RAMAZ Inter-Disciplinary Programs 2009-2013 2009-2010 Grade 12th Theme Structure of Program We had one session by a faculty member

on the dialectic between science and religion (each faculty member gave a presentation that they were comfortable with). Then there was a "key-note" speaker followed by some q and a. Following the speaker, there were follow up sessions by different faculty in which students got to discuss their impression of the lecture and their general feelings about the the conflict between science and religion. In class learning about topic by different departments for one week. (Departments included Spanish (The Jewish Cowboys of Argentina), Tanach (Yehezkiel's "Prophecy of the Dry Bones" as a return to Israel), Talmud (The prohibition of returning to Israel), History (Zionism as an expression of Nationalism or a reaction to antisemitism), Hebrew (HaTikvah)). The program concluded with Rabbi Riskin discussing what it means to be a Zionist in America today. Yigal Sklarin gave a preparatory session in the WJH classes detailing the effects of the Expulsion from Spain. Then the entire grade went to the YUM to see the relevant manuscripts and early printed books that were relevant to the Sephardic community in Amsterdam and some early printed works of Sephardic Jews Speaker Prof. David Ruderman (U of Penn): God and Nature: Historical Reflections on the Encounter between Science, Medicine, and Jewish Culture

Yigal Sklarin Dates 2/5/2010

Science and Religion

10th

R Shlomo Riskin

Modern Zionism

Between Pesach and Yom Haatzmaut

9th The Expulsion from Spain 2010-2011 12th Jewish Rebel and Revolutionaries 11th Understanding the relationship between United States Law and Judaism: Comparisons and Conflicts Modern Zionism and homeland 2011-2012 Theme Grade 11th Understanding the relationship between United States Law and Judaism: Comparisons and Conflicts 12th Its the end of the world as we know it: Perspectives on Messianism, the Apocalypse and the End of the Days

Trip to the YUM (Braginsky exhibit)

5/18/2010

2 sessions relevant to the theme of the program which the seniors Prof. Jeffery Shoulson (U of Miami): got to chose from one Judaic one general. This was followed by a "Zaphenath, Kugelmass, and Milton, or, "key note" speaker on a topic relevant to the theme. What's a Nice Jewish Boy Doing in a Place Like This?" One session by an outsider on a various topic related to the theme (the speakers ranged in level and on topic) that the students got to choose from, followed by key note speaker

2/10/2011

10th

In class learning about topic (Same as last year with minor additions and changes in terms of content taught. Departments included Spanish, Tanach, Talmud, History, Hebrew and English) + preparatory learning session for lecture followed by lecture

Prof. Michael Helfand (Pepperdine Law 3/28/2011 School): "Life as a Minority in the United States: How the Constitution Fails to Protect Religious Groups" Prof. Jonathan Gribetz (Rutgers): May 2-May 5, ""Whose City? Jerusalem Through the 2011 Eyes of Judaism, Christianity and Islam"

Structure of Program Speaker Same as last year: One session by an outsider on a various topic Prof. Michael Helfand (Pepperdine Law related to the theme (the speakers ranged in level and on topic) School) and the students choose the session that interests them There will be 2 sessions to proceed a guest lecturer. The seniors will get to choose one general studies session and one Judaic session. The sessions will be based on topic that will be relevant to the topic.

Date 12/14/2012

Prof Elli Stern (Yale University): 3/4/2012 "Messianism, Missionaries, and Zionism from Menahem Mendel of Shklov to John Hagee"

10th

9th

RAMAZ Inter-Disciplinary Programs 2009-2013 In class learning about topic (Departments included Spanish, Tanach, Talmud, History, Hebrew and English) followed two Modern Zionism and keynote speakers, Rabbi Meyer Moskowitz and R Dr David Flatto homeland on the topic of "From Darius to Balfour: Epic Moments in the Jewish relationship to their Homeland" To compliment the WJH curriculum on Second Temple Judaism we had a trip to the exhibit on the Dead Sea Scrolls at Discovery The Dead Sea Scrolls and NY in Times Square. To help prepare the students for the trip and Ancient Israel: History of the maximize their experience we had Prof Lawrence Schiffman speak Jewish People During the about "What the Scrolls are and arent" and we had four guides Second Temple Period speak to us in the exhibit. Two guides were experts on Biblical Israel and two spent time discussing the scrolls and Qumran. Same as last year: One session by an outsider on a various topic related to the theme (the speakers ranged in level and on topic) and the students choose the session that interests them. Additional components to the program: Introduction to program by Understanding the Prof Sam Rascoff (NYU Law School, Ramaz Alum) about relationship between United perspectives on Election Day. Complimentary to the lectures will States Law and Judaism: be a trip to the YU Museum for the exhibit: "Its a Thin Line: The Comparisons and Conflicts Eruv and Jewish Community in New York and Beyond" with a guided tour by Rabbi Adam Mintz where we will see some of the issues Prof Helfand discussed played out. The student were also given an introctudtory lecture on "Hilchot Eiruvin" by myself. Crossing Borders was an exhibit that featured a superb selection of over fifty Hebrew, Latin, and Arabic manuscripts from the University of Oxfords Bodleian Libraries. The manuscripts, many of them exquisitely illuminated, illustrate the fertile exchanges among Christians, Muslims, and Jews in the fields of religion, art, science, and literature. The trip had three components- a visual presentation by Professor David Stern from the University of Crossing Borders: Manuscripts Pennsylvania about the development of the Jewish book and from the Bodleian Libraries at printing and many of the highlights of the exhibit. The presentation The Jewish Museum will be followed with an art project during which students will learn calligraphy using bamboo pens and homemade ink. They will also learn about the production of oak gall ink used in writing a Torah scroll. The visit will conclude with tours of the gallery led our Head of School, Mr. Paul Shaviv, and two guest scholars, Dr. David Sclar, former curator at JTS Library, and Dr. Pinchas Roth, an expert on the European Geniza. There will be 2 sessions to proceed a guest lecturer. The seniors Its the end of the world as we know it: Perspectives on will get to choose one general studies session and one Judaic session. The sessions will be based on topic that will be relevant Messianism, the Apocalypse to the topic. and the End of the Days

Yigal Sklarin Prof. David Flatto (Penn State Univeristy April 20-24 Law School)

Prof Lawrence Schiffman (Yeshiva U.): January 4th "What the scrolls are and aren't" Guides: Prof Jill Katz (YU), R Ari Lamm (YU), Prof Ari Mermelstein (YU), Prof Joseph Angel (YU)

2012-2013 11th

Prof. Michael Helfand (Pepperdine Law School)

November 6th

9th

Lecture by Professor David Stern. Tours December 19, by Prof. Stern, Mr Shaviv, Drs. David 2012 Sclar and Pinchas Roth.

12th

Prof Hartley Lachter (Muhlenberg University) to discuss different rabbinic perspectives on the end of daysrationalism vs. mysticism

During the first two blocks of mini courses

10th

Modern Zionism and homeland

RAMAZ Inter-Disciplinary Programs 2009-2013 In class learning about topic (Departments included Spanish, Tanach, Talmud, History, Hebrew and English) followed three presentations and or lectures. Yigal Sklarin will give an overview with interactive survey and videos about Modern day aliyah. Rabbi Meyer Moskowitz will discuss his experience of coming to Israel. We will engage in a study of classic Zionist text from the Medieval period to the Modern Era in a period long study session (like what we have done in the past two years, but not in preparation for a lecture).

Yigal Sklarin April 8-12