During this unit we are focusing on helping our students understand that words are extremely powerful, especially the words, "I'm sorry." In a world culture where "talk is cheap", where chatting with someone usually takes place in a digital room, and where "I'm sorry" becomes a meaningless line, the idea of genuine sincere repentance initiated by self-analysis and reflection is a critical life skill for students to learn.

During this unit our students will also learn that we cannot become wise without making mistakes, but we must also admit to our mistakes and work diligently to ameliorate them. G-d created teshuvah before creating the world. Why? Because G-d understood that without failure there could be no growth. and without growth, life is meaningless. We must also honestly assess our actions- both good and bad. We need dedicated time for teshuva like Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur and these days are but reminders of an ongoing, lifelong process.

The High Holy Days give us a timeframe, boundaries, and a method for practicing teshuvah. With enough mindful practice during the New Year, we can become comfortable with the steps, aster them, and use them consistently throughout the year to build and maintain healthy friendships and relationships. Even further, the concept of teshuva helps students understand that when they make a mistake, spread a rumor, gossip about a classmate, or even just standby as other use their words in a negative way, teshuvah is a mean through which they can right a wrong, bridge a gap or heal a wound.

The overall goals in all grade levels are:

• To define the process of Jewish repentance: recognition of doing something wrong, or missing the mark (the literal meaning of chet), exhibiting sincere remorse for the breach of good behavior, asking for forgiveness and making amends as much as possible, and planning to behave differently next time.

• To apply the teshuvah process to the life circumstances of our students and their families.

• To help enrich participation in High Holy Day services and rituals by adding content in class that will become familiar in practice

• To understand how Jewish rituals and texts serve as "coaches" to help improve our behavior and relationships with others.

• To encourage students to pursue the partner value of tzedek, righteousness, in their everyday lives. To perform acts of teshuvah are to be a tzaddik, a righteous person, to recognize when one has done something wrong and seek tzedek, justice, for those they have wronged.

Our weekly topics for Unit 1 are:

August 29, 2021- Rosh Hashana

September 12, 2021- Yom Kippur

September 19, 2021- Hachnasat Orchim (mitzvah of welcoming guests)

September 26, 2021- Sukkot Party -- Families are encouraged to stay!

October 3, 2021- Simchat Torah

The underpinning of the Jewish value system is the notion that humans were created in B'tzelem Elohim, in G-d's image. This unit explores how we can honor the image of G-d in ourselves, recognize it in others, and how this concept affects the way we behave in the world. Beyond love for the other and ethical behavior, b'tzelem Elohim, also raises the bar on all human potential. If we call G-d "Creator", then the bar is raised on our behavior to also be a "creator". At the very lest, we should be productive partners with G-d in the stewardship of creation. If G-d feeds the hungry, clothe the naked, visits the sick, shows mercy, then we must also perform these acts. The prayers are given new meaning, both praising G-d and reminding humans of our obligation to follow G-d's lead to the best of our abilities. We also also called on to develop our Godly spirit or soul, the one which elevates us to performing actions with Godly intent. We can do this by following the Torah commandments, mitzvot, and actively working on fine tuning our characters.

The students will also be introduced to the Talmudic lesson that all of Israel, every Jew, is responsible for the rest of Israel. Kol Yisrael aravim ze bazeh "all of Israel is responsible for one another." The takeaway that we want the students to understand is that doing one mitzvah and moving on is not enough. Each of us, as Jewish people and as human beings are responsible for the wellbeing of all other Jewish people, and human beings in the world.

Altogether, this unit is building the argument that humanity, and particularly the Jewish people who have embraced this aspect of their master creation story, have a purpose and mission to their lives of divine proportions. This value underlies the units that we will study the rest of the year. Our status as images of G-d will help us summon the courage to act when needed, will clearly point to our responsibilities towards others, will remind us of the power in speech and words, and will make us seekers of peace and wholeness.

The overall goals in all grade levels are:

• For students to understand what it means to be created in the image of G-d and the responsibilities and actions that come along with that.

• For students to understand that the fact that we are created in the image of G-d means that we must act in accordance with that "honor." Our actions and how we treat others are the ways in which we are in G-d's image. It's not physical, it's internal.

• For students to understand the many "acts" or "creations" that G-d created according to our tradition and the ways in which we emulate that.

• For students to understand that they have the power and responsibility to crete in this world-to finish G-d's creation through their words, actions and choices.

• For students to consider themselves G-d's "partners" in creation, functioning in the world and our communities today.

Our weekly topics for Unit 2 are:

October 17, 2021- Bikkur Cholim

October 24, 2021- Todah

November 7, 2021- Tzedakah

To behave with courage and moral strength requires training and practice within "safe" environments. It is related to self-empowerment because while a burst of initial courage may happen when an individual is challenged, the student may not respond when a group of individuals are challenged, the cause is a bit removed or when there is risk to oneself. this unit will use story, biography, liturgy and simulations to encourage students to become self-empowered.

For that reason, it's important that a student's understanding of gevurah goes beyond physical strength and acts of bravery on the battlefield. All too often, the role models children have are mythical super-heroes, or sometimes inappropriate personalities in sports, music and entertainment. Students should realize that gevurah includes spiritual courage and the willingness to take risks, incur costs, for the right causes. Gevurah also incorporates the idea that we all can be heroic in our everyday lives by living an exemplary life and doing what is right and jus. The goal is to encourage students to apply gevurah to issues of withstanding peer pressure, sticking their necks out for others, self-restraint, self-discipline, and taking a leadership role in their group when the opportunity or need to be an upstander comes along.

Our weekly topics for Unit 3 are:

November 14, 2021- Jewish Artists and Innovators

November 21, 2021- Hanukkah

December 5, 2021- Hanukkah around the World party - Families are encouraged to stay

December 12, 2021- Ometz Lev & Age appropriate discussions around Antisemitism

December 19, 2021- Shabbat