KITAH VAV (6th)

 The modern Jewish experience: An exploration of Jewish leadership through a focus on the Holocaust, the founding of the State of Israel, and Jewish leaders of today.

TOPICS:

Torah stories (Deuteronomy, Prophets/Judges), holidays, Hebrew reading, Tefillah, Holocaust History, Israeli History, leadership development

SCHEDULE:

Wednesdays: 4-6 PM

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

BIG IDEAS:

• We have many leaders, both good and bad, in the Torah, from whom we can learn.

• The Holocaust, the worst Jewish oppression in modern times, must never be forgotten.

• Zionism and Medinat Yisrael (the State of Israel) gives Jews from all over the world a homeland, ideally free from anti-Semitic oppression, and a chance to reconnect with our shared and diverse pasts.

• 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 makes a good Jewish leader? How can you become a good Jewish leader?

• How do we keep the memory of the Holocaust alive in our hearts, minds, and global consciousness?

• How does Israel protect us from anti-Semitism? Does it work?

• How do I best communicate with God?

OBJECTIVES:

Students will learn how to…

• Ask thoughtful questions about Torah stories and characters.

• Make connections between Torah, holidays, history and Israel.

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

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

Students will understand…

• The major stories of Sefer BaMidbar (Numbers), Sefer D’varim (Deuteronomy), and selected Prophets/Judges — including the character traits, basic plots, connections to Israel, life lessons, and mitzvot that we can apply to our own lives.

• The characteristics that our leaders demonstrated during times of challenge as we study Jewish holidays.

• The historical connections to Medinat Yisrael.

• That the Holocaust must never be forgotten and that we must take lessons from it to prevent hatred, bigotry, and oppression when we see it.

• That 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 leaders we learn about in the Torah and Prophets give us models of how we can be Jewish leaders.

• Jewish holidays are personally meaningful to us because…

• We have ancient, Biblical connections to Eretz Yisrael (the land of Israel), and we have a need for a safe Jewish homeland in modern times.

• The Holocaust was the worst oppression to happen to Jews in living memory, and we must do all that we can to keep its stories and lessons alive.

• They can have a connection with God.