Students begin their
CHAI journey with an introduction to studying the Torah, celebrating the Jewish holidays, giving
tzedakah, and performing acts of
g'milut chasadim. This level comes with the
CHAI Level 1 Teacher's Kit, which includes a CD containing a song on the theme of each lesson and a ten full-color 11" x 17" posters pertaining to certain lessons.
My Jewish World: An Early Childhood Music Curriculum (Book/CD set)
Music can be a wonderfully effective teaching tool for preschool aged children. My Jewish World guides teachers through the process of introducing and utilizing song in the classroom to teach Jewish values.
In her comprehensive and easy to follow book, Judy Caplan Ginsburgh includes twenty-six songs, religious and secular, that will help to facilitate an environment of fun and learning. Each song addresses important Jewish concepts and many use Hebrew words and prayers. Judy provides comments, activities, and creative ideas, specific for each song, which can be used in the classroom to learn about being Jewish every day. The importance of saying the Sh'ma each morning, learning the Hebrew words for colors, understanding body parts, and the value of cooperation are only some of the Jewish concepts touched on in the book.
In addition, Judy Ginsburgh includes a list of suggested books for many of the topics. These books help to reinforce and expand the lessons laid out in the curriculum.
With a helpful glossary of Hebrew and Yiddish terms and the companion music CD, My Jewish World is a wonderful guide to making music significant in the Jewish classroom.
Duties of the Soul: The Role of Commandments in Liberal Judaism
This outstanding anthology of thirteen essays by esteemed leaders of the Reform rabbinate reexamines the role of mitzvot in liberal Judaism as viewed through philosophical, experiential, and practical contexts. In this groundbreaking collection, Niles E. Goldstein and Peter S. Knobel identify the challenges of living as a Reform Jew in today's rapidly changing world.
Coming from a wide range of experiences and viewpoints, the essayists contend that for Judaism to survive, Reform Jews must find a balance between maintaining a strong presence in the arenas of social action and basic Reform principles and adopting a strong ideology of observance, tradition, and literacy.
Includes 13 essays with an introduction by the editors
Authoritative works by key leaders of the Reform movement
Comprehensive look at today's understanding of mitzvot
