Pirkei Avot, or Sayings of our Ancestors, is one of the most beloved parts of rabbinic literature that Jews have enthusiastically studied for almost 2,000 years. Pirkei Avot consists of short sayings that guide us to an ethical way of acting or thinking. You will be surprised to find how many ethical principles and sayings (and songs!) that you’ve been taught over the years come right from this text. In this seminar-type discussion course, we will dive into one or two sayings from Pirkei Avot. We will think about how these sayings have affected the foundations of our lives, how we judge others and ourselves, and the choices we make in life each day.

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Learning objectives:

Over the course of the trimester, students will:

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• With a better understanding of Pirkei Avot

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• Having examined, thought critically about, and discussed the text of Pirkei Avot​

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• With the confidence of having studied a Jewish text in a relevant way

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Many of us have found ourselves in a situation where a high school friend, or acquaintance, maybe even a teacher or school administrator, makes a remark about the Holocaust which does not sound right.  Or It may even be offensive. However, as you personally may be unsure of the history of the Holocaust (HaShoah in Hebrew), you hesitate and do not respond.  Many Jewish teens also believe that preserving the legacy and lessons of the Holocaust remains one of the most important aspects of modern Jewish identity.  Explaining the Holocaust is designed to provide a basic understanding of the key elements and phases of the Holocaust, the effort to exterminate the Jewish people and our culture, the systematic murder of approximately six million Jews (including an estimated one million children), and how it might have been prevented.  We will also seek to explore whether the Holocaust could ever happen again.  This class will raise many questions, some of which are difficult to answer, and will challenge you.

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Learning objectives:

Over the course of the trimester, students will:

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• Develop a basic knowledge and understanding of the history of the Holocaust and the conversational ability to explain it to their non-Jewish peers.

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• Discuss and consider the enormity of the  Holocaust, and its enduring significance for our people, in a warm, encouraging, and sustaining Jewish environment.

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• Be engaged and encouraged to learn more about the Holocaust in their future academic pursuits.

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Many high school students ask for insight into the Jewish life experience at colleges around the country. A google search and a campus tour can give you a little bit of background and this course will add more nuance to that background research. Each week we will discuss a different topic relating to being Jewish on campus from confronting anti-semitism to taking off for Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur (always at the beginning of the semester). This course will be a fun, captivating, conversational course around best practices at a college campus.

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Learning objectives:

Over the course of the trimester, students will:

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• Having reflected on what’s important to them about Judaism.

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• Understanding how to find Jewish networks (even at Catholic colleges like the one I went to and currently teach at!).

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• With the confidence to stand firm in their Jewish identity and stand up to antisemitism Coming from a space of curiosity to create a pluralistic Jewish community.

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Tikkun Olam is a Jewish concept defined by acts of kindness performed to repair the world. The phrase is found in the Mishna and is often used when discussing issues of social policy, insuring a safeguard for those who may be at a disadvantage.  The phrase "L'taken Olam B'malchut Shaddai", encapsulated the essence of Jewish values. The term, meaning "when the world shall be perfected under the reign of the Almighty," is found in the liturgical prayer "Aleinu. In modern Jewish circles, Tikkun Olam has become synonymous with the notion of social action and the pursuit of social justice. In this Mifgash class the students will participate in repairing the world by participating in tzedakah (justice and righteousness) and G'milut Hasadim: (acts of loving kindness) and Jewish communal actions to help the needy in our community.

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Learning objectives:

Over the course of the trimester, students will:

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• Recognizing the value as stated in the Torah,  that doing acts of kindness brings us closer to G-d.

 

• Learning that through various acts of charity, kindness, and political action students can help repair the world.

 

• Experience the impact of Tikkun Olam through a class project.

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In this class we will journey through Israel's 75 years of existence from the early days of its establishment beginning with the special day when every resident in Israel sat by the radio and listened to David Ben-Gurion announce the Declaration of Independence (Megillat Ha'atzmaut- yes, there is one more Megilah).  We will learn about the different Aliyot (Jewish immigrations) and cultures, famous people who have influenced Israel, the structure of the IDF, the meaning of the Israeli flag and the anthem, about start ups and the innovations, pop culture, geography and more. Together we will discover and explore how Israel in just 75 years has already become a world leader in so many ways.

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Learning objectives:

Over the course of the trimester, students will:

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• Get to know the history of Israel in chronological order from the beginning of its independence from 1948 until today. 

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• Learn how every immigration and culture that came to Israel influenced, contributed and shaped today's country.

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• Explore how Israel has developed, progressed, and is still leading the world's cultural center through new innovations in technology.

