Coming Early Summer 2026!

 

Positively Torah 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. 

A Big Idea: The Torah is more than a sacred text; it is a mirror that helps reflect who we are and who we can become. Through narratives of Torah heroes, we uncover timeless Jewish values and recognize the character strengths within ourselves and others. The VIA survey offers a clear snapshot of our twenty-four strengths and highlights those that are strongest and most easily accessed. Knowing our personal strengths equips us with a powerful toolkit for becoming our best selves. This reflects a core Jewish belief: each person is created in the image of God, with unique gifts to share.

Using Positively Torah, Students will learn how to spot some of the VIA Institute’s 24 character strengths through close study of biblical characters including Abraham, Sarah, Jacob, Joseph, Miriam and others. The VIA Institute is a non-profit organization that helps people identify core strengths like kindness, creativity, and honesty, and apply them in life for a greater sense of well-being. The character strengths were developed by renowned psychologist Martin Seligman and his team.

From the Authors: Positively Torah doesn’t just seek to teach Torah and Jewish values, it strives to empower. Our hope is that students leave with a stronger sense of self, a deeper connection to Jewish texts and wisdom, and tools to help them flourish. In doing so, we hope that our learners will come away knowing who they are, what makes them unique, and how to use their strengths to contribute meaningfully to their schools, families and communities - living with joy and purpose.  

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. Strengths include Hope, Spirituality, Fairness, Kindness, Honesty, Self-Control, Forgiveness, Bravery, Perseverance, Gratitude, Leadership, and Perspective.

Each book also includes a journal to aid in student reflection.

Learner Goals of Positively Torah 

  • Learners will discover how exploring the Torah deepens their understanding of each character strength and its unique nuances.
  • The overarching goals are for learners to:
  • Find meaning and relevance in Jewish traditional texts as a source of inspiration for our daily lives
  • Explore and appreciate Jewish values and how they can guide us as we navigate our world
  • Build knowledge of Torah texts and Hebrew vocabulary related to character strength
  • Spot character strengths in biblical heroes, ourselves, and others
  • Explore and understand the nuances of various positive character strengths
  • Identify our unique character strengths and leverage those strengths to actively make a difference in the world
  • Build their personal repertoire of tools that enable them to effectively use their top strengths
  • Recognize when exercising a strength is difficult and consider ways to meet that challenge
  • Use character strengths to cultivate meaningful relationships that are deepened through hevruta and strength spotting
  • Nurture and support empathy and kindness through both a Jewish and universal lens.

 

Table of Contents

  • Welcome to Positively Torah!
  • Chapter 1: Character—You Are Unique
  • Chapter 2: Hope—Abraham and Sarah Journey to an Unknown Land
  • Chapter 3: Fairness—Abraham Questions God
  • Chapter 4: Kindness­—Sarah, Abraham, and Rebekah: Models of Hospitality
  • Chapter 5: Spirituality—Jacob Dreams of a Stairway to Heaven
  • Chapter 6: Honesty—Jacob Keeps His Word
  • Chapter 7: Self-Control­—Joseph’s Dreams Come True
  • Chapter 8: Forgiveness—Joseph and His Brothers Reunite
  • Chapter 9: Bravery—Five Heroines Defy Pharaoh
  • Chapter 10: Perseverance—Moses and Aaron Refuse to Give Up
  • Chapter 11: Gratitude—Miriam Leads the Israelites in a Song and Dance of Thanks
  • Chapter 12: Leadership—Moses Guides the Israelites
  • Chapter 13: Perspective—Joshua and Caleb Consider the Big Picture
  • Chapter 14: Torah—Seeing the World Through a Symphony of Superpowers
  • The VIA Character Strengths
  • My Positively Torah Journal

A teaching guide with step-by-step support for educators is available separately.

Ellen Rank 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 and curricular pieces. She holds an MA in Classical Hebrew Literature from the University of Pennsylvania and an MS in Jewish Education from the Jewish Theological Seminary.

Susan Tessel is a veteran teacher who has taught in day school, public high school and supplementary school. As part of the Board of Jewish Education (BJE) and its later incarnation as The Jewish Education Project, she served as Director of the Westchester Teacher’s Center, ran B'yachad, a teacher training immersive fellowship,  and served as a senior consultant in Leadership. She has run national networks in God talk, Thriving, and Teaching Tefilla. Susan graduated Summa Cum Laude from University of Pennsylvania (BA,MS). She has completed doctoral coursework at JTS and Teacher’s College at Columbia University.