unit 1: teshuvah (5.1)

Unit1:Teshuvah(5.1)

GeneralIntroduction

WhyTeshuvah?Inaworldculturewhere"talkischeap,"where"I'msorry"becomesathrowawayline,theideaofrepentancewithsubstanceiscritical.LearningtomastertheartofTeshuvah(returning)beyondtheHighHolidaytimeframeoffocusedpracticeisapricelesstoolforbuildingandmaintaininghealthyrelationshipsandfriendshipsthroughouttheyear.

Theoverallgoalsinallgradelevelsare:

• TodefinetheprocessofTeshuvah,returning:reviewofone’swholeself,recognitionofthosetimeswhenonemissedthemark(theliteralmeaningofchet),exhibitingsincereremorseforthebreachofgoodbehavior,askingforforgivenessandmakingamendsasmuchaspossible,andplanningtobehaveinsuchawaytobehelpfultoanotherhumanbeing;

• Toapplythe‘teshuvahprocess’ptothelifecircumstancesofthestudentsandtheirfamilies;providingopportunitiesforthemtoconsiderwhatwentwellandwhatdidn’tgosowell.AsHosea(14:2)said“returntoGodandsayforgivewhatisevilandacceptwhatisgood.”

• Learntorecognizethegoodthatwehavedoneandlearningtosummontheenergyandcouragethatittakestomakegoodchoicesagain.

• TogaininsightintohumanbehaviorandhowJudaismrespondstotherealitiesoftheuseandabuseoffreewill;thatweareallcapableofhurtingoneanotherandalsomakingoneanother’slivesbetter.Thereisbuiltintoeveryhumanbeingayetzerhatov,yetzerharah–thisisourlifeforceorenergywhichcanbedescribedasanimpulseforgoodandanimpulseforevil.

• TohelpenrichparticipationinHighHolidayservicesandritualsbyaddingcontentinclassthatwillhelptomaketheritualandsymbolsmoremeaningfulandmoreaccessibleinpractice;and

• TounderstandhowJewishritualsandtextscanserveas"coaches"tohelpimproveourbehaviorandlifewithothers.

Remember:yoursessionscanneverreplaceafamily'sabilitytoliveaholidayoravaluein‘realtime,’einthecontextoftheir‘reallives.’eaThecongregationandfamilymustbeencouragedtoengagethestudents(childrenandadults)inappropriateholidayactivitiesandotherhome-basedrituals.

Unit1:Teshuvah(5.1)DevelopmentalLens:Peers

Considertheattributesoftheaveragefifthgrader(10yearold):• Hasapositiveapproachtolife• Highimportanceofpeerrelationships-healthyfriendshipsandpeerpressureare

influential• Positiveselfesteemisacriticaltoolforhealthydecisionmakingandresistingnegative

peerpressure• Growingindependenceandsenseofresponsibility• Mediauseishighincludingtelevisionandtexting• Increaseintruthfulnessanddependability• Mayhaveanimprovingself-conceptandaremoreacceptingofothers• Maystartformingrelationshipswithteachers,coaches,andcounselors.

(DevelopmentalinformationfromResponsiveClassroom,www.responsiveclassroom.organdpublishedinthebook"Yardsticks:ChildrenintheClassroomAges4-14"fromNortheastFoundationforChildren.)(5.1.1ResponsiveClassroom)

Forthisreason,weareusingthe"peer"lenstoframethisgrade'svalues,andwearefocusingonthestrengthofcharacterrequiredtobeforgivingandtoaskforgivenessoftheirpeers.Howthese5thgraderslearntorelatetoeachothernowcanhavefarreachingeffectsontheirfuturegroupbehavior-inclass,onteams,andinworkgroups.

Genesis(5:1)Thetraditiontellus“Loveyourneighborasyourself”and”wearecreatedintheImageofGod.”WearebornintheimageofGodandouractionsallowustoliveinthelikenessofGod.

