11th Grade Classes
Shelanu has designed first bell classes for each grade cohort. These carefully designed selections serve as the required class for first bell for all students. Students will be automatically placed in their respective first bell class – there is no need to register for these.
Junior First Bell
Pixar and Judaism
Courtney Anthony & Jordan Hoffman
Come explore the many ways that Jewish themes and values manifest in Pixar movies. We will discuss how to put on our "Jewish Goggles" when viewing art and the world. Can Pixar movies help us reflect on our commitment to lead meaningful, thoughtful, and committed lives as Jews, all while remaining connected to the larger world? The class will screen and discuss selections from several classic Pixar movies. No previous experiences with Pixar movies needed. This class is taught in partnership with Jewish Family Service.
Junior Second Bell
The Jewish Obligation of Accessibility (Class Full)
Dr. Caroline Winstel McLeod
This class explores disabilities through Jewish social justice lens of repairing the world by developing solutions and ideas to help create a society that recognizes that we are all created in God’s image (Betzelem Eloheim). Through STEAM, adaptive sports and hands on learning, students will learn more about the Jewish values of disability, inclusivity and opportunities for change. This class is open to all grades
Jews and Pop Culture (Class Full)
Avi Dave
This course explores the interplay between Jews and U. S. popular culture through comedy, art, music and television. Each week visit a new aspect of Pop Culture and its Jewish connections. Be ready to explore youtube, tiktok, and insta as we uncover the hidden Jewish elements.
Introduction to Community Dialogue – Year long college credit course (Class Full)
3 College Credits that students can apply towards their intended college
Courtney Anthony
Students will explore the developmental foundations of what it means to be together in community, during both good times and challenging times. Using the framework of maklochet l’shem shamayim (argument for the sake of heaven), students will explore a variety of philosophies and methodologies tied to creating and engaging in community discourse. Students will also explore some of the skills needed to engage with other community members in a positive and productive way, including understanding our own strengths and triggers, attuned listening and learning how to achieve a win-win feeling at the end of a discussion. Through the study of these concepts and immersion in Jewish texts, students will be able to utilize the skills and strategies they have learned in real-life difficult conversations.
This class is a college credit class, offered by Shelanu in conjunction with American Jewish University (AJU). AJU provides the curricula, course materials and college accreditation and the class will be taught for our Shelanu community by Wise Temple Director of Education Courtney Anthony. Students can expect homework and reading assignments each week as well as 8 online sessions in addition to the Sunday evening classes held in-person during second bell at Shelanu. Shelanu families will pay American Jewish University for the class at the rate of $1,350 for the year; this is in addition to the annual Shelanu tuition of $400. Students who complete the full year course will receive $1,000 in May to offset the price.
If students select this college credit course through Shelanu registration, a follow-up email from Nina will be sent with instructions on how to register for the class with AJU. Please note, there is a homework assignment due by 11:59PM on the first day, Sept 8.
The extra sessions for this class will be held online on the following dates:
Oct 6 - 5-6PM
Oct 13 - 5-6PM
Jan 12- 6-7PM
Jan 19 6-7PM
Feb 10 6-7PM
Feb 20 6-7PM
April 21 6-7PM
April 24 6-7PM
Maimonides Moot Court Competition (Formerly Moot Beit Din)
Year long competitive debate class
Teacher: Lowell Lustig
Embark on a rich and engaging learning journey with our local teacher, Lowell Lustig. Through this premiere program, students will grapple with contemporary ethics through a prism of Jewish legal tradition. Powered by the Hadar Institute and supported by Maimonides Fund, the Maimonides Moot Court Competition is an international competition for high school and college students, in which participants defend ethical arguments grounded in Jewish wisdom in response to a modern ethical issue. The 2024-25 case explores using gambling revenue to fund Jewish programming. This is a yearlong course that includes travel opportunity in the Spring to the competition in New York on March 27-30.
Creation
Rabbi Kopnick
Creation: So you read the creation story in Genesis and say, "yeah, right!" But maybe it is not that simple. Maybe there's a way to believe that God inspired our Torah to stand the tests of time and scientific theory Don't believe everything the Creation Museum says, but don't throw away our Torah, either! Join Rabbi Sandford Kopnick from Valley Temple as we explore the way the Creation story matches up with our own beliefs. If we have time, we'll look at Creation ideas from other religions, too!