CURRICULUM ETHICS & JEWISH VALUES 7TH GRADE and above

Many of the choices we make as Jewish people are rooted in Jewish tradition, notably the Torah (as explained in the Talmud). Goals & objectives: 7th grade Ethics & Jewish Values will invite students to find the connection between the ethical values & their own life experiences. The focus in each session will fall on solving & applying their own values and ethics with Jewish learning, and then moving towards the truth of his or her own personal meaning (there are a number of answers with different student opinions). Students will work in groups to identify the different themes and to find the right answer to a complex series of ethical dilemmas. Not only are the answers derived from the Torah, the Talmud & the Mishnah, but the student will be invited to enter the lives of real heroes whose actions typified ethical & Jewish values & to study the impact which they had on the world by holding true to their believes. Textbooks: 1. Elizehu Gibor Living Jewish Values 2. You be the Judge Books 2 & 3. Unit 1: 2 sessions 30 minutes each Key Concepts: Tikkun Olam Fixing the brokenness in the world. Key Personalities: Rabbi Schulweis Janice Kaminer-Reznik Also: You Be the Judge: Book 3: Stories 46 & 48 Unit 2: 2 sessions 30 minutes each Key Concept: Shmirat ha-teva Guarding the environment, protecting the environment in Israel and all over the world, making an impact on the environment. Key Personality: David Ben Gurion Kibbutz Lotan Also: You be the Judge Book 3, Story 11

Unit 3: 2 sessions 30 minutes each Key Concept: Shmirat Ha-guf, the mitzvah of guarding the body. Key Personalities: The Maccabiah Games Lenny Krayzelburg Also: You be the Judge Book 3, story 37. Unit 4: 2 sessions 30 minutes each Key Concept: Rodef Shalom Peacemaking Key Personalities: The Four Chapains Yitzchak Rabin Also: You be the Judge book 3, story 45. Unit 5: 2 sessions 30 minutes each Key Concert: Zikaron: Never be silent: silence encourages the tormentor, not the tormented Key Personalities: Elie Wiesel Dov Noy Also: You be the Judge Book 3, story 30. Unit 6: 2 sessions 30 m inutes each Key Concept: Kol Yisrael Arevim Zeh Ba-zeh All Israel is responsible one for the other every Jew has an obligation to help another Jew if he/she is in need. Key Personalities: Robert & Myra Kraft Gershom Sizomu Also: You be the Judge Book 3, stories 13 & 44. Unit 7: 1 session 30 minutes Key Concept: Tzionut Zionism

Key Personalities: Theodor Herzl Golda Meir Unit 8: 2 sessions 30 minutes each Key Concept: Ometz Lev: Courage/Strength of Heart. Who is Mighty? Key Personalities: Rabbi Regina Jonas Rabbi Leo Baeck Also: You be the Judge Book 2, story 46 Unit 9: 2 sessions 30 minutes each Key Concept: Tzedek Tzedel Tirdof - Justice: not only in the courtroom but in our relationships. Key Personalities: Justice Louis Brandeis Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel Also: You be the Judge Book 2, stories 36 & 37 Unit 10: 2 sessions, 30 minutes each Key Concept: Tshuvah Repentence, returning, getting back on the path towards becoming the best you that you can become. Key Personalities: Rabbi Mark Borovitz John Paul 11 Also: You be the Judge Book 3, stories 25 & 39 Unit 11: 2 sessions 30 minutes each Key Concept: Anavah Humility: halfway between too much pride & too little pride. Key Personalities: Albert Einstein Moses Also: You be the Judge Book 2, story 43.

Unit 12: 2 sessions 30 minutes each Key Concept: Kiddush Ha-shem Living in a way that gives honor to God and the Jewish people. Key Personalities: Hannah Szenes Hank Greenberg Also: You be the Judge Book 3, story 45 Unit 13: 1 session 30 minutes Key Concept: Shiru lAdonai Sing unto God unity in song. Key Personalities: Debbie Friedman Craig Taubman Unit 14: 2 Sessions 30 minutes each Key Concept: Pikuah Nefesh Saving a soul protecting a human life is a major obligation. Key Personalities: Henrietta Szold Jonas Salk Also: You be the Judge Book 3, story 33 Unit 15: 2 sessions 30 minutes each Key Concept: Tzedakah Charity is a matter of the heart the heart of the world Key Personalities: Danny Siegel Natalie Portman Also: You be the Judge Book 3, story 5 & 41 Unit 16: 1 session 30 minutes Key Concept: Talmud Torah the lifelong process of Jewish learning leads the way to mitzvoth.

Key Personalities: Rebecca Gratz Nechama Leibowitz Also: You be the Judge Book 3, story 39