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Penina Moise

Read about Penina Moise, the first Jew to publish a book of poetry in the United States. $0.00$0.00  The pages of Penina Moise's poems rustled as she carefully gathered them in her hands and prepared them for delivery to a publisher. "Fancy's Sketch Book." read the title page of the manuscript, "by Miss Penina Moise."

Camryn Manheim: A Shining Star

In this interview, actress Camryn Manheim discusses the role that Jewish values have played in developing her self-esteem and helping her realize the difference between inner and outer beauty. Reading the article with your students and doing the accompanying lesson  will help them to `1understand how being good people and doing good deeds makes us all more beautiful. $0.00$0.00  Blinding camera lights flashed as Jewish actress Camryn Manheim stepped out of the white stretch limo and strode down the red carpet into Los Angeles' Shrine Auditorium. After years of being told by acting professors that she needed to lose weight to succeed, the actress was nominated for an Emmy for her role as outspoken lawyer Ellenor Frutt on TV's "The Practice." "Do not look at the container, rather at what is inside of it." Pirkei Avot 4:27 Lesson Summary:  In this lesson, students will write diamond poems to explore the concept of beauty and help them understand that being good people and doing good deeds make us all more beautiful. Printable Lesson:  3504lesson.pdf Additional PDFs:  Source Sheet Diamond Poem Worksheet Printable Photos

Top Eight Hanukkah Myths

View the Top Eight Hanukkah Myths and share some interesting facts about Hanukkah with your students. $0.00$0.00  1 We light a menorah on Hanukkah. No, silly; we light candles or oil! We use a hanukkiyah, which has nine braches. A menorah has seven branches. 2 The best place to put a hanukkiyah is on a windowsill. The ideal place to put a hanukkiyah is outside your front door, to the left of the entrance, but most people don't because it's impractical. The windowsill is the second best place. 3 It's best to light candles on Hanukkah.

Kfi Covel's Jewish Palette

Read about a young Jewish artist's inspiration. In the accompanying  lesson, your students will create micrographical works to connect beauty to Jewish values. $0.00$0.00  Hebrew rap music and Tehillim (Psalms) inspire Kfirah Covel, an 18-year-old artist whose nickname is "Kfi" (pronounced "Kiffy"). She often sits on her bed, leans against the headbord, rests an art board on her knees, and draws. "Art is an amazing way to express myself," she says, "and creating beautiful Jewish art makes me proud because Judaism is part of who I am." "This is my God, and I will glorify God!" Shemot 15:2 Lesson Summary:  In this lesson, students will create a work of micrography to help connect beauty to Jewish values. Printable Lesson:  3502lesson.pdf Additional PDFs:  Source Sheet Template for art project Additional Resources:  “Folk Art” on MyJewishLearning.com: http://www.myjewishlearning.com/culture/Art/TO_ArtOverview/JewishFolkArt.htm Activities for Students Article in Hebrew

All Tied Up

Can you imagine a tie made from metallic mesh? One creative teenager could. $0.00$0.00  Here's a Hanukkah gift idea: A tie designed by Baruch Shemtov, a twelfth-grader and up-and-coming designer from Ramaz High School in New York. Baruch has been written up in New York Magazine and appeared on the "Today Show." His ties sell for about $100 apiece at upscale New York boutiques.

Haym Solomon

Read about Haym Solomon, a Jewish soldier in the Revolutionary War, gave his all to America. $0.00$0.00  "Thank you, Haym Salomon," gasped the wounded Revolutionary soldier. "You saved my life." While spying for the Sons of Liberty, Salomon had stumbled upon the injured soldier lying in a dark alley. Without hesitating, the Jewish revolutionary patriot carried the wounded man under the cover of darkness and shadows to the Salomon home to treat the gaping musket hole in the soldier's chest.

