Tichon Isaiah Overview
Temple Isaiah's High School program, Tichon Isaiah, meets on Tuesday evenings and is open to all of our 8th-12th grade students. At Tichon Isaiah, we make every effort to offer our teens an academic experience that will deepen their Judaic knowledge and nurture their Jewish identity. Our 8th and 9th graders spend an hour each in a Core Class and an Elective Class, while our 10th graders partake in our special Confirmation program. Lastly, our 11th and 12th graders participate in our two-hour Seminar Program. We also offer multiple informal and travel experiences to our students (please see your grade overview for more details) and a Parent Connection opportunity.
Tichon Isaiah at a Glance
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Grade
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Fall Semester
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Spring Semester
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8
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Jewish Life Cycle
Elective Class
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Sacred Choices
Elective Class
New York City Trip (April 9-11)
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9
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The Holocaust or
Dilemmas of Israeli Society
Elective Class
Kallah (December 4-5 at Temple Isaiah)
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The Holocaust or
Dilemmas of Israeli Society
Elective Class
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10
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Comparative Judaism
Theology
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Social Justice
RAC Trip, Washington DC (March 5-8)
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11 & 12
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TELEM
Packing for College: Where does Judaism fit in?
Photography: A Jewish Perspective
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TELEM
Ethics
Seminar TBD
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A Normal Night at Tichon Isaiah
| 5:30-6:00 |
Dinner for all students and teachers in the social hall |
| 6:00-7:00 |
Grades 8 & 9 - Elective Classes
Grade 10 - Confirmation Program
Grades 11 & 12 - Seminars |
| 7:00-8:00 |
Grades 8 & 9 - Core Classes
Grade 10 - Confirmation Program
Grades 11 & 12 - Seminars |
Grade 8: Living a Jewish Life
Jewish Life Cycle (Fall)
Teachers: Alicia McGee, Emily Messinger, and Jess Slavin
In this class students will explore lifecycle rituals through experiential learning, discussion, Torah study, and reflection. Jewish lifecycle events mark the major transitions that take place in ones life. At their best, Jewish lifecycle ceremonies can:
- Help our students see the deeper meaning, even God's presence, in the ordinary, and sanctify it.
- Help our students to respond to life changes as more than biological or legal events, and enable us to sanctify our days and years.
- Teach our students what to do and say at important moments.
- Bring our students out of a focus only on self and family into connection with the Jewish people and Jewish tradition.
- Connect our students to the unseen presences of those who have come before us--and even those who will come after us.
- Foster not just personal or family identity, but also Jewish identity. (www.myjewishlearning.com)
Sacred choices (Spring)
Teachers: Alicia McGee, Emily Messinger, and Jess Slavin
Our teens live in a culture in which the societal boundaries about what is sacred and what is to be “saved” for adulthood or marriage have changed. They are continually being confronted with pressures to conform and to participate in activities and behaviors for which they may not be physically or emotionally ready. In few places where teens spend their time do they have the opportunity to talk openly and honestly about these issues or to develop a sense of personal sexual ethics. The synagogue is a natural place for such conversations to take place.
We hope that this URJ curriculum will offer our students a safe and educational opportunity to learn about themselves, the importance of making sacred and responsible choices, and the Jewish perspective on adolescent relationships and sexual ethics. Following are some of the main topics that will be covered in this class: Trust Building, Communication & Assertiveness, Self Worth, Self-Control, Friendships, and Peer Pressure. For more information about this curriculum go to www.urj.org/youth/sacredchoices.
8th Grade Class Trip:
New York City, April 9-11, 2010
This trip provides a unique community building experience for our 8th grade students to spend a weekend in New York City as they celebrate Shabbat and see New York City through Jewish eyes. We will have a fun-filled weekend with a trip to Ellis Island, Shabbat services in a Lower East Side Tenement, a Broadway show, delicious food and lots more!
