Judaic Studies

Inspiring hearts, minds and souls.

TANACH
Our approach to Tanach is both global and personal.Students are provided with the language and analytical skills to read and analyze the text inside, tracing themes from one sefer to another and into their own lives. Our methodology challenges our students to explore the differences between pshat and drash. A Shulamith student will gain the ability to explicate rishonim, achronim and engage in parshanut. The girls develop a fluency in lashon hakodesh and the text comes alive as the classes are taught in Ivrit. Here, she will learn to appreciate the beauty of Torah to inspire.

Four years of required courses
Electives available to upperclassmen
Sample course offerings: Sifrei Breshit, SheImot, Bamidbar, and Dvarim. Yehoshua, Shoftim, Shmuel, Melachim, Yeshayahu, Yirmiyahu, Yechezkel, Chamesh Megillot, Tehillim.

HALACHA
In Halacha, the students will explore the source and development of Halacha, beginning with the Torah continuing to the achronim. Through their studies, students acquire the tools to understand the mesora and embrace the rules that are woven into the tapestry of our lives.

Four years of required courses
Sample course offerings: Hilchot Shabbat and Chagim, Kashrut, Brachot, Tzedakah, Kibud Av Va’em, Nashim B’halacha, Ishut, Understanding the Halachic Process.

IVRIT
Hebrew is our shared language, enabling tefilot to be meaningful and the words of Tanach to speak to the heart. As a Zionist institution, we aim for students to be comfortable in modern spoken Hebrew, from a casual conversation to a newspaper article. Our program affords students at varied levels to succeed. We speak, read, listen and write in Hebrew.

Four years of required courses
Sample course offerings: Hebrew I, Hebrew II, Modern Israeli Literature, Conversational Hebrew, Hebrew Poetry.

JEWISH PHILOSOPHY
In Jewish Philosophy, girls are invited to question, think, discuss, and analyze what it means to be an “ohr lagola.” Students work with concepts such as free choice, good and evil, and the role of women in Judaism. They will explore the meaning of tzelem elokim and its connection to inner beauty.

Three years of required courses
Sample course offerings: Pirkei Avot, Ethics, Foundations in Judaism, Finding True Happiness: Living an Inspired Life

JEWISH HISTORY
Jewish history gives us the opportunity to understand our place in the world today within the larger prism of world events. Beginning with Bayit Sheni and extending into the present, we explore the survival of the Jewish nation in the diaspora. We also study the development and function of the modern State of Israel.

Three years of required courses
Elective courses available to upperclassmen.

Sample course offerings: Medieval Jewish History, Rise of Chassidut in Eastern Europe, The Haskallah Movement, The History of Modern Zionism, Holocaust Studies.