Curriculum

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KULANU

THE CINCINNATI REFORM JEWISH HIGH SCHOOL

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! ! ! ! ! kulanu means all of us

! ! a way of helping the student see that they are not alone and are supported on this journey

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WHY USE THE IMAGE OF A MOUNTAIN CLIMB?

To help a student succeed through a 4 year program is not unlike assisting a mountain climber. They need support, the right tools and motivating guides. Our KULANU community is here to help each student to successfully traverse this journey at each point in their climb.

To providea meaningful and challenging journey for each student. We do this through dialogue, discovery and exploration, so that every student begins to establish their own personal Jewish identity as foundation for the rest of their lives. Our goal for each student upon reaching the summit of graduation is to head out into the world clear, strong, invested and articulate about who s/he is as a Jew.

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Kulanuʼs goal…

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In this journey, we use the metaphor of a mountain climbThe Students are the climbersThe Teachers and Rabbis are the guidesThe Board, Staff, and Families are the Support Team

Throughout the journey…

At each level (camp), a student \climber gets:

• Core tools- skills, knowledge they’ll use going forward

• Confidence- in their learning, identity, accomplishment

• Development- academically, emotionally, spiritually

• Gradual Acclimation- through the thoughtful and careful absorption

and integration of their learning thus far through reflection and application

to then build from as they climb on

10th grade

11th grade

12th Grade

Summit Graduation HINENI

9th grade

Kulanu is a journey.A student’s journey goes through several stages, each with its process and set of core tools to learn.

At the end of our senior year, each Kulanu graduate will present Hineni “Here I am!”1. Through our curriculum, a possible retreat and process- time will be created to develop and to reflect on prompts, so a student will have the opportunity to create their personal statement & expression.

2. Then, each student has the opportunity to stand before the community and present the following: • I am… and I am a Jew.• What I believe as a Jew is…

• difference I want to make in the world• what I believe in• what I’m committed to

• I’m going to express this in the world and my life by…

3. Presentation can be accompanied by personal expression of their statement, which could include:• multimedia• art• writing• photography• movement• music• project (creation of a organization )

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Culmination- HINENI Here I am: Who I Am as a Jew

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Basic Tools in SeminarsJewish Peoplehood" The Jewish Community and our local " experience"" The Diaspora & the Role of Israel" Jews supporting Jews, Israel and the world" Defending & Supporting Israel in College " & Beyond

Reform Judaism Reform 101- " Reform in relation to other movements" Tough Choices Social Activism- " Who I am as a Reform Jew- " Why Stay Reform?

At the end of their trek a Kulanu grad will have in their backpack...

Tools Covered in Electives• Ability to articulate what Judaism is and means to me

as a priority• Understanding of Jewish Christian relations• Flashpoint education on

• Christmas• Jesus• Personal Relationship to God• Hebrew Bible vs Christian Scriptures• Anti-Semitism

God and Spirituality Images of God- Why God? Spirituality vs. Religion God & the Jews- Covenant Communal Practices God as the Impetus for Social Change & Spiritual Activism My God-Personal Theology and Personal Spiritual Practices

Torah/Sacred Texts Basic Torah" Living the Torah Middot/Values, Jews as Ethical People- Social Justice Finding Relevance in Torah & " Ethics for College & Life Decisions

When one climbs they carry the tools they need in a backpack.At Kulanu this backpack represents the skills, topics and experiences each student will receive over 4 years with us.

Kulanuʼs Thread Curriculum Model

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9th GradeSeminar

ElectiveElective ElectiveElective11th GradeSeminar

HINENI12TH Grade

Seminar

Confirmation

Throughout 9th-12th grade, Kulanu’s key topics, themes, values, ethics, text, history, personal practice are reinforced and layered along the journey.

In the design of our program, they are woven through curriculum as threads...

