Attention all students and parents - Nov. 11th

Shalom Kulam,

I have changed my 'tech' school planning system to Engrade.  You should all have your codes by now, if not send me an email and I can give you your access code.
Included in the Engrade website are your grades and a course calendar.
Please click on the calendar events to read about descriptions about upcoming tests, assignments..etc.

any concerns or questions, please email me

Rav Shaanan
sscherer@torahacademy.org

JH 8 November/December syllabus

Week of	Mon	Tues	Wed	Thurs	Fri
1- 5	- GO OVER PREVIOUS TEST - CLASS ON HERZL AND ZIONISM	- HERZL AND ZIONISM - SECOND ALIYAH	- JEWS IN USA EARLY 20TH - WWI AND THE JEWS	- JEWS IN USA EARLY 20TH - WWI AND THE JEWS	Quiz on 230 – 241
8 – 12	-Give out JH assignment due Dec. 14th - ORTHODOX, REFORM, CONSERVATIVE   - HOLLYWOOD JEWS	Computer Lab - research in Jewish history - GIVE OUT TEST REVIEW SHEET	- JEWS IN EASTERN EUROPE, PRE WW2	JEWS IN EASTERN EUROPE PRE WW2	Quiz on 244 – 245, 249 – 250, 253 – 256
15- 19	- HITLER AND THE NAZIS	HOLOCAUST	HOLOCAUST	HOLOCAUST	Quiz on 258 – 264, 267, 270 – 272
22- 24	AUSHWITZ AND FINAL SOLUTION	TEST UP TO PG. 272	HOLOCAUST	THANKS GIVING	THANKS GIVING
Dec. 6- 10	PALESTINE PRE – 48	Notebook check up to 273 – 282 - ‘1948’	-HAGANAH AND THE IDF	HAGANAH AND THE IDF	QUIZ  on 266,  268, 269, 285 – 292
13 – 17	SIX DAY WAR	Assignments are due presentations	NOTE BOOK CHECKon 293- 296 - YOM KIPPUR WAR	NOTEBOOK CHECK ON 293- 296 - YOM KIPPUR WAR	Presentations
20 – 22	Presentations	Presentations	presentations	WINTER VACATION	WINTER VACATION

JH 10 November Syllabus

Week of                               Topics, Assignments

Nov. 1- 5	-          Give out Rishonim assignment, computer lab research periods, -          Finish Islam and the Jews -          Jewish life in Babylon; Geonim, Karaites
Nov. 8 – 12	-          Computer lab research periods, -          Rashi, Tosafists,
Nov. 15 – 19	-          Rishonim Presentations (due on Nov. 15th) -          Crusades/Hasidei Ashkenaz
Nov. 22 – 24 Nov. 29 – 3	-          TEST on Nov. 23! -          Golden Age of Spain -          R.Judah Halevi, Maimonides, R.Shmuel Hanaggid

Chumash I week of Nov 1- 5

This upcoming week, we will have a parasha quiz on Monday, parashat chaye sarah.  these quizzes are open notes, so your son needs to prepare by writing his own notes and bringing them to class on Monday for the quiz.

Additionally, we are continuting to study "A Letter in the Scroll" a book by R. Jonathan Sacks on Jewish Identiy and Pride.  There is continuous homework on this material.

JH 8 week of Nov. 1- 5

Next week, we will continue to learn new exciting topics such as:

Theodore Herzl and Zionism, the Second Aliyah, American Jews in the early 20th C.

 

On Friday, Nov. 5th, there will be an open notebook quiz on pages 230 - 241.

Please make sure that your children have taken notes on these pages and will be prepared

for the quiz.

JH 10 week of Nov. 1- 5

In the coming week of Nov. 1- 5, we will be doing the following:
- continuing to learn about the rise of Islam and it's significance in Jewish history
- the Jews of Babel until R.Saadiah Gaon

- the students will be given a 2 - 3 page research assignment which will be due on Mon. Nov. 15, 2010.
They will  be given three periods during class time to reseach their topics on the internet and with the books in the
CTA library.

Ivrit 11/12 week of Nov. 1- 5

This coming week, we will continue to learn stories from "Aggadot yerushalayim" and learn new concepts in Hebrew grammar.