Grade 9: Destruction and Rebirth
Facing the Holocaust and moving forward
Teacher: Ilana Streit
In the 2000+ years of Jewish life since the end of the Biblical period, there have been times of peace and inter-religious cooperation as well as times of isolation, oppression and violence. Jewish life in Europe over the past 500 years has been no exception to this trend. In this course, we will learn about the Shoah, a time not very long ago, when a thriving Jewish community, and Europe as a whole, experienced a deep loss. Throughout the semester, we will reflect upon this loss and study how this recent piece of history has affected us, our families, and how the American Jewish community sees itself. We will look at the other groups who were targeted, and how they were affected by this historical tragedy. We will also look at the pro-human responses of individual Jews and Gentiles, as well as resistance movements and countries that protected their Jews. The class will cover content knowledge, while also providing space for students' responses and questions.
Understanding Israel
Teacher: Me’ir Sherer
A fundamental aspect of a healthy Jewish identity is a relationship to Eretz Yisrael (the land of Israel)and optimally a love for Eretz Yisrael. In some cases, the love is conditional upon political and economic policies. In other cases, the relationship is conditional upon personal memories. The primary goal of this class is to help students develop and maintain a relationship with Israel. Throughout the semester students will ask and try to answer difficult questions such as, How do I know that Eretz Yisrael is important to the Jewish people? What kind of relationship have the Jewish people had with Eretz Yisrael throughout its history? How can I form and develop a relationship with Eretz Yisrael as a Diaspora Jew? Students will also explore some challenging and at times difficult issues that Israel has faced since its creation and in modern days. Questions of religion and state; the inherent tensions of being a Jewish yet democratic society; the conflict with the Palestinians; Israel's relationship with its Arab neighbors, and more will be addressed in this class. This curriculum and overview are loosely based upon the URJ’s Israel Module.
9th Grade Class Trip:
9th Grade Kallah
December 4-5, at Temple Isaiah
The annual 9th Grade Kallah serves as an incredible community building event for our new high school students. During the Kallah our students will learn about LEFTY, NFTY, and have a chance to delve deeper into the topics discussed in their Tichon Isaiah core classes. The Kallah will be completely led by our LEFTY Assembly members with support from our professional staff.
Grade 10: The Confirmation Program
At Temple Isaiah, the tenth grade year is filled with exciting experiences and milestone events. The tenth graders spend their year learning with our Rabbis on Tuesday nights in addition to participating in many life-changing programs. The main components of the tenth grade experience include: community building, learning with the Rabbis, our annual trip to the Religious Action Center (RAC) in Washington, DC, the Confirmation experience, and the summer in Israel! All of these experiences serve as benchmarks for continued growth and development of Jewish identity and values as well as allowing our tenth graders to openly confirm their commitment to living Jewish lives.
Confirmation
Early Reform rabbis created the ceremony of Confirmation to provide young people an opportunity to "confirm" their faith as Jews and to assume a rightful role in the Jewish community. Just as the Jewish people at Sinai spoke their acceptance of Judaism, so our children are called upon to come before their God, their families, and their congregation to say: "Based upon what I understand Judaism to be and upon what it means to me, I am willing to take my place today among the countless generations that have gone before me. I am willing to declare my acceptance, my confirmation of my Judaism." At Temple Isaiah, our teens become confirmed on Erev Shavuot of their 10th grade year. This year Confirmation will take place on May 18, 2010.
10th Grade Class Trip:
The RAC L'Taken Social Justice Seminar is an intensive four-day study kallah in Washington, DC, focusing on Jewish values and social justice. (L’taken olam b’malchut Shaddai means to repair the world under the realm of the Eternal.) Every year more 1,500 Jewish teens from across the country participate in this exciting event. This unique opportunity enables students to hear from experts both inside and outside the Jewish community. The seminar includes an opportunity for students to lobby on Capitol Hill, tour the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum, participate in Havdalah services at one of the memorials, and visit Georgetown.
Israel travel
Teen summer programs in Israel are recognized not only as spectacular opportunities for fun and friendship but as defining and transforming Jewish growth experiences as well. Studies show the formative high school years are a powerful time to visit Israel with other teens, an experience that forges a lifelong bond to Israel and the Jewish people.
Visit www.nftyisrael.org for more information on Israel travel.