= God & Spirituality= Reform Judaism = Torah/Sacred Texts= Jewish Peoplehood

Schedule for classes

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1st Bell 2nd Bell

9th

Seminar 9th-10th Elective

10th

10th Grade\Confirmation 9th-10th Elective

11th

11th-12th Elective Seminar

12th

11th-12th Elective HINENI

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The Kulanu curriculum is a path. A student’s learning journey goes through several stages, each one building on the learning of the last, gaining layers of confidence, insight and mastery. Each successive seminar builds upon the previous year.

Basic Torah

Living the TorahMiddot/Values, Practice

Torah is a Blueprint for Action

Finding Relevance in Torah & Ethics for College & Life Decisions

Community vs.Individual

All Israel is Responsible for One Another

Judaism and Israel in Action

Defending & Supporting Israel in College & Beyond-our relationship with Israel

JewishPeoplehood

9th

11th

10th

Torah/Sacred Texts

Where it fits in the world- The content in perspective

Basic Understanding and distinctions

Tikkun OlamHow can Judaism help out in the world?

Synthesis…How Iʼm going to own it, be it and live it in the world

Reform 101- in relation to other movements

Tough Choices

Reform Means Taking Action

Who I am as a Reform Jew- Reform Pride

Reform Judaism

Enduring Understandings• Confidence and pride in being Reform• Internalization and personal• Ability to explain Reform• importance of values and role of Reform • what do Reform Jews feel about…?

God , Spirituality and Religion

God & the Jews- CovenantCommunal Practices

God as the Impetus for Change and Needs me to help make it

My God- Personal TheologyPersonal Spiritual Practices

God &Spirituality

Enduring Understandings• We are part of a greater Jewish community

& world community• We have a responsibility for the success

and longevity of Israel of the Jewish people• My individual role as a Jew is critical for the

future of Judaism & Israel

Enduring Understandings• My relationship with God is ever-evolving• God is central to the Jewish experience• Being in relation with God helps me take

responsibility in the world• I can have my own personal relationship

with God in Judaism• Spirituality is part of being Jewish• I have begun my own personal spiritual

practice

Enduring Understandings• Torah is relevant in my life.• Jewish values are important to

me.• My personal ethics are aligned

with Judaism.• I understand what the Torah

represents and its content.

Summit/GraduationHineni

12th

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Enduring Understandings by Graduation• We are part of a greater Jewish community & world community• We have a responsibility for the success and longevity of Israel of the

Jewish people• My individual role as a Jew is critical for the future of Judaism & Israel

• What does it mean to be a member of the Jewish community• What are my connection to other Jews• Minority vs Majority where do we stand as a Jewish people

Grade Level Goals

• Diversity in the world Jewish community• The need for a homeland; Zionism 101

• Coming home from Israel how do I connect to others and my community

• How we can be a helpful partner to Israel

• Israel advocacy in college and beyond• Discovering the truth behind Israel; Israel mythbusting

11th

9th

10th

12th

Community vs Individual

All Jews are responsible for each other

Judaism and Israel in Action

Defending & Supporting Israel in College & Beyond-our relationship with Israel

Breakdown by Thread- Jewish Peoplehood

Courses

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Grade Level Goals

11th

9th

10th

12th

Breakdown by Thread- Reform Judaism

Courses

Reform Pride

Reform 101

Tough Choices

Reform Means Taking Action

Enduring Understandings• Confidence and pride in Reform Judaism• Internalization and personal• Ability to explain Reform• importance of values and role of Reform • what do Reform Jews feel about…?

