First Semester Sunday Classes
Registration for each of these classes is on a first-come, first-served basis. Classes close at around 15 students, so please send in your registration form as soon as possible. Second semester choices will be announced in December. Tenth-twelfth grade first hour courses during the first semester will cover aspects of Bible. During the second semester the curriculum will be both Bible and Jewish history.
10-12th GRADE COURSES
First Hour (9:30-10:20) Core Class: Bible
First hour (9:30-10:20) Core Class: Bible WHAT WAS IT LIKE? – EXPLORING THE TORAH THROUGH IMPROVISATION, ROLE PLAYING AND THEATER GAMES
Roni Alperin
What was it like for Abraham to be told to kill his most loved son? Did Moses feel confident as a prophet? Why didn't Queen Esther just go ahead and tell the king to stop Haman? We will explore these ideas and more by stepping into the world of Bibliodrama, an interactive, improvisational class where we will create our own midrash about the inner thoughts of biblical characters (and scenery!) and what the text isn't telling us.
HEDWIG, OPRAH AND THE STORY OF CREATION: AN INVESTIGATION INTO YOUR MIND
Day Schildkret
In this unprecedented class on one the most fascinating subjects -- your mind -- we will discuss the story of creation, the origin of love and the birth and death of the human ego. Taught through song (Hedwig and the Angry Inch), TV and ancient/contemporary text, we will explore a subject matter that is guaranteed to awaken your consciousness and change your life profoundly. Plus, a guest appearance by the talk show host, Oprah Winfrey.
TANACH TAPESTRY
Bunny Pearlman
Through a variety of fiber art techniques such as embroidery, appliqué, weaving, and felting, students will work singly and in groups creating tapestries of favorite stories from the Tanach. A sewing machine will be available.
TORAH AND THE PLANET
Greg Newmark
From the beginning Torah is literally about the planet and how we live on it. This class will take seriously topics ranging from the Big Bang and biodiversity to the wonders of nature and waste management to ask the question, “How does the Torah teach us to live in our physical world?”
Break: (10:20- 10:40)
Second hour: (10:45-11:35)
SHOMREI ADAMA: KEEPING OUR TREE OF LIFE SACRED
Devra C. Aarons
Through an exploration of our five senses - taste, touch, smell, sight, and hearing - we will reconnect to the world around and within us. Classes will include hikes, taste testing heirloom tomatoes and breathing in the world around us.
THE JEWISH ART OF AMULET MAKING
Anna Martin
Have you or a close friend or relative ever suffered a serious illness or difficulty – be it physical, emotional, or spiritual?? Judaism has an ancient tradition of calling on God and angels to protect against evil spirits and to ask for tikkun, healing. We’ll study the historic and modern role of amulets and make our own protective amulet for ourselves or others who might need a little healing.
KESHER
(Note, you MUST also be signed up for a Kesher class in order to attend Kesher retreats.)
10th Grade - Kesher Aleph – Roni Alperin
Study Israeli history, culture, politics and current events.
11th – 12th Grade Kesher Bet – Day Schildkret
Study Jewish thought and spirituality, including views of God and holiness, mysticism , and historical thinkers.
BEGINNING CONVERSATIONAL HEBREW
Bunny Pearlman
After all those years of studying prayerbook Hebrew, would you like to learn to actually SAY something? This course is for those at beginning conversational Hebrew levels.
TALMUD
Muni Schweig
This is a class in which the intellectually active can come alive as we reconnect to the Talmud, one of the classical texts of Judaism, from the perspective of who we are today.
ART AND THE CONTEMPORARY JEWISH MUSEUM
Erica Crowell
If you’re interested in making art and exploring the relationship between art and stories, this is the class for you. The class will include a few visits to the new Contemporary Jewish Museum in San Francisco and the possibility of participating in NPR’s Story Corps booth, housed at the museum.
Third Hour (11:40- 12:30) CLASSES 10-12th GRADE ELECTIVES
ADVANCED CONVERSTIONAL HEBREW
Greg Newmark
After all the years you put into learning Hebrew, don’t let it slip away now. Come practice those hard-won skills. This course is for those at intermediate and advanced conversational Hebrew levels.
STRONG THE FORCE IS: JEWISH JEDI TRAINING AND MEDITATION
Day Schildkret
Have you ever watched Star Wars and wished you could go through Jedi training yourself? In these times of spiritual searching, many people find themselves drawn to the life the Jedi’s model. They are taught to quiet their minds and practice listening and feeling the "force" or "ruach" flowing through them. The Jedis use psychic abilities, they "feel" and "sense" things around them and are always calm and fearless. But are the Jews? In this class, we will experience Jedi and Jewish Mystic training that will teach us that the Force is one with everything. Through experiential training, insightful movies and yoda-esque books, we will learn that you can train yourself to be at one again with the force. May the force be with you.
