2011-12 Core Classes
8th Grade: Gesharim
Ethics
How do you decide what is the right thing?
Does it matter if you lie, cheat or steal? Is there a better way to treat your dog, your parent, your friend or a stranger? Come meet new friends and explore modern ethical issues in our 8th grade program. This class includes participation in a retreat program!
9th Grade: Etgar
Identity
Who am I? What do I believe?
How do I fit into my family, my community and my culture? Come explore issues of identity and Jewish identity in our 9th grade program. This class includes participation in a retreat program!
10th Grade: Kesher Alef
Facing Your Real Life
What are the critical issues and life challenges that you and other teens face?
Does Judaism have things to offer you when it comes to relationships, choices and your daily llife? Come explore what Judaism has to say about living as a teen in our 10th grade program taught by some of our sponsoring Rabbis. Congregationally affiliated students may choose to participate in a class confirmation service in the spring, if your synagogue offers this experience. This class includes optional participation in a retreat program.
11th-12th grade: Kesher Bet
American and Jewish
What does it mean to be Jewish in America?
Is your experience of Judaism different than the experience of Jews in other parts of the world? What do American Jews care about? Come explore the unique perspective American Jews have on their Judaism and on America in our 11th-12th grade program. This class includes optional participation in a retreat program!
Fall 2011 Elective Classes
Jews in the Media
with Marshall Sachs (for 8th- 9th graders)
Have you ever watched a hilarious Jewish YouTube clip and then forwarded it to all your friends? Have you ever seen a great movie or TV show with a memorable Jewish character that you just loved? Ever wanted to make your own? In this class we will be watching and discussing hot clips from YouTube, TV and film, to better understand how Jews and Jewish ideas are represented in the media. Then, we will create our own bits of Jewish media, including short music videos, movie trailers and more!
Jewish Influences on Today’s Music
with Erica Fink (for 8th-9th graders)
What do Paula Abdul, Drake, Adam Levine, and Pink have in common? They are all Jewish recording artists! Does their Judaism influence their music? Are there Jewish themes in pop music? In hip hop? What about Jewish values in the contemporary music industry? In this class we will listen to and analyzing contemporary music, watch music videos and maybe even create some music of our own!
Jewish Art
with Jenn Levine (for 8th-12th graders) Made possible by a grant from Sinai Memorial Chapel
Have you ever read a translation from the Torah, and had no idea what it was talking about? You are not alone! In this class, we are going to break apart specific Torah stories to understand them and see how they are relevant and meaningful to your real lives today. Then, engaging in a range of media such as painting, drawing, sculpting, collage and maybe even photography, we will use the themes we uncovered in the stories to make self-reflective art projects! This is a real chance to express your inner self!
Urban Adamah: Farmville Offline
with Suzie Rose (for 8th-12th graders)
Jews were farmers in biblical times, and a small group of really cool Jews are trying it out again in Berkeley! Their brand new urban farm was designed to help Jewish youth think about things like food justice, tikkun olam, and how so many of our rituals are deeply rooted to the land. If you've ever composted, cared about fair trade, or loved having dinner in the sukkah, this is the class for you! This class is offered in collaboration by all four campuses and will include one or two Sundays on the farm, to get hands on with your food and see all your retreat friends!
Kesher Alef
with Ilan Persing (for 10th graders )
Mandatory for at least one semester
When someone says Israel you may think: Israel is awesome! Or you may think: Why am I supposed to love Israel just because I’m a Jew? Or: The problems in the Middle East started when dinosaurs still roamed the earth, can’t we work it out already? Or: I love falafel. Or: Everything I could ever need to know about Israel I already know from the movie You Don't Mess with the Zohan. In this class on Israel, we’ll use movies, music, history, politics and more, to try to inform our opinions from a multitude of perspectives.
Jews Rising Up!
with Eyal Mazor (for 10th-12th graders)
Jews have been rebels and truth-and-justice seekers throughout our history. In fact, despite being a tiny minority, Jews were disproportionately active as leaders in many movements in the U.S., including the movement to abolish slavery, the labor movement, the Civil Rights and Black Freedom movements to name a few. Ever wondered how and why?! In this class, you can learn about some of the amazingly inspirational ways Jews rose up to demand freedom for ALL and hopefully figure out more ways that you can seek justice yourself!!