10th Grade Core Classes
Comparative Judaism (Fall)
Teacher: Rabbi Howard Jaffe
Students will explore the different paths to Jewishness offered by the Reconstructionist, Reform, Conservative, and Orthodox movements, as well as other modern approaches to Judaism. Students will examine the misconceptions, stereotypes, and assumptions that each of these denominations expresses about each other. Rabbi Jaffe will invite rabbinic colleagues from different denominations to speak throughout the semester.
Seeking God: Jewish Theology Today (Fall)
Teacher: Rabbi Carey Brown
Did you know that in the Torah there are over 30 names for God? Since the earliest days of our religion, Jews have been struggling to understand and relate to God. Asking questions such as: Can we ever really know God? Does one have to believe in God to be Jewish? Do our prayers make a difference? If God is all good, then why is there evil in the world? These are the questions that Jewish thinkers have been contemplating for centuries. Now it is our turn to wrestle with theology. In this class, students will explore many of the teachings from Jewish tradition about God and search out their own beliefs and understandings about the existence and impact of God in our world.
“Justice, Justice, you shall pursue” (Spring)
Teacher: Rabbi Carey Brown
This core class will help prepare the 10th graders for the RAC (Religious Action Center) trip to Washington D.C. in March. In class the students will grapple with Judaism’s ancient texts and confront society’s contemporary dilemmas. Through discussion and practice, individually and as a class, we will spend the semester engaged in God’s work of social justice, and hopefully come to understand it as such.
Grades 11 & 12: Seminar Program
The seminar program offers our older students a more in-depth study of a particular topic. Students choose the seminar that they are most interested in. See below for a description of the seminars being offered this fall.
Photography: a Jewish perspective (Fall Only)
Teacher: Tali Silver
“To me, photography is an art of observation. It's about finding something interesting in an ordinary place... I've found it has little to do with the things you see and everything to do with the way you see them.” (Elliot Erwitt)
Is there something Jewish about the art of observation? Could there be something Jewish about photography? In this seminar students will consider the connection between Jews and photography by reviewing the history of photography and studying the life and work of a few Jewish photographers. Students will also consider the ethical dilemmas stemming from the role of the photographer. Basic technical instruction, photographic assignments, and assistance in hands-on labs will support the students in making their own images to share in class as well as in a final exhibit at the end of the semester. Guest speakers will also present and contribute their views about the central questions of the class.
TELEM—JEWISH YOUTH: MAKING A DIFFERENCE TOGETHER (Fall and Spring)
Teacher: Sharon Spivak
TELEM, a program of the Jewish Community Relations Council and Combined Jewish Philanthropies, is an innovative program for Boston area teens. It integrates community service, learning, and reflection—and provides opportunities to effect real change. In this service-based class, students will work with people who have special needs and disabilities at Minuteman Arc in Concord. Students will also have an opportunity to reflect upon and evaluate their service experiences and to draw connections between their service experiences and Judaism. Students can receive community service credit for this class.
Packing for college: where does Judaism fit in? (Fall Only)
Teacher: Rabbi David Wolfman
Psyched about College? Have tons of questions? One of the most exciting and anxiety-producing times in a teen’s life is preparing to transition from high school to life on a college campus. We tell you, our teen-age children- lech l’cha - go off and find yourself! But have we given you the necessary tools for the trip ahead? Based on this URJ curriculum, this class will delve into the many issues teens face when they are applying to and leaving for college. Among the topics that will be covered in this seminar: Challenging Questions: Reform Answers; Israel on Campus; Choosing Smartly; College Choices - Jewish Choices; etc. We will also discuss Jewish responses to some of the more difficult and sometimes uncomfortable situations often found on the college campus such as chemical substance abuse and experimentation, caring for my body and soul and other important matters. (Seniors will receive preference for this class.)
Graduation for our Seniors
After 12 years of education at Temple Isaiah, our seniors participate in a culminating Graduation/Shabbat service in the spring of their final year. The service is an incredible tribute to the years of education these students have completed as well the commitment they have made to Judaism, Temple Isaiah, and each other.
This year’s Graduation Service will take place on May 21, 2010.
A family dinner, class picture, and special ceremony for the seniors will take place before
the congregational Shabbat/Graduation Service. More details will be e-mailed to the families
of our graduating seniors in the spring.
