7th Grade

Sunday Mornings

Sunday mornings at Tichon we begin with our Kesher Program. The morning starts with Hot Chocolate or OJ depending on the season, bagels and stimulating conversation on hot topics ranging from the crisis in the Middle East to Hagim, Talmud, Midrash and more! Following Kesher we daven Shaharit and then head upstairs for 2 more periods.

  1. 1. ETGAR - A middle school curriculum designed by the Jewish Theological Seminary.
    Core Curriculum
    Text:ETGAR CORE

    2. Figuring out who you are, where you belong, and what your responsibilities are in the world can be a difficult process. All four of these units explore these issues. As befits the bar/bat mitzvah year, these units have a particular emphasis on where and how Judaism fits into your identity.

    1. 1. Betselem Elokim, the opening unit, asks students to see themselves as part of a family of humanity. Since God created humankind, Betselem Elokim, image of God, we should strive to see the divinity in all of us and act accordingly.
    2. 2. Arevoot, the second unit, invites students to explore what it means to belong to the Jewish people and be responsible for fellow Jews. Students will see how the mitzvah of Pidyon Shvuyim, redeeming of captives, is one important way that Jews have shown their responsibility to other Jews throughout history until today.
    3. 3. Hiyyuv, the third unit, challenges the students to consider what it means to become b’nei mitzvah and be mehuyavim (obligated) to observe mitzvot. In particular, it looks at the Conservative Movement’s understanding of mitzvoth and commandedness. As part of their preparation for being bnei mitzvah, this unit includes an exercise in which students contract to fulfill mitzvot of their choice, both bein adam le-havero (interpersonal) and bein adam la-Makom (ritual).
    4. 4. Shituf Peulah, the fourth and final unit, asks students to figure out what it means to act in Partnership with God. First, students will study different ways people have helped repair the world. Then, the class will take on their own tikkun olam project.

  2. IVRIT - A New Hebrew Ulpan style class will develop student’s conversational Hebrew. This class focuses on comprehension and dialog on everyday topics.

Wednesday Evenings

  1. 1. The Ins and Outs of Your Bar/Bat Mitzvah according to Rabbis Glanzberg-Krainin and Merow
    Text: Danny Seigel’s Bar and Bat Mitzvah Book

    Students will be grouped according to Bar/Bat Mitzvah Date and will study everything from tallit and tefillin to Mitzvah projects and tzedakah activities.

    Topics included:
    Getting A’s and/or being a Mensch
    The Family, The Greater Family All the Way Back To Abraham
    Why Do Mitzvahs?
    3 Things to remember When Doing Mitzvahs
    AND MORE!