Additionally, on Friday we will have our first "Shishi Ivrit".  This is a new program which all of the high school students get together once a month for a Hebrew
presentation with songs and awards for the top student of the month (for each Hebrew class).

JH 10 week of OCt. 11 - 15

This week, we will be doing the following:

Mon - go over our test, and Berel Wein article on Christianity
Tues - overview of history of Talmud
Wed. - Talmud assignments due, PSAT prep. 
Thurs. - Talmud presentations
Fri - Talmud presentations

shavua tov,

Rav Shaanan

JH 8 - week of Oct 11 - 15

Shalom,

This week we will be doing the following:

pages:          208 – 209,                          Topics: 

                                                            - American Revolutionary War

                        212 - 217                     - Gershom Menes Seixas        

                                                            - Haym Salomon        

                                                            - Washington and the Jews

                                                            - Jews move west/ Jewish peddlars

                                                            - Jewish women in America

                                                            - Levi Strauss

                                                            - Jews and the U.S. Civil War

There will be an open notebook quiz on Friday, Oct. 15.

shavua tov,

Rav Shaanan

Ivrit 11/12 - Oct. 11 - 15

This week we will be working on:
- Hebrew grammar Mon and Wed. working on pages 22, 23, and 34 in our grammar booklet on hebrew adjectives in singular and plural.
- Hebrew literature from "Aggadot Yerushalayim" book on pgs. Tues. and Thurs. working on pages 12 - 18 and answering the questions from the "Aggadot" workbook.
On Friday, we will have a review class or work on Hebrew newspaper TBA.

shavua tov,

Rav Shaanan

Chumash I - Oct. 11 - 15

This week some of the students in our class will be moving to Chumash II.
The remaining students will continue to learn in Chumash I with me and will have less of a text- based curriculum and focus more on Jewish thought about Torah and it's value in Judaism (in addition to some, but less text).
This week we will have an open notebook parasha quiz on Tuesday.
From Wed through Friday we will be looking at an article exploring belief in G-d.

shavua tov,

Rav Shaanan

Ivrit 11/12 October Syllabus

 

Monday          Tuesday           Wednesday         Thursday                    Friday

Week of Oct.4 – 8	- give back tests and go over them - give out “Aggadot book” and begin the first story	- Aggadot p.4- 6 - give 5 students p. 4 and the other 5 p. 6 to read, then they should teach their chevruta their story - read both stories together as a class - give out questions forHW	Dikduk Pg.s 19- 21. - nouns in singular and plural and the exceptions	Aggadot p.8 - chevruta reading, then read as class, discussion, brainstorming on Hb. Words that are associated with ‘Jerusalem’, - questions for HW	Shirah
Oct. 11- 15	Dikduk, pgs. 22, 23, 24, 34. - adjectives in singular and plural	- Aggadot p. 10 - 13 - bring in photo of the Bet Hamikdash and discuss the building with some Hebrew words as vocab words  for test	- Dikduk pgs. 80 – 83, po’el – past tense	- Aggadot p. 14 - photos and discussion on Kotel with key Hebrew words to know for test. - HW – write 3-5 sentences on either the Bethamikdash or the kotel.	Hb. Newspaper or Game
Oct. 18 – 22	Dikduk, pgs. 35- 40 -  הא הידיעה	- Aggadot p. 16,17 - writing exercise using vocab. Words from pages 6- 16	- Dikduk, pgs.84 – 88 Po’el Past tense	- Aggadot, 18 - write short story about their ‘journey to Jerusalem’ using vocab words	Hb. Newspaper or Game
Oct. 25 - 29	Dikduk Pgs. 89 -94 Po’el Past tense	Review on Aggadot stories, prepare for test	- Test on Dikduk and Aggadot p. 4- 18	- Aggadot p. 20 - 24	Hb Newspaper or Game

JH 10 October Syllabus

Week                                    Topics

Oct.4 – 8                        -     review test

-       articles on Jesus, Dead Sea Scrolls and Masada

-       Berel Wein article on beginnings of Christianity

-       Give out assignment on History of the Talmud

Oct. 11 – 15                        -     History of the Talmud

-       student presentations on the Talmud

-       article on the Talmud by R. Spiro

Oct. 18 – 22                        -     Jews of Babylonia – article by R.Spiro

-       Rise of Islam – article by R. Spiro

Oct. 25 – 29                        -    Karaites and Khazars

-       Review for test

-       TEST on Wed. Oct. 27

JH 8 October Syllabus

 

