8th Grade Program1

th 8

Grade Curriculum

THE FOUR BIG QUESTIONS „ „ „ „

What makes me a Jew? What does living Jewishly mean in my life? What Jewish values help me in my decision making? How am I contributing to l’ dor v dor?

OUR GOAL To create a safe environment to explore how one can use midot (values) as a Jewish framework to discuss and explore ideas regarding ethics and God.

OBJECTIVES „

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Revise and discuss the four big questions and use them to focus on the social and ethical choices our teens face daily. Address diverse learning styles through varied modalities including visual arts, poetry, music, cooking and cooperative learning in group activities.

LESSON TOPICS „

The election- What makes a good leader? How does one decide to vote as a Jew? Where does Israel fit into the picture?

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Anti-Semitism and the Holocaust

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What can writings by Eli Wiesel, Anne Frank, Martin Luther King Jr., Albert Einstein and Toni Morrison

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Chanukah- How can Jews can be a light onto the nations?

LESSION TOPICS „

Social Action- How can we bring about change?

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What are the blessings in our lives?

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God- If you could ask God one question what would it be? If you could have a conversation with God how would it go? How does God affect your life? The environment- How do we turn negative into positive, making good out of evil?