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Midrasha Curriculum

The Jewish Studies curriculum includes one hour of core courses and one hour of elective courses per semester and is offered on Wednesday evenings. Students must attend two-thirds of their classes each semester to receive credit. Students must make up work to receive credit for their classes if they miss more than two-thirds of their semester. Students must complete make-up work for any Hebrew classes they miss.

 

FALL COURSES
8th Grade Core: Jewish History
“Know from where you come, and where you are going” (Pirkei Avot 3:1) As a people, we feel a strong connection to our past and our traditions. In order to take our place in the chain of Jewish tradition, we must understand the other links in the chain.

 

9th Grade Core: Comparative Judaism
Students will learn about the major Jewish movements as a means of deepening their understanding of where they fit on the spectrum of religious beliefs. This course is taught by clergy representing each of the major movements.

 

10th Grade Core: Understanding the Conflict
The Arab-Palestinian-Israeli conflict is complex. By examining key moments of impact, students will gain a deeper understanding of how we arrived at the current situation. We invite guest speakers from a wide range of perspectives to help us form a more nuanced understanding.

 

11th Grade Core: Current Events
Students explore how today's headlines connect to Jewish life, values, and global issues. Each week, students will examine real news stories both from Israel and around the world through discussion, debate, and critical thinking.

 

12th Grade Core: Jewish Life After High School
We will prepare students for the next chapter of their Jewish journey, whether in college, the workforce or a gap year. Each session will explore how to build meaningful Jewish connections in new environments and navigate identity in diverse settings.

 

SPRING COURSES
8th Grade Core: Moral Dilemmas
Students will examine moral dilemmas presented in our biblical texts and discuss their modern implications.

 

9th Grade Core: Holocaust Studies
Students will study the historical conditions that surrounded WWII and the Holocaust, along with stories of heroism and survival and the American and global responses. They will consider what aspects are unique to the Holocaust and what elements we see repeated throughout history.

 

10th and 11th Grade Core: Sophomore/Junior Seminar
Students will choose one of three tracks:

  • Beit Midrash
    Our tradition teaches us not only to hear Torah but to engage with Torah. The chavruta method of Torah study is designed to foster that goal. After a brief introduction to the methodology of chavruta study, students will choose a text to explore in depth with a chavruta partner. Students will debate and ponder the text and look for modern applications of ancient texts.
 
  • Jewish Social Justice
    After being introduced to a range of social justice issues, students will develop their own projects. Jewish tradition will inform the ways in which we seek to repair the world through real, actionable steps.
     
  • Confirmation
    An opportunity to prepare for the life cycle event in the Reform tradition (offered for Temple Beth El students only).

 

12th Grade Core: Jewish Cooking
Food is often at the center of Jewish tradition. In addition to learning recipes and kitchen skills, students will discuss the historical context for each recipe as well as the role of Kashrut in Jewish life.

 

ELECTIVES
The electives offered vary each semester. Content is based on the expertise of available teachers and student feedback.

 

Examples of past electives that may be offered in future semesters are:

  • Antisemitism in Social Media
  • Ask Big Questions
  • Intro to Arabic Jewish
  • Intro to Yiddish
  • Israeli Film & TV
  • Jewish Art
  • Jewish Humor
  • Jews in Sports
  • O.M.G. (An exploration of the God concept)
  • Rikudei Am: Israeli Folk Dancing

 

HEBREW (Elective)
This year, we are again offering optional Hebrew classes at different levels. Advancement from one class to another is expected and encouraged. Students can begin taking Hebrew in the fall anytime during their Midrasha career. Hebrew classes meet once a week on Wednesdays.

ABOUT MIDRASHA

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Curriculum

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Questions? 
Email Deborah Minkoff at dminkoff@jewishmadison.org