Wise Temple

Required For Wise Temple 9^th Graders: Resetting the Table

Since October 7, differences in opinions and perspectives have come to the forefront of Jewish educational spaces. Join Shelanu 9th graders to gain tools and skills for productive communication across differences.

This is a required class for Wise Temple 9th graders who wish to participate in the Confirmation program during their 10th grade year.

 Required for Wise Temple Madrichim: First-Year Madrichim Program

The Madrichim First-Year Program is our newest learning lab designed to help teen madrichim become more effective in the classroom and create a more inclusive world outside of it.

Participants will learn:

• Classroom management skills
• How to build inclusive environments
• Leadership tools that help everyone feel welcome and supported

This program is required for all first-year Wise Temple Madrichim.

Wise Temple Retreat Sessions for 9^th & 10^th graders

Sunday, December 6 and Sunday, April 11
12:00–5:00 PM at Wise Temple

Chavarim M’Israel

In this semester-long course, students will explore Modern Israel with the Chaverim M’Israel. Engage with Israeli game shows, modern artists, technology, food, music, and everyday culture while building meaningful connections with Israeli peers. This hands-on course will be active and engaging for all. Open to students in all grades.

Girls in Trouble

Dr. Caroline Winstel McLeod 

How do stories of women in Torah reflect the complexity of our own lives? How can art can help us deepen our connections to these ancient texts? The Girls in Trouble classbrings women in Torah to life through art, text, and personal reflection.

Returning Madrichim: Returning Madrichim Program

Required: Confirmation - In 10th grade, the Wise Temple Confirmation class experience continues with expanded opportunities for deeper learning, leadership, and service planning.

The Returning Madrichim Program builds on the foundation and offers expanded opportunities for leadership, teaching, and mentorship. This program is designed to help teens move from supporting the classroom to actively shaping it, while strengthening their role as leaders in both synagogue life and the broader Jewish community. This program is required for all 10&11^th grade Wise Temple Madrichim.

Returning madrichim will continue developing:

• Leadership and facilitation skills
• Lesson planning and classroom teaching strategies
• Inclusive community-building practices
• Confidence in mentoring younger students and peers
• Jewish leadership skills that extend beyond the classroom

This program is required for all 10&11^th grade Wise Temple Madrichim.

Maimonides Moot Court Competition (Formerly Moot Beit Din)

Year long competitive debate class

Open to 10-12 Graders

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. This is a yearlong course that includes travel opportunity in the Spring and extra class sessions. If you are interested and a returning Wise Temple Madrich, you can apply for consideration to participate in this program in lieu of the Returning Madrichim Program.

Girls in Trouble

Dr. Caroline Winstel McLeod 

How do stories of women in Torah reflect the complexity of our own lives? How can art can help us deepen our connections to these ancient texts? The Girls in Trouble classbrings women in Torah to life through art, text, and personal reflection.

Returning Madrichim: Returning Madrichim Program

Required: Confirmation - In 10th grade, the Wise Temple Confirmation class experience continues with expanded opportunities for deeper learning, leadership, and service planning.

The Returning Madrichim Program builds on the foundation and offers expanded opportunities for leadership, teaching, and mentorship. This program is designed to help teens move from supporting the classroom to actively shaping it, while strengthening their role as leaders in both synagogue life and the broader Jewish community. This program is required for all 10&11^th grade Wise Temple Madrichim.

Returning madrichim will continue developing:

• Leadership and facilitation skills
• Lesson planning and classroom teaching strategies
• Inclusive community-building practices
• Confidence in mentoring younger students and peers
• Jewish leadership skills that extend beyond the classroom

This program is required for all 10&11^th grade Wise Temple Madrichim.

Maimonides Moot Court Competition (Formerly Moot Beit Din)

Year long competitive debate class

Open to 10-12 Graders

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. This is a yearlong course that includes travel opportunity in the Spring and extra class sessions. If you are interested and a returning Wise Temple Madrich, you can apply for consideration to participate in this program in lieu of the Returning Madrichim Program.

Girls in Trouble

Dr. Caroline Winstel McLeod 

How do stories of women in Torah reflect the complexity of our own lives? How can art can help us deepen our connections to these ancient texts? The Girls in Trouble class brings women in Torah to life through art, text, and personal reflection.

Chavarim M’Israel

In this semester-long course, students will explore Modern Israel with the Chaverim M’Israel. Engage with Israeli game shows, modern artists, technology, food, music, and everyday culture while building meaningful connections with Israeli peers. This hands-on course will be active and engaging for all. Open to students in all grades.

11&12^th Grade Text Class –

Explore timeless Jewish texts through the lens of modern life. In this discussion-based class for 11th and 12th graders, local rabbis will guide students through meaningful conversations about identity, ethics, relationships, justice, and what it means to live Jewishly today. No prior text experience needed—just curiosity and a willingness to ask big questions.

Maimonides Moot Court Competition (Formerly Moot Beit Din)

Year long competitive debate class

Open to 10-12 Graders

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. This is a yearlong course that includes travel opportunity in the Spring and extra class sessions. If you are interested and a returning Wise Temple Madrich, you can apply for consideration to participate in this program in lieu of the Returning Madrichim Program.

Girls in Trouble

Dr. Caroline Winstel McLeod 

How do stories of women in Torah reflect the complexity of our own lives? How can art can help us deepen our connections to these ancient texts? The Girls in Trouble classbrings women in Torah to life through art, text, and personal reflection.

Chavarim M’Israel

In this semester-long course, students will explore Modern Israel with the Chaverim M’Israel. Engage with Israeli game shows, modern artists, technology, food, music, and everyday culture while building meaningful connections with Israeli peers. This hands-on course will be active and engaging for all. Open to students in all grades.

11&12^th Grade Text Class –

Explore timeless Jewish texts through the lens of modern life. In this discussion-based class for 11th and 12th graders, local rabbis will guide students through meaningful conversations about identity, ethics, relationships, justice, and what it means to live Jewishly today. No prior text experience needed—just curiosity and a willingness to ask big questions.

Optional Program: Etgar 36

Join your local rabbis and Shelanu classmates for an immersive trip to Atlanta and Alabama from January 15–18 to retrace the history of the Civil Rights Movement and the Jewish role within it. During the Etgar 36 Civil Rights Journey, students will meet with primary sources who were at the center of the Movement, hear their stories firsthand, and experience the sites, sounds, culture, food, and people of the American South.

Registration is not yet open as we finalize payment details and funding opportunities.