ABRAHAM’S VISION – UNITY PROGRAM: INTER-GROUP MUSLIM AND JEWISH CONFLICT TRANSFORMATION PROGRAM
Staff from Abraham’s Vision
11:40 a.m. – 1 p.m
The class includes teacher-led discussions on issues related to Islam, Judaism, and Muslim - Jewish relations; Jewish and Muslim guest speakers; inter-school meetings with students from our Islamic partner school; and field trips. To download the separate application for this class go to www.abrahamsvision.org. This class is a full year commitment.
KESHER
(Note, you MUST also be signed up for a Kesher class in order to attend Kesher retreats.)
10th Grade - Kesher Aleph – Roni Alperin
Study Israeli history, culture, politics and current events.
11th – 12th Grade Kesher Bet – Devra C. Aarons
Study Jewish thought and spirituality, including views of G-d and holiness, mysticism , and historical thinkers.
8-9th GRADE COURSES
First Hour: (9:30-10:20)
Gesharim (8th grade Core): Devra Aarons and Sacha J. Kopin
8th Graders! Start your Midrasha experience with an exciting chance to meet Jewish teens from around the Bay Area as you grapple with modern ethical issues and take action to address homelessness, discrimination and injustice. Doing good never felt this right.
Etgar (9th grade Core): Noemi Hollander and Anna Martin
Who am I? What do I believe? Why are other Jews different than I am? How are they the same? Explore issues of Jewish identity and come up with surprising answers. The class includes participation in three amazing weekend retreats.
Break: (10:20-10:40)
Second Hour (10:45-11:35)
TWO JEWS, THREE OPINIONS: DEBATING HOT TOPICS
Greg Newmark
Looking at issues from dating ethics to gay marriage, from keeping kosher to City Car Share, from women in combat service to women in the Torah service, from immigrating to Israel to emigrating from Israel, from euthanasia to youth in Northern California, from going to the mikve to standing for Hatikva, from ethical compliance to rooting for the Giants – OK, you get the picture. We’ll study Jewish source material and then debate our opinions.
THE GOLEM, AMERICAN JEWS AND COMICS
Sacha J. Kopin
What do the graphic novels Superman and Wolverine have in common? And what do they have to do with Judaism? Discover the answers to these questions and more! Together we'll explore why super heroes lend themselves to telling the Jewish experience and learn about the first Jewish superhero, the Golem.
MAKING MIDRASH: STORYTELLING/ TORAHTELLING
Noemi Hollander
Did Esther really want to be Queen? What was Joseph feeling when he got thrown in the pit? We all have favorite Bible stories but when we look at the text we come away with more questions than answers. In this class we’ll fill in the gaps and shed light on the questions with our own imaginative retellings of old stories.
BEGINNING CONVERSATIONAL HEBREW
Bunny Pearlman
After all those years of studying prayerbook Hebrew, would you like to learn to actually SAY something? This course is for those at beginning conversational Hebrew levels.
TALMUD
Muni Schweig
This is a class in which the intellectually active can come alive as we reconnect to the Talmud, one of the classical texts of Judaism, from the perspective of who we are today.
ART AND THE CONTEMPORARY JEWISH MUSEUM
Erica Crowell
If you’re interested in making art and exploring the relationship between art and stories, this is the class for you. The class will include a few visits to the new Contemporary Jewish Museum in San Francisco and the possibility of participating in NPR’s Story Corps booth, housed at the museum.
Third Hour : (11:40-12:30)
WOMEN IN THE BIBLE: Warriors, Prophets, Lovers and Mothers
Anna Martin
Where are all the women? Women in the Bible are fewer and farther between than the men, but they have some interesting roles to play: warriors, prophets, mothers, and lovers… Open to women and men, this class will explore the more wild stories you probably didn’t discuss in religious school. We will also explore the tradition of using midrash to explain some of the more "troubling" stories in the Torah and perhaps write a few ourselves.
THEOLOGY THROUGH FILM
Sacha J. Kopin
Using scenes from feature films like the Star Wars saga, Ghost, The Matrix, Dogma, Raiders of the Lost Ark and Field of Dreams we will discuss questions like: Is God all-knowing? Where does evil come from? Is there an afterlife and if so what is it like? Do we have free will? What is a prophet and why don’t they exist anymore?
PB& J (PICTURE BOOKS & JUDAISM)
Noemi Hollander
“The Giving Tree” is about more than a tree. Does “The Runaway Bunny” have a Jewish mother? Come visit your old favorite kids’ books and see the Jewish values buried inside.
JEWISH DOLLS, PUPPETS AND SOFT SCULPTURE
Bunny Pearlman
Using your favorite characters from Jewish history or the Bible, we will explore methods of doll and puppet-making from stocking dolls to marionettes.
ADVANCED CONVERSTIONAL HEBREW
Greg Newmark
After all the years you put into learning Hebrew, don’t let it slip away now. Come practice those hard-won skills. This course is for those at intermediate and advanced conversational Hebrew levels.
