Guiding Students to Understand and Internalize

These days, materialism, instant gratification, and superficiality are threatening the fabric of Torah life.  If we are honest, we will admit that it affects almost all of us to varying degrees.

In the past, we were able to take a great deal for granted in terms of our children’s emunah and connection to Judaism. This is no longer the case. Osmosis, the way emunah was absorbed in the past, can no longer be relied upon.

Young people today need a deep understanding of the foundations of Judaism and answers to their questions.  But before educators can teach or give answers, not only must they have the knowledge, but also know how to communicate it in a manner that will make today’s students receptive.

In addition, in most schools only a small part of  each Chumash is taught, along with a few selected chapters of  Nach, and each pasuk is taught  with many mefarshim. While this method transmits a lot of information and develops skills,  it relies mainly on memorization and fails to show the bigger picture.

HaKivun entails a major change in the classroom culture, and involves both what and how we teach.

The Yahadus curriculum  covers foundations of Judaism from Yedias Hashem to Techias HaMeisim and in the Chumash program all five Chumashim are covered.

HaKivun emphasizes understanding rather than just the transmission of information. It guides students to think, analyze sources, and through carefully planned lessons and workshops, connect the dots in a way that is impossible by merely memorizing information.  Students arrive at the truth through their personal efforts – they “own” the material.

HaKivun inspires and nurtures students so that Judaism goes deeper than surface allegiance and becomes who the young woman is at the very core of her being, not just what she does. Students both KNOW and FEEL; in this way, they develop a love for limudei kodesh and a deepening desire to connect with Hashem.