The Karaites are thus a topic that should be included in a course in medieval Jewish history. But how can it be made both interesting and meaningful to the high school student? The following is the approach that I have adopted in 11th-grade Jewish history classes and which relies largely, although not exclusively, on the use of group role-playing.
On Teaching Halakhah This article originally appeared in Ten Da'at 1996, 9:1, pp. 55-62. Reprinted here with permission. A Prefatory Plea Although I have given the matter much thought and have some ideas for the resolution of the difficulties I see in the...
Addressing the Problem of "Disconnection": Creating a Learning Environment of Personal Relevance and Passion based on the Wisdom of the Kabbalah I) The Problem: For the past 15 years I have been teaching full-time. I have taught Jewish Studies to adults, ranging in...
From Ten Da’at, Volume VII, Number 1, Fall 1993. Appears here with permission. I Historically, until the mid-twentieth century, yeshiva education past the elementary level was considered a luxury, usually afforded to those who showed extraordinary intellectual...
Teaching the Flood Story:The Importance of Cultural Context Reprinted from Ten Da’at 9:1 Winter 1996 Most yeshivah students learn the pre-patriarchal biblical stories in the early years of elementary school, and for many, this remains their only systematic study of...
By: Rabbi Dr. Meyer Karlin Introduction Since the founding of the State of Israel in 1948, its Independence Day, or Yom HaAtzmaut has been celebrated in a variety of ways. The religious community, at least that major part of it which saw in the founding of the State a...
VeTen Tal U-Matar I The Jewish Calendar- General Observations A. Solar Vs. Lunar Both the solar and the lunar cycles figure prominently in the Jewish calendar. As Rambam stipulates (Kiddush haHodesh 1:1): חדשי השנה הם חדשי הלבנה שנאמר עולת חדש בחדשו ונאמר החדש...
Rabban Yochanan ben Zakkai Saves the Torah Introduction The three-year Roman siege of Yerushalayim portended doom for Jewish nationalism. The inhabitants of the Holy City were divided; some were wearied from the hopelessness of the situation; others, although...
Megillat HaAtzmaut: Analysis and Comparative Analysis [A full English translation of Megillat HaAtzmaut follows this article. The numbers referred to in the article correspond with the numbered clauses of Megillat HaAtzmaut] INTRODUCTION The Megillat HaAtzmaut,...
By: Penina Besdin KrautOriginally appeared in Ten Da’at Vol. 1, No. 2, 1987 I am a teacher of Tanach, and midrash is part of my daily experience. Not that I teach midrash as a subject area, nor that I even quote midrash every time I walk into the classroom, but...
