In seventh grade, students begin to study the middle section of TaNaKh, the "N" that stands for Neviim, or prophets. Having studied major portions of Breisheet and Shemot (Genesis and Exodus), the students now move to the next body of literature that continues the sacred history of the Jewish people. One essential question that students grapple with is: what is the role of the prophet? They encounter a reluctant prophet in the figure of Jonah. They meet Joshua, a dynamic military leader and prophet. They meet figures in the Book of Judges, such as Deborah and Samson who live and lead during very turbulent times. And ultimately they meet the powerful spiritual and political leader, Samuel.

Students become familiar with a new literary style and with recurring leitmotifs found in the books of the prophets: The people sin. The prophets attempt to inspire them to repent and change. They listen. They don't listen. They are rewarded. They are punished. The people are tempted to worship idols. They want to be like all the other nations. They want a king of flesh and blood.

Students study these texts within the framework of two of the standards established for the study of Tanakh in Jewish Day Schools by the Jewish Theological Seminary.

• Students will view the Tanakh as the formative narrative of the Jewish People - past, present, and future.

• Students will understand, through the study of Tanakh and its interpretations, the role of mitzvot in the shaping of the ethical character and religious practices of the individual and the Jewish people.

With these standards guiding their learning, they are challenged to develop a working knowledge of the biblical narrative, explore the central themes of Tanakh, and draw connections between biblical text, contemporary Judaism, and their own lives.