Managing Stress and Finding Shalom
with Dana Sheanin (for 11th-12th graders)
While learning to manage the stress of daily life is an ongoing task for us all, this stress can be particularly high during the last years of high school! In this class, we’ll create a supportive community and explore concrete ways to manage pressures related to school, family, relationships and other areas of your life. We’ll use a combination of tools including meditation, journaling, relaxation exercises and mindfulness – all within a Jewish context. The class is designed to give you a safe and peaceful space to land once a week and to introduce you to techniques to take care of yourself in any challenging situation.
with Marshall Sachs (for 8th- 9th graders)
Have you ever watched a hilarious Jewish YouTube clip and then forwarded it to all your friends? Have you ever seen a great movie or TV show with a memorable Jewish character that you just loved? Ever wanted to make your own? In this class we will be watching and discussing hot clips from YouTube, TV and film, to better understand how Jews and Jewish ideas are represented in the media. Then, we will create our own bits of Jewish media, including short music videos, movie trailers and more!
Jewish Influences on Today’s Music
with Erica Fink (for 8th-9th graders)
What do Paula Abdul, Drake, Adam Levine, and Pink have in common? They are all Jewish recording artists! Does their Judaism influence their music? Are there Jewish themes in pop music? In hip hop? What about Jewish values in the contemporary music industry? In this class we will listen to and analyzing contemporary music, watch music videos and maybe even create some music of our own!
Jewish Art
with Jenn Levine (for 8th-12th graders) Made possible by a grant from Sinai Memorial Chapel
Have you ever read a translation from the Torah, and had no idea what it was talking about? You are not alone! In this class, we are going to break apart specific Torah stories to understand them and see how they are relevant and meaningful to your real lives today. Then, engaging in a range of media such as painting, drawing, sculpting, collage and maybe even photography, we will use the themes we uncovered in the stories to make self-reflective art projects! This is a real chance to express your inner self!
Urban Adamah: Farmville Offline
with Suzie Rose (for 8th-12th graders)
Jews were farmers in biblical times, and a small group of really cool Jews are trying it out again in Berkeley! Their brand new urban farm was designed to help Jewish youth think about things like food justice, tikkun olam, and how so many of our rituals are deeply rooted to the land. If you've ever composted, cared about fair trade, or loved having dinner in the sukkah, this is the class for you! This class is offered in collaboration by all four campuses and will include one or two Sundays on the farm, to get hands on with your food and see all your retreat friends!
Kesher Alef
with Ilan Persing (for 10th graders )
Mandatory for at least one semester
When someone says Israel you may think: Israel is awesome! Or you may think: Why am I supposed to love Israel just because I’m a Jew? Or: The problems in the Middle East started when dinosaurs still roamed the earth, can’t we work it out already? Or: I love falafel. Or: Everything I could ever need to know about Israel I already know from the movie You Don't Mess with the Zohan. In this class on Israel, we’ll use movies, music, history, politics and more, to try to inform our opinions from a multitude of perspectives.
Jews Rising Up!
with Eyal Mazor (for 10th-12th graders)
Jews have been rebels and truth-and-justice seekers throughout our history. In fact, despite being a tiny minority, Jews were disproportionately active as leaders in many movements in the U.S., including the movement to abolish slavery, the labor movement, the Civil Rights and Black Freedom movements to name a few. Ever wondered how and why?! In this class, you can learn about some of the amazingly inspirational ways Jews rose up to demand freedom for ALL and hopefully figure out more ways that you can seek justice yourself!!
Managing Stress and Finding Shalom
with Dana Sheanin (for 11th-12th graders)
While learning to manage the stress of daily life is an ongoing task for us all, this stress can be particularly high during the last years of high school! In this class, we’ll create a supportive community and explore concrete ways to manage pressures related to school, family, relationships and other areas of your life. We’ll use a combination of tools including meditation, journaling, relaxation exercises and mindfulness – all within a Jewish context. The class is designed to give you a safe and peaceful space to land once a week and to introduce you to techniques to take care of yourself in any challenging situation.
