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9th - 12th Grade Class Offerings

Early Edition

Rak Ivrit (9th - 12th grade only)    
6-7 pm
Hebrew
You’ve studied Hebrew for a while, can read and write fluently, speak pretty well, and want to improve your skills. This intensive, ulpan style class is for you! Focusing on advanced conversational skills including vocabulary, past and future tense, and grammar, this class will be conducted entirely in Hebrew. 
Instructor: Mr. Marc Leventhal

1st hour - Fall Semester

Mah Zeh—What’s This? 
Conversational Hebrew I
Hebrew
This introductory level class will teach basic conversational Hebrew skills. Learn how to find your way around your beit sefer (school), talk to your chaverim (friends), go out for aruchat erev (dinner) and ask some very important sh’eilot (questions). Improve your Hebrew skills in this interactive class.
Instructor: Mrs. Mazal Spalter

Israel: 1948-Present
Israel, History
Our Jewish State has evolved quickly in the last 58 years. From the kibbutz movement through the disengagement process of last summer to the current conflict in  Israel and Lebanon, Israel has lived a volatile and tenuous life yet managed to become a thriving modern nation. This class will explore the varied history and culture of Israel from her founding to the present. Topics will include confrontations, daily life, religious observance, teen life and so much more.
Instructors: Mr. Moti Demri, Mr. Marc Leventhal*

*Honors level class may include additional readings, occasional homework assignments, and an expectation of exemplary behavior and participation.

Survivor
Holocaust
This course will study the Holocaust through the eyes of those who survived the world’s worst genocide in history. Students will hear the stories of Holocaust survivors through literature, text, Power Point presentations and personal accounts.
Instructor: Mrs. Laura Parnes

Jewish Folklore and Short Stories (Cancelled)
Arts

Contemporary Issues and Judaism
Philosophy, Torah & Text
The death penalty, the role of Jews in politics, what is a just war, stem cell research and issues of medical ethics are just a few of the topics that will be addressed in this class. In addition to discussing Judaism’s position in the context of today’s society, participants will explore each through the eyes of Jewish texts throughout the ages. 
Instructor: Cantor Yitzhak Ben-Moshe

The “Weekest” Link
Torah & Text
Our weekly Torah portion will come alive in this class through interactive discussion behind the meaning of the text. This class will delve into contemporary issues while using the Torah as a basis for understanding our modern world. 
Instructor: Rabbi Shmuel Novack

In The Beginning There Was… ART!
Arts
Glimpse a facet of Jewish culture rarely explored and at times considered taboo - the creation of visual imagery. Go beyond Kiddush cups and challah covers and view mosaics, murals, paintings, graphic arts, illustrated books, even comic books. Find out what makes Jewish art Jewish. Discover the fascinating lives of the artists. Meet some of Jacksonville’s Jewish artists. Create your own art. No experience necessary. First semester will look at art from ancient times through the Renaissance. 
Instructor: Ms. Peggy Organes

JJC Confirmation
Required class for all 11th grade confirmation students from the Jacksonville Jewish Center. 
Instructors: Rabbi Jonathan Lubliner,Cantor Yitzhak Ben-Moshe

2nd hour - Fall Semester

Hear No Evil, See No Evil
Holocaust
Never has there been a methodical plan to eliminate an entire group of people like there was in Nazi Germany. Has our world learned anything from the Holocaust? Often people wonder – how could this happen? Yet, genocide has continued around the world from Cambodia to Darfur and Iraq to Rawanda. This class will explore world reaction to genocide and look at what our world has learned – and not learned - from the Holocaust. 
Instructor: Mrs. Laura Parnes

Think Like a Rabbi
Jewish Living, Torah & Text
We're going back to the basics. Food. Torah. Shema. Donkeys. Jerusalem. Telling time. Amidah. G-d. Climbing trees. Falling out of boats. Two thousand years ago, a bunch of scholars set the norms for Judaism as we know it, building a bridge between the Bible and their everyday experiences. Together we will explore their principles and methods as refracted through the lens of Mishna Berakhot and other texts. Think Like a Rabbi is a beginners' level text class that will build your confidence as someone who, having studied and understood mishna, will be able to interpret Jewish life for yourself and for others. Some basic Hebrew will be used. 
Instructor: Rabbi David Weiner