Legendary Leaders

Popular movie heroes help students understand theleadership styles of five Biblical figures in this article.In the accompanying lesson, students will play a matching game to compare these characters,study Jewish texts, and examine the qualities of a good leader. $0.00$0.00  Where would Harry Potter and Hermione Granger be without Albus Dumbledore, the mysterious headmaster of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry in J.K. Rowling's imaginary world of wizards and muggles? Rowling has created a fictional character who lovingly leads young wizards into the mysterious world of magic, cautioning them to use their new skills for good and not evil. "The true leader must be saintly." Rabbi Nahman of Bratzlav Lesson Summary:  Students will play a matching game to compare these leaders, study Jewish texts, and examine the qualities of a good leader. Printable Lesson:  Lesson Plan Additional PDFs:  Source Sheet Character cards, envelope labels and Jewish texts

A Friend at Any Age

Read about a group of young children who made a new friends. $0.00$0.00Sixth-graders at Temple Beth David in Commack, New York, met their grandparents for the first time ever this May--their "adopted grandparents," that is. After reading about the value of hiddur p'nei zaken (cherishing the elderly) in BABAGANEWZ, each of the five sixth-grade classes adopted a grandparent--all over the age of 90--from a Jewish geriatric home down the street. Students sent letters, e-mails, poems, and cards to their new grandparents throughout the spring.

Nessa Rapoport Has the Write Stuff

In this interview, Nessa Rapoport talks to Babaganewz about her writing and gives advice to young writers. $0.00$0.00  The author of "Pole and Mouse" talks about her craft. When did you realize that you wanted to be a writer? In Toronto, where I grew up, the city held an essay-writing contest for every student in the last year of high school. As I read aloud my entry to my mother, I noticed that my words brought tears to her eyes. "This is it!" I said to myself, astonished by the power of language. I still feel that way.

Emma Empowered

Read  how Emma Klatman spoke out for diabetes research. $0.00$0.00When 12-year-old Emma Klatman of Los Angeles, California, isn't in school or on the soccer field, you can find her speaking before Congress in Washington, D.C. Emma recently completed a one-year term as the American Diabetes Association's (ADA) National Youth Advocate. The proactive preteen lobbied Congress to increase funding for diabetes research and visited ADA summer camps to encourage other kids to follow her lead.

Bush and Kerry Face Off

Learn about the debate on outsourcing labor. In the lesson, students will learn about the issues involved, explore relevant Jewish values, and judge the different sides of the debate. $0.00$0.00The man with whom you're speaking on the telephone sits in an office in New Delhi, India. He politely explains, for the third time, why your new computer crashes every time you save your history assignment. Unaccustomed to his thick Indian accent, you tightly press the receiver to your ear, but his explanation remains indistinct. Frustrated, you thank him, hang up, and ask yourself, "Why can't my computer company hire Americans, whom I can understand?" Lesson Summary:  Students will learn about the issues involved, explore relevant Jewish values, and judge the different sides of the debate. Printable Lesson:  2501lesson.pdf Additional PDFs:  Source Sheet Case Study Worksheet Additional Resources:  Follow-up story on Dell opening new plant in U.S.: http://www.usatoday.com/tech/techinvestor/corporatenews/2004-11-09-dell_x.htm Transcript of John Kerry's February 10, 2004 speech in Fairfax , VA: http://www.cnn.com/2004/ALLPOLITICS/02/10/elec04.prez.transcript.kerry Economic Report of the President--2004: Economic Report: http://www.gpoaccess.gov/eop George W. Bush: http://www.georgewbush.com John Kerry: http://www.johnkerry.com Business Ethics Center of Jerusalem : http://www.besr.org

Hail to the Presidents

These four profiles of Jewish youth leaders will give students insight into the skills and qualities of a successful leader. In the accompanying lesson, students try on different leadership roles while working on a cooperative project to build a house of cards. $0.00$0.00  Making Connections Aliza Vishniavsky stands in front of a circle of teenagers. She warily eyes their smiling faces, but their warm welcome fails to comfort her. As the group sits expectantly the young woman, who is national president of NCSY (National Conference of Synagogue Youth), struggles to dispel the doubts that cast a shadow over her self-confidence. "Will they like my d'var torah?" she worries. Three excellent leaders rose before Israel: Moshe, Aaron, and Miriam." Ta'anit 9a Lesson Summary:  Students try on different leadership roles while working on a cooperative project to build a house of cards. Printable Lesson:  2502lesson.pdf Additional PDFs:  Source Sheet Role Cards Additional Resources:  United Synagogue Youth: http://www.usy.org North American Federation of Temple Youth : http://www.nfty.org Young Judaea : http://www.youngjudaea.org National Conference of Synagogue Youth: http://www.ou.org/ncsy

