Kitah Zayin Curriculum

Developed by Rabbi Fredda Cohen

Bet Am Shalom Synagogue

Core concept: Transmission of Heritage

Essential questions:

How do we do it?

Why do we do it?

How can we draw relevance from the ancient texts? How do we grapple and engage with the text?

In what ways is our heritage adaptable?

What do our stories tell about us?

What is my place within these stories and my responsibility on the continuum?

Topics:  Parshat Hashavua; Pirke Avot and Chasidic Masters, Siddur

Learner Outcomes: Students will attain…

Parshat Hashavuah: 

• Familiarity with the content and structure of Bible
• Basic familiarity with Biblical Hebrew
• Understanding of the universality of ancient texts
• Understanding of the evolution of the interpretation of Biblical texts

Pirke Avot:

• Familiarity with basic structure and vocabulary of Mishnaic Hebrew
• Familiarity with their ethical and moral rabbinic heritage
• Understand the evolutionary nature of Judaism (from Biblical to rabbinic)
• Appreciate the relevance and timelessness of Pirke Avot

Chasidic Masters:

• Understand that Judaism is grounded in the heart, joy, and celebration as well as in the cerebral and intellectual
• Comprehend the broad nature of Torah
• See traditional stories as effective vehicles of imparting of Torah, narrative, laws, ritual values
• Again an appreciation of the diversity and richness of the Jewish tradition and heritage

Siddur:

• Review of selected prayers studied in previous years
• Mastery of davening and understanding of Shacharit service;
• Comprehension of structure of service- with goal of being comfortable participants in the Saturday morning service

Classroom procedures:

• Reading in the original Hebrew for fluency practice and comprehension of basic text style and key vocabulary
• Discussions on topical issues pertinent to texts
• Reading of Chasidic stories- experiential elements including acting,  possibly art, computer, etc
• Oral recitation and practice of prayers
• Some teacher guided lecture and explanation of biblical and rabbinic evolutionary process
• Cooperative learning groups discussing and presenting various elements studued

Long-term projects

• Interview and Story project: Students pick a person of their choosing to interview in order to learn about their life story, and how it connects to the student with the goal of developing empathy and understanding and appreciation for the transmission of heritage
• Presentation of a particular mishnah of Pike Avot in a creative modality

BOOKS:

• Etz Chayim
• Pirke  Avot edited by Kravitz and Olitzky 
• Hasidic Tales edited by Rami Shapiro
• EKS Bible books: In the Beginning; Tower of Babel and Lech L’cha