Students read this article on Jewish ethnic diversity. While the article is written from a North American perspective, the three Jewish ethnic groups discussed can be found in most countries throughout the world.
DISCUSSION: JEWISH COMMUNITIES THROUGHOUT HISTORY
Students can offer reflections on the different communities and cultures represented in the article. What was surprising?
DISCUSSION: JEWISH COMMUNITIES THROUGHOUT HISTORY
Students can offer reflections on the different communities and cultures represented in the article. What was surprising?
Maimonides developed a list of 13 beliefs that were incumbent on all Jews. He first presented this list in his commentary on the Mishnah (a rabbinic text that we will learn about on Day 4) in 1168.
Students can examine the list below and discuss which principles surprised them and which principles demonstrated a difference from Christianity. This overview comes directly from Harvard Divinity.
This list of core beliefs may be summarized as follows:
DISCUSSION: MAIMONIDES'S PRINCIPLES
Students can examine the list below and discuss which principles surprised them and which principles demonstrated a difference from Christianity. This overview comes directly from Harvard Divinity.
This list of core beliefs may be summarized as follows:
- God exists.
- God is an absolute and unparalleled unity.
- God is incorporeal—He has no body.
- God existed prior to the world.
- God is the only proper object of worship.
- Prophecy occurs.
- The prophecy of Moses is superior to that of all other prophets who came in the past or will come in the future.
- The Torah that we possess was revealed from heaven.
- The Torah will never be abrogated or altered.
- God knows the actions of human beings.
- God rewards the righteous and punishes the wicked.
- A Messiah will come in the future.
- The dead will be resurrected.
DISCUSSION: MAIMONIDES'S PRINCIPLES
- Did any of the principles listed by Maimonides surprise you? Are there things you understand to be key aspects of Judaism that are not included in this list?
- Scholars are generally in agreement that Maimonides formulated his principles in part to demonstrate why Judaism was different than Christianity and Islam. Based on your knowledge of these religious traditions, which principles might be directed at demonstrating why the key beliefs of Judaism are different than those of Christianity and Islam?
Jerusalem: City of Faith and Fury"
CNN documentary Series
This sereis can be streamed on Xfinity Streaming if you have Xfinity and also on Hulu Premium if you have that. I watched half of the "City of Faith and Fury" and found it excellent especailly the part about
Dav id and Saul. Sections are perfect for class.
EPISODES
Dav id and Saul. Sections are perfect for class.
EPISODES
- Episode one is called "The Kingdom"
- Episode two is called" Clash of Kingdoms"
Spiritual Audacity: The Abraham Joshua Heschel Story
Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel fled Nazi Germany to became “an authoritative voice not only in the Jewish community but in the religious life of America.” His book, "The Prophets" inspired Martin Luther King, Jr. to invite him to take a roll in the Civil Rights Movement. Heschel was an outspoken critic of the Vietnam War, an advocate for Soviet Jewry and a pioneer of interfaith dialogue. Stream on PBS
Jewish Belif and Pracitice
Here is a jigsaw reading about Jewish belif and practice. It includes these seven practices:
- Dietary laws
- Marraige
- Fasts
- Death and mourning
- Worship
- LIfecyle events
- Divorces
Jewish Achievment in the Music, sport and Hollywood
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This also comes from Harvard Divinity. It explains the scriptural basis for the tefillin and mezuzah. Two short video clips show how how Jews put on Tefillin, and how to hang up a Mezuzah.
After viewing the videos and reading the short history of the tefillin and mezuzah, students can discus or answer these questions.
Are there analogies to this phenomenon in other religious traditions with which you are familiar? In the broader culture in which you live? Please explain your answer.
"Where do these ritual objects come from? In rabbinic interpretation, the commandments to wear Teffilin and hang a Mezuzah are derived from the following verses in the book of Deuteronomy:
5 You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your might. 6 Keep these words that I am commanding you today in your heart. 7 Recite them to your children and talk about them when you are at home and when you are away, when you lie down and when you rise. 8 Bind them as a sign on your hand, fix them as an emblem on your forehead, 9 and write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates. (Deuteronomy 6:5-9).
Verses 8 and 9 (underlined above) state that certain "words" are to be a sign on the hand and forehead, and written upon one's doorposts. In context, it is possible that these verses are metaphorical, telling the reader to cherish God's commandments. Ancient interpreters, however, took these verses literally. This led to the creation of Teffilin and Mezuzah. (For an interesting article on the history of Teffilin, please click here)" (source: Harvard Divinity)
After viewing the videos and reading the short history of the tefillin and mezuzah, students can discus or answer these questions.