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This course examines how Jews have been portrayed in American movies and TV. We will discuss the use of stereotypes and antisemitism in the media by watching a different portion of a movie or TV show each week. After each viewing, the class will have a chance to discuss and debrief.

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Learning objectives:

Over the course of the trimester, students will:

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• Students will learn about typical depictions of Jews in the media.

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• Students will engage in self-reflection around how the depictions of Jews in

       the media affect them

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• Students will better understand big, complex ideas and explore detailed topics related to Judaism, identity, antisemitism, etc.

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Conversation Hebrew:  Keeping up your Hebrew is important, but it can also be fun. This course will provide opportunities for participants to speak contemporary Hebrew, discuss a variety of topics and brush up on grammar/diction skills in a casual and informal framework through a variety of music, media, games, and improvisations. Since Hebrew and Israel go hand in hand, we will also be learning Hebrew through exploring aspects of Israeli culture.  This course will be available for beginners and advanced speakers of the language.

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Learning objectives:

Over the course of the trimester, students will:

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• Students will learn Hebrew vocabulary and phrases.

 

• Contemporary conversational Hebrew will be practiced.

 

• Students will gain exposure to Israel through Hebrew music,

     games, and activities.

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Scrolling the news, talking with family and friends, we know that there are topics that feel charged--ones that people feel strongly about, or find it hard to discuss, or that cause tension in our country and our communities. Topics like beauty and body image; smoking, alcohol abuse and over/undereating; an appropriate minimum drinking age; racism, police, and community; abortion; and sexuality are incredibly complex, but most public conversations about them don't allow us to engage with the complexity. Maybe we feel like we have to have a position for or against something, but how do we get to the point of knowing what we believe? In this class, we will look closely at some big issues, considering possible responses. We'll think about where the controversies lie, and identify competing priorities and values. We'll look at what Jewish text tells us about these issues and the values that underlie them. In the process, we'll create a space in which we can articulate our own values and beliefs, and use those to guide our choices.

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Learning objectives:

Over the course of the trimester, students will:

 

• Engage with Jewish textual sources relevant to topical discussions, and articulate the ways in which texts enhance and/or contradict their understanding of the ethics of hot topics.

 

• Articulate the emotional, social, familial, and communal aspects of any path of action associated with a hot topic.

 

• Relate broad topics to relevant personal experience

 

• Demonstrate active listening, including to those with different opinions.

 

• Debate possible communal, local, and/or national policy responses to hot topics.​​

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This class will briefly introduce the students to what the US Constitution says about freedom of religion and the relationship of church and state.  Then, the students will learn about and have the chance to discuss and debate, actual legal issues that have or will come before the courts of importance to the Jewish community.  These will include:  Can an employer ban an employee from having a beard or wearing a kippah?  Can it force someone to work on Shabbat?  Can a local government display a Christmas Tree, creche, menorah, or all of them during the winter holidays?  Can Yeshiva University ban its students from forming an LGBT club on religious grounds?  Can a public school sports coach pray in front of students after a game?  If a parent writes in her will that her children will lose their inheritance if they marry a non-Jew, will the courts enforce it?

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Learning objectives:

Over the course of the trimester, students will:

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• Give the students a general understanding of what the constitution and courts say about religious freedom and the separation of church and state.  

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• Introduce the students to current legal issues facing the Jewish community.

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• get the students to think through their own views about the proper role of religion in American society, and what position they should take as Jews about such questions.

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The Girls in Trouble Every day, we make hundreds of decisions, big and small. In some cases, the stakes are very low and personal preference can guide us. In other decisions, right and wrong are quite clear, and we don't hesitate to make the right choice. But sometimes we face decisions where there is no single clear "right choice" either because there are multiple acceptable options, or because each option forces us to compromise on some aspect of our morals. In this class, we will explore everyday situations in which people have to choose a path of action when none is ideal. Students will discuss what they would choose to do and why, and we will examine the Jewish guidance offered by our Jewish textual tradition, querying how texts enhance our own understanding of how to approach real-life dilemmas.

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Learning objectives:

Over the course of the trimester, students will:

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• Become adept at identifying multiple courses of action possible in dilemma situations, and clearly articulate their understanding of the moral/ethical concerns associated with each path

 

• State the path of action they would choose in a hypothetical situation, and explain why they would make that choice

 

• Identify the concerns addressed by the authors of Jewish texts pertinent to the ethics of a dilemma situation, and explain how the textual treatment of an ethical issue enhances and/or contradicts students' own treatment of the issues at play.

