TALMUD TORAH HEBREW CLASSES CIS (College in the Schools) Hebrew Classes CIS is offered at five levels for college credit: 1001, 1002, 3011, 3012 and 3090. Classes meet 3 hours per week for the first four levels and 2 hours per week for 3090. This is a University requirement. CIS 3090 is the most advanced Hebrew level offered through the University. A new curriculum is designed for 3090 each year and students may take the class up to six times. If there are students who have completed CIS classes offered elsewhere and would like to continue to get college credit, you may continue to take CIS classes with us. Students who have taken IB classes offered elsewhere can continue their Hebrew studies with us in the CIS program and earn college credit. Note: If you haven t yet taken a CIS class at TT, a placement exam is required. CIS 1001 Instructor: Missy (Tamar) Lavintman CIS 1002 Instructor: Sally Abrams CIS 3011 Instructor: Tamy Kaiyalethe CIS 3012 Instructor: Dr. Yaakov Levi CIS 3090 Instructor: Dr. Yaakov Levi *Classes that run 1 hour and 50 minutes include a 10-minute break Hebrew Ulpan Sunday 11:10 AM- 12:00 PM & Wednesday 6:10 PM-8:00 PM Sunday 10:10 AM-12:00 PM & Wednesday 6:10 PM-7:00 PM Sunday 10:10 AM-12:00 PM & Wednesday 6:10 PM-7:00 PM Sunday 11:10 AM-1:00 PM & Wednesday 6:10 PM- 7:00 PM Sunday 10:10 AM-11:00 AM & Wednesday 7:10 PM-8:00 PM If you like to continue with your Hebrew studies with a focus on conversation and Israeli themes, Hebrew Ulpan is offered 2 hours per week - 1 hour each on Sundays and Wednesdays. Ulpan Instructor: Jessie Lavintman Sunday 12:10 PM-1:00 PM & Wednesday 6:05 PM-6:55 PM
TALMUD TORAH SUNDAY ELECTIVES 10:10 AM SUNDAY ELECTIVES Darkaynu: Working with Kids with Special Needs (Interview Required) Instructor: Sha'arim Darkaynu is a self-contained Jewish educational and social program that allows Jewish children K-12 identified with more moderate to severe special needs to participate in a Jewish learning experience each Sunday morning from 10-12 at the Sabes JCC. The students come together for 2 hours of Judaic studies and social/recreational opportunities. Each week they have a chance to meet with congregational Rabbis who come to lead and join in to the Tefillah and Ruach session provided. The students learn about the Jewish holidays, weekly Torah portion, Jewish lifecycle events and participate in various social and recreational activities available at the JCC to enhance and enrich their connection to the Jewish community. This is an opportunity for Talmud Torah students to work alongside the students who are receiving a Jewish education through the self-contained Darken program. The program is for 2 hours and for the past 2 years we have had Talmud Torah students join the first hour from 10-11. We pair up the TT student with a Darkaynu student on a 1:1 basis and the TT volunteer student helps the Darkaynu student with the various projects and activities designed for the first hour of the morning Sex in the Text Instructor: Susie Chalom The bible and other sacred books are filled with stories of love, relationships, lust and even sex. These are not the usual stories that we learn about when we study the bible. Using these stories as a base this class will examine human relationships and what we can learn from our traditions to ensure that our relationships are healthy and functional The Torah s Art of War Instructor: Rabbi Ben Shlimovitz The laws of the Torah, as well as information in Tanach and rabbinic sources give guidance not only on ethical rules of engagement in war, but also a tremendous amount of strategic information. We will analyze both moral and strategic issues, comparing them to current events and classics such as Sun Tsu s The Art of War. Practical self-defense techniques will also be explored.
TALMUD TORAH SUNDAY ELECTIVES 11:10 AM SUNDAY ELECTIVES Chevruta Study Instructor: Rabbi Ben Shlimovitz Join Rabbi Ben for some traditional partner study of the Torah portion of the week, or any other text based topic you d like to study about. 12: 10 PM SUNDAY ELECTIVES Torah Yoga Instructor: Jessie Lavintman Torah is the wisdom and the way that has guided the Jewish people for thousands of years. Yoga is the ancient practice of using breath and movement to enlighten body, mind, heart, and soul. Torah Yoga offers an experience of Jewish Wisdom through yoga instruction together with the study of traditional and mystical Jewish texts. With this approach you can learn and grow holistically. By studying with your whole self, you acquire wisdom that can inspire and guide your whole life. Bizarre Halachot (Jewish Law) Instructor: Rabbi Ben Shlimovitz You will be truly amazed at some of the things our rabbis thought of! It seems as though any problem, no matter how strange, has potential answers in the Talmud. Cannibalism, teleportation on Shabbat, the kashrut of cloned animals Believe it or not, it s all in there! Jewish Art: Pick a Pasuk Instructor: Anat Szendro Each student will pick two important and/or famous pesukim (sentences) from a hat. After thinking about the two pesukim, the student will choose one of them to translate into a tangible work of art. Students will think critically about materals/media (which best reflects the pasuk), color and the power of color, and texture. HaZamir (NOTE THIS CLASS MEETS UNTIL 2 PM) Instructor: Cantor Audrey Abrams HaZamir is for those of you who love to sing, harmonize, and make beautiful music as part of a choir/chorus. Local groups (such as ours) all over the country work on Jewish and/or Hebrew chorale pieces, perfecting their craft throughout the year. Then, in the early spring, all the local groups converge in New York City for a wonderful, awe-inspiring song fest. This is truly an amazing opportunity led locally by our own fantastic cantor and musician, Audrey Abrams of Beth El Synagogue. Note: This is a two semester class, students must be enrolled for both semesters and students cannot enroll for only second semester.
