CONFIRMATION                Curriculum            Jewish Life Experience Program
                Life Experience Program Log

Rabbi Leah Richman, Educational Director

Rie Brosco, Director of Administration

 

FREQUENCY & LENGTH OF MIDRASHA PROGRAM
 

v   The regular program is 3 hours on Mondays, 6:00 – 9:00 PM and includes dinner, tefillah, and three academic classes.  Often there will be a Special Program to replace classes for some or all of our students. (details below)
 

v   There is an additional component of 25 hours of Jewish Life Experience Project (see description below).
 

v   The Hebrew Language Option requires a second day of study each week, Sundays, from 9:00 AM-12:15 PM. (students who participate in this program do not need to do the Jewish Life Experience Project). Students who complete three years of the regular program plus the Hebrew Language Option may participate in Confirmation at the end of 10^th grade.
 

v   Confirmation for students who study in the regular program takes place at the end of 11^th grade.
 

v   High School Seniors take an Education Seminar that leads to a Certificate of Completion.
 

ADDITIONAL WEEKLY COMPONENTS
 

v                   Dinner is included in the program from 6:00 – 6:30.   Birkat

Hamazon is recited at the conclusion.  Menu varies between pizza, Israeli salads, bagels and tuna, and occasional special dinners.  There is always salad and peanut butter and jelly.
 

v                   Tefillah: We hold a weekly Ma’ariv (evening) service between second and third periods.  This is an opportunity to pray, reflect, learn new prayers and meanings, and continue to use tefillah skills learned in Religious School. 
 

v                   Midrasha K’nesset: The Midrasha students will elect a student council to work with the administration and Midrasha Committee to make recommendations and serve as a voice of the students.

STRUCTURE OF CLASSES & COURSE OF STUDY

v    Students will be assigned to 2 classes each semester based on their grade. 

v    Third Period is an elective, and new choices will be given quarterly.    

v    Students must purchase textbooks and bring them to class weekly.     Textbooks will be available at Midrasha Orientation on the first night.

CONFIRMATION

v   Confirmation marks the culmination of at least ten years of formal Jewish study.  Students who complete grade 11 at Midrasha or an approved once a week Jewish high school program may participate in Confirmation.  Those who take the Hebrew Language Option, or who study at Akiba Hebrew Academy, or the Jewish Community High School for 2 days per week may be Confirmed in grade 10.
 

v   Confirmation Class will meet weekly during Midrasha High School.   Mr. Schatz will teach the first semester, and Rabbi Cooper will teach the second semester.  Additionally, Hazzan Rosner will work with the students in preparation for the Confirmation service.

 

v   The Confirmation Class trip to New York will be on October 17.  Details to follow.
 

v   The Confirmation Class will participate in other activities during the year, including the Federation’s Super Sunday Phone-a-thon. 
 

v   The Confirmation Class will prepare to participate in and lead parts of the Shavuot service of the congregation.
 

v   The Class will have a formal photograph taken, will present the Congregation with a gift, and will host a Kiddush Luncheon after services on Shavuot.

POST CONFIRMATION

High School seniors who have been confirmed may elect to spend this final year in our Midrasha.  Classes include educational theory and methodology as applied to the Jewish supplementary school.  Students are required to spend time in religious school classrooms as student teachers, and those who successfully complete the program will receive a special certificate.

Curriculum

Eighth Grade: Kitah Het

v    Project Etgar Middle School Curriculum: Students will have the opportunity to study selections from the Etgar curriculum currently in use in the Vav and Zayin classes.  Topics may include Sifre Kodesh (Classical Jewish Texts), Kashrut, Bikur Holim (healing the sick),  Pidyon Shevuyim (Redeeming Captives) and Israel.  This will be taught as a 2 period block and thematic topics will change by quarter.

Ninth and Tenth Grade: Kitot Tet/Yud

v   Jewish Values for the 21^st Century: Intertwining Jewish values in making tough moral choices for today’s world. This course will examine various traditional Jewish value concepts, such as  B’tzelem Elokim, Tikun Olam, Tzedek, Emet, Arevut, Shalom and Yisrael Learning.