Are there analogies to this phenomenon in other religious traditions with which you are familiar? In the broader culture in which you live? Please explain your answer.
"Where do these ritual objects come from? In rabbinic interpretation, the commandments to wear Teffilin and hang a Mezuzah are derived from the following verses in the book of Deuteronomy:
5 You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your might. 6 Keep these words that I am commanding you today in your heart. 7 Recite them to your children and talk about them when you are at home and when you are away, when you lie down and when you rise. 8 Bind them as a sign on your hand, fix them as an emblem on your forehead, 9 and write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates. (Deuteronomy 6:5-9).
Verses 8 and 9 (underlined above) state that certain "words" are to be a sign on the hand and forehead, and written upon one's doorposts. In context, it is possible that these verses are metaphorical, telling the reader to cherish God's commandments. Ancient interpreters, however, took these verses literally. This led to the creation of Teffilin and Mezuzah. (For an interesting article on the history of Teffilin, please click here)" (source: Harvard Divinity)
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Spiritual Audacity: The Abraham Joshua Heschel Story
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Here is a terrific site about music and art in Hanukkah.
The story of the Maccabees is part of the Christian Bible, and has inspired major works of art by musicians, painters, and sculptors of Western Civilization. The site looks at contributions by George Frideric Handel, Jan de Broen, Peter Paul Rubens, Giustino Menescardi, and more. |
Spain Pledged Citizenship to Sephardic Jews. Now They Feel Betrayed.
From the New York Times, this story revies what happened after Spain in 2015 granted citizensh toJews who could prove ancsetry to Spain. Now they rejecting manhy of them.
Here is a short web-quest that helps students understand the issues involved int he Israel- Palestine conflict. Vox has an excellent guide to the conflict called "Everything you need to know about Israel and Palestine." You click through a series of cards for each chapter. Here is a link to questions for each of the cards.
Once students finish the cards, I showed them a very basic review of the conflict from the American Task Force on Palestine. It sparked a lot of discussion.
The documentary on the left is 32 minutes and divided into two parts. and reviews the history of the conflict and the second part discusses a two state solution. It is from the viewpoint of the Task Force on Palestine.
Although the Vox video on the right is maybe more balanced, I like the history offered in Israel - Palestine 101
Once students finish the cards, I showed them a very basic review of the conflict from the American Task Force on Palestine. It sparked a lot of discussion.
The documentary on the left is 32 minutes and divided into two parts. and reviews the history of the conflict and the second part discusses a two state solution. It is from the viewpoint of the Task Force on Palestine.
Although the Vox video on the right is maybe more balanced, I like the history offered in Israel - Palestine 101
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Here is an excellent map and timeline of the wars in which Israel took over land from the Israeli Information Center for Human rights in the Occupied territories.
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Another Great Resource for Arab Israeli Conflict
The Institute for Curriculum Services (ICS) has a terrific series of lessons about the Arab-Israeli conflict. The series includes five lessons, each with videos, primary sources, maps, timelines, quizzes, and fill-in graphics. Each lesson opens in Adobe Spark with colorful and engaging graphics.
The lessons are balanced and offer both sides. For example, each lesson includes four primary sources, two Arab and two Israeli.
The first lesson examines the development of Zionism and Arab nationalism. Documents about the development of Zionism include an excerpt from Theodor Herzl, and one from the First Zionist Congress in 1897. The lesson examines the development of Arab nationalism with excerpts from the writing of Sati' Al-Hursi and another from the First Arab Congress in 1913.
The second lesson looks at the promises made to both Arabs and Jews after World War I. The first two primary sources focus on the promise made to the Arabs with an excerpt from the Hussein-McMahon correspondence in 1915, and the Sykes-Picot Agreement. Promises made to the Jews include the Balfour Declaration and the Feisal-Weizmann Agreement in 1919
The Institute for Curriculum Services (ICS) has a terrific series of lessons about the Arab-Israeli conflict. The series includes five lessons, each with videos, primary sources, maps, timelines, quizzes, and fill-in graphics. Each lesson opens in Adobe Spark with colorful and engaging graphics.
The lessons are balanced and offer both sides. For example, each lesson includes four primary sources, two Arab and two Israeli.
The first lesson examines the development of Zionism and Arab nationalism. Documents about the development of Zionism include an excerpt from Theodor Herzl, and one from the First Zionist Congress in 1897. The lesson examines the development of Arab nationalism with excerpts from the writing of Sati' Al-Hursi and another from the First Arab Congress in 1913.
