KITAH GIMMEL (3rd)

 Text Tales: A deeper dive into Torah and the lessons we learn from this foundational Jewish text.

TOPICS:

Torah stories (Genesis), holidays, Hebrew reading, Tefillah, Israel

SCHEDULE:

Wednesdays: 4-6 PM

Mondays: 4-6 PM OR Saturdays: 9-10:30 AM OR Private Tutoring

BIG IDEAS:

• We learn lessons about how to live our lives, including values and mitzvot, through Torah. Every time we study Torah, we can learn something new.

• Every year as we go through the Jewish calendar, we celebrate the same holidays, but we can learn or think about them in different ways.

• Israel is the Jewish homeland; even though we don’t live in Israel, it is important for us to recognize our religious connection.

• Reading Hebrew allows us to participate in synagogues and be part of the Jewish community all over the world.

• Praying in community is an important way Jews connect to God.

ESSENTIAL QUESTIONS:

• What can I learn from Torah?

• How do I connect to Jewish holidays?

• Why does Israel matter to me?

• How do I best communicate with God?

OBJECTIVES:

Students will learn how to…

• Mark Jewish time using the sun/stars, moon; calendar.

• Ask thoughtful questions about Torah stories and characters.

• Make connections between Torah, holidays, and Israel.

• Make personal connections between their lives and Torah, holidays, and Israel.

• Read Hebrew to follow along in the siddur (prayer book).

Students will understand…

• The major stories of Sefer Breishit (Genesis) — including the characters, basic plots, lessons, and mitzvot that we can apply to our own lives.

• The structure of the Jewish calendar.

• The stories, customs, and traditions associated with three Jewish holidays.

• The Biblical and religious connections to Eretz Yisrael (the Land of Israel).

• Praying together, in Hebrew, is one way we communicate with God.

Students will believe that…

• We read the Torah every year because we can always learn new ideas or be reminded of old ones.

• The characters in the Torah show us how we should (and shouldn’t) live our lives.

• Jewish holidays are personally meaningful to us because…

• We have ancient, Biblical connections to Eretz Yisrael, and we are part of the chain connecting Israel and Torah.

• They can have a connection with God.