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The Torah puts great emphasis on the importance of welcoming people into our homes, – it’s a mitzvah called Hachnasat Orchim (hospitality to guests). In this class, we will begin by creating a beautiful Shalom sign, in conjunction with the mitzvah of Hachnasat Orchim, the religious obligation of welcoming guests to our homes, a value learned by Abraham.

We will also create a beautiful Shabbat plate so that we adorn our Shabbat table as we enhance our observance of Shabbat. This, in addition to other Judaica we create, coincides with the concept of Hiddur Mitzvah,  which means taking the time and making an effort to create or acquire the most beautiful ceremonial objects.

Join us in this hands-on art class where you will make, create, and design your own beautiful Judaica to bring home and enrich your religious observances with aesthetic dimensions. 

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Learning objectives:

Over the course of the trimester, students will:

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• Learning about the mitzvah of Hachnasat Orchim (welcoming the stranger) by creating a welcome to our home, Jewish-themed piece of art.

 

• Teaching the importance of Hiddur Mitzvah (creating beautiful religious ceremonial objects) by creating traditional holiday and Shabbat artifacts that will be used in students' homes during holidays and Shabbat.

 

• Using Hebrew, Torah, and Israel as themes in various art projects to enhance the student's Jewish connection. 

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Join me for a culinary experience that will include both cooking and tasting of traditional and unqiue Israeli foods. In this class you will "travel" to and experience the rich and wide variety & vibrancy of Israeli cuisine. Together we will learn to prepare a variety of the popular and authentic Israeli dishes and visit the Shuk, (the Israeli marketplace), the heart of Israeli kitchen where local spice blends such as za'atar show up in falafel, hummus, shakshouka, and couscous. Israeli fare is a melting pot of regional dishes. In Israeli cooking, you will find Mizrahi, Sephardic, and Ashkenazi styles. Classic Mediterranean ingredients mingle with foods traditionally included in other Middle Eastern cuisines. Israeli cuisine is all about Israel's people and their journeys. So if you love to cook and want to learn how, if you love to eat and want delicious food every Sunday evening, if you want to learn about Israeli culture, and Hebrew, here’s your chance! Come with me to Rivi's kitchen (at Ohav).

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Learning objectives:

Over the course of the trimester, students will:

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• Through the culinary experience, the students will get familiar with a wide variety of Israeli food and its ethnic origins.

 

• Students will be exposed to and learn the health benefits of a variety of spices, herbs, and spices blends.

 

• Students will enhance their knowledge of Jewish holidays and the Hebrew language while learning new recipes.

 

• Students will gain skills and confidence in the kitchen.

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Welcome to the Fall  2022 Semester of “Jews and the News” at Mifgash!  Our discussion-based course focuses on the complex issues we face both as Jews and as American high school students in the turmoil and confusion of our fractious political and social culture.  As a class which focuses on current events, their historical context (really the key to understanding the present lies in the past),  and their impact on us, it is often difficult to predict the topics which we will consider this Semester.  Okay – so if I have to anticipate some of the issues we will discuss -  as of this writing in August 2022 - we will focus on current controversial societal trends, such as the impact of the November 2022 midterm elections (one of the most contentious in recent history), the threats posed by both far-right and far-left extremism,  and challenges to cherished individual freedoms in our nation. Talk about the fractious elections, we will also discuss and analyze the implications of the upcoming national elections in Israel; only the fifth in the last three years. And student suggestions are always welcomed!   If you would like to discuss and debate these and other current issues in a friendly, fun, and supportive Jewish environment,  “Jews and the News” is hands down the class for you – no doubt about it!!   

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Learning objectives:

Over the course of the trimester, students will:

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• Explore, discuss and analyze current events through a Jewish lens and historical context.

 

• Develop an understanding, appreciation, and the ability to address diverse opinions within both the Jewish community and our broader society.

 

• Engage in lively discussion and debate issues in a fun, respectful, and safe Jewish environment, focusing on topics which might not be freely discussed as part of the students’ standard high school experience.

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Imagine visiting Israel and right in the middle of the city of Jerusalem, you realize that you're standing on the spot where something you've learned about in the Torah or read about in your bar mitzvah parsha really happened! Through archaeology, one of the most important tools we have to understand the world of the Bible, we will bring life to the sacred texts and explore how certain events happened in the Biblical world. What was life like in the biblical world, what did people eat, what were their houses like, how did they live? We will learn some of the scientific techniques that archaeologists use and try to use a detective’s skills to see what even small pieces of pottery can reveal to us about life three thousand years ago. This course will help bring your understanding of the biblical world and the land of Israel to a whole new level!

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