Our curriculum theme for 2024-25 is The Mitzvah of Ba’al Tashchit?
5785 Ba’al Tashchit: “Do not waste.”
Essential Questions1. 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 do we have a responsibility to take care of the earth and to make it a better place?5. How do I act in the world in a way that is environmentally responsible and fulfills the mitzvahof Ba’al Tashchit?
Enduring Understandings1. A mitzvah hero deliberately performs Tikun HaOlam by using their gifts, talents, time, energy and resources.2. 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.3. 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.4. Judaism requires of us that we live in ways that are sustainable. Our traditions are deeply connected to the natural world and the environment.5. The mitzvah of Ba’al Taschit is complex. There are social, economic, cultural, racial, justice, autonomy, geographic, and political factors that make-up the complexities of the mitzvah of Ba’al Taschit.6. I can fulfill the mitzvah of Ba’ll Taschit 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 fulfilling the mitzvah of Ba’al Tashchit 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.” Our students in grades K-7 attend Mitzvah School, whose purpose is to help students create and live a meaningful life through actively learning about and partaking in mitzvot, all through a Jewish lens.In the classic language of the rabbis, we uphold that our world is supported by these three concepts: Torah (Sacred Text,) Avodah (Spiritual Worship) and Gemilut Chasadim (Social Justice). Our school is structured to nurture all three of these in our students. Torah: We seek to enable students to be thoughtful and competent readers of Jewish texts whose lives will be deeply informed by the central stories of Judaism. Through ongoing text study in Hebrew and English through study in Chevrutah (pairs who work together to deeply understand a text,) we endeavor to instill in our students the capacity to make informed decisions regarding their Jewish practice and to integrate Jewish values into the entirety of their lives.Avodah: We seek to imbue our students with a sense of their spiritual selves and competency in Jewish prayer and Jewish ritual. Our goals are for our students to utilize prayer and ritual to center and nurture themselves, strengthen their relationship with a Power greater than themselves, and connect with the larger Jewish community through the communal experience of prayer. Gemilut Chasadim: Every month, Mitzvah School engages in service learning that connects our classroom curriculum with identified community issues and needs. Our Hebrew program is an online program that allows for each student’s learning styles, strengths and pace. All lessons are available to students on their own schedule with weekly online one-on-one twenty-minute tutoring sessions scheduled to accommodate the student’s schedule. In-person Hebrew is available upon request. Our classes are open to dues paying members (Committed Members) as well as members not paying dues (Core Members). Mitzvah School for K-7th Graders meets in our building from 9:30-noon on Sundays and Midrasha for 8th-12th Graders meets from 12:00-1:00pm. Hebrew Classes are for students in 3rd-7th grades and are online through an asynchronous classroom (accessible 24/7). Online tutoring sessions are scheduled individually. Please contact Felicia Ross for more information. Felicia@AnsheTikvah.org
Essential Questions1. 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 do we have a responsibility to take care of the earth and to make it a better place?5. How do I act in the world in a way that is environmentally responsible and fulfills the mitzvahof Ba’al Tashchit?
Enduring Understandings1. A mitzvah hero deliberately performs Tikun HaOlam by using their gifts, talents, time, energy and resources.2. 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.3. 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.4. Judaism requires of us that we live in ways that are sustainable. Our traditions are deeply connected to the natural world and the environment.5. The mitzvah of Ba’al Taschit is complex. There are social, economic, cultural, racial, justice, autonomy, geographic, and political factors that make-up the complexities of the mitzvah of Ba’al Taschit.6. I can fulfill the mitzvah of Ba’ll Taschit 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 fulfilling the mitzvah of Ba’al Tashchit 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.” Our students in grades K-7 attend Mitzvah School, whose purpose is to help students create and live a meaningful life through actively learning about and partaking in mitzvot, all through a Jewish lens.In the classic language of the rabbis, we uphold that our world is supported by these three concepts: Torah (Sacred Text,) Avodah (Spiritual Worship) and Gemilut Chasadim (Social Justice). Our school is structured to nurture all three of these in our students. Torah: We seek to enable students to be thoughtful and competent readers of Jewish texts whose lives will be deeply informed by the central stories of Judaism. Through ongoing text study in Hebrew and English through study in Chevrutah (pairs who work together to deeply understand a text,) we endeavor to instill in our students the capacity to make informed decisions regarding their Jewish practice and to integrate Jewish values into the entirety of their lives.Avodah: We seek to imbue our students with a sense of their spiritual selves and competency in Jewish prayer and Jewish ritual. Our goals are for our students to utilize prayer and ritual to center and nurture themselves, strengthen their relationship with a Power greater than themselves, and connect with the larger Jewish community through the communal experience of prayer. Gemilut Chasadim: Every month, Mitzvah School engages in service learning that connects our classroom curriculum with identified community issues and needs. Our Hebrew program is an online program that allows for each student’s learning styles, strengths and pace. All lessons are available to students on their own schedule with weekly online one-on-one twenty-minute tutoring sessions scheduled to accommodate the student’s schedule. In-person Hebrew is available upon request. Our classes are open to dues paying members (Committed Members) as well as members not paying dues (Core Members). Mitzvah School for K-7th Graders meets in our building from 9:30-noon on Sundays and Midrasha for 8th-12th Graders meets from 12:00-1:00pm. Hebrew Classes are for students in 3rd-7th grades and are online through an asynchronous classroom (accessible 24/7). Online tutoring sessions are scheduled individually. Please contact Felicia Ross for more information. Felicia@AnsheTikvah.org