Tanakh Courses

Course 101 : Methodology on the Teaching of Chumash in Elementary Schools

Course Description – 2 sessions of 90 minutes

This course focuses on the developmental teaching of Chumash, using a discovery and inductive approach, rather than rote learning, and appropriate examples from the text. Participants will be required to do preparatory work as well as course work. The course work will include the preparation of a lesson based on this methodology.

Course 102: Methodology on the Teaching of Chumash in High Schools

Course Description – 2 sessions of 90 minutes

This course will focus on textual analysis of Chumash units, enabling students to focus on key words and themes that will allow them to better understand the classical rabbinical commentaries Participants will be required to do preparatory work as well as course work. The course work will include the preparation of a lesson based on this methodology.

Course 103: Teaching non-Narrative Chumash Texts

Course Description – 3 sessions of 90 minutes

Teachers often struggle when it comes to teaching the legal, ritualistic and lineage sections of Chumash. Exciting students about the laws of slavery, the building of the Mishkan, and the Korbanot is a major challenge. This course will provide teachers with the necessary skills and tools to give their students a thorough overview of the various topics, as well as providing the necessary tools to stimulate their students and to engage them more positively with the texts.

Course 104 : An Introduction to Sefer Yehoshua: The Man, The Book and The Conquest

Course Description – 3 sessions of 60 minutes

This series will explore key issues in the book of Yehoshua, including the personal challenges he faced and the theological questions the book addresses. In addition, we will use geographical knowledge of the Land of Israel to gain a deeper understanding of its conquest and will examine thematic elements of the division of the Land to the twelve tribes.

Course 105: Exploring Sefer Shoftim

Course Description – 2 sessions of 9 minutes

This course will focus on the conflicts within Sefer Shoftim and will examine its message regarding leadership and faith in God. Additionally, we will look at the unity of the people of Israel at the time and look at the Shofet’s role in forging this young nation. Through this course, the teacher will gain a greater understanding of the structure and message of Sefer Shoftim enabling greater focus in the classroom.

Course 106: The Five Megillot

Course Description – 1 session of 90 minutes per megilla

Each session focuses on the central issue of each book, using textual analysis, which will enable teachers to give inspiring lessons to their students.

Course 107: Other Sefarim

Course Description - Each sefer will be between 2-3 sessions of 90 minutes

Talmud Courses

Course 201: The Methodology of Teaching Talmud

Course Description – 3 sessions of 90 minutes

Talmud is an area that causes great frustration for both students and teachers. Students find the language difficult and the logical flow of the shakla vetaria, hard to follow. Teachers also find it hard to help students focus on the sugya, when the Talmud itself brings in many tangential subjects before getting to the point. This course creates a framework to enable teachers to examine sugyot in Talmud in an organized and systematic manner. The course will focus on key words, changes in language and the general structure of sugyot. Participants will be required to do preparatory work as well as course work. The course work will include the preparation of a lesson based on this methodology.

Note: Courses, with the focus on specific masekhtot, are also available.

Course 202: Teaching Tanaitic and Amoraic Biographical History in Talmud Classes

Course Description – 2 sessions of 90 minutes

Students regularly learn the teachings of the Tannaim and Amoraim, but what do they really know about them? This session will provide teachers with an integrative and innovative methodology to teach the historical framework for these periods, together with useful and engaging biographical information about leading sages from the different periods. Participants will be given course work requiring them to analyze various sugyot using this methodology.

Course 203: The Methodology of Teaching Mishna in Elementary schools

Course Description – 2 sessions of 90 minutes

This course enables teachers to examine different ways in introducing mishna to students, enabling the students to understand the relationship between the mishna and the written Torah and to gain a better understanding in the basic structure of the mishna.

Course 204: The Methodology of Teaching Mishna in High Schools

Course Description – 2 sessions of 90 minutes

The Six Orders of the Mishna seem to be very disordered. Masekhet Gittin precedes Masekhet Kidushin and even within masekhtot, the laws of “grounds for divorce” are in the final chapter of Gittin, while the laws of using an agent for divorce are in chapter 1. This course will enable the teacher to make order of the mishna and assist him in focusing on the structure, thus allowing students to gain a greater understanding of the principles behind the Tanaim’s approach to the Oral Law.

Halakha Courses

Course 301: The Methodology of Teaching Halakha in Elementary Schools

Course Description – 2 sessions of 90 minutes

This course looks at teaching halakha through experiential learning, and includes many practical examples. Participants will be asked to do preparatory work as well as course work. Participants will be required to prepare a lesson based on this methodology.

Course 302: The Methodology of Teaching Halacha in High School

Course Description – 2 sessions of 90 minutes

This course deals with the difficulty of teaching halakha at the High School level. The approach looks at dealing with different sugyot of halakhot and includes number of practical examples. Participants will be asked to do preparatory work as well as course work. Participants will be required to prepare a lesson based on this methodology.

Prayer Courses

Course 401: Creating on a Meaningful Tefillah

Course Description – 1 session 90 minutes

Tefillah is a time for our students to reach out and strengthen their relationship with God. However, due to its repetitive daily routine, tefillah often becomes uninspiring and leads the school day to begin with friction between teachers and students. This course will give teachers ideas on how to re-invigorate the Tefillah and to make it inspirational.

Israel Courses

Course 501: Educating Students to Identify With Israel

Course Description – 1 session – 90 minutes

Students once naturally identified with Israel . Growing up during the era of the Six Day War and Entebbe , allowed them to experience the passion and positive energy that these events engendered. However, today’s students are mostly exposed to the media's portrayal of Israel as aggressors and occupiers who have little sympathy for the Palestinians. They therefore lack a natural identification with Israel . This course examines the goals of teaching Israel , examines the aspects of Israel that should be taught and gives schools ideas on creating a more Israel oriented school culture.

Curriculum Courses

Course 601 : Developing and Implementing Curriculum Change

Course Description – 2 sessions of 90 minutes each

Departmental Heads and teachers often work with curriculum that needs updating or that has not been fully developed. This course helps teachers focus on the aims of their department, and the ability to help them scrutinize the knowledge, skills and understandings of a subject, enabling them to select the appropriate targets and tasks.

The Lookstein Center prides itself in having scholars who are versant in Tanakh and capable of creating courses in each of the books of the Tanakh, that are appropriate to the needs of individual schools.

The Lookstein Center strives to cater to the needs of individual schools and therefore believes in designing its courses to meet specific requirements. If you are interested in more information, contact conference@lookstein.org.