Additional Programs
MIDWEEK TANACH CLASS
David Henkin
4:15-5:45 p.m., Mondays
Class meets at Congregation Beth Israel, 1630 Bancroft Way, Berkeley
This course is an informal but intensive study group focusing on close thematic readings of the Tanach (Bible) in translation. There will be one theme, announced on the first day of class, that the group will follow through the Tanach. The class begins on September 12 and will continue weekly except for Jewish holidays and school vacations. The exact meeting schedule will be set with the students and teacher.
HADRACHA
Hadracha, our leadership training track, is open to 11th and 12th graders enrolled in Kesher. Participants meet regularly to learn leadership techniques and theory. Students work with the 8th and 9th graders on retreats, first as observers and peer role models, then gradually taking on leadership and programming roles. Enrollment is selective. Hadracha students are chosen and trained to be role models throughout the East Bay Jewish teen community and a significant time commitment is involved.
CONFIRMATION
Tenth graders from Congregation Beth El and Temple Beth Abraham are eligible to participate in their congregation’s Confirmation ceremony. Beth El and Beth Abraham 10th graders will be expected to enroll in a Midrasha class taught by their rabbi. Beth El’s class will be taught Sunday mornings, 3rd hour, during the entire year at Midrasha in Berkeley and Beth Abraham’s will be taught Tuesday evenings at Midrasha in Oakland during the second semester. Students wishing to participate should contact their congregational rabbi to learn further details.
ABRAHAM’S VISION
Open to 10-12th graders, this Inter-Group Muslim and Jewish Conflict Transformation Program combines class learning, group process sessions and field trips with students from an Islamic school to create an environment where students learn with and from the “other.” Further information on this program is found at
www.abrahamsvision.org. There is an additional $200 fee for this course to pay for the many field trips, extra food and other outside activities.
LET'S GO ISRAEL! AND OTHER SUMMER ISRAEL TRIPS
Each year many of our students, at the end of their tenth or eleventh grade year, travel to Israel with our community trip, Let’s Go Israel!, sponsored by the Jewish Federation of the East Bay. In addition to the community trip, there are a variety of other summer trips for teenagers available. Midrasha encourages its students to participate in any of them. A detailed list of trips available can be obtained from the Midrasha office or from Loal Isaacs, the leader of the Let’s Go Israel! trip,. They will be at Midrasha on November 20s to talk to10th and 11th graders and their parents. They can be reached via email at
elad@jfed.org 318-6455 or
loal@jfed.org 318-6467.
SHALHEVET
Shalhevet (“flame” in Hebrew) is an experiential learning opportunity for Bay Area 10th and 11th graders that includes a 2-week trip to Poland and Israel with a local Holocaust survivor in the spring. Beginning in January students participate in classes before and after the trip, studying European Jewish history, the Holocaust and Israel. Shalhevet is a program of the Bureau of Jewish Education. For interest and questions please go to
http://www.bjesf.org/teensnav_shalhevet.htm. As with all Midrasha programs, financial aid is available.
