Tartak Curriculum Guides 1982-1994

Located at Tartak Learning Center HUC-JIR 3077 University Ave. Los Angeles, CA 90007

SubjectTitleGoal of Curriculum GuideGrade LevelSettingDateAuthor
ArtA Course in Jewish FolkartTo study pieces of folkart as a vehicle for teaching Jewish concepts in our civilization and literature12-SepHigh School1982Roth, Shana & Silver, Cheri Ellowitz
BibleProphets and ProphecyTo study the classical prophets in their historical context and define their significance today.8Religious School1988Malofsky, Lyn
BibleMishley, My World, and Myself: A Curriculum for the Study of Proverbs for Young TeenagersTo present Mishley as an accessible book that offers timeless insights into contemporary issues.8Religious School1991Nosan-Blank (Cohen), Sheryl
BibleRashi on Genesis: His Interpretations and Their Role in the 20th CenturyTo be familiar with key stories from Genesis, to understand the concepts of peshat and drash, and to connect to prior generations of Jews.7-JunReligious School1994Romalis, Jenny
BibleListening to the Voices of the Women in the BibleTo explore the experiences of women in the bible as a reflection of their time.12-SepHigh School1986Silverstone, Lesley
BibleThe World of TorahTo develop a personal connection with Torah8-JunReligious School, Camp, Youth Group1984Steinbock, Steven
BibleCherish the Torah: An Introduction to the Sefer TorahTo explore the Torah’s symbolism, preparation, protection, celebration, and legacy in eight lessons1Religious School1992Tamara Lawson (Schuster)
Comparative JudaismThree Paths to One God: Reform , Conservative, and Orthodox Ideology for High SchoolTo explore the ideologies of the three dominant movements in Judaism today by studying mitzvot.12-SepHigh School1986Fein, Elliot
Comparative JudaismUnity Within Diversity: Jewish Religious Pluralism in AmericaTo explore the three dominant movements in America. To foster a sense of pluralism.9-AugHigh School1984Walsh, Jane West
Family EducationJewish Lights: Signs and Symbols: A Curriculum for First Graders and their FamiliesTo recognize light as a Jewish sign and symbol. To be familiar with and develop skills using ritual items involving light.AdultAdult Parents with Children in First Grade1986Goldberg (Cole), Melanie
Family EducationRe-Empowering the Jewish FamilyTo enable parents to develop the knowledge and skills necessary to create a Jewish home life.AdultAdult Parents with Young Children1992Niederman, Deborah
HistoryBeing Jewish in America: The Tensions and Struggles of the Eastern European ImmigrantsTo study the third wave of immigration to the United States (1880-1920) specifically, the factors which led Jews to leave Eastern Europe and the life they found in America.8-JunReligious School1990Backer (Burt), Dina
HistoryA Look at Our Past: The Tannaitic PeriodTo study the concepts of retention and adaptation after the destruction of the second Temple/rabbinic Judaism and relate these ideas to our times.8Religious School1986Barzilai (Lieberman), Lisa
HistoryOne People: A Junior High Curriculum on Immigration and IntegrationTo study the Jewish immigrant experience.8-JunCamp1983Kosmal, Nili
HistoryJewish History Under the Romans: An Era of Interaction and AdjustmentTo expose students to the history of the era and the Jewish interaction with outside culture.7-MayReligious School1984Mooso, Carolyn
HistoryCritical Events and Commonplaces: A Ten Lesson Course in Jewish HistoryTo study three historical events through the lens of God, torah, land of Israel, and people Israel.12-SepHigh School1987Stern, David
HistoryThe Creation of a Community: A Case Study, Los AngelesTo examine the history of Los Angeles as an example of how Jewish community forms.9-AugReligious School/High School1994Winer, Laura Novak
HolidayRitual: How Ritual Re-enacts Covenant.To examine rituals as an expression of covenant7-AprReligious School1988Dotan, Lisabeth Seldin
HolidayThe Sanctification of Jewish TimeTo explore how Jews mark time, what makes time holy, and the nature of the specific holidays.8-MayReligious School1988Lipschultz (Barrington), Joanne
HolidaysThe Harvest Festivals: A Prism for Understanding Our Relationship to the Land of IsraelTo examine the Jewish perspectives on the land of Israel throughout history by studying the three harvest festivals.12-SepHigh School1988Lipman, Steve