Week of:            pages                        Topics

Oct. 4- 8 -             197 – 207                        - new streams of Judaism in Western Europe

                                                            - Jews of England

                                                            - Moses Montifiore

                                                            - Marranos and Sephardim in the Americas

                                                            - first Jews of America

                                                            - Touro Synagogue 

11- 15 -             208 – 209,                         - American Revolutionary War

                        212 - 217                        - Gershom Menes Seixas           

                                                            - Haym Salomon           

                                                            - Washington and the Jews

                                                            - Jews move west/ Jewish peddlars

                                                            - Jewish women in America

                                                            - Levi Strauss

                                                            - Jews and the U.S. Civil War

18 – 22 -             219 – 220                        - Reform in the U.S.

                        222 - 229                        - Isaac Mayer Wise

                                                            - Tsar Nicholas and the Jews

                                                            - Tsar Alexander

                                                            - the Haskalah

                                                            - Yiddish Literature

                                                            - Persecutions and Progroms

                                                            - First Aliyah, Bilu

                                                             - Dreyfus Affair

25 – 29 –             230 – 235                        - Zionism

                        Additional                        - revival of Hebrew/ Eliezer Ben Yehuda

                        Readings from                        -  Second Aliyah

                        article                                    - mass migration of Eastern European Jews to U.S.

-       beginnings of Orthodoxy in the U.S.

Please note: open notebook quizzes – Mon. Oct. 11, 18, 25

                        TEST – Thursday, October 28th

Ivrit 11/12 Test

The test will be on both stories that we have learned in class, "The Chofetz Chaiim and his beloved mitzvah" and "the little tzaddik".  You will be expected to know every word in both stories and understand the content of them.  there will also be a grammatical component to the test.

Good Luck!

CHUMASH I Test

The Chumah I test is on Sep. 21 and will cover everything we have learned from Aug. 24 until Sep. 20th.  Breishit 37 including the Rashi and other commentators that we looked at in class.  The test will also include a section of unseen text.

JH 10 TEST

JH 10 test is on Sep. 16th on:
'Eyewitness' book pgs. 1- 87 - brief overview and understanding of main events
timeline of major events with main dates
introducation to 'Eyewitness'
6 biblical archaeological artifacts

Good Luck!

JH 8 - week of Sep. 13

Sep. 14th - quiz and notes due on pgs. 176 - 181
Sep. 15 - 20 - pages 182- 189
sep. 21 - quiz on pages 182 - 189
Sep. 22 - pages. 190 - 194
sep. 29th - quiz on pages 190 - 194
Sep. 27th - TEST on everything from Aug. and September!

Chumash Level I September Syllabus

Chumash I


Rav Shaanan Scherer

CTA

September Syllabus



Dates Perekim Topics, assignments

Sep.7,8 37 Sale of Joseph

Sep. 13 – 17 37, 38 Sale of Joseph, Yehuda and Tamar

Sep. 20- 22 38 Yehuda and Tamar

Sep. 27 – 29 NEW YORK TRIP NEW YORK TRIP

JH 10 September Syllabus

JH 10


Rav Shaanan Scherer

CTA



Dates Pages Topics/Assignments

Up to Sep. 3 1 - 68 Last two student presentations on first two chapters of the book

Sep. 7 , 8 1 – 68 Archaeological findings in Israel and surrounding area on biblical/second temple period

Sep. 13 - 15 69- 90 Different sects of Jews at end of Second Temple Period, Rome and Jerusalem

Sep. 16 1- 90 TEST on Books I and II

Sep. 17 1 – 90 Summary of Books I and II

Sep. 20 – 22 91 – 98 Struggling to Survive (post destruction of Jerusalem and Temple)

Sep. 27 – 29 NEW YORK TRIP NEW YORK TRIP

JH 8 September Syllabus

JH 8


Rav Shaanan Scherer

CTA



Dates Pages Topics

Sep. 3 166, 169- 175 QUIZ

Sep. 7,8, 13,

QUIZ on Sep.14th

176 – 181 R.Menashe Ben Israel, Shabbatai Zevi, Baruch Spinoza, Moses Hayim Luzzatto,

Eastern Europe

Sep. 15 – 20

QUIZ on Sep. 21 182 – 189 The Jews of Poland, Revolt and War in Russia, The Pale of Settlement, The Baal Shem Tov

Sep. 22 – 28

QUIZ on Sep. 29 190 – 194 The Vilna Gaon, New Horizons, Moses Mendelssohn, Edict of Tolerance

Chumash I

Shalom,

We are currently looking at the text of Parashat Vayeshev and trying to 'get into the mind' of Rashi, before learning his commentary.
HW - due Tues. Sep. 7th - everyone is assigned a column from the vocabulary sheets to translate into English.

don't forget - Parashat Hashavu quizzes every Friday!