TALMUD TORAH WEDNESDAY ELECTIVES 6:10 PM Wednesday Electives Theology for Skeptics Instructors: Drea Lear & Avi Baron Theology is a system of religious beliefs. In this course, we will challenge God-friendly students to engage skepticism, and skeptics to engage theology. We will look at a variety of classic and modern objections to theology, and consider the nature and validity of some responses to these objections. Is theology really necessary or even useful in postmodern times? Surveys and What they Reveal Instructors: Debby Litman Surveys are important tool used for many purposes, including demography, market research, planning, attitudes, and how people feel about different things. Recent surveys, including the latest research by Pew, have revealed much about Jew is America. Why do surveys? What makes a good survey? How do you design a survey? Most importantly, how do you analyze the data? In this class, we will learn the answers to these questions and then create, distribute, and analyze a survey of our own.
TALMUD TORAH WEDNESDAY ELECTIVES 7:10 PM Wednesday Electives The Art of Introspection Instructors: Avi Baron How do you perceive yourself versus how you think others perceive you? How do you envision your own personal Judaism? What are you doing well? What could be improved? How do you appear to others? Can you become a more productive part of the greater community? In this class you will learn about portraits, in particular self-portraits, and the idea of presenting onself. You will then create your own self-portrait in any medium! Israel Leadership Fellows (open to 10 th graders and older) Instructor: Sally Abrams This exciting new class is a collaboration between Talmud Torah, JCRC (Jewish Community Relations Council), NCJW (National Council of Jewish Women), and the Federation s Israel Department. You will have a weekly class at Talmud Torah that focuses on Israel and on advocacy and leadership skills. You will also be assigned a mentor who you will work with you on learning and practicing how to make presentations to groups outside the classroom. You will receive a certificate of completion at the end of the course. This is a full year-long course. Note: This is a two semester class, students must be enrolled for both semesters and students cannot enroll for only second semester. Talmud Torah Bet Midrash Israel Report Instructor: Jessie Lavintman In this project-based class, students will create news clips that cover Israeli politics, culture, sports, and more. These will be uploaded to our very own YouTube channel to share with the world! Working in groups, students will get the opportunity to participate in all parts of the production process, including story research, writing, editing, filming, directing, and sitting in as anchor. For those interested in news production and/or Israeli current events, this class is for you! Leadership Skills Instructors: Drea Lear Leadership it's pretty obvious that the teens of today are leaders of tomorrow. But what kind of leaders will they be? If you want to be a good leader, let Talmud Torah help! In this class, we will be learning a wide variety of skills and approaches that can turn a mediocre leader into a great one. Whether you want to lead your youth group, be president of your synagogue, or even the president of the United States learning these skills will put you ahead of the pack.
TALMUD TORAH WEDNESDAY ELECTIVES 8:10 PM KEHILLA & CONFIRMATION CLASSES Kehilla, which is the Hebrew word for community is a unique, grade specific program which has three main goals for our students: to provide a developmentally appropriate opportunity to explore their Jewish identity as they approach new phases of life; to provide grade-specific social opportunities; and to enhance the sense of community between the students, their peers, their families, and the school. Ninth Grade Kehilla Instructor: Debby Litman What does it mean to be in high school? Who am I now? How are Jewish values relevant to my life? Discussions and activities center around such topics as friendships, relationships, digital etiquette, and looking at life through a Jewish Lens. Tenth Grade (Confirmation) Instructor: Rabbis from Beth El and Adath Jeshurun This is an important opportunity to study with and learn from your own Rabbi, and to discuss topics that have contemporary and personal meaning. Eleventh Grade Instructor: Barry Gruber It s time to begin thinking about college and creating a meaningful, independent adult life. Discussions center around what students want Jewishly as they begin their own lives away from home, and how that plays out as they begin looking for and applying to colleges. What campus organizations can help? What can you do if there are no organizations? Twelfth Grade Instructor: Susie Chalom As students are about to leave home and high school and enter the world of college, independence, and adulthood, this class will help develop your critical thinking as well as develop your inner spiritual self. Discussions in class will help you recognize the blessings and gifts from your family, community, and school that you are taking with you as you embark on your journey to independence. Most importantly, it is a safe community during your turbulent senior year!.