The
Essential Questions
Gan
What does a
Jewish person do? How does a Jewish person act?
How do
Jewish people celebrate Jewish holidays and rituals?
Alef
What are the
holidays, traditions and rituals of Judaism?
How do families/how
does my family celebrate these traditions?
What do the
holidays mean to my family and to me?
Bet
How are Hebrew and
Judaism inextricably linked?
What are the symbols that we use to
celebrate Jewish holidays and live Jewish lives?
What are some of the ways we act, behave and celebrate as Jews?
Gimel
What do Jews believe? What is important to
Jews?
What are mitzvot? What does it mean to be commanded?
Dalet
What is the history and purpose of the
synagogue?
What is the
Torah and the other holy texts of Judaism? What values and lessons do they
teach us?
Hey
What is prayer? What is Jewish
prayer? How can I participate in
Jewish prayer?
What are the
different denominations in Judaism?
What are the
cycles of the Jewish year? The cycles of Jewish life?
Vav
How is modern Judaism influenced
by ancient practices, history and institutions?
What is the theological and personal impact of their influence?
Zayin
What are Jewish texts? How do we
study Jewish texts?
What is Jewish law? How does
Jewish law develop?
What are the voices that speak in
Jewish tradition? As I approach bar and bat mitzvah, how do I add my voice to
theirs?
Halutzim
What is the Talmud? How do we study the
Talmud?
What values and lessons does the Talmud
teach?