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JUDAIC STUDIES ENGAGEMENT JUDAIC STUDIES ENGAGEMENT

Whether in tanach, gemara or tefilah and chagim, the Judaic Studies department at JKHA works to implement innovative techniques and At RKYHS, Judaic Studies and Torah learning aren’t simply subjects taught in a classroom—they are experienced by students through exciting
educational strategies to engage students in their Torah learning. and engaging supplementary activities and Torah Lishma (Torah learning for its own sake) opportunities.

Lower School students took part in multi-sensory and participatory experiences to internalize Torah
lessons in exciting and memorable ways. Students trekked through the hallways to the Land of Canaan,
they “met” Rashi to learn about his life and his works on both the written and oral Torah, visited a petting
zoo for parshat Noach, and more.

“Judaic Independence” was a theme for Early Childhood and Lower School. Students were
given opportunities to take an active role in their learning and tefilot, including a brachot
initiative in Early Childhood, the Ani Tefilati program in Lower School where students
recorded 1,100 days of outside of school davening, and the mishna club which welcomed 50 third
and fourth graders who opted to learn extra Torah during their lunch period.

School unity was promoted when the The second semester of Torah learning at RKYHS brought the monthly Rosh Chodesh Chizuk program. Designed to give students an ongoing opportunity
Lower School community came together to strengthen their personal growth, small groups of students with their Rebbeim and morot focused on learning about areas of interest, inspiration, and
on a Motzei Shabbat to participate
in a community-wide Havdalah. JKHA struggle for them. Topics such as developing Torah habits, the psychology of spiritual growth, the meaning of mitzvot, Pirkei Avot, and inspirational sayings
Early Childhood students and their from the Torah were discussed in a comfortable, informal setting.
families also joined together for the
inaugural Shemama Pajama event
where students engaged in storytelling RKYHS instituted a new program for all ninth and tenth graders called Religious Guidance. All freshmen
activities, made their own mezuzot, and sophomores met a number of times over the school year with several faculty members to discuss ways
and participated in an exciting sing along for the students to set personal goals so that they are able to grow as Jews. Students were encouraged to
with songs connected to bedtime Shema.
choose any area of interest, choosing topics such as avoiding lashon hara, improving their davening, or better
respecting their parents, allowing students to consider their developing identities, and providing them with an
opportunity to further connect with their adviser.

As an expansion of the weekly after-school Mishmar program, the Jewish Life Committee led evening shteigs
Students in the seventh and eighth grade Navi classes presented podcasts that around several of the holidays this year that featured student-led learning sessions, educational Torah-themed
The Chumash Vocabulary League (CVL) presents acquisition of key they created with their peers, summarizing the events about King David, including games, and delicious food. Faculty members and students from all grades were able to enjoy learning from one
Chumash vocabulary words and creates a strong foundation in a fun at least three commentaries that they learned, discussing their own opinions and views another in an informal environment.
and engaging manner as students compete against other teams in while interviewing one outsider. This process helped students learn the storyline and
their classes, culminating in a grade-wide league championship. commentaries, think critically about the story, and organize and articulate their ideas During the week of final exams, RKYHS students took part in pre-summer chavurot with their Judaic Studies faculty.
A combined 450 words were learned by Middle School students! properly to present their views on their podcasts. These chavurot focused on important topics to help prepare students for their summer vacation.
Middle School expanded this opportunity to a Gemara Vocabulary
League (GVL) with a combined 140 key Gemara vocabulary words
acquired that will lay the foundation for students’ Gemara study.
The Vaad program encourages students to join
small communities of learning, led by Judaic
Studies teachers, to dedicate time each week for
Middle School students concluded their year-long study of Gemara Perek Eilu Metziot and its fo- informal learning. The Vaadim provides students
cus on Hashavat Aveida (returning lost items) with a classroom project and seventh and eighth with extra occasions to grow in their learning, form
grade-wide competition. Based on the TV show “Shark Tank,” the “Shtark Tank” challenged stu- closer bonds with faculty and with each other, and
dents to design a lost-and-found system for the school based on the Gemara that they learned explore areas of interest including After-Shacharit
this year. Class finalists presented their creative proposals to the “Shtark Tank” and a winning Halacha and lunchtime learning, delving into Torah
proposal was announced. RKYHS students entered Shabbat on a spiritual high with study regarding a particularly intriguing topic.
a monthly Pre-Shabbat Tisch, featuring singing, divrei
4 torah, chulent, and potato kugel! 5