Innovation Independent Study

About this course

This course earns 1 innovation credit

Students will be tasked with designing their own course of study for this one credit course, which is a valuable learning experience in and of itself, with the actual content they want to dive deeper into. The course will follow these steps:

• Creating and submitting a Brit Limmud
• Completing your “reflection” coursework

This course is one credit.

COURSE OBJECTIVES

By the end of this course, students will be able to:

• Design a basic curriculum “on demand” (a valuable educator skill)
• Grow in their knowledge both Jewishly and in organization development
• Show how Jewish ideas of the past connect to their world today
• Explain how Jewish topics directly impact the way they have developed their organization, and how developing their organization has impacted their understanding of the chosen Jewish topic of study

AREAS OF STUDY

This independent study course must be supported by a mentor, and broadly within one Jewish subject and one Business subject. 

Jewish subjects are defined as falling into any of the following:

• Jewish History: Ancient Near Eastern/Biblical, Rabbinic, Medieval or Modern; History of the State of Israel
• Text: Tanakh, Rabbinic literature, Talmud, Parshanut HaMikra
• Halacha: overviews of concepts generally or in depth learning on singular subjects such as taharat misphachah, kashrut, etc.
• Current Events: Arab-Israeli conflict, issues in the contemporary Jewish landscape, diaspora, Zionism, etc.
• Theology/Philosophy: any Jewish theology or philosophy course including kabbalah, chasidut, Holocaust theology, etc.
• Liturgy: literary, historical and religious concepts of the liturgy

While courses on social work, spiritual direction, interfaith engagement, professional development and other areas do often help a rabbinical student, such subjects are not appropriate for this course. A study on Jewish culture may be appropriate, but will be more scrutinized than other areas. Language skills will not be an option for this unit.

Organization Management is broadly defined into any of the following but not strictly limited to:

• Business Ethics and Social Responsibility
• Business in a Global Environment
• Nonprofit Management and Operations
• Human Resources, Teamwork and Interpersonal Communication
• Business Communications, Marketing and Advertising
• Finance, Sales and Fundraising
• Product Design and Development
• Information and Technology, including Social Media, Web Design, etc.
• Chaplaincy or other care training that would be used in a fee-for-service setting such as a private mental health practice, hospice, hospital, etc.

Knowing that business is often not the first language of many rabbinical students, we encourage you to look back at your Business Model Canvas to see the areas you were most unsure of, and to develop your knowledge of that area.

Your mentor should help you craft this brit limmud. Rabbi Patrick is here to help you decide what makes sense for you, both in your organization management learning and Judaics, if that helps. For students who would like Rabbi Patrick as their Innovation Independent Study mentor, consider the havrutah version of this course.

As we want you to incorporate new learning into this experience, we are not providing credit for “past learning”.

CREATING A BRIT LIMMUD & FINAL PROJECT

Students will be required to submit a Brit Limmud, a lesson plan showing what they will accomplish by taking this independent study course. This Brit Limmud must include:

• The proposed study topics (Jewish and business) and a rationale for learning these topic
• A ten-unit outline for the course
• A learning materials and experiences list you will utilize. This can be in the form of textbooks, lectures, websites, outside courses or Zoom events by other organizations, etc. We’re happy to help you source what you need
• The mentors or educators you are working with. For example: the rabbi of your synagogue, a business leader, a non-profit founder, etc.

Students will show their understanding of the learning materials by doing a written or audio reflection for each unit of learning, and completing a final assignment at the end of the course that will be part of their organization. Such a project could include: an employee or volunteer handbook, a physical product, a series of online educational courses on YouTube, a podcast, etc. This final project must be something that your organization would utilize, even if the project is at this point hypothetical.

Meet Your Instructor