Pirke Avot: The Original Self-Help Book
Torah & Text
“The world stands on three things: on Torah, on Service to G-d, and on Acts of Loving Kindness.” These familiar words come from Pirke Avot, which can best be described as a guidebook for ethical daily living. Explore the gems this book has to offer us and discuss the meaning it has for us in today’s world. 
Instructor: Rabbi Yaakov Fisch

Jews in the News
Culture and Community
This class is full of debate and discussion as students evaluate current events in our Jewish world. From every corner of our Jewish globe, up to the minute news will be shared. Students will also have the opportunity to respond to the media when appropriate. 
Instructor: Mr. Jack Mizrahi

Teen Forum (10th—12th graders only)
Jewish Living
This class provides the opportunity for teens to talk about issues concerning their lives in a moderated setting. Conversation will be open and honest and set in the context of Jewish life. Topics of discussion will include: mating and dating, substance abuse, body image, and many more. Moderated by clinical staff from Jewish Family & Community Services. Limit 15 students. 
Instructor: Mrs. Karen Morse

Ani M’daber/M’daberet Ivrit: Conversational Hebrew II 
Hebrew
Your conversational Hebrew’s pretty good, but you’re not yet ready for an intensive ulpan. This is your opportunity to increase your Hebrew skills through song, simple newspaper articles, and of course, conversation. 
Instructor: Mr. Eli Reich

Israeli Dancing         
Arts, Israel
Spend an hour learning classic Israeli dances. Learn about the origins of dances and how they reflect different Diaspora communities. Through dance explore the meaning and importance of dance in Israeli society and history.
Instructor: TBD

Temple Confirmation
Required class for all 10th grade confirmation students from Congregation Ahavath Chesed. 
Instructors: Rabbi Michael Matuson, Rabbi Holly Cohn, Cantor Margaret Bruner, Mrs. Jo-Ellen Unger

1st hour - Spring Semester

Israel: 1948-Present
Israel, History
Our Jewish State has evolved quickly in the last 58 years. From the kibbutz movement through the disengagement process of last summer to the current conflict in Israel and Lebanon, Israel has lived a volatile and tenuous life yet managed to become a thriving modern nation. This class will explore the varied history and culture of Israel from her founding to the present. Topics will include confrontations, daily life, religious observance, teen life and so much more.
Instructors: Mr. Moti Demri

Hear No Evil, See No Evil
Holocaust
Never has there been a methodical plan to eliminate an entire group of people like there was in Nazi Germany. Has our world learned anything from the Holocaust? Often people wonder – how could this happen? Yet, genocide has continued around the world from Cambodia to Darfur and Iraq to Rawanda. This class will explore world reaction to genocide and look at what our world has learned – and not learned - from the Holocaust. 
Instructor: Mrs. Laura Parnes

Talmud and Teens
Torah & Text
This course explores Jewish texts and discusses questions you may want to ask about abortion, drugs, after-life, capital punishment, Jesus, homosexuality, pre-marital sex and much more. These topics are combined with traditional verse by verse Talmud study of a particular masechot (tractate) to acclimate you to the world of rabbinic logic and thinking of the oral law.
Instructor: Mr. Marc Leventhal

Jews in the News
Culture and Community
This class is full of debate and discussion as students evaluate current events in our Jewish world. From every corner of our Jewish globe, up to the minute news will be shared. Students will also have the opportunity to respond to the media when appropriate. 
Instructor: Mr. Jack Mizrahi

The “Weekest” Link
Torah & Text
Our weekly Torah portion will come alive in this class through interactive discussion behind the meaning of the text. This class will delve into contemporary issues while using the Torah as a basis for understanding our modern world. 
Instructor: Rabbi Shmuel Novack

In The Beginning There Was… ART!
Arts
Glimpse a facet of Jewish culture rarely explored and at times considered taboo - the creation of visual imagery. Go beyond Kiddush cups and challah covers and view mosaics, murals, paintings, graphic arts, illustrated books, even comic books. Find out what makes Jewish art Jewish. Discover the fascinating lives of the artists. Meet some of Jacksonville’s Jewish artists. Create your own art. No experience necessary. Spring semester will look at art of the pre-modern and modern eras. 
Instructor: Ms. Peggy Organes

