Seventh/Eighth Grade: Biblical Civilization Syllabus

September 30

Introduction and Expectations

God and Prayer

Faith Interview: Do We Believe in God, in the Tanakh?

October 7

God and Prayer

Imagining God—What and Where Is God?

D'varim (Deuteronomy), chapter 4:11-12, 36, 38; I Melachim (Kings), chapter 8:27, 39

October 14

God and Prayer

Imagining God—What and Where Is God? (continued)

Sh'mot (Exodus), chapter 40:34-38, chapter 25:8–9

October 21

God and Prayer

Exploring the God–Human Relationship

Responsibilities and Consequences in Va-yikra (Leviticus), chapter 26:14-17

October 28

God and Prayer

Exploring the God–Human Relationship

Responsibilities and Consequences (continued)

Accounting for Evil in Yishayahu (Isaiah) chapter 53:1-6; Kohelet (Ecclesiastes), chapter 9:2-3, chapter 12:13-14

November 4

God and Prayer

The Historical and Covenantal Relationship between God and the Jews

B'reishit (Genesis), chapter 18:1-8, chapter 21:1-2

November 11

God and Prayer

The Historical and Covenantal Relationship between God and the Jews (continued)

II Shmuel (Samuel), chapter 7:1-17

November 18

God and Prayer

The Historical and Covenantal Relationship between God and the Jews (continued)

Sh'mot (Exodus), chapter 3:11-16, chapter 20:1-23

November 25

NO CLASS: THANKSGIVING

December 2

God and Prayer

Why Pray?

I Shmuel (Samuel), chapter 1:1-17; B'reishit (Genesis) 17:15-20

December 9

God and Prayer

Why Pray? (continued)

Va-yikra (Leviticus) 9:1-24; Tehilim (Psalms) 24

December 16

Peoplehood

The Covenant with Abraham in B'reishit (Genesis), chapter 15:1–7

December 23

NO CLASS: WINTER BREAK

December 30

NO CLASS: WINTER BREAK

January 6

Peoplehood

Chosenness: Preparing for the Covenant at Mount Sinai in Sh'mot (Exodus), chapter 19

January 13

Peoplehood

Leadership and Creating Community Institutions in Sh'mot (Exodus), chapter 18:13–27

January 20

NO CLASS: DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. WEEKEND

January 27

Peoplehood

Leadership and Creating Community Institutions in B'midbar (Numbers), chapter 16

January 27

Peoplehood

The Covenant with Abraham in B’reishit (Genesis), chapter 15:1-7

February 3

Peoplehood

Chosenness: Preparing for the Covenant at Mt. Sinai in Sh'mot (Exodus), chapter 19

February 10

Peoplehood

Leadership and Creating Community Institutions in Sh'mot (Exodus), chapter 18:13-27

February 17

NO CLASS: PRESIDENTS' DAY WEEKEND

February 24

Peoplehood

Leadership and Creating Community Institutions in B'midbar (Numbers), chapter 16

March 2

Peoplehood

Forging a People through Memory of Loss in Lamentations (Eicha), chapter 1 and 5

A discussion on Tish'ah Be’Av

March 9

Yom Iyun

March 16

The Jew and the Non-Jew

The Book of Esther and the Purim story in the Bible

March 23

The Jew and the Non-Jew

Finish the Book of Esther

The Book of Ruth

March 30

The Jew and the Non-Jew

Finish the Book of Ruth

B'reishit (Genesis) 16:1-16—the story of Hagar and Ishmael

Sh'mot (Exodus) 17:8-15 and D'varim (Deuteronomy) 25:17-19—Destroying the Memory of Amalek

April 6

Jews and the Land of Israel

The Promise of the Land of Israel

B'reishit (Genesis) 13:12-18

B'reishit (Genesis) 15:12-16:1

April 13

Jews and the Land of Israel/Jerusalem and the Temple

The Binding of Isaac

B'reishit (Genesis) 22:1-18

April 20

NO CLASS: PESAH BREAK

April 27

NO CLASS: PESAH BREAK

May 4

Jews and the Land of Israel

The relationship of the Jewish People to the Land of Israel

B'reishit (Genesis) 17:5-8

B'reishit (Genesis) 26:2-5

B'reishit (Genesis) 28:10-15

May 11

Jews and the Land of Israel

The relationship of the Jewish People to the Land of Israel (continued)

D'varim (Deuteronomy) 4:14

D'varim (Deuteronomy) 8:6-10

May 18

Wrap-up, last day of class