Kehillah High
10th Grade
​2021-2022

​​Wednesday evenings: 

7:00 - 7:25 p.m.         Dinner
7:30 - 8:15 p.m.         Session A
8:15 - 8:20 p.m.         Break
8:20 - 9:00 p.m.         Session B​

​​​Session A:  7:30-8:15 p.m.

Reform Track

Trimester 1:
​Modern Jewish Thought
10th Grade
​Rabbi David Lyon

Your confirmation year begins by exploring modern Jewish thinkers and their thoughts about God. We will spend time over the next six weeks discussing what it means to confirm your Jewish beliefs, and how the theologies of Martin Buber, Eugene Borowitz, and Milton Steinberg can enhance your own Jewish understanding. Our central text will be my book, God of Me: Imagining God throughout Your Lifetime (Jewish Lights Publishing, 2011). Rabbi Lyon looks forward to welcoming  you to your Confirmation year!
Trimester 2:​
​What Does it Mean To Be A Reform Jew?
10th Grade
Rabbi Adrienne Scott 
​
As you continue your Confirmation year, the question of what you are confirming will be present throughout our sessions together. What does it mean to confirm something? By exploring the goals of the Reform Movement when it was founded nearly two hundred years ago, we will come to discover much about contemporary Reform Judaism today. We will explore both where it was and where it is headed. Rabbi Scott looks forward to helping you answer the question – what does it mean for you to be a Reform Jew?
Trimester 3:​
Creating Your Own Confirmation Experience 
10th Grade
Rabbi Adrienne Scott
​David Scott
​ 
As your Confirmation year comes to a close, we will turn our thoughts toward the Confirmation ceremony itself. Each of you will contribute your talents, personalities, and creativity toward creating your own Confirmation experience. Cantor Trompeter will serve as your guide as you explore what you are confirming and how you can demonstrate this at Congregation Beth Israel.

Conservative Track

Trimester 1:
​Inside Conservative Judaism
10th Grade
Cantor Mark Levine  

Students will explore the history, theology and practicality of living as a Conservative Jew. They will be challenged to consider integrating new information and new lenses into their religious views and to create belief statements which reflect their Jewish understandings at this life stage. 
Trimester 2:
Drawing Contemporary Wisdom from the Sources
10th Grade
Rabbi Ranon Teller  

​Students will explore powerful narratives from the bible to the sages through the Hasidic masters. They will be challenged to apply the values and wisdom of our tradition to the issues we face in the present.
Trimester 3:
Social Issues through a Conservative Jewish Lens  
10th Grade
Rabbi Sarah Fort 
Rabbi Brian Strauss

What does Conservative Judaism have to say about issues that you will confront as a young adult? Do we have something unique to say? You will be surprised by just how relevant our ancient texts can be in our postmodern world.

​​Session B: 8:20-9:00 p.m.

Letters from the Past: More Than an Advice Column – Sheryl Eskowitz

Who do you go to when you need advice? Would you ever write to a stranger to get their advice? We’ll learn about the lives of Jewish immigrants to the United States by discussing letters they wrote to ask for help. What challenges did they face? Did they get good advice? Were their issues similar to or different from ours today?
Jewitchery: Jewish Astrology, Amulets & More - Rabbi Sarah Fort

Judaism is an ancient religion with clearly pagan roots, and we’ve picked up a lot of stuff along our thousands of years, too. Come learn our ancient rabbis very Jewish teachings on astrology (what the stars and planets tell us), amulets (what they do and how to make them), and more! 
We the Jury – Gavriella Roisman 

Do you like watching true crime? Have you ever wondered what happens to the suspect *after* law enforcement is done with the investigation? More importantly, do you know why? Join Kehillah High’s We the Jury for a crash course on criminal law, juvenile law, and human trafficking.  All classes will focus on how our laws evolved, what the role of ethics played in their evolution, and how these laws affect you. Be prepared for open dialogues, enthusiastic debates, and even a mock trial!
Texas Jewish History – Lisa Stone 

Imagine a Jewish pirate. Seems unreal, but it's part of Texas Jewish history. And there's a lot more Jewish in Texas history than most people can imagine. Plenty of mystery and heroism, along with the usual will to survive and thrive in a new place. This elective will challenge your sense of ancestry and history, and add to your sense of belonging to Texas.