B'Hatzlacha Rabah,

Rav Shaanan

JH 10 - Aug. 31

Shalom!

We are currently giving class presentations on pages 1- 69 in the 'Eyewitness' textbook.  This material gives us a brief overview of the time of Abraham until the destruction of the Second Temple. 
In addition to the text which deals with primary sources, we are also learning about different archaeological discoveries relating to different events from this time.

B'Hatzlacha Rabah,

Rav Shaanan

JH 8 - Aug. 31st

HW - take notes on pages 166, 169 - 175.  on Friday, September 3, there will be an open book quiz on these pages.  There will be limited time for the quiz, so the more organized and neat your notes are, the easier the quiz will be for you.

B'Hatzlacha Rabah!

Rav Shaanan

Ivrit 11/12 Aug.31st

Shalom Kita,

Just a brief summary on where we are holding in class.
We have learned the stories on "the Chafetz Chaiim and his beloved mitzvah" and "the little Tzaddik".  We are resposible to know all of the words in both stories for an upcoming test (date TBA).

b'hatlacha rabah,

Rav Shaanan

JH 10 Aug 26

A Primary source is a term used in many disciplines of study. In history, it is a document, recording or other source of information that was created at roughly the time being studied by an authoritative source, usually one with direct personal knowledge of the events being described. A primary source could be a first- handed source from the past including diaries or artifacts. Primary sources have been described as those sources closest to the origian of the information or idea under study. They have been said to provide researchers with “direct, unmediated information about the object of study.




Secondary sources often cite, comment on, or build upon primary sources. They serve as an original source of information or new ideas about the topic. They are however both relative terms and any source may be classified as primary or secondary depending on how it is being used. Secondary sources often involve generalization, analysis, synthesis, interpretation, or evaluation of the original information. Secondary sources include textbooks, encyclopedias, biographies and web sites.



(This has been taken and modified from www.thefreedictionary.com)

JH 8 Aug. 24 - 27 and course description

Rav Shaanan Scherer


Columbus Torah Academy

2010/2011

8th Grade Jewish History



"זכור ימות עולם בינו שנות דר ודר"

“Remember history, understand the years of

generation to generation” – Deuteronomy 32:7



Text:

- Understanding Jewish History 2: from the Renaissance to the 21st Century

- Various handouts of both primary and secondary sources from books, magazines, journals, the internet and other resources of Jewish history to be distributed over the course of the year



Course Description:

This year we will be exploring Jewish History from 1492 to the present. This is a continuation to the 7th grade course which begins in the Biblical period and ends with The Jews of Spain in the 15th century. We will learn about various topics which include: The Renaissance, the Ghetto, the Jews of Safed, false Messianism, the Jews of Poland, Shtetl life, the rise of Chassidut, the Enlightenment, the various streams of Judaism, America and the Jews, the rise of Zionism, anti- Semitism (medieval and modern), the State of Israel, the Arab- Israeli conflict.

Over the duration of the course, we will get a broad look at these topics so that the students will get a general understanding of the chronology and cause and effect occurrences in our history. In addition to our wide curriculum, we will also have opportunities to study certain topics of interest in depth.



Grading System:

Quizzes, Tests and Projects – 70%

Classwork and Homework – 15%

Attitude and Participation – 15%



Aug. 24 – 27
pages - 161, 164,165 (and need to catch –up to Spanish Expulsion!)


Topics:
Columbus – Jewish?

The Renaissance – printing press, Talmud ..etc.

The Reformation

The shtadlanim (brief overview, no text)

The Ghetto; origin of name, yellow badge, cause,


 




Questions for Christopher Columbus article:

1 – Is Christopher Columbus Jewish? Please provide at least 4 reasons why you think he is or is not.