Linda Lingle: Head of State

Linda Lingle, who was Hawaii’s governor, talks about how Jewish values help make her a better leader. In this lesson, students will discuss important Jewish values that leaders should possess, look for examples of these values in the lives of  presidential candidates and Biblical figures, and deliver campaign speeches to the class demonstrating how these important leadership qualities. $0.00$0.00For Linda Lingle, governor of sunny Hawaii, the heat is always on. She races from a meeting with her closest advisers, to a press conference, and then back to her office to sign a bill into law. In this frantic schedule, there's one weekly meeting that the governor especially cherishes--every Wednesday morning she meets with her rabbi. Together, they study Torah, giving the governor a moment to reflect on the lessons learned from Biblical leaders such as Avraham, Moshe, and Miriam that she can apply to her work as governor. Lesson Summary:  Students will discuss important Jewish values that leaders should possess and will look for examples of these values in the lives of the presidential candidates and Biblical characters. They will then deliver campaign speeches to the class demonstrating how these important leadership qualities make the presidential candidates and Biblical figures strong leaders. Printable Lesson:  2506lesson.pdf Additional PDFs:  Source Sheet Presidential Candidates' Biographies List of Leadership Qualities Additional Resources:  Governor Linda Lingle: http://www.hawaii.gov/gov/ John Kerry: http://www.johnkerry.com George W. Bush: http://www.georgewbush.com Scholastic - Election 2004: http://teacher.scholastic.com/activities/election2004

Pole and Mouse

Read this story about  a young man who  is forced to accept a position of leadership eventhough he thinks poorly of himself and of his appointed deputy. By the end of the story, the two have become friends and learned about what it means to be a leader. In the accompanying lesson, engage your students  in a drama activity to explore the concept of leadership and consider the leadership potential of those who are not naturally leaders. $0.00$0.00  To look at me, you'd never guess I'm the victim of a stereotype. I'm 14--and six foot one. My friends are jealous, girls have started to hang around, and everyone thinks I'm a spectacular basketball player. Which I'm not. Still, I'm running out of excuses about why I'm too busy to try out for the school team. All year round, it's compete, compete, compete. But the people who run the Jewish camp I go to every summer have a zero-tolerance approach. We're not even allowed to say "Kill him" on the field. Lesson Summary:  Students will engage in a drama activity to explore the concept of leadership and consider the leadership potential of those who are not naturally leaders. Printable Lesson:  Lesson Plan Additional PDFs:  Source Sheet

To Bee or Not to Bee

Prepare your students for Rosh Hashanah  with this article about the apiary at Kibbutz Yad Mordechai. Students will enjoy taste-testing many different types of honey to motivate their study of the symbolism of honey on Rosh Hashanah as an expression of hope for a sweet year and a metaphor for the process of teshuvah.   $0.00$0.00"Bee stings hurt and they can kill," warns Ilan Meiri, an experienced beekeeper at the apiary (bee farm) on Kibbutz Yad Mordechai. "But they're only dangerous if you're allergic to bee venom," he adds quickly. As Ilan collects honey from a dripping honeycomb with his bare hand, a swarm of bees buzzes noisily around the bulky white suit and wire-mesh mask that he wears for protection. Without flinching, Ilan continues working. "I know I'm not allergic," he laughs, "because they sting me now and then." "May it be Your will, God of our ancestors, that You renew for us a good and sweet new year." Prayer recited before eating apple dipped in honey on Rosh Hashannah Lesson Summary:  Conduct a taste test with different kinds of honey and explore the symbolism of honey on Rosh Hashanah. Students will discover how honey serves as both an expression of hope for a sweet year and a metaphor for the teshuvah process. Printable Lesson:  1508lesson.pdf Additional PDFs:  Source Sheet Class Honeycomb Stencil Additional Resources:  Kibbutz Yad Mordechai's web site (in Hebrew): http://www.yadmor.org.il Yad Mordechai honey is available at Jewish and Israeli vendors or through certain online stores.

