Many Jewish families want their kids to be exposed to sex education classes that take a “body positive,” Jewish approach to sex and puberty. Now, with grant support from Federation’s Making Jewish Places initiative (MJP), a program called EVERYbody is being piloted for 6th graders at Congregation Gesher L’Torah (GLT). EVERYbody is rooted in Jewish values such as: b’tzelem elohim (made in the image of God), kavod (respect), and v’ahavta l’reacha kamocha (love your neighbor as yourself).
After interviewing several local and national organizations, MJP partnered with SOJOURN (the Southern Jewish Resource Network for Gender and Sexual Diversity) and the Jewish Women’s Fund of Atlanta (JWFA) for funding to write the curriculum. This unique collaboration kicks off on Sunday, December 12, at Congregation Gesher L’Torah in Alpharetta. All sessions will be facilitated by a team of health educators.
Topics in the EVERYbody curriculum include:
- Basic anatomy
- Puberty and physical changes
- Gender and sexual diversity
- The impact of social media on self-image
- Healthy relationship and sources of strength for positive mental health
Gesher L’Torah’s Education Director, Rebecca Gordon is excited about the series: “This much needed program has been requested by the community for years, and we are grateful to have partnered with SOJOURN to create a rich and appropriate series. These collaborations are what makes MJP programming successful and necessary to make Jewish Atlanta stronger. Our parents are thrilled!”
RSVP to hannahgesheratl@gmail.com.