2 – “G-d was opening up the doors of what is going to eventually become the greatest Diaspora refuge for Jews in history” – which country is this referring to?

3 – Which rabbi invented two navigating tools and what were they?

4 – Which Empire accepted many of Spain’s Jews?

5 – Please quote from the Sultan, Bayezid II about the ruler of Spain.

6 – G-d promised Abraham and his offspring; “I will bless those who bless you, and curse those who curse you, and through you, will be blessed all the families of the earth” (Genesis 12:3). How does this biblical promise relate to Jewish history in the 15th and 16th centuries?

 
to access the aish.com article on the Inquisition and Columbus, go to:
http://www.aish.com/jl/h/cc/48951681.html
 
b'hatzlacha rabah!
 
Rav Shaanan

Ivrit 11/12

WEEK Lesson Topics/ Assigments/HW


Aug. 24 – 27 Introductions, Rules and Expectations, Story “החפץ חיים והמצוה חביבה לו

HW – questions on story given in class

פסקה ראשונה


חביבה – beloved פסקה שנייה

לחפוץ – to desire להצטער – to cause suffering

להכניס – to bring in צעיר - young

אורח – בגלל-

אליו – to him רשות -

לטפל –to take care of לעזור -

עצם – essence, self לענות -

משקה – drink לבד - alone

על יד –next to התעטף – to wrap oneself with

מטבח –kitchen להניח – to place (on)

גיל – שייך ל.. – relevant to

חלש – weak לשרת – to serve

מכבד – honored

Chumash I class - Aug. 24- 27

Shalom and welcome to Rav Shaanan's Chumash I Blog:

Aug.24 - 27:
Questions for Parashat Vayesheiv:


Perek 37: Joseph and his Brothers



1 - What did Yosef tell his father?

2 – What were Yosef’s two dreams about and what were his brothers and father’s responses?

3 – Who did Yosef meet in shechem, what was this person’s question and Yosef’s answer?

4 – What was located inside the pit that Yosef was thrown into?

5 - What did the brothers plan to do when they saw Yosef coming?

6- Who said “lets not kill him”?

7 - What was his better plan?

8 - What did he really plan on doing?

9 - What did they take off of Yosef?

10 – What was Yehuda’s idea?

11 – What did Yaakov think happened?

12 – Who was Yosef sold to?


שיעור של רב שאנן


חומש א'



רש"י בראשית פרק לז, ב



והוא נער - שהיה עושה מעשה נערות,

מתקן בשערו ממשמש בעיניו,

כדי שיהיה נראה יפה:



את בני בלהה - כלומר ורגיל אצל בני בלהה,

לפי שהיו אחיו מבזין אותן והוא מקרבן:



את דבתם רעה - כל רעה שהיה רואה באחיו בני לאה היה מגיד לאביו,

שהיו אוכלין אבר מן החי, ומזלזלין בבני השפחות לקרותן עבדים, וחשודים על העריות.

ובשלשתן לקה.

extra

)על אבר מן החי (לעיל פסוק לא) וישחטו שעיר עזים במכירתו, ולא אכלוהו חי. ועל דבה שספר עליהם שקורין לאחיהם עבדים, (תהלים קה יז) לעבד נמכר יוסף. ועל העריות שספר עליהם, (להלן לט ז) ותשא אשת אדוניו וגו'(

דבתם - כל לשון דבה פרלידי"ץ בלע"ז [רכילות]

כל מה שהיה יכול לדבר בהם רעה היה מספר:


שיעור של רב שאנן


חומש א'

רש"י בראשית פרק לז



(ג) בן זקונים - שנולד לו לעת זקנתו.

ואונקלוס תרגם בר חכים הוא ליה כל מה שלמד משם ועבר מסר לו.

דבר אחר שהיה זיו איקונין שלו דומה לו:



פסים - לשון כלי מלת,

כמו (אסתר א ו) כרפס ותכלת, וכמו (שמואל ב' יג יח) כתונת הפסים, דתמר ואמנון.

