KEHILLAH HIGH
GRADE 10
2018-19

​​Wednesday evenings: 

7:00 - 7:25 p.m.          Dinner
7:25 - 8:10 p.m.          Session A
8:10 - 8:15 p.m.          Break
8:15 - 9:00 p.m.          Session B

​​​Session A:  7:25-8:10 p.m.

Reform Track

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). I look forward to welcoming  you to your Confirmation year!
​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. I look forward to helping you answer the question – what does it mean for you to be a Reform Jew?
​Creating Your Own Confirmation Experience 
10th Grade
Rabbi Chase Foster & Cantor Star Trompeter
​ 
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 and Rabbi Foster will serve as guides as you explore together what you are confirming and how you can demonstrate this to our congregation.

Conservative Track

Conservative Jewish Belief
10th Grade
Cantor Mark Levine  (October 3, 10, 17, 31; November 7)

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. 
Jewish Stories and Foundational Mythology
10th Grade
Rabbi Ranon Teller  (November 28; December 5; January 9, 16, 22) 

​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.
Social Issues through a Conservative Jewish Lens  
10th Grade
Rabbi Sarah Fort (January 30; February 6, 13, 27)
Rabbi Brian Strauss (March 6, 27; April 3, 10, 17) 

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: 8:15-9:00 p.m.

Students will have the opportunity to rank the classes of their choosing.
Jewtastic Beasts and Where to Find Them
Grades 10-12
Rabbi Chase Foster

Grab your magical suitcase and get excited for a journey through all of the beasts (magical and muggle) that are in our sacred texts. We will read some of our sacred texts from throughout our history, to explore the language and imagination of our ancestors. Note: Wands not necessary.
Choose Yourself: Mussar's Path to Self-Change
Grades 10-12
Lisa Stone

Have you ever wished you were more assertive? Or more patient? Felt like you need a better balance between being calm and enthusiastic? Between being trusting and suspicious? Of course Judaism has a way to help: check out Mussar, an old and new way to figure out how to adjust your attitude and behavior.
Never Again? What We Haven't Learned Since the Holocaust
​Grades 10-12
Alyssa Weinstein-Sears
 
In this elective, students will learn about the specifics of contemporary genocides. More specifically, they will learn about genocides that have occurred since the Holocaust, and will examine similarities and differences between the history of the holocaust and the circumstances surrounding other genocides. We will examine the UN Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide, and talk about the Armenian Genocide, Cambodia, Rwanda, Darfur, Syria, and others. This class will be discussion based, and encourages thoughtfulness and critical thinking.