HolocaustThrough Their Eyes, Through Our Eyes, and Someday Through Our Children’s EyesTo understand and identify with the Jewish experience of the Holocaust. To study the historical background and the various personal and communal responses.10-AugReligious School/High School1990Michelson, Holly
HolocaustThe Study of Values Through Holocaust LiteratureTo study the values within the range of human responses during the Holocaust.12-SepHigh School1984Schneider (Epstein), Kyla
IdentityUnderstanding the Concept of Am YisraelTo develop a spiritual, emotional, and intellectual understanding of Jewish peoplehood through a study of text.12-SepHigh School1988Kasten, Nancy
IdentityFilm and the Jewish SelfTo examine the ways a film can affect the individual and the group’s self-imageHigh School to AdultHigh School and Adult1984Serotta, Isaac
IsraelCan the State of Israel Co-Exist with the Land of Israel?To address the interplay between the Land of Israel (a religious, value-laden, ethical concept) and the State of Israel (the modern, sovereign state with specific political realities)11-12 and AdultHigh School and Adult1991Abramson, Joel
IsraelIn Relationship with IsraelTo study the Jewish people’s relationship with the land of Israel.12-SepHigh School1986Fein, Eve Melman
IsraelI’m Not Jewish, I’m IsraeliTo study secular Israeli Jewish identity and the role of Judaism in Israel.12-SepHigh School for Secular Israelis1990Goldman, Joel
IsraelOne Can Make a Difference: A Curriculum for Teaching IsraelTo see Israel as an integral part of Jewish life by exploring the relationship between Jews and Israel.8-JunReligious School1984Schwartz (Robinson), Wendy
IsraelIf I Forget Thee, O Jerusalem: The Centrality of Jerusalem in Jewish LifeTo develop a personal and Jewish communal understanding and connection to Jerusalem.12-SepHigh School Pre-Trip1984Tishkoff, Larry
IsraelWhen Visions Collide: A Perspective on Religious Tensions in IsraelTo explore the roots of the rift between the Orthodox and secular in Israel. To struggle with what Israel should look like and the role of liberal Judaism in Israel.12-SepHigh School Pre-Trip1987Wolfe, Gregory
IsraelThe Jewishness of the Zionist PioneersTo examine the lives of the early Zionist pioneers and view them as examples of Jewish commitment to Israel.12-SepHigh School for Secular Israelis1992Yoffe, Meir
Israel/ IdentityWho Are We? Who Are They? The Israeli Jewish ExperienceTo encourage a connection to Israel through an analysis and comparison of North American and Israeli modes of Jewish identification.10High School Pre-Trip1991Wise, Ira
Law/ValuesHalakha and Jewish ValuesTo explore the problem of balancing Jewish law and the Reform concept of individual choice.12-SepHigh School1986Elkins, Marilyn
Life CycleA Jewish Approach to Death and DyingTo study issues relating to death in a Jewish context focused on three areas: psychology, morality, and religious issues.AdultAdult1990Davids (Averbuch), Mindy
Life CycleExploring the Jewish Life Cycle Through the Prism of CovenantTo examine the role of covenant in life cycle rituals and daily life.5Religious School1988Vanek, Julie
LiteratureStories of the Past that Lead to Our FutureTo study Jewish folk tales as a medium to for Jewish identification.6-MayReligious School1992Gavish, Hamutal
Midrash/Bible/ArtArt, Midrash, and the BibleTo study the struggles of biblical characters and how these struggles were interpreted by artists and writers.12-SepHigh School1986Ettinger, Eileen
Mitzvot/ValuesTzedekTo explore the importance of tzedek (righteousness) in Jewish tradition.12-SepHigh School1992Cohen, Cheryl Seidman
Mitzvot/ValuesTest Your Words Before You Utter Them: Developing a Code of Personal Jewish EthicsTo examine Jewish text and stories involving ethics. To develop a sense of personal ethics.8-JunReligious School1988Cohen, Jordan
Mitzvot/Reform JudaismReform Judaism and MitzvotTo explore and experiment with mitzvoth.12-SepHigh School1984Fox-Greene, Marcia
Mitzvot/ValuesHuman Sexuality: A Jewish ResponseTo explore Jewish texts on sex, birth control, abortion, homosexuality, gender, and love in order to play a role in decision making.12-SepHigh School1984Sagarin (Baumblatt), Lori
Mitzvot/ValuesMah La’ashot: Making Decisions JewishlyTo study Jewish values and use them when making decisions.8-JulReligious School1983Spitzer, Julie
Mitzvot/ ValuesThe Sanctity of Life in Modern DilemmasTo examine the Jewish notion of the sanctity of life. Topics covered include: life cycle events and medical ethics.12-SepHigh School1991Farkas, Terri Ostach
