Lesson

Lee Rosenthal: Taking a Stand Against Injustice

Read about Lee Rosenthal, who commited himself at his Bar Mitzvah to standing up in the face of injustice in the world, specifically against the genocide in Darfur. In the accompanying lesson, study Jewish texts with your students about justice to  identify current injustices in the world and develop a personal response plan. $0.00$0.00"Never again! Never again!" shouted 13-year-old Lee Rosenthal. He raised his voice in unison with thousands of other demonstrators-including actor George Clooney-who rallied in front of the U.S. Capitol on April 30, 2006. They had gathered to demand an end to the deliberate genocide and brutal destruction of the Black-African Muslim population in Darfur, Sudan. "It is not up to you to finish the job, but you are not free to give up on it." Pirkei Avot 2:21 Lesson Summary:  In this lesson, students will study Jewish texts about justice to help them identify current injustices in the world and develop a personal response plan. Printable Lesson:  2702lesson.pdf Additional PDFs:  Source Sheet

Standing Up For Understanding

"Despite the stereotypes, we're all one big family." That is the message Rabbi Benji Levene is trying to get across in his play that uses humor to reveal the stereotypes religious and secular Israelis hold of one another. Students will realize they hold stereotypes, too, as they try to describe the people in a collection of photographs. After considering the Jewish opinions on the matter and the implications for themselves and their communities, they will write monlogues that can give new perspectives on the characters.  $0.00$0.00Bringing home the bacon in Israel is easier than it used to be. In a recent ruling, Israel's Supreme Court permitted butchers in Beit Shemesh to sell pork, and declared that each neighborhood could determine the legality of selling non-kosher meat based on the majority preference. Prior to the case, the Beit Shemesh city council-backed by religious residents-banned the sale of pig meat and demanded that non-kosher shops move to an industrial zone. Lesson Summary:  In this lesson, students will identify common stereotypes and write monologues that aim to debunk those stereotypes. Printable Lesson:  1708lesson.pdf Additional PDFs:  Source Sheet Stereotypical Pictures Additional Resources:  Four Faces of Israel http://www.gesher.co.il/English/page.asp?id=14 Rabbi Benjamin (Benji) Levene http://www.gesher.co.il/English/page.asp?id=101

Intuition

We often make the best decisions by just following our gut reactions.. This lesson will explore the philosophical debate related to a world of free choice versus a world of determinism and how thatrelates to intuition. Is our intuition something that comes from ourselves (free choice) or something that comes from a higher being(determinism)? Students will discuss the question of intuition and free will versus determinism in the context of the High Holidays and doing teshuvah.   $0.00$0.00 A SIXTH SENSE Moments before the giant waves of the 2004 tsunami crashed onto the Indian coast, elephants screamed and ran for higher ground as if they sensed impending doom. British singer Joss Stone left the 2005 MTV Video Music Awards early-narrowly escaping being caught in gunfire-because, she told her boyfriend, "I've got to get out of here now. "You [God] grace people with intelligence and teach insight to humans. Grace us with intelligence, insight, and discernment." Weekday Amidah Lesson Summary:  In the lesson, students will discuss the question of intuition and free will versus determinism in the context of the High Holidays and doing teshuvah. Printable Lesson:  1706lesson.pdf Additional PDFs:  Source Sheet Additional Resources:  Malcolm Gladwell's Book, Blink http://www.gladwell.com/blink

ACCESS DENIED

This article exposes the different opinions parents and kids hold when it comes to using the Internet. The lesson provides a structured way for students to discuss their own opinions about parental controls and to discuss how parents judge their kids. $0.00$0.00  David Goldrich, 13, sits at his computer and clicks his mouse with one hand while clenching his other hand into a fist. For the second time today, he's been denied access to a web site that he needs to use to complete a school assignment. Now he's frustrated and angry. There's nothing wrong with David's computer or his computer skills; instead, he's a victim of an overzealous software program that mistakenly blocked him from two harmless, educational web sites. "Be cautious in judgement...and make a fence for the Torah." Pirkei Avot 1:1 Lesson Summary:  In this lesson, students will participate in a values clarification activity to launch a discussion of whether parental controls are negative or positive and how they relate to parents’ judging of their children. Printable Lesson:  1704lesson.pdf Additional PDFs:  Source Sheet Additional Resources:  American Association of School Librarians - To Filter or Not: The Pros and Cons of Using Parental Control Software http://www.ala.org/ala/aasl/schlibrariesandyou/parentsandcomm/filterproscons.htm

