Additional Limudei Kodesh Courses

Halacha

All middle school students study the same Halacha topic. This year, the Halacha curriculum will concentrate on Bein Adam L’Chaveiro for the first half of the year. Many of the lessons are based on the HESBER Halacha curriculum guides. 

In the second semester, the students will focus on Halachos of Shabbos. The students will learn about the reasons behind and the application of various Melachos. The students will learn the difference between Rabbinic Law and Torah Law, the difference between Avos Melacha and Toldos. Students will become familiar with general halachic principles and their application to practical daily life. 

 

Hebrew Language

SBTAG offers Hebrew on all grade levels. Each year, the girls build on their previous level of skills in Reading Comprehension, Conversational Hebrew and the Culture of Israel. The Beginning level classes study on a basic level, through Conversation, Vocabulary and Grammar exercises. The Advanced classes utilize immersion so that all conversations are in Hebrew.  The students do projects in Hebrew, create videos and prepare special programs for the Chagim. In addition, the girls become familiar with the land and culture of Modern Israel.

Parshat Hashavua

Once a week all classes will review the basic ideas of the Parsha and concentrate on one relevant theme presented by the teacher.  The girls are encouraged to share what they have learned at home over Shabbat.  The students also demonstrate their knowledge through weekly Parsha quizzes.

Bat Mitzvah Workshop

The sixth-grade girls are treated to a unique class that guides them as they learn what it means to become a Bas Mitzvah. They learn about new Halachic obligations that they will accept, as well as the Midos Tovos that will guide their behavior. To celebrate the Bas Mitzvah “year,” the sixth graders and their mothers are invited to an evening celebration replete with Divrei Torah, Simcha dancing, and food. The girls also learn and experience firsthand the mitzvah of baking Challah.

Beur Tefilah (offered on alternate years)

The class begins the year focusing on Yamim Noraim through tefilot such as Avinu Malkeinu and the Thirteen Midot Harachamim. They will spend the rest of the year studying the tefilot from Birchot Hashachar through Pesukei d’Zimra, Birchot Kriyat Shema and Shema. The objective is that enhanced understanding of the structure and meaning will enhance each girl’s davening on a daily basis.

Pirkei Avot  (offered on alternate years)

The seventh graders will learn the Mishnayot, along with the select commentary of the Bartenura.  They discuss the ideas in each Mishna and how they can apply them to their lives.  They will perform “mini-assignments” during the week which are relevant to the lesson and class discussion, in order to help internalize the messages of Pirkei Avot.

Jewish Philosophy

This course offers the girls an understanding of Machshevet Hayahadut.  The girls study the Sefer Hachinuch, with an emphasis on the fundamental ideas of Anochi Hashem and the Aseret Hadibrot, as the core of all the mitzvot. The girls are learning one mitzvah every day, beginning with its source, halachot, ta’am hamitzvah and its relevance to their lives.  The girls are encouraged to ask questions, in order to be sure that they achieve clarity in this important subject.

Holocaust Study

The eighth grade undertakes a special project of studying the Holocaust in an age appropriate manner. They discuss the concepts of Anti-Semitism and propaganda and then move on to discuss certain aspects of the Holocaust itself, as well as the Resistance and the Righteous Gentiles who helped save Jews and, finally, the aftermath of the Holocaust.  They will conclude the year by presenting a special project based on their yearlong study.

Yediot Klaliyot

In this class, middle school students focus on facts, expressions, and general information that are the basis of Torah knowledge and Jewish life (the basic tenets of Judaism). They will learn about the Yamim Tovim and other basic knowledge, each year building on the previous years’ accomplishments. They learn the importance of the Hebrew dates and calendar and gain a further appreciation of Jewish History through the commemoration of significant Jewish events throughout the year. 

 

Ma’agalei Hashana

The students learn about the customs and special halachot that are appropriate during the yearly cycle of Holidays. They learn the importance of the Hebrew dates and calendar and gain a further appreciation of Jewish History through the commemoration of significant Jewish events throughout the year.

Tefillah Project

The students of the 6th and 7th grade will be participating in a newly designed two year curriculum, Tefillah Reimagined. The curriculum is unique to Sha’arei Bina and is being developed in conjunction with The Jewish Education Innovation Challenge (JEIC) with funding from the Mayberg Foundation and the Jewish Federation of Broward County. Each grade has a specific teacher who works with the girls on developing a personal relationship with Hakadosh Baruch Hu as well as gaining a deeper understanding of the words in the siddur.