Passover/World ReligionsThe Passover Seder and the EucharistTo explore core events of Judaism and Christianity as a path to interfaith understanding.12-SepHigh School Interfaith Dialogue1986Oppenheim, Chani
PrayerThe Story of Jewish Liturgy: Jewish Values Through PrayerTo explore the siddur focused on values found in the structure, content, and context of Jewish liturgy.7Religious School1986Cohn, Debra
PrayerB’rakhotTo examine b’rakhot as the human verbal acknowledgement of noticing our world. To view occurrences as encounters with God.10-JulReligious School/ High School1986Crane (Roshal), Margit
PrayerAnother Prayer CurriculumTo be able to read prayers, be familiar with prayer vocabulary, and understand the order of the service.7-MayReligious School1984Greenspan, Ellen
PrayerPrayerTo create spiritual prayer. To link spiritual experiences to prayer.12-SepHigh School/ Camp1988Roucher, Roslyn
PrayerAspects of PrayerTo study the different aspects of prayer, such as communication with God, oneself, and others.8Religious School1990Sidlofsky, Paul
PrayerDa’at Halev: A Prayer CurriculumTo ground the student in both the “bima skills” and the understanding of siddur Hebrew. To develop skills such as translation, shoresh recognition and comprehension.6-MayReligious School1991Weiss, Karen Winkler
Rabbinic TextsMidrash and MeaningTo engage students with torah and midrash allowing them to form a relationship to Jewish text.12-SepHigh School1987Kraus, Jonathan
Reform JudaismSearching for Reform Jewish Identity Through a Study of the Platforms of American Reform JudaismTo grapple with dominant issues of Reform Judaism by analyzing three Reform platforms.12-SepHigh School/ Camp1991Kipnes, Paul
Special EducationM’soret and Me: A Curriculum for Special Needs Children on Jewish Symbols and Rituals Used in CampTo understand and embrace Jewish symbols and rituals used at camp. (Can be adapted for all students and other settings)5-JanCamp1982Dickman, Marci
SpiritualitySpirituality: The Jewish WayTo explore spirituality in and out of the classroom. Designed with eight in class sessions followed by a five day wilderness backpacking trip.7-JunReligious School and Wilderness Experience1990Biers-Ariel, Matt
SpiritualityThe Holy Relationship: A 10th Grade Confirmation Class CurriculumTo explore the concept of kedusha as a holy relationship and encourage students to have kedusha in all their relationships.10High School1982Klein, Debra & Sobel, Karen
SpiritualityThe Mystic PerspectiveTo introduce Jewish mystic tradition, specifically its perspective on community and the importance of spirituality and study of Jewish texts.11 and upHigh School-Adult1984Lutz, Barry
Synagogue/ArtJewish Symbols in Synagogue Art-Enhancing Their MeaningTo examine Jewish symbols such as the Star of David and the Lion of Judah as they relate to the concepts of God, Torah, and Israel.7-JunReligious School1992Hjulberg, Carol
TheologyWho am I to God?To explore different perceptions of God in Jewish tradition.12-SepHigh School1992Aaron, Jonathan
TheologyThe Development of the Concept of Messiah: A text-Based StudyTo trace the evolution of the traditional concept of Messiah from biblical through modern texts.9High School1991Abramson, Lori Levy
TheologyCovenant: A Model for Responsibility and Relationships.To explore the Biblical and modern concept of covenant as a Jewish responsibility7Religious School1986Bloomstone, Deena
TheologyQuest for GodTo stimulate students to develop their own responses to the classical God questions with which philosophers grappled.12-SepHigh School1988Gerstle, Brad
TheologyJewish Approaches to EvilTo examine the concept of evil utilizing stories from Jewish tradition. Three units include: the nature of evil, theodicy, and human responses to evil.8Religious School1991Goldstein, Lisa
Theology/SpiritualityRedemption: A Curriculum for High School StudentsTo explore Jewish yearnings for redemption and formulate their own visions of a redeemed world.12-SepHigh School1984Reich, Cynthia
Values/BibleValues We Learn from AbrahamTo explore the Jewish values demonstrated by Abraham in Genesis.10-SepHigh School1985Greenbaum, Bruce
WomenToward a New Understanding of God, Torah, and Israel: The Feminist Challenge to JudaismTo explore questions of Jewish feminism now that equal access has been established for liberal Jews.AdultAdult1992Stineman, Scott
World JewrySephardic Jewry: A Curriculum for 7th GradeTo learn Sephardic history, customs, and traditions.7Religious School1984Katz (Mishkin), Madelyn