The history of the Holocaust ignites question, emotion, and reactions encompassing this tragic historical period.

3. This history of the modern State of Israel began with Theodor Herzl and has continued to the present.




GoodSearch: You Search...We Give!