As part of the first semester 9/10 Beit Midrash project, students have learned about the different values that go into creating an ideal Jewish society. They started the project during the Yamim Noraim, when they analyzed the 13 middot of Hashem, writing about ones that resonated with them. Throughout the semester, the students studied sources in the Torah and in Neviim, as well as from classical, modern and contemporary thinkers who commented on what it means to actually imitate God and act in a just and righteous way in the world. While students continue to delve more deeply into what it means to form an ideal Jewish civilization, they’re taking their learning into the world and doing good right now. In one example, as an extension of their classroom learning, students created a fundraiser to raise needed funds for Ukraine via the JDC. In another example, students engaged in a Design Thinking exercise to brainstorm ideas of how to address the issue of food waste in America. These projects are examples of how The Idea School uses learning to engage in the world and be responsible for making it better.