The Juggling Flow

If you think juggling is just fun and games, think again.  LIke teshuvah, it requires starting with a simple action, and with practice, hard work, and concentration, moving to a higher level.  Learn the steps to changing your habits and create an action plan for learning new behavior. $0.00$0.00Tishrei is the month for apples and honey, blowing the shofar, building a sukkah and juggling. After all, Rabbi Shimon ben Gamliel, head of the Great Sandhedrin, used to juggle eight burning torches on the Temple Mount during the Water Drawing Celebration, which took place during Sukkot. But juggling also reminds us of the concept of teshuvah, the process of returning to our better selves and of strengthening our connection to the sacred. Lesson Summary:  In this lesson, students will play a game that requires them to make new behaviors second nature. Printable Lesson:  Lesson Plan Additional PDFs:  Source Sheet

David Copperfield: Grand Illusionist

Master illusionist David Copperfield discusses with BABAGANEWZ how magic teaches that not everything is what it appears to be— including people. In this lesson, students will practice a magic trick to explore how what one sees may be deceiving, and consider how an illusion can serve as a metaphor for how people view and judge others. $0.00$0.00Move over Merlin; get outta here Gandalf; and hit the road Harry Potter. David Copperfield puts you guys to shame. Why? Because he performs his magic in the flesh, while you characters prowl only through the pages of books or appear in movies. In fact, 50 million people watched on TV when David Copperfield made the Statue of Liberty disappear in front of a live audience. His other feats are equally astounding: David has walked through the Great Wall of China, levitated across the Grand Canyon, and made a 70-ton train vanish in midair above a circle of spectators. "...Do not follow your heart and eyes that can lead you astray." Bemidbar 15:39 Lesson Summary:  In this lesson, students will practice a magic trick to explore how one's eyes may deceive him or her and consider how an illusion can serve as a metaphor for how people view and judge others. Printable Lesson:  1703lesson.pdf Additional PDFs:  Source Sheet Rosh Hashanah Prediction Magic Trick Printable Cards-Large Size Rosh Hashanah Prediction Magic Trick Printable Cards-Small Size Additional Resources:  David Copperfield's Web Site http://www.davidcopperfield.com Article about Project Magic http://observer.thecentre.centennialcollege.ca/life/copperfield101603.htm Kidzone Magic Tricks http://www.kidzone.ws/magic/index.htm Activities for Students: David's Trick Video Rosh Hashanah Prediction Magic Trick Video

Marisa Gobuty: A Slam Dunk for Israel

In this article, Marisa Gobuty talks about how she works hard to change people’s opinions about herself and her adopted country, Israel. Marisa’s experiences playing basketball in Israel and in the United States give her an opportunity to teach many people how to judge fairly and favorably. In the accompanying lesson, students will learn how easy it is to see people and situations in vastly different ways and how important it is to judge carefully. $0.00$0.00  "Do not look merely at the wine flask, but examine what is in it." Pirkei Avot 4:27 Lesson Summary:  In this lesson, students will learn how easy it is to see people and situations in vastly different ways and how important it is to judge carefully. Printable Lesson:  1701lesson.pdf Additional PDFs:  Source Sheet Frozen Poses Cards Additional Resources:  Melissa Gobuty's Web Site http://www.marisagobuty.com

Immigration Debate Divides Nation

This article explores the debate around the  continuing issue of illegal immigration in the United States. In this lesson students will explore one side of the issue by creating an advertising campaign for or against illegal immigration. Students will then debate theissue from both sides and work together to find a solution $0.00$0.00Immigration Debate Divides Nation By Mark H. Levine Amidst cries of "traitor" and "racist," angry protestors squared off on May 1, 2006, in Los Angeles, California. The controversy that set their blood boiling was illegal immigration. According to estimates, 12 million "illegals" live in the United States, a fact that prompted lawmakers to consider legislation to tighten border security. Lesson Summary:  In this lesson students will explore one side of the issue by creating an advertising campaign for or against illegal immigration. Students will then debate the issue from both sides and work together to find a solution. Printable Lesson:  1709lesson.pdf Additional PDFs:  Source Sheet

