In this lesson, students will explore texts demonstrating the importance of the earth and our relationship to it in general, as well as the unique status of the ground itself in Israel. Both of these concepts will be connected to Tu B’Shvat. Students will also have the opportunity to consider and propose ways that they can integrate these concepts and understandings into their lives.
In this lesson, students will explore texts demonstrating that caretaking the earth is a concept firmly embedded in Judaism. Students will also have the opportunity to consider and propose ways that they can integrate a caretaker approach to the environment in their daily lives.
For alumni of The Lookstein Center’s Jewish History Bootcamp, this study group offers Jewish history educators an unparalleled opportunity to delve deeply into key issues in the field. Through engaging text study, dynamic discussions, and inspiring guest lectures, you’ll deepen your expertise and bring enriched perspectives to your classroom. Each year, the Study Group will focus on a different topic, providing fresh insights and unique resources for your teaching.
Understanding antisemitic tropes or themes, helps in calling out antisemitism when we see it, and feeling confident to label it as antisemitism. Teaching these to our students also substantiates their feelings and helps them understand why certain messages or images feel uncomfortable and upsetting. Finally, knowing that, as a people, we have been targeted by antisemitism before, and have not only survived but continued to thrive and contribute to humanity, is a source of pride. Even knowing this, can increase resilience among our students.
It is important to learn how to process our emotional reactions to help cope with antisemitism. This can that help us to take control of our emotional responses, move beyond the knee-jerk reactions, and empower us, even throughout difficult times.
By highlighting what makes Judaism special and honoring our Jewish culture and traditions, we can build resilience in the face of hate and even emerge feeling stronger, more unified, and have a greater sense of identity.
In this guidebook, educators can learn basic information about antisemitism, what it may look like for students in this age demographic, and proactive steps that educators can take to feel prepared for addressing this topic.
When people whom I haven’t seen for a long time say to me, “You haven’t changed a bit!” I do not take that as a compliment. If I am not better today than I was ten or twenty years ago, then I have definitely missed many opportunities. That is true both in my personal life and in my professional life. I certainly hope that I am a better person, a better parent, a better child, a better spouse, a better student of Torah, and a better teacher than I was a decade ago.
Lighting Chanukah candles is one of the most widely-observed Jewish rituals. We seldom stop to think about it anymore; we take it as a “given” that the way we do it is the way it has always been done: we light one candle the first night and then increase the number of candles each night.
This lesson looks at the evolution of this ritual and how it emerged from a makhloket (debate) around “best practice” for lighting Chanukah candles and a subsequent makhloket between the great sages Hillel and Shammai and their students. The focus of the lesson is this second makhloket and the broader concept of makhloket l’sheim Shamayim (debate for the sake of Heaven), and the ramifications of this concept.
There are two parallel sets of narratives addressing the question,“What are we REALLY celebrating on Chanukah?” One is the fight for religious freedom and the military victory of the much smaller Judean army over the mighty Greek-Syrian army. The other is the miracle of the oil burning for eight days. By viewing the primary sources through historical lenses, students can deepen their understanding of how historical context shapes how events are recorded and how they are commemorated.
