11TH AND 12TH GRADE

Core:
Religious School 11th and 12th graders are able to continue their studies at Religious School in a discussion based informal atmosphere. They will be studying the impact of the Holocaust on the post World War II American Jewish Community. The class will begin with a brief look at 19th Century European emigration to the United States and the opportunities in the US denied to Jews in many European countries that beckoned them to come here. The course will examine the circumstances that drove Jews to cross North America and review the evolution of the Jewish role in the economic development of the US. Students will look at the development of the major US Department stores, the garment industry, Jewish roles in the civil rights movement, in organized labor and organized crime. Students will study the trend of the next generation move away from the family business. Finally, they will study post WWII assimilation and the impact of the Six Day War and Yom Kippur War on American Jewish identity.

During the second semester students will spend a few sessions discussing Jewish life on campus. The eleventh grade will look at Jewish student options to consider when selecting a college. The twelfth grade will take a look at the challenges presented by evangelicals on campus and Jewish response.

Each student will be required to present one book report to the class, selected from a list of subjects discussed during the course.

This course will be combined with our Religious School aide program. Students are assigned a classroom or teacher during Sunday school or Wednesday Midweek Hebrew program and will become an aide. Students will be compensated for their time.

Structure: 1 hour class, 1 1/2 hour aide time.