Overview: Objectives: By the end of the session, participants will be able to: Think critically about what it means to be “intelligent” Reflect on the different messages they receive about intellectual standing and achievement as boys from the media, parents, peers, teachers, and from Jewish tradition; Understand and consider the value of emotional intelligence
Overview: Objective: Establish guidelines for the group as a place where boys can be themselves; Identify core models of masculinity in American culture and to begin thinking critically about them, and the messages boys have received about these core models; Raise awareness of the limitations imposed on men by preconceived notions and stereotypes of manhood,…
Objectives: By the end of the session, participants will be able to: Recognize storytelling as an important part of Jewish tradition and a tool for expressing themselves and connecting with family and friends; Use the ritual of storytelling and siyum as a way of reflecting on their experience of the year in and outside of Shevet
A good name is more desirable than great riches; to be esteemed is better than silver or gold. — Proverbs 22:1. Summary: This is the closing session of the year. Over the course of this session, we will integrate themes of the year by looking closely at the Jewish idea of being a mensch and…
Summary: Jewish tradition encourages pleasure within the boundaries of law. This attitude applies to many things that are seen as pleasurable—sex, alcohol, food, dancing, wearing luxurious clothing, jewelry, and even giving lavish gifts. We are encouraged to enjoy, but in moderation. Teen guys face a particular challenge when it comes to pleasure. They are at…
Don’t think that doing good will be easy. Just because you want to do the right thing does not mean that you will know what to do when the time comes. The world is mixed up. It is a mixture of good and evil, difficult to separate. — Sfat Emet. Summary:
Summary: In our Jewish lives, we are surrounded by food. From seders to simchas, Shabbat challah to the latke/hamentaschen debate (https://bit.ly/1NKC9Kp), food permeates our holidays and celebrations. Even Jews who identify solely as “cultural” Jews have their culinary touchstones—bagels, pastrami and halva. (For a good introduction to the history of Jewish food, read the introduction…
Summary: As anyone who has fumbled through a sexual encounter knows, real-life sex can be far more complicated than a poster declaring, “Consent Is Sexy.” Many remain confused about what constitutes sexual consent and talking about it in the moment can feel awkward. In the time of #MeToo, the debate about how to negotiate sexual…
Summary: We live in a culture of extreme partying—popularized by Hollywood’s version of fraternity life and visions of high school. Many teen guys are often taught that being a man requires taking risks at parties. Some of those risks may seem relatively harmless: vaping or smoking a cigarette, drinking a beer, or using marijuana. Many…
Summary: Guys witness overt sexism in the media, from the words and behaviors of government leaders and other powerful men, to the gender wage gap in sports, to the ways women are portrayed in comics and video games. Guys might see sexism show up in daily ways. Guys might notice that they are punished in…