Teen Forum (10th—12th graders only)
Jewish Living
This class provides the opportunity for teens to talk about issues concerning their lives in a moderated setting. Conversation will be open and honest and set in the context of Jewish life. Topics of discussion will include: mating and dating, substance abuse, body image, and many more. Moderated by clinical staff from Jewish Family & Community Services. Limit 15 students. 
Instructor: Mrs. Karen Morse

From Torah to Today 
Jewish Living, Torah & Text, History
The Jewish laws (halacha) we follow today barely resemble the laws we find in the Torah. How did we get from Torah to today? This class will look at the development of Jewish law from biblical and post-biblical times through the redaction of the Mishnah and Talmud, and bring us to the present with a look at some Responsa literature. 
Instructor: Mrs. Mazal Spalter

Jewish Folklore and Short Stories (Cancelled)
Arts

JJC Confirmation
Required class for all 11th grade confirmation students from the Jacksonville Jewish Center. 
Instructors: Rabbi Jonathan Lubliner, Cantor Yitzhak Ben-Moshe

2nd hour - Spring Semester

Survivor
Holocaust
This course will study the Holocaust through the eyes of those who survived the world’s worst genocide in history. Students will hear the stories of Holocaust survivors through literature, text, Power Point presentations and personal accounts.
Instructor: Mrs. Laura Parnes

Superman Was a Jew
Culture and Community, Arts
This class looks at how Jews transformed the comic book industry from 1938—present. The creators of some of our favorite comic book stars—Superman, the Fantastic Four, Spider-Man, Batman and the X-men - were Jewish. Students will learn about how these creators designed characters and personas to reflect Jewish values and ideals, and will have the opportunity to design their very own story board in this exciting class. 
Instructor: Mrs. Karen Morse

Think Like a Rabbi
Jewish Living, Torah & Text
We're going back to the basics. Food. Torah. Shema. Donkeys. Jerusalem. Telling time. Amidah. God. Climbing trees. Falling out of boats. Two thousand years ago, a bunch of scholars set the norms for Judaism as we know it, building a bridge between the Bible and their everyday experiences. Together we will explore their principles and methods as refracted through the lens of Mishna Berakhot and other texts. Think Like a Rabbi is an intermediate level text class that will build your confidence as someone who, having studied and understood mishna, will be able to interpret Jewish life for yourself and for others. A fair amount of Hebrew will be used.
Instructor: Rabbi David Weiner

Jewish Jacksonville
Culture and Community
Our community offers a wide array of services through our Jewish agencies. Learn the ins and outs of our Jewish institutions from our very own community leaders. Leadership from Jewish Family and Community Services, River Garden, The JCA, The Jewish Federation and The Jewish Foundation will be on hand to share their leadership expertise.
Instructor: Ms. Juli Shapiro

Mitzvot with Meaning: The Meaning of Mitzvot
Jewish Living, Torah & Text
The Torah contains 613 mitzvot, or commandments. The Mishnah and Talmud expand on those. We know what many of the mitzvot are and how to do them, but have we thought about why we do them? This class will explore the meaning – the why – behind the mitzvot, leading participants to understand the commandments’ relevancy in today’s world.
Instructor: Rabbi Yaakov Fisch

Israel and the Age of Innovation
Israel, Culture & Community
Israeli Innovations…We see Israel in the press all of the time. This class will go beyond what we normally read about and delve into what we don’t hear about from the news media. Israel is on the cutting edge technologically in the field of science, medicine and computers.  Scientific incubator sites lead the way in technological development. 
Advancement in many fields is led by Israeli researchers.  Each week come and explore how Israel has influenced our world through various technologies. This class will look at Israel in a whole new way.
Instructor: Mrs. Meredith Dragon

Jewish Folklore and Short Stories
Arts
The Wise Men of Chelm, Yentl the Yeshiva Boy, The Two Brothers, and more. The stories of a people can teach a great deal about the culture of that people, and our culture is rich with stories. Learn more about our Jewish heritage through stories from the midrash, from Yiddish culture, and from folklore. 
Instructor: Rabbi Shmuel Novack

Temple Confirmation
Required class for all 10th grade confirmation students from Congregation Ahavath Chesed. 
Instructors: Rabbi Michael Matuson, Rabbi Holly Cohn, Cantor Margaret Bruner, Mrs. Jo-Ellen Unger