Mara Clawson: Her Pictures Are Worth A Thousand Words

Read how one girl used artwork to get past her language disability. Like Moshe, the subject of her artwork, Mara Clawson suffers from a speech impediment. Nonetheless, her art speaks volumes about the Biblical hero and leader. In the accompanying lesson, students will analyze Moshe’s character and cast nominations for people they know who would merit a special award for humility called the “Anavah Award.”   $0.00$0.00Twelve-year-old Mara Clawson had a dilemma. With her bat mitzvah less than six months away, Mara had no idea how she was going to write a d'var torah. Born with a genetic disorder called Familial Dysautonomia, Mara has severe language disabilities that make it difficult for her to express herself in words. Then one day, she came home from summer camp with a solution. Mara had been introduced to a new art form-pastels-and had instantly fallen in love with this vibrant medium as a way to tell stories. "Now Moshe was a very humble man, more than any other on the face of the earth." Bemidbar 12:3 Lesson Summary:  Students will analyze Moshe's character and cast nominations for people they know who would merit an "Anavah Award." Printable Lesson:  5601lesson.pdf Additional PDFs:  Source Sheet Additional Resources:  "Through Heaven's Eyes" Lyrics (printable) Web Gallery of Art (click "Search" button on top menu, type "Moses" in the Title box, then click "Search") http://www.wga.hu/index1.html Scenes from the Life of Moses http://www.wga.hu/frames-e.html?/html/b/botticel/4sistina/moses/index.html Activities for Students: "Through Heaven's Eyes" on the jPod

Worms

While most people hold worms in a very low regard, they offer much benefit to our world. Read this article which includes everything you ever wanted to know about worms. Then, using King David as a starting point, students will begin to think about how worms and other seemingly non-beneficial species improve the world we live in. $0.00$0.00WORM FACTS The biggest earthworm ever found was discovered in South Africa, measuring a whopping 22 feet long. Over a million worms can live in one acre of land. A worm's head end is called its anterior. Its tail end is its posterior. If they are cut off, worms can grow new posteriors, but not new anteriors. A BAD RAP "Even things which appear to be superfluous in the world...are part of Creation, and God operates through all of them." Bereishit Rabbah 10:7 Lesson Summary:  Using King David as a starting point, students will begin to think about how worms and other seemingly unbeneficial species improve the world we live in. This lesson then goes on to share the many important functions of the worm and how it can teach us about a very important trait: humility. Printable Lesson:  5605lesson.pdf Additional PDFs:  Source Sheet Additional Resources:  The Adventures of Herman the Worm: http://www.urbanext.uiuc.edu/worms

Ricky Ullman: Jewish A"Phil"iation

Ricky Ullman of Phil in the Future talks about being Jewish in Hollywood and his hopes for the future. In the accompanying lesson. your students will engage in a project to demonstrate how, while each is a part of the larger Jewish people - its past, present, and future - every Jewish person brings something unique and personal to the "big picture." $0.00$0.00  Ricky Ullman understands what it's like to adapt to a new place. In his role as Phil Diffy in the Disney Channel's popular sitcom "Phil of the Future," Ricky plays a teenager from the future who is displaced with his family to the present because their time machine broke down while they were on vacation here. Phil adjusts to his new surroundings with the help of his friend Keely and some futuristic gadgets like the Wizrd, skyaks, and the DNA Scrambler. "Know from where you came and where you are going." Pirkei Avot 3:1 Lesson Summary:  In this lesson, students will engage in a project to demonstrate how, while each is a part of the larger Jewish people - its past, present, and future - every Jewish person brings something unique and personal to the "big picture." Printable Lesson:  8605lesson.pdf Additional PDFs:  Source Sheet