Scholars Program

Open to 6th graders (students who have achieved exemplary GPA’s on their first quarter report cards and who are recommended by their teachers) , this program is designed to enrich the student’s classroom experience laterally. Twice a week, the students will enjoy project-based learning, challenging, thought-provoking lessons in Chumash, English, Math, and Science. Participation in the program will prepare the students for the rigors of accelerated and honors-level classes in the upper grades.

Halacha

All high school classes follow a four-year cycle of halacha topics. Original sources are provided, leading to guided discussions about the reasoning behind the laws and why there may be dissenting views or alternative customs. After learning the basic dinim, we delve into their practical applications in contemporary situations. This year, we will be learning about the Laws of the Chagim as they approach and gain further knowledge regarding Hilchot Shabbat. The primary source for the students is the Shulchan Aruch. We will also be incorporating the curriculum set out in the HESBER series of Halacha for High School students. The students, by now, understand the difference between Rabbinic Law and Torah law, the difference between Avot Melacha and Toldot. 

 

The students will also delve into the practical applications of the laws of Kashrut and how these laws are incorporated into our daily lives. They will also learn how to ask a ‘shailoh” or question to a Rabbi, and when they need to ask a Shailoh. 

 

Hebrew Language

SBTAG offers Hebrew Language to the ninth grade and tenth grade. Each year, the girls build on their previous skills in Reading Comprehension, Conversational Hebrew, and the Culture of Israel. The High School classes utilize immersion so that all conversations are in Hebrew. The girls do projects in Hebrew, create video presentations, and work on programs to present to the entire school on important “yamim”. They are highly attuned to current events in Israel as they learn more about the culture and land of Israel. The students also read classical Hebrew poetry and literature. Hebrew is considered a “world language”  and is a necessary graduation requirement in the State of Florida. 

Sefer HaChinuch

Based on the medieval classic work Sefer HaChinuch – the Book of Mitzvah Education – this course explores Jewish philosophy by developing an understanding of the reasons  (ta’am) behind the 613 mitzvot, along with exploring the root-source in Torah and the practical application of the mitzvot.  There will also be a focus on the mitzvot as “wisdom for living” – exploring their specific relevance and application in the modern world.  Topics include Fundamentals of Torah – including mitzvot such as knowing God exists, loving God, fearing God, sanctifying His name; laws of Character – including mitzvot such as emulating His ways, loving fellow Jews, not embarrassing others, not taking revenge nor bearing a grudge; laws of Torah Study – including mitzvot such as learning Torah and honoring those who teach Torah; Laws of Idolatry –  including the prohibitions of following the desires of heart/eyes, making an idol, and listening to a false prophet.

Dah Mah (Know How to Answer)

Based on the statement in Pirkei Avot, “Know how to answer a heretic,” this course explores the most challenging questions in Jewish thought.  This class seeks to establish an intellectual basis for fundamental Jewish beliefs, including the existence of G-d, the divinity of the Torah, and the accuracy of the Oral Tradition.  Additionally, this course explores the truth of Judaism in light of competing claims by other religions, as well as resolving what appears to be contradictions between science and Torah.

Machshevet Hayahadut

Students will be studying various texts of the Torah she’bichtav and the Torah she-beal peh, learning about the origin and evolution of our mesorah.  They will gain an understanding of the formation of Jewish Law and Philosophy, encompassing a historical perspective. The themes include but are not limited to  Middos, Teshuva, the impact of Sinas Chinam (baseless hate), Fate versus Destiny, and the afterlife. The students will delve deeply into the lives and lessons of the Tannaim and the Amoraiim, and learn to recognize their personalities; strengths and weaknesses.We will be covering topics such as Are we more exacting than God?, Must Holy men be perfect/, What takes precedenc;, Torah or Good Deeds, Rabbi Yehuda HaNassi, Nacham Ish Gamzu, Rabbi Akiva, and Elisha Ben Avuya. The students will also develop a deeper understanding of Emunah and Bitachon and will ‘witness’, through the texts, the struggles and triumphs of these remarkable people.   

 

Parshat Hashavua

Every week, the high school students receive a set of questions on pesukim and Rashi on Parshat Hashavua, to be prepared independently for Friday. Each Friday, the classes review the basic ideas of the Parsha and explore relevant themes presented by their teacher.  The girls are encouraged to share what they have learned at home over Shabbat. The students are assessed and are encouraged to delve further into the Parsha.

Jewish History I and II

I:   The 9th grade covers the period between 1000-1500 C.E.  Jewish life in the Middle Ages, who were the Rishonim, and what kinds of works they produced. The girls will learn about major historical events during this period and their consequences for the Jewish People. The text used is 2000 Years of Jewish History by Rabbi Chaim Schloss.

