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Volume 6   Issue 4	Winter 1999

It CAN be done

Hebrew and Bible--In One Text-Activity Book for the First Time

By Gila Gevirtz

It's our turn now. It is we who must pass on Judaism's sacred tradition. The Talmud teaches:

Moses received the Torah at Sinai and handed it down to Joshua; Joshua to the elders; the elders to the prophets, and the prophets handed it down to the Leaders of the Great Assembly." (PIRKE AVOT 1:1)

And so the tradition lives on and evolves from one generation to the next.

As educators, we have accepted the responsibility of handing down both Judaism's sacred language and the holy texts that guide and shape Jewish life. For this reason, Bible and Hebrew form the core of today's religious school curricula. And, as our students grow older and become more skilled, we have the opportunity to teach text and language as complementary subjects, affirming that the holiness of one is integral to the holiness of the other. Unfortunately, our students' study of Torah in Hebrew is often limited to the few months of their bar/bat mitzvah preparation. That's not much time to develop in-depth skills or insights.

But now, Parashat Hashavua: Reading Genesis lets you teach Hebrew and Bible as one curriculum--using one textbook! The result? You can offer a richer, more dynamic curriculum, and your students can take pride and pleasure in achieving advanced skills.

Developed with the guidance of rabbis and educators, Parashat Hashavua fosters Hebrew fluency and accuracy and students' personal understanding of Torah. It weaves Hebrew and English text together, creating a motivating learning environment. And by highlighting the ethical mitzvot associated with the weekly Torah portions, Parashat Hashavua connects the study of Torah with the central goal of living as a mensch.

The textbook includes a five-page lesson for each of the twelve parashiyot (weekly portions) of Genesis. A variety of instructional techniques and modalities--including Hebrew reading, writing, and comprehension activities; role playing; cooperative learning; word card activities; visual and aural cues; word analysis; and critical thinking questions--create an innovative, interactive learning environment.

Parashat Hashavua was designed for maximum flexibility. For example, you can introduce the textbook the week before Simhat Torah and teach one parashah per week beginning immediately after Simhat Torah. This will synchronize the curriculum with the annual cycle of Torah readings. Alternatively, you may begin later in the school year, or perhaps cover one parashah every other week, constructing a schedule that is independent of the annual cycle.

A comprehensive Teacher's Edition provides practical and fun teaching techniques for each student page. Answers are provided for all questions in the textbook, together with review sheets and family activities.

Parashat Hashavua is a groundbreaking program that can help you pass on Judaism's sacred tradition and help make this an especially rewarding and successful year for your students!

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