Trips & Travel
8th Grade Class Trip:
New York City, April 9-11, 2010
This trip provides a unique community building experience for our 8th grade students to spend a weekend in New York City as they celebrate Shabbat and see New York City through Jewish eyes. We will have a fun-filled weekend with a trip to Ellis Island, Shabbat services in a Lower East Side Tenement, a Broadway show, delicious food and lots more!
9th Grade Kallah
December 4-5, at Temple Isaiah
The annual 9th Grade Kallah serves as an incredible community building event for our new high school students. During the Kallah our students will learn about LEFTY, NFTY, and have a chance to delve deeper into the topics discussed in their Tichon Isaiah core classes. The Kallah will be completely led by our LEFTY Assembly members with support from our professional staff.
10th Grade Trip:
RAC L’taken Seminar in Washington, DC
The RAC L'Taken Social Justice Seminar is an intensive four-day study kallah in Washington, DC, focusing on Jewish values and social justice. (L’taken olam b’malchut Shaddai means to repair the world under the realm of the Eternal.) Every year more 1,500 Jewish teens from across the country participate in this exciting event. This unique opportunity enables students to hear from experts both inside and outside the Jewish community. The seminar includes an opportunity for students to lobby on Capitol Hill, tour the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum, participate in Havdalah services at one of the memorials, and visit Georgetown.
Meet Our Teachers
Rabbi Carey Brown, Associate Rabbi
Rabbi Carey Brown grew up in Minneapolis, MN and received her undergraduate degree with honors in Sociology and Jewish Studies from Northwestern University. She studied in the rabbinical program at the New York school of the Hebrew Union College Jewish Institute of Religion where she received the degree of Master of Arts in Hebrew Letters in 2004 and rabbinic ordination in 2005. In Tichon Isaiah she will be teaching in the Confirmation program all year—Theology in the fall and Social Justice in the spring. Rabbi Brown also joins the 8th and 10th graders on their class trips. (rabbibrown@templeisaiah.net)
Cantor Lisa Doob
Since her investiture from HUC in 2001, Cantor Doob has distinguished herself as a gifted and dynamic worship leader, musician, and teacher. During her tenure as a student at HUC-JIR, Cantor Doob received numerous awards and prizes, including ones for high academic achievement and excellence in Reform worship. She feels that Jewish music has the power to create a sense of community, joy, and connection to Judaism in people aged 1 to 101 and she brings a range of musical styles all of which she presents with skill and beauty. This year, Cantor Doob will be teaching an 8th/9th grade elective.
Rabbi Howard Jaffe, Senior Rabbi
Rabbi Jaffe was ordained by the Hebrew Union College – Jewish Institute of Religion in 1983 and joined Temple Isaiah on August 1, 2000. Rabbi Jaffe’s early involvement in the youth group of the local Reform synagogue ignited his passion for sharing the meaning and values of Judaism. Rabbi Jaffe has a single mission: to continue to build a vibrant, dynamic Jewish community dedicated to the values and traditions of Judaism and the Jewish people. Rabbi Jaffe will be teaching a 10th core class on Comparative Judaism in the fall and an 11th/12th grade seminar in the spring. (rabbijaffe@templeisaiah.net)
Alicia McGee, Full Time Educator and LEFTY Advisor
Alicia is very excited to return to Temple Isaiah as a Hebrew School Teacher and LEFTY Advisor. She graduated from Wheelock College with her Masters of Social Work in 2005 and obtained her certification in 2006. Before coming to Temple Isaiah, Alicia spent two years working at Girls Incorporated of Lynn where she worked with teens on issues of prevention and awareness. In addition Alicia taught 5th grade Hebrew School at Temple Shir Tikvah in Wayland for three years. She lives in Belmont with her husband, Casey and their son Logan who is 6 months old! Alicia will be teaching an 8th grade core class and an 8th/9th grade elective. (amcgee@templeisaiah.net)
Emily Messinger, Director of Tichon Isaiah and Youth Programs
