Classes Resume January 23rd - What Exactly is Hava Nagila? and Other Interesting Tidbits about Judaism!
http://www.smjf.org/index.aspx?page=1

Welcome to the 8th Grade Communiteen Blog :)

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Welcome to the 2011-2012 8th Grade Communiteen Blog! Since a blog is a a public journal, this blog will allow us to journal together and keep a meaningful diary of our year together. It will also show the table of contents for the course, hand-outs, discussions, articles, music, videos, links, etc. that reviews and highlights our discussions, conversations, presentations, and time together on Sundays.


My name is Amy F. Weinberger and I am the 8th grade facilitator of Communiteen at the Sarasota Manatee Jewish Federation. I love teaching 8th graders and I love being Jewish even if I wrestle with it. That is why Judaism is so appealing to me - it is very okay to question and disagree and form opinions. The ultimate commitment about being Jewish is the belief in one God or monotheism. I have no problem with that. The next ultimate commitment to me is Jewish education. Judaism isn't just a religion for me; it's a way of life; it's morality, a set of standards, a belief in something greater than yourself. It's traditions, rituals, music, family, friends (Jewish and non-Jewish), ideas, culture, art, food. It's also about the land - Israel. That is actually where the whole story of the Jewish people begins - in the land. That is what the disputes have always been about  and continue to be about- the land.  Each of you in this class will have the chance to discover how you are going to impact your Jewish world and from which perspective. This course gives you the chance to start  the process and to ensure that being Jewish and having a Jewish state survives. See you in class!