Glue

In this article, students willlearn how glue creates physical bonds between things. In the lesson, students will consider the question of how one creates a bond withsomething one can’t see. Using glue as a starting point, this lesson explores ideas of bonding with something one can see and bonding to something one cannot see. Students will then take these ideas and create their ownpersonal prayers and rituals to promote Jewish unity in a spiritual and physical sense $0.00$0.00* In November 2005, a man sued a store in Louisville, Kentucky, for a prank that glued him to a toilet seat. * A high school student used Elmer's® glue to build a bridge made from pasta that supported 2,350 pounds. *Some doctors use special super glue instead of stitches to close wounds. A Common Bond "Do not be scornful of any person and do not be disdainful of anything, for there is no person without his or her hour and no thing without its place." Pirkei Avot 4:3 Lesson Summary:  In this lesson, students will consider the question of how one creates a bond with something he or she cannot see. Using glue as a starting point, this lesson explores ideas of bonding with something one can see and bonding to something one cannot see. Students will then take these ideas and create their own personal prayers and rituals to promote Jewish unity in a spiritual and physical sense. Printable Lesson:  8604lesson.pdf Additional PDFs:  Source Sheet

One Big Family

Read about American Jewish teens who traveled to Israel to lend a hand in the aftermath of the disengagment from Gaza. In the accompanying lesson students will play a game and study Jewish texts to understand why it is important to express unity with Jews in Israel—and other countries—and help them when they are in need.  $0.00$0.00An 8-year-old boy in a red shirt focuses intently on his watercolor painting. He's drawing a house--a large structure with beige walls, a welcoming green door, and clear, wide windows. In front, children play with bikes, toy trucks, and a dog. "I used to live in a house," he explains. "But now we live here." "Do not forsake your own friend." Proverbs 27:10 Lesson Summary:  In this lessons, students will play a game and study Jewish texts to help them understand why it is important to express unity with Jews in Israel—and other countries—and to help them when they are in times of need. Printable Lesson:  8607lesson.pdf Additional PDFs:  Source Sheet

Pathways to Freedom

On Pesach we recall how B'nai Yisrael were brought out of Egypt.  Here are three modern stories of people who yearned for freedom. After discussing the recurrence of the struggle for liberation, students will make a scrapbook illustrating their own families' quest for freedom and that of others in recent history.     $0.00$0.00  In every generation, says the Haggadah, we must view ourselves as if we had fled from slavery in Egypt. This article profiles three exceptional people who took this message to heart. Their experiences teach us that freedom should never be taken for granted. FIGHTING SOVIET OPPRESSION "May the One Who performed miracles for our ancestors and redeemed them from slavery to freedom, redeem us soon..." From the Blessing of the New Month Lesson Summary:  In this lesson, students will design and compile a class scrapbook commemorating exoduses in national and personal history. Printable Lesson:  7608lesson.pdf Additional PDFs:  Source Sheet Information about Major Exoduses/Rescue Missions Additional Resources:  In Our Own Voices: Conducting Life History Interviews with American Jewish Women: http://www.jwa.org/discover/oralhistory/guide.html Activities for Students: Pesach Central

Ari Pinchot: Paper Clips Producer

Get the insider take on the documentary "Paper Clips" straight from the film's producer! In the lesson, students discuss how they would remember victims of the Shoah and plan a commemoration of Yom Hashoah.   $0.00$0.00  The German railcar seemed aged and defunct, its exterior appeared faded and rusty, and it hadn't traveled on a railroad in a very long time. But its arrival in Whitwell, Tennessee, was eagerly anticipated by the entire community. As men carefully placed the railcar in front of Whitwell Middle School, the students, with their parents, grandparents, neighbors, and teachers, quietly approached the car, touched it, and wept. The railcar's place in history, they knew, was about to change forever.   "Remember the days of yore, understand the years of generation after generation." Devarim 32:7 Lesson Summary:  This lesson is structured so it can be done either in parts or in its entirety, as appropriate for your school environment. In the first section of the lesson, students will discuss the importance of remembering the Shoah and design their own conceptions of a memorial for the victims of the Shoah. In the second part of the lesson, students consider the goals and content of their proposed memorials to help them plan an appropriate commemoration of Yom Hashoah. Printable Lesson:  7604lesson.pdf Additional PDFs:  Source Sheet Additional Resources:  MyJewishLearning.com - "The Importance of Remembering": http://hillel.myjewishlearning.com/holidays/Modern_Holidays/Yom_Hashoah/Remembering_816.htm Paper Clips Movie Site: http://www.paperclipsmovie.com Los Angeles Holocaust Monument: http://www.laholocaustmonument.com/monument.htm The Holocaust Memorial Center: http://holocaustcenter.org Miami Holocaust Memorial: http://www.chgs.umn.edu/Visual___Artistic_Resources/Public_Holocaust_Memorials/ Miami_Holocaust_Memorial/miami_holocaust_memorial.html Philadelphia Holocaust Memorial: http://www.chgs.umn.edu/Visual___Artistic_Resources/Public_Holocaust_Memorials/ Philadelphia_Holocaust_Memoria/philadelphia_holocaust_memoria.html

