Foundations of Jewish Family Living
Values for parents to share with their children

Foundations of Jewish Family Living is a new curriculum for parents that provides a thought-provoking encounter with the core values of Judaism. Developed by the renowned Florence Melton Adult Mini-School, a project of the Hebrew University, the curriculum brings to life the master stories from our tradition and the profound messages they convey.

This rich learning experience for adults will provide an opportunity for you to bring the Jewish conversation home to share with your young child. At a time in your family's life when your child is beginning his or her own Jewish education, Foundations of Jewish Family Living provides you with the learning, the language, and the confidence to be a teacher to your own children.

The topics to be explored include:

• Lesson 1: Stories and Values — Introduction to Foundations; The concept of the master story Elisha the prophet, tzedakah, and chores.
• Lesson 2: Reflecting the Source — Creation, Rosh Hashanah, and our Godly Image
• Lesson 3: The Gift of Self Improvement — Teshuvah (Repentance), Yom Kippur, and the Golden Calf
• Lesson 4: Embracing the Other — Abraham and Rebecca: Hachnasat Orchim and welcoming guests
• Lesson 5: Living Beyond the Day to Day — Shabbat: creating holy time
• Lesson 6: Giving Respect, Expecting Respect — Honoring people, honoring parents
• Lesson 7: Making our own Miracles — Chanukah, Maccabees, religious freedom
• Lesson 8: Creating Jewish Space — Jacob’s Dream, the Temple, the Synagogue, and the home
• Lesson 9: Sacred Sound Bytes — Hannah’s Prayer and the power of words
• Lesson 10: Protecting our Eden — Honi the Circle Maker, TuB’Shvat and the environment
• Lesson 11: Controlling Fate — Esther, Purim, and freedom of choice
• Lesson 12: Becoming a Nation — Exodus, Passover, and the beginning of the Jewish nation
• Lesson 13: Reclaiming the Nation — Yom Ha’atzmaut, Israel and the Diaspora
• Lesson 14: Making an Imprint — Tikkun Olam (improving the world) Kiddush Hashem (making God’s name holy)

About the Author
Catriella Freedman, a Los Angeles native, was previously a Rhythms and Dramas teacher, and is currently part of the Gandel (Israeli version of the Mini-School) faculty.  She has received degrees from Princeton and Harvard in Religion and Jewish Studies, and has studied at the Drisha Institute in Manhattan and Midreshet Lindenbaum in Jerusalem.  She lived for many years in Albany, NY where she was an adult educator and Jewish Studies Principal of the Bet Shraga Hebrew Academy.  She currently resides in Zikhron Ya'akov, Israel.


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