The second lesson looks at the promises made to both Arabs and Jews after World War I. The first two primary sources focus on the promise made to the Arabs with an excerpt from the Hussein-McMahon correspondence in 1915, and the Sykes-Picot Agreement. Promises made to the Jews include the Balfour Declaration and the Feisal-Weizmann Agreement in 1919
Students learn how Judaism came to America in this Nearpod presentation. It reviews how the first Jews settled in New York City, the difference between Sephardic and Ashkenazic Jews, and George Washington's letter to the Jews of Newport. It includes a couple of clips, one from The Jewish American from PBS.
I show two other clips after the presentation, one about Bess Myerson, the first Jewish American to win the Miss America beauty pageant and the other about the baseball player, Hank Greenberg who had to sit out a play off game because of Yom Kippur.
I show two other clips after the presentation, one about Bess Myerson, the first Jewish American to win the Miss America beauty pageant and the other about the baseball player, Hank Greenberg who had to sit out a play off game because of Yom Kippur.
Here's a twitter thread that reviews the impoartance of Jewish law in Jewish life.
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Ushpizin is a terrific film about a young Hasidic couple in Jerusalem, childless and and without means to celebrate the weeklong holiday of Succoth. That all changes when money falls into their hands. It's in Hebrew with English subtitles and rated PG13. Here's a review from the New York Times.
You can buy it on I tunes or through Amazon.
You can buy it on I tunes or through Amazon.
This series gives viewers a contemporary look inside an Orthodox Jewish family. It provides background to Jewish rituals/practices like Shabbat, Kosher, Mikvah, Passover, Shi'vah etc.
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George Washington & the Hebrew Congregation in Newport, R.I.
Below twoI. GEORGE WASHINGTON & THE HEBREW CONGREGATION IN NEWPORT, RI
Explore these two letters, one written to George Washington by Moses Seixas, a leader of the Jewish community in Newport, and one written by Washington to the Hebrew Congregation following his visit to Newport.
You can view the letters in their original handwritten form as well as read the transcripts. Click on the bold text to learn more about the context and references in the letters.
View the letters here at the National Museum of American Jewish History.
How did the religious liberty protections in the new nationa allow for this exchange to occur? Would this exchange have occurred in Europe at this time?
Below Farah Pandith speaks about how George Washington's 1790 letter to the Hebrew Congregation of Newport, Rhode Island began a American tradition of respect toward people of different faiths and John Sexton talks about George Washington's Letter to the Hebrew Congregation of Newport and his strong condemnation of bigotry.
Explore these two letters, one written to George Washington by Moses Seixas, a leader of the Jewish community in Newport, and one written by Washington to the Hebrew Congregation following his visit to Newport.
You can view the letters in their original handwritten form as well as read the transcripts. Click on the bold text to learn more about the context and references in the letters.
View the letters here at the National Museum of American Jewish History.
How did the religious liberty protections in the new nationa allow for this exchange to occur? Would this exchange have occurred in Europe at this time?
Below Farah Pandith speaks about how George Washington's 1790 letter to the Hebrew Congregation of Newport, Rhode Island began a American tradition of respect toward people of different faiths and John Sexton talks about George Washington's Letter to the Hebrew Congregation of Newport and his strong condemnation of bigotry.
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God in America: A New Light
The first part of this episode of God in America includes a history Jewish settlement in America. Here is a link to the transcript. and here is a link to the PBS video.
Movements in Judaism
Hasidic, Reform, Orthodox and Conservative
Here's what another teacher suggested students might do with these different movements. They could take notes on the differences between Reform, Orthodox, and Conservative Judaism. They should note that the basic difference is the i extent of the obligation of religious observance in the modern world. Can you be religious without following the law to its full extent?
Which is more important: faith or ritual (following traditions like keeping kosher and strictly recognizing the Sabbath)?
Students can either take notes on the differences between the three branches of Judaism or write a paragraph in which they address the questions posed above.
Read about the movement within Judaism here from Judaism 101
Hasidic Judaism
Here's what another teacher suggested students might do with these different movements. They could take notes on the differences between Reform, Orthodox, and Conservative Judaism. They should note that the basic difference is the i extent of the obligation of religious observance in the modern world. Can you be religious without following the law to its full extent?
Which is more important: faith or ritual (following traditions like keeping kosher and strictly recognizing the Sabbath)?
Students can either take notes on the differences between the three branches of Judaism or write a paragraph in which they address the questions posed above.
Read about the movement within Judaism here from Judaism 101
Hasidic Judaism
- Read this introduction to Hasidic Judaism from PBS's documentary called "A Life Apart."
- Watch A Life Apart
- Watch "Only for God Inside Hasidism" from National Geographic.
- Read about reform Judaism here from the Jewish Virtual Library.
- Watch Rabbi Jacques Cukierkorn on Reform Judaism
- Read about conservative judaism from the Patheos Library of Religion