• Distinctions between Reform and other movements• Importance of Progressive Judaism

• Reform Judaism’s role in Tikkun Olam• Our responsibility as Reform Jews to social activism

• Relevancy of Reform Judaism• How Reform Judaism can help us make decisions

• Clear understanding of how Reform fits in my life forward as a modern Jew

• Importance of having a vibrant Reform community and my role in creating/sustaining it

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Grade Level Goals

11th

9th

10th

12th

Breakdown by Thread- Torah & Sacred Texts

Courses

Basic Torah

Living the TorahMiddot/Values, Practice

Torah is a Blueprint for Action

Finding Relevance in Torah & Ethics for College & Life Decisions

• Who’s who in the Torah• Basic text: Torah, Mishnah, Talmud & Midrash

• The role of Reform Responsa and Torah in my life• Jewish values in action

• Torah as a blueprint for ethical decisions• Our responsibility to social justice as Jews

• Torah as a guide for life and choices• My personal relationship with Torah

Enduring Understandings by Graduation• Torah is relevant in my life.• Jewish values are important to me.• My personal ethics are aligned with Judaism.• I understand what the Torah represents and its content.

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Grade Level Goals

11th

9th

10th

12th

Breakdown by Thread- God & Spirituality

Courses

Images of God- Why God?Spirituality vs. Religion

God & the Jews- CovenantCommunal Practices

od as the Impetus for Change and Needs me to help make it

My God- Personal TheologyPersonal Spiritual Practices

• Distinctions and commonalities between Spirituality & Religion• Exposure to and exploration of different images of God

• The Jewish God as distinct • The Covenant between God & the Jews• Role of prayer: communicating with God

• God’s partner in the world• B’Tzelem Elohim: In God’s image

• Asking big questions and searching for answers• Establishing a personal path of prayer, spiritual practice & relationship

with God

Enduring Understandings by Graduation• My relationship with God is ever-evolving• God is central to the Jewish experience• Being in relation with God helps me take responsibility in the world• I can have my own personal relationship with God in Judaism• Spirituality is part of being Jewish• I have begun my own personal spiritual practice




practice

Enduring Understandings• Confidence and pride in Reform Judaism• Internalization and personal• Ability to explain Reform• importance of values and role of Reform • what do Reform Jews feel about…?









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UNIT 1

UNIT 2

UNIT 3

UNIT 4

PROJECT FOR HINENI

UNIT 5HINENI

Possible curriculum topics for 9th grade seminar

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Thread- Jewish Peoplehood Reform Judaism Torah & Sacred Texts God & Spirituality

Community vs Individual Reform 101 Basic Torah Images of God

What does it mean to be a people? Why change? An early history Our Story -Torah where did it come from? Personal thoughtswhat have we learned in religious schoolWhat is religion and why did it evolve?

Religion vs. PeoplehoodConnection to other Jews

Other strands of Judaism -where we fit in Torah Jeopardy- 20 things you should know Religion vs Spirituality a working definition Models of the Divine in Judaism

Minority/Majority American Jewish Experience What is Mishnah Midrash and Talmud? Relationship with GodTalking-Prayer-music

The complexities of Chosenness Basic principles of Reform JudaismWhat we believe and how it makes us who we are.

Is the Torah divinely inspired? Faith vs Reason an argument and exploration

Threats to community Reform prideA progressive voice -dealing with problems today

Making the Text Come Alive PARDES Can I feel connected to God Other’s opinions Hearing other’s opinions panel

• The role of the individual and Jewish community

• Connections to other Jews and experiencing the spectrum of Jewish life

• Dangers and joys of being a community of Jews

• Distinctions between Reform and other movements

• Importance of Progressive Judaism

• Basic Torah• Basic text: Torah, Mishnah, Talmud &

Midrash

• Distinctions and commonalities between Spirituality & Religion

• Exposure to and exploration of different images of God

• Staring to think about a relationship with God

By the end of the 9th grade year a Kulanu student will be able:

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• To identify the role of the individual and of the Jewish community

• To learn of the importance of connections to other Jews and experiencing the spectrum of Jewish life

• To identify and learn of the dangers and joys of being a community of Jews

• To understand the distinctions between Reform and other movements

• To understand the importance of the role of Progressive Judaism and where it began.