Sharing the Sound of the Shofar

Read about Michael Sokol, who volunteers on Rosh Hashanah to blow shofar for an elderly couple unable to attend services. By helping to bring joy to their holiday, Michael enhances his own celebration as well.  After sampling cupcakes without frosting, students will explore the “cake” and the “frosting” of holiday observance and think about the ways in which they can enhance the holidays for themselves and others. They will also consider the ways in which celebrating with other people is an essential part of the holiday.     $0.00$0.00  The cry of the shofar echoed through the home of Alta and Harry Eisenpress. With each piercing note, the lights flashed on and off, like the thunder and lightning at Mount Sinai. "The shofar blasts triggered a reaction from somewhere," says Alta. "Maybe from heaven," she adds with a smile. "And on that day, a great shofar will be sounded." Isaiah 27:13 Lesson Summary:  In this lesson, students will explore the "cake" and the "frosting" of holiday observance using real cupcakes and think about the ways in which they can enhance the holidays for themselves and others. They will also consider the ways in which celebrating with other people is an essential part of the holiday. Printable Lesson:  1501lesson.pdf Additional PDFs:  Source Sheet Cupcake Worksheet Hebrew version of "Sharing the Sound of the Shofar" Additional Resources:  Learn about the specific times the shofar is blown: My Jewish Learning

Roller Coasters

Roller coasters and yo-yos can teach us about potential and kinetic energy -- but this isn't a physics lesson. It's a lesson about building enough potential and kinetic spiritual energy over the High holidays and Sukkot to carry us through the year. $0.00$0.00  Scream Machines *The world's fastest and tallest roller coaster is Top Thrill Dragster at Cedar Point amusement park in Ohio. It barrels along at 120 miles per hour and soars as high as 420 feet--taller than the Statue of Liberty! *The first roller coaster in America--the Mauch Chunk Switchback Railway--invented in 1872, wasn't originally a tourist thrill ride, but a gravity-operated train that took coal down a mountain in Pennsylvania. "Let us lift our hearts with our hands to God in heaven." lamentations 3:41 Lesson Summary:  This lesson takes a deeper look at the conversion of potential to kinetic energy, in a scientific experiment and in the way we store spiritual energy during the high holidays to propel us through the rest of the year. Printable Lesson:  1506lesson.pdf Additional PDFs:  Source Sheet Additional Resources:  http://www.physics.rutgers.edu/hex/visit/lesson/lesson_links1.html http://www.funderstanding.com/k12/coaster

Asser Levy

A Jewish Dutch settler fights for equal rights for the Jews. $0.00$0.00  A hush spread over the courtroom as I approached the bench. "I come before you today pleading that I be granted the same rights as everyone else in New Amsterdam," I began. "Governor Peter Stuyvesant has barred Jews from serving in the volunteer home guard, and then has imposed a tax on us for not serving," I said, my voice rising with conviction. "I demand that Jews have the same rights and responsibilities as all other colonists."

Craig Taubman: Heart and Soul

Composer and singer Craig Taubman explains the importance of Jewish music in his life and the role that music plays in creating memories and building community. Through text study and a  music activity  this lesson will help your  students appreciate the role of music in  in their lives as Jews. $0.00$0.00  "Sing praise to God with the lyre and melodious song. With trumpets and the blast of the shofar raise a shout before God the Ruler." Psalms 98:5-6 Lesson Summary:  This lesson uses text study and a music activity to help students appreciate the role of music in their relationship to God and in their lives as Jews. Printable Lesson:  1503lesson.pdf Additional PDFs:  Source Sheet Psalm 150 Worksheet Inter-Act Community Service Log and Eligibility Rules Additional Resources:  http://www.craignco.com Students who complete four hours of volunteer work in the Jewish community will receive a free music CD, compliments of Craig Taubman and Craig ‘n Co. See the eligibility rules and print out the log sheet above.

Funky Festive Foods

Read about this family's less than ordinary foods for the Rosh Hashanah table. In the lesson, students will explore some of the meanings for traditional Rosh Hashanah simanim (symbolic holiday foods) and have fun making their own simanim that can be incorporated into their family celebrations. $0.00$0.00Miriam Spitzer remembers the vacant, glassy stare she'd get from the fish head on her family's festive Rosh Hashanah table when she was a child. It was the food she loved to hate. No Rosh Hashanah was complete without tasting the fleshy fish head and reciting a reading asking that "we be at the head, and not at the tail" in the coming year. Lesson Summary:  Have students explore some of the meanings for traditional Rosh Hashanah simanim and have fun making their own simanim that can be incorporated into their family celebrations. Printable Lesson:  1504lesson.pdf Additional PDFs:  Source Sheet List of Traditional Simanim

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