Kulam Curricular Outline

CIRCLE 1: ME/THE SELF

Standing Together
Objectives:  By the end of the session, participants will …

Establish guidelines for themselves to make the space a place for honest conversation
Feel more connected and comfortable with the rest of the group
Describe what to expect from these curricular sessions
Describe more than one aspect of their identities

Jewish text: Torah

A Listening Heart
Objectives:  By the end of the session, participants will …

Identify the difference between empathy and sympathy
Identify where empathy is reflected in Jewish values
Practice reframing sympathetic situations they might encounter with an empathetic response
Articulate where and why it is important to practice empathy

Jewish Text: Kings

Stressed Out? Tune In!
Objectives: By the end of the session, participants will …

Learn more about the body’s physical response to stress and brainstorm some de-stressing techniques.
Discuss how their physical response to stress and stress relief techniques might be informed by gender and gender stereotypes.
Use Jewish wisdom to help remind them that they can take action to reduce their stress levels.
Reflect on how they responded to the prolonged stress and uncertainty of the pandemic.

Jewish Text: Jewish Folklore

Jewish Identity
Objectives: By the end of the session, participants will…

Explore the personal experiences and emotions that are connected to Jewish identity.
Reflect on the relationship between their Jewish identity and their other identities.
Support their peers in connecting to Jewish identity.

Self-Care Does a Body Good
Objectives: By the end of this session, participants will…

Deepen their understanding about the many dimensions of self-care
Read and reflect on Jewish texts/wisdom to explore the meaning of self-care and its relationship with their body and their community
Nurture empathy and self-awareness by identifying obstacles to practicing self-care, by sharing self-care strategies they use, and by learning new strategies from their peers

Jewish Text: Pirke Avot & Rav Kook

CIRCLE 2: RELATIONSHIPS/FAMILY

Risk Taking & Courage
Objectives: By the end of the session, participants will…

Explore the messages that teenagers receive about risks and courage from media, society, and Judaism, including messages about gender norms and risk/courage
Reflect on their personal relationship with risks
Reflect on their personal “fallback setting” and how to check in with themselves in a new or stressful social situation in order to make thoughtful, healthy, and safe decisions

Jewish Text: Talmud

FOMO & Filters & Facetime, Oh My!
Objectives: By the end of the session, participants will …

Inquire into the role that social media plays in students’ own lives
Understand the pressures that they and their peers feel related to using social media.
Reflect on ancient Jewish wisdom, and consider how it may speak to the adolescent challenges and experiences related to social media use.
Create a resource of Jewish wisdom, for self and/or fellow-students, to draw on when considering social media use

Jewish Text: Proverbs

Friendship: “I’ll be there for you!”
Objectives: By the end of the session, participants will …

Jewish Text: Torah

Conflict Resolution
Objectives : By the end of the session, participants will …

Reflect on the ways they feel about conflict.
Identify their personal style when addressing moments of conflict.
Practice ways to work through conflict in order to create positive relationships.

Jewish Text: Talmud

Boundaries
Objectives: By the end of the session, participants will …

Practice how to set boundaries and communicate their needs.
Understand why setting physical, emotional, material, and time boundaries -is important to their well-being.
Identify the importance of boundaries in Judaism.

Jewish Text: Talmud

CIRCLE 3: COMMUNITY/WORLD

Coming soon:

Jewish Peoplehood

Implicit Bias

Racial Justice/Anti-Racism

Antisemitism

Talking about Israel

Sexism, Homophobia, Transphobia

Moving Traditions