Our Tanakh curriculum is designed to deepen student engagement and understanding of Torah through advanced skill building and sophisticated analytical thinking. Students at Shalhevet begin their Tanakh study by learning Sefer Shemot and Bamidbar, along with Megillat Esther and Sefer Yonah, and then graduate into using the LaHaV Tanakh curriculum for 11th and 12th grades.
Our curriculum is designed to first develop critical thinking and textual fluency through in-depth study of several major books of Tanakh and its commentaries. After mastering this material in 9th and 10th grades, we introduce the LaHaV Tanakh curriculum (which was developed here at Shalhevet) in order to explore the major literary, moral, theological, and philosophical themes across all of Tanakh instead of studying any single book. By combining these two approaches - detailed study of specific books in 9th and 10th grades, along with exploration of global issues like morality, parshanut, and Biblical authorship in 11th and 12th grades, Shalhevet students emerge with an advanced skillset and a transformative engagement with the core ideas of our Torah.
Tanakh Course Descriptions:
| Sefer Shemot |
9th Grade Tanakh:
This course focuses on the questions of nationhood, leadership, and theology that emerge from Sefer Shemot while helping students develop the advanced linguistic, conceptual, and literary skills needed to study Tanakh.
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Sefer Yonah
Megillat Esther
Sefer Bamidbar
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10th Grade Tanakh:
This course explores fundamental themes of Tanakh through an in-depth study of Sefer Yonah, Megillat Esther, and Sefer Bamidbar. Utilizing classical parshanut and literary techniques, students will probe Yonah's relationship with Hashem, the major theological questions of Megillat Esther, and the challenges of nationhood that emerge in Sefer Bamidbar. Throughout the year, students are challenged to further their skills and develop their relationship with Torah and Judaism.
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11th Grade Tanakh: Structure, Parshanut and Morality
LaHaV's Tanakh courses adopt the same methodology as our groundbreaking approach to Talmud: Instead of studying a single book or story, we weave together narratives that introduce students to the fundamental ideas, disputes and values that shape the study of Tanakh. Our introductory course begins by exploring the process of canonization through an analysis of sefer Kohelet, along with the nature of nevuah through an examination of the thought of the Rambam and the commentary of select parshanim (commentators). The course then explores the differences between peshat and midrash through a detailed analysis of several narratives, including parshat Noach, the sin of the Golden Calf, and Moshe’s hitting of the rock, followed by a detailed examination and comparison of the exegetical approaches of Rashi, Rashbam, Ibn Ezra, Ramban, and Rambam. The course then concludes by utilizing these insights in an exploration of morality throughout Tanakh, with emphasis on the narratives of Sodom, Akeidat Yitzchak, Slavery, and Amalek.
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12th Grade Tanakh: Faith, Authorship and Criticism
Our advanced study of Tanakh continues with this capstone course, applying many of the lessons from previous Tanakh courses to a detailed examination of one of the most difficult theological questions of the modern period – Biblical Authorship. Orthodox responses to Biblical Criticism require a combination of Biblical text, midrashic interpretation, linguistic subtlety and comparative analysis – all of which are explored in this course. This course seeks not only to develop traditional responses to Biblical Criticism, but also to deepen our students’ faith and ability to grapple with complex textual and theological questions. From a detailed examination of the stories of creation, Noach’s flood, and Yosef and his brothers to comparative analysis of Biblical stories with Ancient Near East law and literature, this course spans the thought of Chazal and the Rishonim - as well as modern thinkers such as Umberto Cassuto, Rav Soloveitchik, Professor Joshua Berman and others - as we weave together text, tradition and critical analysis to explore Jewish faith and tradition in light of modern scholarship.
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Advanced Tanakh Shiur
We're excited to introduce our newest program for students to continue to develop their interest and familiarity with Tanakh. Modeled after the success of our Matmidim (AGS) Gemara program, the Advanced Tanakh Shiur is an additional elective class that meets twice a week during breakfast for 11th and 12th graders. This course is designed to provide students with additional opportunities to engage in Tanakh study by introducing them the narrative themes of many different books in Tanakh. While our core curriculum is designed to provide a deep exploration of specific books and themes in Tanakh, this Advanced Tanakh Shiur will emphasis breadth of knowledge by introducing students to a wide range of sifrei Tanakh - especially books and stories that are not often studied in middle or high school.