 

II: The 10th-grade course is divided into three major units spanning from 1500 C.E.- to Present 

• • European/North American, Middle Eastern lands
  • American Jewry
  • The history of the Jews in the Land of Israel.   

The students will explore the major contours of Jewish life in terms of daily life, economic life, social, religious, and communal life, as well as interactions with the non-Jewish world. The course objectives include an introduction to the Achronim and their literary works, for the students to learn to think as a historian and to have the students understand the unique challenges of the modern era. Each student will be required to write a report in the form of historical fiction as if they were a young woman living in a specific time and place. 

The textbook used is 2000 Years of Jewish History by Rabbi Chaim Schloss, accompanied by a Student Workbook and an extensive array of additional sources.

Fundamental Principles of Faith

This course offers students an understanding of the basic ideals of Judaism.  The students study the Sefer Hachinuch, with an emphasis on the Aseret Hadibrot.  They also use the text Derech Hashem for philosophical analysis.  The students are encouraged to ask questions, in order to be sure that they achieve clarity in this important subject.

Essentials of Judaism I and II

I: The students will engage in the study of what truth is, the impact of prayer, relationships between man and G-d and between man and man, learning from our Sages, how to be a light unto the nations, the destructive nature of Sinat Chinam, the Oral Law, the chain of the Mesorah.  Sources are chosen from the Tanaic and Amoraic periods, as well as during the times of the Gaonim, Rishonim and early Acharonim.

II: Ikarei Hayahadut. Some of the topics covered in this class include Elisha ben Avuya, Rebbe and Antoninus, Holiness in the everyday, Personal growth in serving G-d, Keeping track of our actions, and understanding Sinat Chinam. Sources are chosen from the Tanaic and Amoraic periods, as well as during the times of the Gaonim, Rishonim and early Acharonim.

Holocaust Studies

This course is designed to help our students achieve an understanding of and connection to this horrific time in Jewish history. By studying the historical perspective of Jewish life in prewar Europe, Nazi ideology, the social and political factors that unfolded between the world wars, and the development of the “final solution”, the students will understand the context in which the Holocaust transpired.   The students will study the wartime experiences of nations and cities affected by the spread of the Nazi Regime, as well as the impact on individuals, survivors, liberators and, ultimately, the quest for a homeland. The class will gain an understanding of the categories of victim, perpetrator, rescuer and bystander, through narration and readings.  The primary textbook used will be Witness to History.

Contemporary Issues in Halacha (offered on alternate years)

This elective course takes up modern-day halachic questions.  Students will understand how Halacha emerges from the written Torah text and is elucidated by the Rabbis. They will be able to appreciate how ancient principles are applied to analyze 21st-century issues and how the Torah guides the nation eternally. It is by no means a definitive “halacha” course but rather presents various thoughts on issues such as organ donation, tattooing, celebrating non-Jewish holidays, use of an Alexa on Shabbos, and the like.  The goal of the course is to teach the students that questions should be asked on contemporary issues and Rabbinic guidance is necessary.

Torah Technology (offered on alternate years)

The objective of this course is to familiarize the students with the vast Torah resources available online, to be used as a tool that leads to greater Torah understanding. The research is designed to parallel the topics that the 11th and 12th graders are studying in Chumash. They use online sites to construct Torah family trees, and they input ancient and modern maps of the regions where the Biblical events transpire. The create assessments on Google Forms. They will be using Sefaria, Mercava, Machon Mamre, Shvelei Hadaat and other sites to create source sheets for Tanach

Women in Jewish Law

This course explores specific areas of halacha that are of primary concern to women. Both the structure and content of the laws will be emphasized.  Students will trace the emergence of halacha from Tanach through Torah she ba’al peh, early poskim, and contemporary poskim. They explore halachic concepts of kedusha and tahara and the role Jewish women play in ensuring the sanctity and purity of the Jewish home and nation.  The students will also learn about the plight of Agunot and the concept of halachic pre-nuptial agreements. They will also learn the Laws of Family Purity.

Legal Concepts

This elective course focuses on the process of halachic analysis, beginning with the text of the pesukim and relevant commentaries and then continuing through Toshba sources. The girls learn a methodology of Torah thinking. The objective is for them to gain an appreciation of the beauty of halachic structure and to understand how the hashkafa of a mitzvah emerges from that halachic structure. In addition to the laws of the chagim, this year’s topics include relevant laws such as kavod and oneg Shabbat, simchat yom tov and eruv tavshilin, bracha rishona and bracha achrona, zimun, kedusha and tachanun.