Cirriculum
- Each year our Mitzvah School has a theme for the entire school. Our curriculum is based on understanding how each of us plays a significant role in the world and how we each create for ourselves a meaningful life through doing mitzvot (sacred acts) and understanding the mitzvot.
- Study Theme 2022-23/5783
- Kavod HaBriyot: The Honor of All Creation
- Essential Questions
- 1. What is a mitzvah hero?
- 2. How can I be a mitzvah hero?
- 3. How does Judaism call upon us to act in the world?
- 4. Why does God want us to rest and reflect?
- 5. How do I act in the world in a way that demonstrates that I rest and reflect?
- Enduring Understandings:
- A mitzvah hero deliberately performs Tikun HaOlam by using their gifts, talents, time, energy and resources.
- I can become a mitzvah hero through pursuing answers to the questions asked by Danny Siegel: What are the other person’s needs?; What am I good at; What do I like to do?; Whom do I know?; Why not help others? and then get up and do--kum v’aseh.
- Judaism is a religion that is grounded in deed not creed in which social justice is key. Jews are commanded to act in this world to make it a better place.
- In Judaism, remembering requires action. We demonstrate our remembering through our actions and in doing so fulfill the commandment to remember.
- Acting in a way that demonstrates remembering that we were strangers in the Land of Egypt complex. There are social, economic, cultural, racial, justice, autonomy, geographic, and political factors that make-up the complexities of demonstrating our memory that we were strangers in the land of Egypt.
- I can demonstrate that I remember that we were slaves in the Land of Egypt in the world as an individual mitzvah hero and also in the company of others in my local, national and international community. At times the challenges of demonstrating that I remember can feel overwhelming and when I feel overwhelmed by the challenges of repairing the world, I remember the Rabbis’ teaching in Pirke Avot 2:16 “It is not your job to complete the task, neither are you free from doing the work.”
Mitzvah MomentsDuring the year we will take field trips to the following to participate in Mitzvah Moments that tie into the learning done while in class and/or online. For the 2022-23 school year, these may include:
- Chanukah Party at the Friends Center Memory Care Unit of Gidwitz Place
- JJ’s List Disability Awareness Training
- Visit to the Islamic Cultural Center of Greater Chicago (Northbrook)
- Visit to the New Faith Apostolic Church (Chicago)
- Visit to the Shri Swaminarayan (Wheeling)
- Kosher Tour of Skokie
- Visit to the Beth Shalom B’nai Zakan Ethiopian Hebrew Congregation (Chicago)
- Visit with Keshet Sunday School
- Speaker from the Interfaith Youth Corps.
- Tallit Blessing
- Barchu
- Yotzer Or
- Ma’ariv Aravim
- Ahava Rabah
- Ahavat Olam
- Shema
- V’ahavta
- Mi Chamocha
- Avot v’Imahot
- Gevurot
- Kedushah
- Oseh Shalom
- Ayn Kamocha
- Ki Mitziyon
- Torah Service Shema
- Gadlu
- L’cha Adonai
- Torah Blessings
- V’zot HaTorah
- Haftarah Blessings
- Aytz Chaim Hi
- Aleynu
- Mourner’s Kaddish
- Chatzi Kaddish
- Holidays prayers and blessings