Kehillah High
10th Grade
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
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.
OPTION 1:
The American Jewish Experience – Melissa Cohen-Nickels
Explore the history of Jewish life in America through this six-part course. Starting with the early settlers, you'll examine how Jewish communities have both influenced and been influenced by American society at key points in history. Learn about the role of Jews during the Civil War, the impact of immigration on Jewish-American identity, and their involvement in the civil rights movement. The course concludes with a look at the Jewish communities of today, offering a thoughtful perspective on their ongoing contributions to American life.
OPTION 2:
God Shopping: Quest for Meaning – Carol Lahana
Ever wonder what Jews really mean when we talk about God, the soul, or the purpose of life? In this class, we’ll tackle some of the biggest questions in Jewish spirituality using the Big Questions in Jewish Spirituality curriculum. Through conversations, texts, and personal reflection, you’ll get the chance to explore your own beliefs, hear different Jewish perspectives, and see how spirituality can help you make sense of the world and your place in it.
OPTION 3:
Hot Topics through a Jewish Lens – Rabbi Adrienne Scott
You will explore contemporary issues and moral dilemmas through a Jewish lens. You’ll tackle questions about ethics, identity, and community, encouraging thoughtful discussion and personal reflection. The class will empower you to connect Jewish values with real-world challenges, helping you develop informed perspectives and a deeper understanding of how Judaism can shape your responses to today's pressing topics.
The American Jewish Experience – Melissa Cohen-Nickels
Explore the history of Jewish life in America through this six-part course. Starting with the early settlers, you'll examine how Jewish communities have both influenced and been influenced by American society at key points in history. Learn about the role of Jews during the Civil War, the impact of immigration on Jewish-American identity, and their involvement in the civil rights movement. The course concludes with a look at the Jewish communities of today, offering a thoughtful perspective on their ongoing contributions to American life.
OPTION 2:
God Shopping: Quest for Meaning – Carol Lahana
Ever wonder what Jews really mean when we talk about God, the soul, or the purpose of life? In this class, we’ll tackle some of the biggest questions in Jewish spirituality using the Big Questions in Jewish Spirituality curriculum. Through conversations, texts, and personal reflection, you’ll get the chance to explore your own beliefs, hear different Jewish perspectives, and see how spirituality can help you make sense of the world and your place in it.
OPTION 3:
Hot Topics through a Jewish Lens – Rabbi Adrienne Scott
You will explore contemporary issues and moral dilemmas through a Jewish lens. You’ll tackle questions about ethics, identity, and community, encouraging thoughtful discussion and personal reflection. The class will empower you to connect Jewish values with real-world challenges, helping you develop informed perspectives and a deeper understanding of how Judaism can shape your responses to today's pressing topics.
Session B: 8:15-9:00 p.m.
Below are the 10th-12th grades elective options.
Speak Up: Public Speaking with Jewish Purpose – Murray Adelstein
Whether you’re preparing for a college interview, giving a D’var Torah, or just want to feel more confident speaking in front of a group, this class will help you find your voice. We’ll focus on practical presentation skills - tone, posture, eye contact, pacing, and more - using Jewish texts, themes, and ideas as our content. Students can choose to work with prepared materials or create their own, and all work will be done during class time. No homework - just show up ready to grow your confidence and sharpen your speaking skills!
X-Rated Bible Stories – David Scott
These are the stories from Jewish holidays and the Bible that you were too young to hear about in Sunday school. What do we do when we encounter R-rated material in Jewish life that challenges our modern values? These difficult texts about sex, violence, manipulation and revenge will raise some challenging conversations while helping participants come to a deeper and more sophisticated understanding of Jewish history and Jewish values.
Your Voice, Your Power: Jewish Teens & Civic Life – Lisa Stone
Do you want to be a proud Jewish American? Or are you already a proud Jewish American? Maybe you can’t vote yet but you don’t need a ballot to have a strong voice. In this class, we’ll explore what it means to be a citizen through a Jewish lens — from how Jewish history helped shape America to how Jewish values can guide us when we disagree with our government. Together we’ll wrestle with questions like: Do Jews need America, does America need Jews, and how can Jewish teens make a real impact on the world around them?
Jews in Hollywood – Dr. Stephan Wexler
Carl Laemmle (Universal Pictures), Adolph Zukor (Paramount Pictures), William Fox (Fox), Louis B. Mayer (MGM), Warner Brothers. How did a group of Immigrant Jews create the Hollywood system at the beginning of the 20th Century? We will explore the lives of the original great Jewish filmmakers, studio heads and theater owners. We will also look at the Hollywood Blacklist of the 50s and its effect on Jews working in Hollywood. Dr. Wexler is a film aficionado and will inspire you with his stories about the early Hollywood era.
Tzedek and Beyond: Jewish Ethics for Modern Times – Erica Winsor
“Justice, justice shall you pursue” (Deuteronomy 16:20). This timeless command guides our exploration of Jewish ethics in today’s world. In this course, students will wrestle with moral questions about leadership, fairness, advocacy, and responsibility. Through text study, debate, and case analysis, they will uncover how Jewish values inform approaches to social justice, civic engagement, and ethical decision-making.
Whether you’re preparing for a college interview, giving a D’var Torah, or just want to feel more confident speaking in front of a group, this class will help you find your voice. We’ll focus on practical presentation skills - tone, posture, eye contact, pacing, and more - using Jewish texts, themes, and ideas as our content. Students can choose to work with prepared materials or create their own, and all work will be done during class time. No homework - just show up ready to grow your confidence and sharpen your speaking skills!
X-Rated Bible Stories – David Scott
These are the stories from Jewish holidays and the Bible that you were too young to hear about in Sunday school. What do we do when we encounter R-rated material in Jewish life that challenges our modern values? These difficult texts about sex, violence, manipulation and revenge will raise some challenging conversations while helping participants come to a deeper and more sophisticated understanding of Jewish history and Jewish values.
Your Voice, Your Power: Jewish Teens & Civic Life – Lisa Stone
Do you want to be a proud Jewish American? Or are you already a proud Jewish American? Maybe you can’t vote yet but you don’t need a ballot to have a strong voice. In this class, we’ll explore what it means to be a citizen through a Jewish lens — from how Jewish history helped shape America to how Jewish values can guide us when we disagree with our government. Together we’ll wrestle with questions like: Do Jews need America, does America need Jews, and how can Jewish teens make a real impact on the world around them?
Jews in Hollywood – Dr. Stephan Wexler
Carl Laemmle (Universal Pictures), Adolph Zukor (Paramount Pictures), William Fox (Fox), Louis B. Mayer (MGM), Warner Brothers. How did a group of Immigrant Jews create the Hollywood system at the beginning of the 20th Century? We will explore the lives of the original great Jewish filmmakers, studio heads and theater owners. We will also look at the Hollywood Blacklist of the 50s and its effect on Jews working in Hollywood. Dr. Wexler is a film aficionado and will inspire you with his stories about the early Hollywood era.
Tzedek and Beyond: Jewish Ethics for Modern Times – Erica Winsor
“Justice, justice shall you pursue” (Deuteronomy 16:20). This timeless command guides our exploration of Jewish ethics in today’s world. In this course, students will wrestle with moral questions about leadership, fairness, advocacy, and responsibility. Through text study, debate, and case analysis, they will uncover how Jewish values inform approaches to social justice, civic engagement, and ethical decision-making.