A01=Ellen Rank
A01=Susan Tessel
Author_Ellen Rank
Author_Susan Tessel
bible textbooks
Category=YNRJ
Category=YNRX
Category=YPJJ5
Category=YPJN3
Category=YXD
character
community
compassion
connections
empathy
eq_bestseller
eq_childrens
eq_isMigrated=1
eq_isMigrated=2
eq_nobargain
eq_personal-social-topics
eq_teenage-young-adult
forthcoming
friendship
inner
interpersonal
kindness
modern Torah study
peers
personal growth
scientific Torah
SEL
self-discovery
strength
strengthen relationships
study
textbooks for pre-teens
textbooks teaching
Product details
- ISBN 9781681151632
- Dimensions: 215 x 279mm
- Publication Date: 16 Jul 2026
- Publisher: Behrman House Inc.,U.S.
- Publication City/Country: US
- Product Form: Paperback
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Positively Torah: The Superpower of Character combines classic Torah study with modern principles of positive psychology, empowering 5th to 7th graders to recognize character strengths in Torah heroes and in themselves. Tested and refined in pilot study groups, each of the 14 chapters includes biblical text, character strength definitions, and a range of creative activities and journal prompts. A teaching guide with step-by-step support for educators is available separately.
For thousands of years the Jewish people have studied Torah, and today its stories continue to offer sources of inspiration for how to use the strengths we each possess to make a difference in the world, while at the same time helping us develop better relationships with family, friends, and the people around us.
Ellen Rank is an education consultant. She served as a Senior Congregational Education Consultant for The Jewish Education Project, has been an education director, has taught in congregational schools, day schools, and college, has presented many workshops on pedagogy, and has mentored Davidson students at the Jewish Theological Seminary since 1998. She served as a writer and associate editor of the MaToK Bible Curriculum and is the author and editor of numerous Jewish educational books published by Behrman House. Ellen has written several curricular pieces for a variety of organizations. She holds an MA in Classical Hebrew Literature from the University of Pennsylvania and an MS in Jewish Education from the Jewish Theological Seminary. She lives in Syosset, New York.
Susan Tessel graduated Summa Cum Laude from University of Pennsylvania (BA,MS). She has completed doctoral coursework at JTS and Teacher’s College at Columbia University. Susan is a veteran teacher who has taught in Day school, public high school and supplementary schools. Susan worked for the Board of Jewish Education (BJE) and served as Director of the Westchester Teacher’s Center for many years. She ran B'yachad , a teacher training immersive fellowship, for a decade. When the BJE became The Jewish Education Project, she became a senior consultant in Leadership and worked there until the outset of Covid. She has run national networks in God talk, Thriving and Teaching Tefilla. She lives in Riverdale, New York.