ומדרש אגדה על שם צרותיו שנמכר לפוטיפר ולסוחרים ולישמעאלים ולמדינים:



(ד) ולא יכלו דברו לשלום - מתוך גנותם למדנו שבחם,

שלא דברו אחת בפה ואחת בלב:

JH 10

Rav Shaanan Scherer


Columbus Torah Academy

2010/2011





10th Grade Jewish History



"זכור ימות עולם בינו שנות דר ודר"

“Remember history, understand the years of

generation to generation” – Deuteronomy 32:7



Text:

- Eyewitness to Jewish History, Rabbi Benjamin Blech

- Various handouts of both primary and secondary sources from books, magazines, journals, the internet and other resources of Jewish history to be distributed over the course of the year





Course Description:

This year, we will be learning ‘hands-on’ Jewish History, from the first Jew, Abraham through the modern day. We will learn both original sources in translation, and many secondary sources on various topics. We will explore our heritage chronologically covering the following periods: Biblical, 2nd Temple, Talmudic, Gaonic, early and late Middle Ages, Enlightenment and Emancipation, America and the Jewish situation in the world today. We will focus on a larger unit on Zionism and the State of Israel in the fourth quarter of the academic year.



We will study the geography, literature, personalities, trends and other factors of the Jewish people throughout time. We will do so through many different approaches to learning. Our work will be divided up into some individual assignments, group projects, research coursework all aimed at developing our reading, writing and oral skills. In addition to our academic goals, we hope to enhance our appreciation for our people, heritage, homeland and hope for our future.



Grading System:



Quizzes, Tests, and Projects – 75%

Classwork and Homework – 15%

Attitude and Participation – 10%


WEEK OVERVIEW:

Aug. 24 – 27.
pgs. 1- 78 - personal intro, rules, ingathering of exiles


- book introduction on the miracle of Jewish History

Biblical period, beginning of Second Temple period,

Pages 1 – 78 assigned to class (each student in responsible for one chapter (about 7- 8 pages) and will be presenting his chapter summary the following week.

 
 
 
 
HW from introduction in "Eyewitness", questions due on Aug. 26
 
- 1 - What was Pascal’s proof of the existence of miracles and why is this a good proof? (2 – 3 sentences)


- 2- Summarize in two or three sentences Mark Twain’s quote on the Jews (p.2)

- 3 – What do Tolstoy’s and Twain’s comments on the Jews have in common? (2 – 3 sentences)

- 4 – What does David Ben Gurion’s quote on p. 2 mean? (2 – 4 sentences)

- 5 – What do we learn from the mitzvah of Remeberance? (2 -4 sentences)

- 6 – How many Jews have been Nobel Prize laureates, and what percentage is that?

- 7 – How did Ezer Weizman understand the term ‘wandering Jew’? (2 – 4 sentences)

- 8 – What is the difference between B.C. and B.C.E.?

- 9 – What are the meanings to the words Hebrew, Israel and Jews? (3 sentences)

- 10 – In light of the introduction to ‘Eyewitness To Jewish History’, why does the author think it is special to be Jewish? (3 – 5 sentences)








ASSIGNMENT FOR MON.AUG. 30, 2010
Every student will be assigned a chapter from ‘Eyewitness to Jewish History’ to read.


The student will put together on 1- 2 pages:

1- The Title of the Chapter and sections (Eg. Chapter – In the Beginning, section – Abraham Discovers God – and a Land)

2- Notes in pt. form summarizing each section.

a. Primary source – 2- 5 points

b. Author’s commentary – 2- 5 points

3 – Each student will give a 5 minute oral or video presentation on their assigned pages. The presentation is open for your own creativity (although creativity will not be part of the grading criteria for this assignment, it is encouraged, but not mandatory). The presentation must include the main ideas expressed in the primary sources and author’s commentary.

4 – The assignment will be graded in the following way:

A - Written notes - /15

- Title, Chapter and sections listed

- Content of notes – quantity – Does it meet the amount requested? Does it exceed the amount requested by 2 or more points?

• Quality – are the points most relevant?

B - Oral presentation - /5 (creativity can be up to 5 extra points)

- Is the presentation clear?

- Does the presenter show an understanding of the content?



The assignments are due on Monday, August 30th. You must bring to class on Monday, two copies of your notes. One for the teacher to collect to evaluate and later distribute to the rest of the class. The other for your own use during your presentation. The presentations will begin on Monday and continue over the next few days. Everyone must be prepared to present on Monday.



B’Hatzlacha Rabah!



Rav Shaanan



This HW assignment is due on Thurs. Aug. 26th.