Students in 8th grade attend school once a week. At this age, students are able to explore topics with a great deal of sophistication. The curriculum includes comparative Judaism, comparative religions, values and ethics and current events, with emphasis on study of Israel.

The following are some of the themes and concepts presented:

Ethics Students will study what it means to be Jewish in the world today, and will examine the importance and pride in one’s own Jewish identity. Both ethical and ritual mitzvot, such as Rodef Shalom ( Peacemaking); Tzedakah (Giving Justly); Kashrut (You Are What You Eat); Bal Tashhit (Every Day is Earth Day); Bikkur Holim (Reach Out and Touch Someone), as well as practical and creative suggestions on how to observe them, will be explored.

Comparative Judaism/ Comparative Religions Students’ relationships to Israel, to God, and to other Jews will be discussed. An overview of the different movements in Judaism and how each observes the holidays, traditions, halacha (Jewish law) and Torah will be discussed. Students will be presented with contemporary moral dilemmas and will be asked to look at the Jewish response to such dilemmas. They will have the opportunity to learn about the many paths others take in their search for God. Hinduism, Buddhism, Islam and Christianity will be compared and contrasted with Judaism.

Israel – Myths and Facts Students will explore the reasons for the enduring pull of Eretz Yisrael and the unbreakable bond between the land of Israel and the Jewish people around the world. They will review the timeline from the biblical period to the creation of the state of Israel, understand the reasons for the past wars, through to the Camp David Accords to the Peace Agreements with Egypt and Jordan. The current situation will be analyzed and debated, with students learning about the Peace Now movement and the Judea/Samaria Council’s party platforms. They will be exposed to Israeli food, culture, music and politics.

9th Grade Adat Noar