 

v   A Sacred Trust I:  Students will explore Jewish History from the Destruction of the Second Temple (70 CE) to the middle ages.  They will also gain elements of Jewish cultural literacy through 5 lenses: Jewish time, Jewish vocabulary, Jewish personalities, history, and mitzvot.

Eleventh Grade: Kitah Yud Aleph

v   Confirmation Class:  Topics to be announced by instructors. (Rabbi, Hazzan, Mr. Schatz)
 

v   A Sacred Trust Part II:  Students will explore Jewish History in the modern period including America, Europe, and Israel.  They will also gain elements of Jewish cultural literacy through 5 lenses: Jewish time, Jewish vocabulary, Jewish personalities, history, and mitzvot.
 

v   Classical Jewish Texts: Their relevancy for today.  Study selections from Tanakh, Mishnah, Talmud, and Rabbinic writings to gain an understanding of the development of Rabbinic Judaism and how they impact on our world.

 

Twelfth Grade:

v   Education Seminar: This program will be team taught and will include sessions on management, lesson planning, child development, and specific content areas for the Jewish school.  Students will prepare model lessons to present to their classmates and will spend time observing and student teaching in our Religious School. 

Electives

Electives will be offered on a quarterly basis.   Electives offered depend upon the staff of the Midrasha and may include:

v    Film and Jewish Issues   

v    Jews in TV and Film

v    History of Zionism & State of Israel

v    Jewish Humor

v    Heroism in the Holocaust: Dignity Within Tragedy       

v    Take the MTV Challenge

v    Israel – The Peace Process         

v    Jewish Art

v    American Literature with Jewish Content

v    Jewish Mysticism and Kabbalah

v    Defending the Faith                   

v    Jewish Heroes/Heroines

v    Making Jewish Ritual Objects 

v    God Talk

v    Dimensions of Tzedakah

HEBREW LANGUAGE OPTION

v   Students in Kitot Het, Tet, and Yud may apply to this program.

v   Students take the regular Monday night session from 6:00-8:15.

v   Students are assigned to the Modern Hebrew elective from 8:15-9:00.

v   Students must enroll in the Sunday morning program, from 9:00-12:15 each week.  There will be certain weeks when special programs will be held on Sundays instead of class.  Attendance at these programs is required.

v   The Sunday Schedule is as follows, and all students are expected to attend the full session:

¨      9:00-9:45           Shaharit Service

¨      9:45-10:00         Breakfast

¨      10:00-11:15       Modern Hebrew

¨      11:15-12:15     Mini-courses

These courses will be offered in three and four week segments, and will be taught by Rabbi Cooper, Hazzan Rosner, Mr. Schatz, Lori Cooper, Rabbi Chaim Galfand, and Yoni Shear.  Rabbi Galfand is a member of Temple Beth Hillel-Beth El and serves as school Rabbi of the Perelman Jewish Day School.  Yoni Shear is the regional youth director of United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism.  Topics will be announced by instructors but will include cooking, text study, Jewish literature, and Hazzanut. 

v   In order to maintain the standards of the Hebrew Language Option Program, the following is required:

• 75% attendance both Sundays and Mondays
• Bring books and materials
• Behave in manner displaying derech eretz
• Complete outside assignments in timely fashion
• Pass required tests, assignments to satisfactory level

Failure to meet these requirements will result in removal from 2 day program, to be re-evaluated each semester.  Student would then remain in regular Midrasha program.

v    During the course of the year, special trips may replace Sunday classes.  These will include the JRA, USY conventions, and a trip to the National Holocaust Museum.  See Midrasha Calendar for details.

v   Students who complete three years (grades Het-Yud) in the two day program will be eligible for Confirmation in Grade 10.  They will subsequently have the option to apply to transfer to the Jewish Community High School of Gratz College for the Teaching Certificate program.  Admission to this program and transfer of credit is at the discretion of the Jewish Community High School.

MIDRASHA COMMITTEE

The Midrasha Committee, an official committee of the Temple Beth Hillel-Beth El Board of Directors, meets regularly to set policy and monitor the activities of the High School.  Any parent is welcome to attend Midrasha meetings.  A schedule will be announced, and meeting notices, minutes, and reports, in addition to being sent to standing committee members, are posted on the synagogue web site.

