As educators, we aspire to impart something deep and lasting to our students. When we ask the essential questions--the ones that will recur throughout our students’ lives--we help them discover concepts that confer just such a lasting benefit. In encouraging students to explore the ways Judaism can help them answer such questions, we demonstrate Judaism’s relevance to their lives and give them character building tools they can call upon for years to come.
- How can I be a good friend?
- How much is truth worth?
We can begin by describing the role of Jewish values in our lives: The values of our people resonate through our history, in the stories we tell, and in the lives of many Jews. They inspire us to ethical behavior and enrich our personal lives, our families, our friendships, and our communities. They also help us find answers to problems large and small that we face each and every day.
This is the enduring understanding laid out in the Lesson Plan Manual for Living Jewish Values, a flexible two-year values curriculum that introduces students to sixteen of the most important—and sustaining—values of our tradition. Using a journal/workbook format, and guided by essential questions provided in the Lesson Plan Manual, the Living Jewish Values series provides the map students need for meaningful and memorable exploration of Jewish values. It helps you bring character education alive in your program.
- What does it mean to have personal dignity?
- How does humilty help the world?
Any journey of exploration requires tools and supplies. Compelling tales from classical Jewish literature can help stimulate discussion of central values such as Friendship (Reyut), Individual Dignity (K’vod Habriyot), Personal Satisfaction (Sameach B’chelko), and Truth (Emet). Personality quizzes encourage students to identify positive aspects of these values in their own behavior, and articles about contemporary role models give students the opportunity to observe a Jewish value in action.
- How is gossip dangerous?
- What is peer pressure?
One of the keys to making learning lasting is to guide students in applying it to concerns they face every day. Projects and student materials that include concrete strategies can help students make specific Jewish values an authentic part of their daily lives. And, when there is plenty of space for reflection students can build a permanent resource for themselves as they develop their own plans for incorporating Jewish values in to their lives.
- If I am always seeking more, am I keeping myself from enjoying what I have?
- How do I show gratitude?
A systematic, comprehensive Jewish values program based on enduring understandings and driven by essential questions can give your students permanent, relevant character skills that will serve them for years to come.
Find more essential questions that help students consider the role of Jewish values in their own lives in the student materials and teacher resources for the Living Jewish Values series. You can discover more on our website here.
The Living Jewish Values series is a values curriculum and character education program in four units that can be implemented flexibly over two years. It is appropriate for grades 4-6. Using a journal/workbook format that invites student reflection, the Living Jewish Values series promotes active exploration and helps students develop concrete plans for applying each value to their own lives. The first two units are available now. The series will be complete with the introduction of units 3 and 4 this spring.
An optional online companion for each unit adds a multidimensional component to class through music videos by contemporary Jewish artists. Each video comes with its own lesson plan, lyrics, and student activity instruction sheet, and is available for use in the Online Learning Center. Try a FREE music video values lesson here.
