Tuesday First Period

Panim El Panim: Judaism and Social Responsibility
Brian Adler
This course is only open to those who took it in the fall.

Teacher Training
Sharon Katz
This course is only open to those who took it in the fall.

Western Civilization and the Jews
Dr. Leonard Berman
Designed to accompany the NJ state required “Western Civilization” course. The Jewish people has seen the Egyptians, Assyrians, Babylonians, Greeks, Romans and host of other empires come and go. Jews have seen it all. They are gone and we are still here. Ever wonder why? In these thousands of years Jews have made significant contributions, continued to remain intact, and continue to influence “western civilization” on a daily basis. Come and learn what your high school course leaves out.
Requirement: Take home final.

Israel Facing the 21 st Century
Dr. David Rabeeya
This course deals with the new challenges of Israel in the 21 st century in light of demographic, linguistic, economic, and political changes in the Middle East. Cultural trends in Israel and her Arab neighbors will be examined.
Requirements: final paper

Jewish Perspectives on Current Events
Rabbi Ilene Schneider
Abortion, 10 Commandments in a courthouse, “under G od” in the Pledge of Allegiance. It’s not just news about Israel and the Middle east that affect us as Jews. We will discuss the background, history, and significance of the events around us. Requirements: bring articles from newspapers and magazines for discussion. Short final paper

Seven Habits of Highly Effective Jewish Teens
Rabbi Ephraim Epstein
The teenage years are fraught with changes and challenges. This course will help chart a safe and steady course for a successful and meaningful journey.
Requirements: final paper, short quizzes

Holocaust: The History, The Lessons
Ruth Respler
This course will cover the nature of human behavior, views of prejudice and genocide, the rise of Nazism from persecution to mass murder, resistance, intervention, as well as related issues of conscience and moral responsibility.
Requirements: final paper.

Tuesday Second Period

Art of the Book & the Art of the People of the Book
Carrie Nassau
This course will explore the visual and Judaism by exploring the work of a number of Jewish artists and creating in class an artist book—a handmade book or small sculpture exploring a Jewish theme. There will be a $20 materials fee collected the first night of classes.
Course requirements: class participation and a completed artist book project.

“Yada, yada, yada…What did you mean by that?”
Debra Faye
Do you say what you mean? Do you mean what you say? Does the media? Does anyone? In this class, we will use secular and non-secular texts and readings to look at the potential and perils of lashon(speech), consider its place in our everyday lives, and seek to understand lashon hara (evil speech) and its remedy. As a class we also will consider what Judaism has t say about the behavior of the media.
Requirements: in-class readings, an open mind, and a willingness to talk, talk, talk!

G od Stuff
Dr. Leonard Berman
Fundament to the Jewish religion is a belief in G od, but we hardly ever talk about just what that means. This course will consider G od as revealed in the literature of the Biblical, Rabbinic, Medieval, and Modern periods. A variety of G od proofs in the philosophic, scientific, and mathematical areas will be discussed along with personal views and experiences.
This class is only open to those who took it in the Fall.

Why Do Jews Laugh
Dr. David Rabeeya
This class is only open to those who took it in the Fall.

Rhythms and Rituals of Jewish Life
Rabbi Ilene Schneider
Judaism has rituals to mark a variety of special events in our lives as well as all the major milestones. There’s a celebration for a first haircut and a ceremony for beginning to learn the alef-bet. We will study the traditional rituals and examine how they have been adapted to meet the needs of modernity.

Yiddish
Manny Pak
This class is open only to those who took it in the Fall or permission of the instructor.

Thursday First Period

Teacher Training
Gilah Lewis Sietz
This class is open only to those who took it in the fall.

Genesis Seminar
Dr. Leonard Berman
This class will explore familiar and not-so-familiar stories of read and discussed with a concern for their relevance today. Patterning itself on the PBS Bill Moyers series, this course considers the question: What do these stories and people have to say to us today? Can they give us guidance and insight? Adolescent disregard of parental wishes, parental displeasure and response, sibling rivalry, arrogance of power, survival, etc are just some of the issues considered.

Global Terrorism
Dr. David Rabeeya
This course deals with the rise of radical Islam and its effect upon the economy and political structures in Muslim and non-Muslim lands. Special emphasis will be placed on the “clash of civilizations” and its implications with regard to post-modern times.
Requirements: final paper.

Jews, G od, and the Meaning of Life
Barry Kirzner
This fun and enlightening class will feature intense discussions about what we believe about life and G od. We’ll learn what some of the great thinker throughout history—Jews, Christians, Asian religionists, and atheists—have said about the big questions: Does G od exist? Does S/He care about everything we do? Does the universe have meaning? Requirement: final paper. New students are welcome to this class.

Beginning Conversational Hebrew
Rana Ronen
This course is open only to those who took it in the fall.

Thursday Second Period

Advanced Conversational Hebrew
This course is open only to those who took it in the fall.

Laws, Values, and Morality
Len Berman
These days it isn’t so easy deciding who is right and who is wrong and what is good and what is evil. Judging good and bad in others isn’t something most people find easy, and yet it must be done if the world is to become a better place. This course explores the process and the laws Judaism offers to help us decide what’ right and wrong.
Requirements: A take-home final exam, an open mind, a willingness to argue, to listen and to listen and to examine attitudes. No gum chewing.

Jews in Film
Barry Kirzner
This course is open only to those who took it in the fall.

“The “Wise” Men &Women of Chelm and What We Can Learn From THEM!
Mimi Sebek
“Chelm” is an Jewish legendary town known for its colorful array of characters, with one major commonality-besides being Jewish-their inherent foolishness. What can those of us who reside in Southern New Jersey in the year 5765 learn from a town of fools? This course will examine the Chelm stories, especially those of Isaac Bashevis Singer, what they can tell us about the times in which they were written, and what their relevance is for us today.
Requirements: Choice of a short paper1) the student’s favorite story or character and what they learned from it or 2) the student will write their own “Chelm-like” story. Each will be presented to the class.

Writing the Jewish Future
Robyn Post
This is a great time to be a Jewish writer in America, and everyone has a story to tell. This will be an introductory course in creative writing with an emphasis on Jewish themes, and finding your spiritual voice through free-form journal writing and poetry. We will review excerpts from Judaism’s sacred texts as well as the works of great writers-including novelists, comedians, poets, playwrights, and essayists, exploring how Jewish issues and identities find a place in their work. Students will learn techniques for freeing creativity, will explore their own issues as Jewish teens in America, and will learn how writing can foster a connection to self, G od, and environment. Evaluation will be based on class participation and writing effort.

G-d, the Holy Texts, and Peoplehood in Judaism, Islam, & Christianity
Dr. Rabeeya
This course deals with beliefs and attitudes, of Jews, Muslims, and Christians with regard to G-d, the holy texts, and peoplehood, including traditional and critical approaches to analysis and exploration of the Hebrew Bible, the Qur’an and the New Testament in light of radical sociological economic changes in contemporary times.
Requirements: final paper. Full year.