The unique Jewish Values Matrix encourages students to acquire a Hebrew vocabulary rooted in Jewish texts with which to debate a wide range of contemporary social and political issues. The Washington Institute also developed a second curriculum to meet the differing needs of day schools entitled Jews, Judaism and Civic Responsibility which integrates history, classic Jewish sources and the application of those texts to contemporary issues. These units help students understand the Judaic mandate to be engaged in the social and political affairs facing our world today. The JCI Retreat energizes the participants to apply the knowledge they have gained from their Jewish Civics course to the real world. Upon return to their home communities, students are challenged to research the needs of the community and gain some first-hand exposure to the ways in which social and political change can be effected.
Students create their own service-learning project, putting Jewish values into action.
The Orthodox Day School JCI is underwritten by the Jim Joseph Foundation. Pluralistic Day School JCI is funded by the Samuel Bronfman Foundation. Primarily in order to give young people an opportunity for serving their fellow men in need. Our projects usually involve the construction or repair of one or more buildings. We have built a school, a gymnasium, single family homes, barns, recreational facilities, a community center, installed water systems, repaired homes, etc.