The Song that Moves a Nation

Introduce your students to The Medic's Ballad, a song that powerfully stirs emotions every year on Yom Hazikaron (Israel's Memorial Day). Students will explore the unique power of songs to evoke memories and rouse emotions by analyzing the lyrics of the song and planning for ways to memorialize Israel's fallen soldiers within your own class or school.         $0.00$0.00Across the river, papyrus rustles, a land mine explodes, and a wounded soldier cries out in pain. Within seconds, a medic rushes to his side, dodging a barrage of bullets. "Leave me here," gasps the soldier. "Save yourself!" "I am staying with you," the medic replies. Fierce enemy fire strafes the field, wounding the brave medic. At last, friendly troops arrive. "We're saved," exults the soldier. But only a deathly silence greets his glee. "My brother!" he cries. "My brother!" "May God remember the souls of the fighters of the Israel Defense Forces who gave their lives for the sanctification of God's Name, the people, and the Land..." From Yizkor Lesson Summary:  In this lesson, students will explore the unique power of songs to evoke memories and rouse emotions by analyzing the lyrics to "Ballada Lahovesh," and planning for ways to memorialize Israel's fallen soldiers within their own class or school. Printable Lesson:  7609lesson.pdf Additional PDFs:  Source Sheet Lyrics to "Ballada Lahovesh" Information about Yizkor Service Hebrew Article Additional Resources:  Information about Yom Hazikaron: http://www.ou.org/yerushalayim/yomhazikaron/default.htm Personal letter from Israeli soldier, Gadi Ezra, about his impending death: http://www.girlfriendsidf.org.il/eng/my_dear_galiti.htm Hebrew Profile of Gadi Ezra: http://www.izkor.mod.gov.il/izkor86.asp?t=0&dir=0&i=0&pab=88862&nab=516249&pdt=516183&ndt=516191 Hebrew Memorial Site from Israel's Ministry of Defense: http://www.izkor.mod.gov.il/izkor11b.htm Poetry for Yom Hazikaron: http://www.girlfriendsidf.org.il/eng/poems.htm Jewish Virtual Library Biography of Natan Alterman: http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/biography/alterman.html

Nick Moore: Journey of a Lifetime

In this article, students meet Nick Moore who published a book about his travels with his father across the globe to visit synagogues and Jewish communities. In the accompanying lesson, students will think about how they want to pass their Jewish heritage to future generations and create murals conveying that. $0.00$0.00The frigid air whipped across 14-year-old Nick Moore's face as he raced down Bald Mountain's ski trail alongside his father. Midmountain, Nick spotted his destination: a tiny log cabin nestled among the trees--Utah's "ski shul," operated by Park City's Temple Har Shalom. Inside the rustic cabin, Nick knew he would warm not only his body but also his soul, as he had at each synagogue he's visited as part of a father-and-son adventure around the world. "Let them make a sanctuary for Me, that I may dwell among them." Shemot 25:8 Lesson Summary:  In this lesson, students will learn about how one father passed on his Jewish heritage to his son. Students will then think about aspects of their Jewish heritage that they want to pass on to future generations. Students will create a design for a mural that they would want in their synagogue that would educate others about the importance of Jewish heritage. Printable Lesson:  7602lesson.pdf Additional PDFs:  Source Sheet Additional Resources:  Moore, Nicholas L., A Jewish Journey: One Synagogue at a Time, Blitzprint (May 2004).