• To discuss the distinctions and commonalities between Spirituality & Religion

• To have a basic exposure to and exploration of different images of God

• To begin to explore a personal relationship with God

• To have an understanding of Basic Torah facts

• To identify and discuss the differences and roles of, Mishnah, Talmud & Midrash

Community vs Individual Reform 101 Basic Torah Images of God

GOALS

Possible curriculum topics for 10th grade seminar \ Confirmation

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All Israel is responsible for one another

What we believe and Responsa Living the Torah middot\values and practice

God and the Jews \ Covenant

Universal vs. particular Responsa for Reform Jews Why do we need our own version?

Issues raised in TorahThe Shema and one God

Diversity in Am Yisrael Tough Choices and good answers Rules and why they are thereA mutual relationship or not -covenant and God

Pride and Shame for the Jewish people

Daily problems need progressive Judaism and itʼs openess

The ten commandments or suggestions?A covenant made must not be broken or can it?

Jewish Geography Helping others make good decisions a model to other Jews and Non Jews

Laws from Torah that helped form our modern JUSTICE SYSTEM

Sitting down with God- a spiritual dialogue

America and Israel Reform has been taking stands on... Reading of Torah from progressive vantage -Being a modern Jew

Does God listen? personal prayer and faith

• Outside the land, Jews throughout the world

• The need for a homeland; Zionism 101

• Relevancy of Reform Judaism• How Reform Judaism can help us make

decisions

• The role of Reform Responsa and Torah in my life

• Jewish values in action

• The Jewish God and our expectations• The Covenant between God & the Jews• Role of personal prayer: communicating

with God


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• To identify and appreciate the presence of Jews throughout the world

• To understand the need for Israel

• To understand and be exposed to the challenges of being a “Jewish”people

• To explore the relationship between American Jews and Israel in its many complexities

• To be aware of the process of Reform Responsum

• To experience how Reform Judaism can help us make decisions

• To understand the issues that Reform Judaism has taken stands on

• To identify the roles of Reform Responsa and Torah in their lives

• To understand the concepts of commandments and laws in Jewish text

• To explore the relevancy of Torah and text in modern legal justice

• To experience the freedom and power offered by a modern reading of our texts

• To understand the role and development of the Jewish God

• To explore the Covenant between God & the Jews

• To examine the role of personal prayer: and other methods of communicating with God

All Israel is responsible for one another

What we believe Responsa Living the Torah middotvalues and practice

God and the Jews Covenant

GOALS

Possible curriculum topics for 11th grade seminar

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Judaism in Action Reform Jews make a difference Jews as Ethical People- Justice Seekers

My GodPersonal Theology and Practice

Spiritual ActivismWhat connects us to Israel? What is Tikkun Olam Tzedek Tzedek Tirdof -are we commanded to be

just?B’tzelem Elohim

Coming HomeBack from Israel A different perspective

Caretakers of our worldWho needs us to help?

Prophets of old prophets of now Seeing God in others

How Israel helps heal the world Teva Environmental Protectors and Advocates

Righting wrongs in our countryHeschel and others God needs us to finish God’s works.

Israel projects we can support The Torah tells us so... Our community as a model of justice. God helps me fight for changeA prophetic mission

After I have gone what is my relationship now to Israel and what will it become?

A Jewish voice in politics Part of the solution a project of Justice Turning to God in difficult times Adonai Li v’Lo IraGod is with me and I shall not Fear

• Coming home from Israel how do I connect to others and my community

• How we can be a helpful partner to Israel

• Torah as a blueprint for ethical decisions

• Our responsibility to social justice as Jews

• God’s partner in the world• B’Tzelem Elohim: In God’s image

• Reform Judaism’s role in Tikkun Olam• Our responsibility as reform Jews to social

activism


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• To understand the connection between the student and Israel

• To learn how to share and relate Israel to their community.

