Curriculum
The entire program will be built around an “elective” system where there will be two – three tracks available for participants to choose from. This will allow students who want to engage in textual study to find that opportunity while others who want to have discussions about topics in Judaism in a more informal environment to find that was well. Courses will constantly be changing each semester as we assess the success or lack of any specific course.
Courses:
God Wrestling
Teens wrestle with questions concerning God. Whether it is the image of God that they have been taught, or believed since they were children, or a new god-image they are beginning to develop as they learn more about the world around them, their religion and their own personal beliefs.
The teen years are punctuated by changing bodies, hormonal ups and downs and the desire of young men and women to break-away and become independent from their parents or guardians. These physiological and emotional stages are, in our Jewish teens, accompanied by often daunting and seemingly taboo theological questions and concerns.
The God Wrestling course gives students the space to ask and explore these questions and concerns. This course challenges their beliefs while maintaining respect for the traditional beliefs of our Jewish ancestors. This class is trans-denominational; appealing to young adults from all streams of Judaism. The focus is not on defining God, but rather, defining each person’s image of their God.
Jewish Medical Bioethics
This course explores the interface between traditional texts, Jewish morality and ethics and the constantly changing world of medical bioethics. Through this course participants will explore the traditional and modern views while allowing the students to develop their own set of morals.
Soul Food – Jewish Values from a Gastronomic Perspective
Combining an in-depth study of the role of food in Judaism, along with a hands-on (in the kitchen) approach, the students will explore the wonderful world of Jewish food, traditional and culture.
Who Wrote the Bible?
We will look at the text of the Torah itself, the Talmud, traditional commentaries as well as contemporary thinkers and scholars to answer this very big question: Who wrote the Bible? For students who are struggling with God’s authorship of the Bible, this class will provide an understanding of the diverse beliefs that Jews hold about God’s role in the writing of the Torah. Students will also have an opportunity to begin to formulate a clearer sense of what they believe.
Hebrew
Level 1 (Basic): Decoding and basic pronunciation.
Level 2 (Advanced): Fluent reading with an emphasis on basic translation.
Level 3 (Conversation/Ulpan): Using the “Ulpan” model, students are immersed in the world of modern-Hebrew conversation.
Chagim
There are so many Jewish Holidays and festivals that mark the Hebrew Calendar. This course will explore each of them and their significance. An emphasis will be made on making the holidays meaningful through exploring different traditions. We will use music, art and food to better understand the meaning behind each event.
Jewish News, Current Events and Israel Advocacy
The world is a busy place and it seems that Israel is always on the front page. This course will explore current events; both Jewish and International and how they affect us as a nation. Participants will be engaged in heated debates about politics, ethics and about the concept of what being a “Chosen Nation” means.
Program Administration
The High JAM at BZ program will be directed by Rabbi Boruch Perton. Rabbi Perton is a veteran educator with over 25 years of classroom and administrative experience. This includes curriculum development and institutional leadership. He has served as an administrator and teacher in both Orthodox and Community Day Schools. In addition to his formal classroom experience, he has served as a Madrich on the March of the Living, worked in summer camps, lead school field trips to New Mexico, Washington D.C., Lake George and to many other locations. Rabbi Perton’s Bio and resume are attached.
