PIRKE AVOT: ETHICS OF OUR ANCESTORS
Pirkei Avot: Ethics of Our Ancestors, 5th Grade through High School
Pirke Avot is a constant companion to many adult education and supplementary school programs across the country. it is an easy book to read and provides many topics of discussion on moral and interpersonal relations within our community. In a sense it is like that "old tired horse" dragged out for yet another race. You may not expect an exciting time - but it remains dependable.
This curriculum gives the text a new look, a new approach and thus makes it more acceptable and exciting to students and teachers alike.
Pirke Avot is a constant companion to many adult education and supplementary school programs across the country. it is an easy book to read and provides many topics of discussion on moral and interpersonal relations within our community. In a sense it is like that "old tired horse" dragged out for yet another race. You may not expect an exciting time - but it remains dependable.
This curriculum gives the text a new look, a new approach and thus makes it more acceptable and exciting to students and teachers alike.
THE ETHICS OF WIZARDRY
The Ethics of Wizardry: 5th grade through High School
An excurses on the 'Ethical issues that might have been taught at Hogwarts school. Six lessons on ethics found in the Harry Potter films. Issues include, Is it possible to sin while peforming a mitzvah, the nature of true friendships, memory, what makes a good person and whether or not Professor Lupin should have been expelled from Hogwarts? Texts from that Talmud, Midrash, Maimonides and Martin Buber lead to case studies taken from current events.
An excurses on the 'Ethical issues that might have been taught at Hogwarts school. Six lessons on ethics found in the Harry Potter films. Issues include, Is it possible to sin while peforming a mitzvah, the nature of true friendships, memory, what makes a good person and whether or not Professor Lupin should have been expelled from Hogwarts? Texts from that Talmud, Midrash, Maimonides and Martin Buber lead to case studies taken from current events.
THE ETHICS OF DISNEY
The Ethics of Disney: 5th Grade through High School
This is not a curriculum for the primary grades! We will invite Aladdin, Snow White, Ariel, Pinocchio and others to teach us the values of redeeming captives, honoring parents, tzedakah, fixing the world (Tikun Olam) (for older grades intermarriage and converstion). Texts from theTorah, Talmud, Midrash, Codes of Jewish Law, Moshe Luzzatto, Samson Raphael Hirsch, Don Isaac Abravanel and others will be used to explain how Sleeping Beauty can teach us about the destruction of the Second Temple, how Aladdin can teach us what is and what is not Tzedakah, How Belle and Ariel (Beauty and the Beast and The Little Mermaid) inform us of Hille's dictum "Do not separate yourself from the community," and just who is Mary Poppins?
This is not a curriculum for the primary grades! We will invite Aladdin, Snow White, Ariel, Pinocchio and others to teach us the values of redeeming captives, honoring parents, tzedakah, fixing the world (Tikun Olam) (for older grades intermarriage and converstion). Texts from theTorah, Talmud, Midrash, Codes of Jewish Law, Moshe Luzzatto, Samson Raphael Hirsch, Don Isaac Abravanel and others will be used to explain how Sleeping Beauty can teach us about the destruction of the Second Temple, how Aladdin can teach us what is and what is not Tzedakah, How Belle and Ariel (Beauty and the Beast and The Little Mermaid) inform us of Hille's dictum "Do not separate yourself from the community," and just who is Mary Poppins?
ETHICS OF THE TIMES
Ethics of the Times: 7th grade through High School
Twenty five case studies taken from around the world dealing with such issues as medical ethics, education, sports and media. Should there be a museum dedicated to the Klu Klux Klan? Is public embarassment ethical when it leads to social change? Should data culled from Nazi medical experiments be accessible to modern research? How do we determine priority for transplants? Should students with disabilities be given preference in job searches? Should a pregnant teen be eligible for entrance into the National Honor Society?
Each case includes relevant rabbinic texts for discussion
Twenty five case studies taken from around the world dealing with such issues as medical ethics, education, sports and media. Should there be a museum dedicated to the Klu Klux Klan? Is public embarassment ethical when it leads to social change? Should data culled from Nazi medical experiments be accessible to modern research? How do we determine priority for transplants? Should students with disabilities be given preference in job searches? Should a pregnant teen be eligible for entrance into the National Honor Society?
Each case includes relevant rabbinic texts for discussion
THE ETHICS OF SOUTH PARK
The Ethics of South Park: High School.
It's hard to believe, but, yes, you can learn ethics from South Park. Join Cartman, Mr. Garrison, Kenny and the gang as they tromp on every known value in Western Civilization (and Eastern Civilization as well). Be surprised as South Park episodes are used to trigger discussions using Torah, Midrash, Talmud, Philo, Maimonides, Spinoza and others (please don't tell them they are in the curriculum). Questions such as good versus evil, the nature of anti-semitism, animal cruelty, and issues of honesty are the result.
It's hard to believe, but, yes, you can learn ethics from South Park. Join Cartman, Mr. Garrison, Kenny and the gang as they tromp on every known value in Western Civilization (and Eastern Civilization as well). Be surprised as South Park episodes are used to trigger discussions using Torah, Midrash, Talmud, Philo, Maimonides, Spinoza and others (please don't tell them they are in the curriculum). Questions such as good versus evil, the nature of anti-semitism, animal cruelty, and issues of honesty are the result.
THE ETHICAL SIMPSONS
The Ethical Simpsons: 7th Grade through High School
Join Krusty the Clown, Bart and the whole gang as they explore the concepts of honoring parents, spirituality, religion and traverse the issues of deception, fate, gossip, proselytizing and vegetarianism. The Simpsons will facilitate the study of Talmud, Midrash, Zohar, and philosophers such as Moshe Chayyim Luzzatto.
Join Krusty the Clown, Bart and the whole gang as they explore the concepts of honoring parents, spirituality, religion and traverse the issues of deception, fate, gossip, proselytizing and vegetarianism. The Simpsons will facilitate the study of Talmud, Midrash, Zohar, and philosophers such as Moshe Chayyim Luzzatto.