• To see how Israel is at the forefront of providing aid to countries all over the globe

• To understand the need to have a relationship with Israel after they have returned to the United States

• To understand the importance of and a working definition of Tikkun Olam

• To express our responsibility as Reform Jews to care for the environment and those in need

• To discuss the importance of Torah in the search for healing the world.

• To understand the Torah as a blueprint for ethical decisions

• To understand our responsibility to social justice as Jews

• To know about the role of the prophetic voice both in the Tanakh and in modern times

• To see how our community can be a model of Justice

• To start to explore being God’s partner in the world

• To understand the concept and importance of B’Tzelem Elohim: Being created in God’s image

• To see how one can engage with God in difficult times

Judaism in Action Reform Jews make a difference Jews as Ethical People- Justice Seekers

My GodPersonal Theology and Practice

Spiritual Activism

GOALS

Possible curriculum topics for Hineni 12th grade seminar

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Defending & Supporting Israel in College & Beyond Our relationship with Israel Reform Pride Finding Relevance in Torah &

Ethics for Life DecisionsGod as the Impetus for

Social Change & Spiritual ActivismSpiritual Activism

How Israel is portrayed in the media Positive contributions of Reform Judaism Drugs sex and rock and rollGOD a discussion -what do you believe?

Campus misinformation Helping shape policy from a Reform perspective Drugs sex and rock and roll part II Big Questions 1From Creation to the afterlife and back again?

Realistic support Giving back to my community Living Torah’s lessons in college Big Questions 2From Creation to the afterlife and back again?

Why Israel is important to us in the US? Relevancy and Reform Great sayings that come from the Torah Personal relationship with God what does that mean?

How to keep connected to Israel in college? HILLEL can be for Reform Jews Creating a Jewish space at school Spirituality at college

• Israel advocacy in college and beyond• Discovering the truth behind Israel; Israel

mythbusting

• Torah as a guide for life and choices• My personal Torah

• Asking big questions and searching for answers

• Establishing personal path of spiritual practice & relationship with God

• Clear understanding of how Reform fits in my life forward as a modern Jew

• Importance of having a vibrant Reform community and my role in creating/sustaining it

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practice

Enduring Understandings• Confidence and pride in being Reform• Internalization and personal• Ability to explain Reform• importance of values and role of Reform • what do Reform Jews feel about…?









enduring understandings

Our students are becoming young adults who are capable of making choices about their personal learning styles. Recognizing the need for choice we have created a classroom model that allows for 4 different learning modalities centered around one main topic each week

Each seminar will presented by a team of teachers who will search for the connection point for each student.

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PARDES METHOD OF CURRICULUM

Using the concept of traditional study called PARDES we will have a team of 4 teachers work on a subject for class creating 4 separate options for the students. There will be 5 minute presentation of topic followed by a 40 minute class

PSHAT

Text study on topic

REMEZ

Connection to modern life using responsa

DRASH

Creative exploration of topic through modern culture

such as art, music, literature,and film

SOD

Creation of rituals often spiritual in nature

CHOICESSeminar team structure

team leader and team will meet about topic for following week.then will create opening exercise and planning to divide into 4 teams

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PSHATWILL CREATE 40 MINUTE LESSON WHICH USES TEXT STUDY AS CENTRAL ACTIVITY

REMEZ WILL CREATE

40 MINUTE LESSON WHICH

USES RESPONSA

AND CONNECTION TO MODERN

LIFE AS CENTRAL ACTIVITY

SODWILL CREATE 40 MINUTE LESSON WHICH USES SPIRITUAL EXPLORATIONAS CENTRAL ACTIVITY

DRASH WILL CREATE

40 MINUTE LESSON WHICH

USES CREATIVE

EXPLORATION OF TOPIC THROUGH

MULTI MEDIA AS CENTRAL

ACTIVITY

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Curriculum

Education

kulanu community

student climber

seminarsat kulanu

kulanu graduate

students journey

challenging journey

grade core tools skills

basic tools