PARENT/ STUDENT HANDBOOK

This will be sent with the Calendar, class placements, book orders, and opening school information in August.  It includes procedures and policies relevant to Religious School, High School, Youth and Shabbat activities. 

A FEW IMPORTANT POLICIES FOR MIDRASHA

v   Early Dismissals:  Follow the same procedure as Religious School.  Parents must come in to the school office and sign out any student leaving school before 9:00.  Students who drive themselves may sign themselves out by providing a signed note from the parent and presenting it to the office staff upon leaving.|
 

v   Cell Phone Policy:  Electronic devices such as personal stereos and games are not permitted in School at any time.  Cell phones are not permitted to be used during school for making or receiving calls or text messaging.  Students who carry cell phones must keep them off and put away during   School.  Parents who need to contact their children should call the school office, and every effort will be made to get the message to the child.  In the event of an emergency, students will be permitted to use the office phone, or the office staff will call for them.

Jewish Life Experience Program

In addition to the formal components of the Midrasha as described above, students are required to complete 25 hours per year in outside activities.  In previous years, this was the “Mitzvah Hours Component”.   Students may elect from a variety of options to fulfill this requirement, and must keep an accurate account of hours on the attached log to earn the credit.   Attending special teen activities as described elsewhere in this booklet is an easy and fun way to fulfill this requirement!  Note: Students who attend and fulfill the requirements of the Sunday Hebrew Option are not required to complete JLEP hours.

Rabbi Shimon the Righteous said in Pirke Avot, “On three things does the world stand:  On the Torah, on the Temple Service, and on Deeds of Loving-Kindness.”  The Life Experience Program takes its inspiration from this saying.

 

v   Torah can be traditional Bible study, reading books and magazines of Jewish interest, or watching movies that have a Jewish theme.

v   Temple Service can mean attendance at synagogue services or devoting time to learning synagogue skills.

v   Deeds of Loving-Kindness can mean involvement in a variety of community and synagogue social action and service projects.

Each student must complete 25 hours in one or more of these areas, and keep a log of those hours.  This log will be submitted twice during the year.  Students may not submit hours for which they are paid.

The following are suggestions for fulfilling these requirements.

v   Work as a tutor or aide in the Religious School.

v   Participate in organized or independent community service, such as Kehillat Lower Merion’s Teen Action Project, or the Service Learning Institute of the Jewish Community High School.

v   Attend study sessions or services at USY conventions.

v   Attend synagogue services on Shabbat, weekdays, or Holidays (Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur don’t count)

v   Learn to blow the shofar and participate in the USY Shofar Squad.

v   Learn Torah or Haftarah trop.

v   Read Torah at services.

v   Assist with special Religious School programs.

v   Assist in youth services or youth activities for younger children.

v   Read a book of Jewish interest and write a review (questions follow in this Guide).  4 hours.

v   Study the lives of five Jewish heroes and write a one page summary of each hero’s life.  4 hours

v   Read five articles from Jewish newspapers and magazines and write a review on each.  2 hours

v   Watch a video of Jewish interest and write a review (questions follow in this Guide).  2 hours

v   Do household chores for a neighbor who needs help.

Book Questions:

v   What did the author accomplish by writing this book?  What was his/ her major goal?

v   Discuss 3 incidents or topics from the book which helped the author accomplish this goal.

v   List 3 characters from the novel and explain the importance of each to the story.

v   What was the most exciting or important section of the book?  Explain why.

v   How does this book relate to your life?  How will your having read it make you a different or better person?

Video Questions:

v   What makes this a Jewish film?

v   What is the goal of the film?

v   Describe one character.

v   What is most memorable about this film?

v   How does this video relate to your life?  How will your having seen it make you a different or better person?

Midrasha Calendar (TO BE ANNOUNCED)

All of these dates will be listed in the School-Youth Community Calendar.  Keep this page handy for specific Midrasha-related activities.

FALL SEMESTER		SPRING SEMESTER
Date	Activity	Date	Activity

All dates are Mondays unless otherwise listed. 

Sunday special programs are open to all teens.  Many of these will count for Life Experience Program hours.