THE RITES OF PASSAGE: AN INSTRUCTIONAL GUIDE FOR YESHIVA HIGH SCHOOL TEACHERS (NEW YORK)

Abstract

Most students of Yeshiva high schools lack any sophisticated knowledge or appreciation of the Jewish rites of passage. Due to the unfortunate altered role of the Jewish family in Halakhic education, and the drastic change in the Yeshiva population, there is a definite need to address this topic in a comprehensive and sophisticated manner. These particular rites are enormously rich and laden with values-oriented material which lend themselves to values education and personality development.;This program is designed to be taught as a Dinim course in a senior Yeshiva high school class. The selected rites of passage include: (1) Birth/Brith Milah; (2) Bar/Bat Mitsvah; (3) Marriage; (4) Divorce; and (5) Death.;The program contains two major sections: (1) Presentation of the Halakhic material and (2) Pedagogic guidance. Each of these sections is designed in such a way as to facilitate the task of the teacher, and provide him with practical guidance for leading such a course.;In order to maximize the potential impact of such a program, sections of this course were pilot taught in eight different educational institutions around the world. Furthermore, a survey was conducted amongst educators to determine the need for such a course and its suitability for the stated audience. The overwhelming majority of those questioned expressed a keen interest in this program and believed that it would help fill a current void in Yeshiva education.