Emily is responsible for the formal and informal programming for students in grades 7-12. Emily is the Lead Teacher for 7th grade, directs our High School religious program - Tichon Isaiah, and supervises the LEFTY and JYGI advisors. Emily received her B.A. at the University of Wisconsin-Madison in Psychology and Judaic Studies and is currently working towards her Masters in Jewish Education at Hebrew College. Emily is deeply committed to helping our youth create stronger bonds with each other and Judaism. Emily will be teaching an 8th grade core class. (emessinger@templeisaiah.net)
Me’ir Sherer
Me’ir Sherer is the Director of Congregational Learning at Congregation Beth Israel in Worcester. This is Me’ir’s second year teaching in Tichon Isaiah. Prior to working at Congregation Beth Israel, Me’ir was a consultant for the Bureau of Jewish Education of Greater Boston. He has also served on the faculty at Prozdor, the secondary school at Hebrew College. He holds degrees from Columbia University, Jewish Theological Seminary, Boston University and Hebrew College. (meir.sherer@gmail.com)
Tali Silver
Tali came from Israel to Boston 22 years ago, and earned her Masters Degree in Expressive Therapy at Lesley University. She lives in Lexington with her husband, Michael, daughter Maya, 18, and son Matan, 13. She is an adjunct professor at Endicott College School of Visual Arts and Design. She works as a psychotherapist and a creative arts instructor at her Lexington based Studio/Office. She exhibits her mixed media art work and paintings. Tali will be teaching an 11th/12th grade seminar this fall. (talisilver@rcn.com)
Jess Slavin
Jess is a clinical social worker in a post doc fellowship with Harvard Vanguard, an interfaith facilitator for the ADL, a working artist, and a Jewish Educator with 15 years of experience working with youth and adults. Jess will be teaching an 8th grade core class and an 8th/9th grade elective.(jessicaislavin@gmail.com)
Sharon Spivak
Sharon Spivak returns to Temple Isaiah this year to work in a number of different capacities. Sharon will be teaching in the following grades: 3rd, 4th, 7th & 11th/12th. In addition to these teaching positions, she will coordinate and lead our Shir Shabbat and JYGI programs. Sharon obtained a BA in Jewish Studies in 2001 and has spent the past 8 years working as a professional Jewish Educator in the greater Boston area. Altogether, Sharon comes to Temple Isaiah with a total of 15 years experience in Jewish Education. (sspivak@templeisaiah.net)
Ilana Streit
A native of Montclair, NJ, Ilana lived in Mount Airy, Philadelphia, before moving to Boston to attend graduate school and be close to her family. Ilana holds a BA in Public Policy from Brown University, and an MA/MBA in Jewish Community Leadership from Brandeis University. She is a Jewish life coach, workshop facilitator and social entrepreneur. She previously served as the Program Coordinator for TorahQuest: Empowering Creative Response at the Jewish Reconstructionist Federation and as Outreach Associate at Elat Chayyim Jewish Retreat Center. Ilana will be teaching a 9th grade core class and an 8th/9th grade elective. (ilana.streit@gmail.com)
Rabbi David Wolfman
Rabbi David Wolfman wears many hats in our congregational family. He is the new Lay Leader-Clergy Relationships/Transition Specialist for the URJ, served our congregation as one of our rabbis from 1987 – 1993 and is currently a Temple member. Rabbi Wolfman received his Bachelor's Degree in Sociology and Religion from Boston University and his MAHL at HUC-JIR in Cincinnati where he was ordained as a rabbi in 1987. One of Rabbi Wolfman’s passions is serving our region’s High School youth through NFTY-NE, Eisner and Kutz Camps. Rabbi Wolfman will be teaching the 11th and 12th grade seminar Packing for College: Where does Judaism fit in? (DWolfman@urj.org)
Registration Policy
Tichon Isaiah students have a four-week “grace period” during which they may withdraw from school without incurring any financial obligation for the rest of the year. Since Tichon Isaiah starts on September 22, 2009, parents will have until October 15, 2009, to withdraw their children without financial penalty. If students withdraw after that date, parents will be responsible for the full year of school fees except in cases of serious illness or relocation (our normal withdrawal policy).
In order for this policy to be effective, you must inform the school office on or before October 15, if you plan to withdraw your child(ren) from Tichon Isaiah. While we certainly encourage our students to remain in the program, we hope this policy will make it easier for families to register their Tichon Isaiah students for school.