Eidetic Memory

This article explores the phenomenon of eidetic memory and the relationship between having an excellent memory and the ability to organize information. In the lesson, students will play a game to demonstrate how eidetic memory functions. They will then study a text from Pirkei Avot and participate in a drawing activity to evaluate the importance of eidetic memory relative to other styles of absorbing information. $0.00$0.00  GREAT MEMORIZERS * On July 2, 2005, Akira Haraguchi of Japan recited the first 83,431 decimal places of the number pi from memory, earning a place in the Guinness Book of World Records. * Kim Peek, inspiration for the movie Rain Man, can recall from memory 7,600 books he has read. * The Vilna Gaon, an 18th century Jewish scholar, could count from memory the number of times a particular Talmudic sage was mentioned in any book of the Talmud PICTURE THIS "Knowledge of the Torah is not acquired except through simanim (memory devices)" Eruvin 54b Lesson Summary:  In the lesson, students will play a game to demonstrate how eidetic memory functions. They will then study text from Pirkei Avot and participate in a drawing activity to evaluate the importance of eidetic memory relative to other styles of absorbing information and learning. Printable Lesson:  7606lesson.pdf Additional PDFs:  Source Sheet Memory Game Lists Waterfall Photo

The Cartoon Intifada

The publication of cartoons depicting Mohammed in Danish newspapers sparked violent protests and highlights a conflict of values between freedom of expression and respect for others. Students will analyse the article and the various Jewish opinions about freedom of expression, and and vote with their feet to support one position or another. $0.00$0.00On September 30, 2005, Denmark's leading newspaper published 12 caricatures of Mohammad, Islam's holiest prophet. Because Islamic tradition forbids images of Mohammad, religious Muslims considered the pictures offensive. But one cartoon was particularly insulting to them; it portrayed Mohammad with a bomb in his turban, thereby associating Islam with terrorism. In response, Muslims around the world erupted in violent demonstrations that killed more than 50 people. Lesson Summary:  In this lesson, students will identify the values that are at odds in this current events story and then evaluate their own feelings about the publication of the cartoon using Jewish concepts to support their opinions. Printable Lesson:  7601lesson.pdf Additional PDFs:  Source Sheet Quotations Additional Resources:  Wikipedia article on the cartoon controversy: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muhammad_drawings "A Failure of the Press" by William J. Bennet and Alan M. Dershowitz: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/02/22/AR2006022202010.html?sub=AR American Jewish Committee (AJC) Press Release: http://www.ajc.org/site/apps/nl/content2.asp?c=ijITI2PHKoG&b=849241&ct=196539

Senator Russ Feingold: The Courage of His Convictions

Senator Russ Feingold of Wisconsin talks to Babaganewz about his job as a Senator, his values, and his Jewish background. He stood up for his beliefs and convictions when he opposed the U.S.A. Patriot Act following 9/11. Although he was the only senator to oppose the act, Feingold remained steadfast. After reading the article, engage your students in a values-clarification activity to explore the courage needed to stand up for one’s convictions. $0.00$0.00  When Senator Russ Feingold rose to address the Senate on October 11, 2001--just one month following the horrendous September 11 attack on the United States--he knew he stood alone. The entire Senate supported the U.S.A. Patriot Act, a series of laws designed to strengthen the government's authority to intercept and obstruct communications between terrorists. But Sen. Feingold, a Democrat from Wisconsin, feared that the bill would endanger civil liberties. "In a place where there are no people, strive to be a person." Pirkei Avot 2:6 Lesson Summary:  In this lesson, students will engage in a values clarification activity to explore the courage needed to stand for one's convictions, even when one is alone in his or her beliefs. Printable Lesson:  6604lesson.pdf Additional PDFs:  Source Sheet Additional Resources:  United States Senate: http://www.senate.gov

Teach Israel

 Experience Modern Israel

New from Behrman House. Fly to Israel without a plane ticket.

Discover Israel

 Let's Discover Israel

Offer younger children an exciting and age-appropriate introduction to the Jewish homeland