SEVENTH GRADE**

Grade: 7

Theme/Topic: Torah - Genesis & Exodus

Synthesis Project: Portfolio

Special Events: Bnei Mitzvah services and Bnei Mitzvah Shabbaton

Our text is the JPS Hebrew-English Tanakh – the Traditional Hebrew Text and the ‘New’ JPS Translation – 2^nd Edition, 1999/5759. (The Jewish Publication Society)

EIGHTH GRADE**

Grade: 8

Theme/Topic: Torah - Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy

Synthesis Project: Journal

Special Event: CBI Retreat – February 1,2,3, 2008 at URJ Greene Family Camp

Our text is the JPS Hebrew-English Tanakh – the Traditional Hebrew Text and the ‘New’ JPS Translation – 2^nd Edition, 1999/5759. (The Jewish Publication Society)

Seventh and Eighth Grades

**Beth Israel students begin learning Torah at a very young age – through Torah’s stories and heroes. Re-encountering Torah in their middle school years, our students will begin to develop a more sophisticated relationship with Torah – questioning Jewish law and its consequences, and examining our leaders’ flaws as well as their victories. Additionally, studying Torah will help ease students into their preparation to become bnei mitzvah – providing useful knowledge and skills. Studying Torah will enhance bnei mitzvah preparation by providing students the opportunity to see the broader perspective of Jewish learning, values, and tradition.

**Why do we study Torah?

Here are a variety of answers to this question. We encourage our students to consider all of the answers – even if they may not resonate personally to all of them. Each is an authentically Jewish answer, but a Jew is not required to ‘believe’ all of them.

Torah Teaches Us Jewish Values.
Jews never Grow Out of Studying Torah. Torah Study is for Jews of All Ages.
Reform Jews are expected to engage in God wrestling.
Jews are responsible for studying Torah. Some Jews believe God commands us to study Torah. Some Jews believe we should study Torah because that’s what our ancestors would want. Some Jews believe each Jew should study Torah because the Jewish community studies Torah each week.
Judaism evolves throughout the Torah and beyond. Torah explains Judaism’s roots. Some Jews see Torah as the history of the Jewish People.
Some Jews believe that Torah is sacred because it tells the stories our people have told and retold since our people’s origin.
Torah’s lessons and values are timeless. They speak to the issues and questions human beings continue to address.
Through Torah study, modern students participate in dialogue across the ages with the greatest Jewish thinkers of all time.

**What will our 7^th and 8^th graders learn?

Sample Objectives:

By the end of this course of study, all participants will be able to…

Explain at least one new understanding of Torah a student holds personally (For example: Torah is history; Torah is holy because God inspired it; Torah reflects the experiences of the Jewish People; Torah is a textbook of Jewish values.)
Use at least one line from text to “prove” a personal theory
Enjoy studying Torah
Explain one aspect of the Reform Movement’s view of Torah (For example: Reform Jews are encouraged to use the values they learn from Torah to critique Torah’s laws.)
Explain at least one reason why Jews treasure Torah
Explain at least one reason why Jews read Torah on Shabbat mornings
Define and use at least five new vocabulary terms related to studying Torah, such as: Genesis, Exodus, Torah, Bible, Commandment, etc.

Sample Vocabulary:

Parashah, portion, Torah, haftarah, Tanach, the Hebrew Bible, Breisheet, Shemot, VaYikra, BaMidbar, Devarim, Aliyah, etc.

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