Theunitlearninggoalsbuildontheseideas.Wewantthestudenttounderstandhowparticipationinagroupaffectstheirbehavior(forbetterorforworse).Sinceitwillalsoaffectthem,theyhavearesponsibilitytothegrouptomonitortheirbehaviorandtobeconcernedaboutthebehaviorofothers.Thisunitshouldaddressissuesofpeerpressureandgroupcoercion.Wecanthendefinetheprocessofteshuvahasatoolthatempowersthemasindividualstopositivelyinfluenceothersintheirgroups(bygivingthemconcretestepstointerveneinpeerconflictsituations).

ThevocabularyforRoshHashanahandYomKippurshouldbereviewedandframedasillustrationsofactsofmutualityandresponsibility.SoteshuvahislookingbacktotheImageinwhichwewerecreatedandtotheGodwhocreatedus,tefillahismeasuringourselves(palul)againstourownaspirationsandtheaspirationsofthetraditionforus,andtzedakahistheactivityofhealingtherelationship,Isaiah(54:14)Clearthestones,removeallobstaclesfromtheroadofmypeople-sothatwecanreconnectwithothersagainandstartanew.

OnRoshHashanahandYomKippurwespendagreatdealoftimeindoors,self-reflecting,askingforforgivenessandplanninghowwewanttobeintheyearahead.SukkotonthecontraryisZ'manSimchateinu,thetimeorseasonofourjoy.Thisbecomesthetimewhenwegooutintotheworldandwetryonourgoodintentionsforsize.Sukkot,thefestivalofboothsoffersopportunitiesto,meetwithothers,enjoytheoutdoorsandperhapshelptobuildasukkah,ahutorboothUshpizin,thetraditionofinvitingguestsorvisitorsintoone’ssukkahisagreatopportunityforstudentstotryontheirgoodintentionsforsizeintermsofrelatingwithothers.First,throughhospitality,actswhichcompelustothinkoftheneedsofothersandsecond,byinvitinginpeoplefromthetraditionasmetaphorswhomwecanmodelourselvesafter.Theaimistoleadstudentstobecomemoresensitivetointerpersonalresponsibilitiesthatarethemostvulnerableandthatneedteshuvahtorepair,suchasmitzvotbenadamlechaveiro,mitzvotbetweenpeople–howtotreateachother.

WeencourageyoutofindsongsinHebrewandEnglish,inadditiontothesongswehaveincludedthatspeaktothesepoints.CraigTaubman,DebbieFriedman,DanNichols,RickRecht,MamaDonni(5.1.1Oysongs)andmanyothershavewrittensuchsongs/prayers.

Overview

Enduring UnderstandingOurbeliefsthateverypersoniscreatedintheImageofGodandwearetoloveourneighborsasourselvescompelsustofindthestrengthtostepinandchangeourbehaviorevenwhenitisdifficult.

Essential QuestionsWhatistheextentofmyresponsibilitytoothers?

Unit Learning GoalsBytheendofthisunit,studentswill:

Know:

• Thatduringthistimeofteshuvahweneedtobemindfulofallthatwemayhavedone,thebadandthegoodthingsaswell.Together,thegoodandthebadcangiveuscourageandcompassionwithwhichwestartanew.

• Theirexperienceisvaluable.ThattheyweremadeintheimageofGodandthatotherswerealsomadeinthisimageandshouldbetreatedassuch.

• Mistakesalmostalwayscanberemedied.ThatintheJewishtraditionamisstepiscalleda“chet,”whichmeansmissingthemark,andthatmostmisstepscanbecorrected.

Feel:

• Theyarecapable.

• Theyhaveachoice.

Do:

• Opportunitiestoapplyteshuvahandforgivenessconcepts.

UnitVocabulary

Hebrew Transliteration Translation

marktheChet Missing חטא

guestsorchim Welcominghachnasat אורחים הכנסת

Edah Group עדה

(JewishIsraelofYisrael Communityklal ישראל כללpeople)

b’rit Covenant ברית

Tocheicha Rebuke תוכחה

givingjustprayer,teshuvah/tefilah/tzedakah Repentance, תשובה, תפילה, צדקה

standtonotimperativemoralta'amod thelo לא תעמוד idlyby

sukkahtheinUshpizin Guests אושפיזין

Kickoff QuestionsThestudentsshouldtaketheunitKickoffQuestionssurveyonline.Emphasizethatthematerialscoveredinthequizwillbetaughtduringtheunitanditisoktogetaquestionwrong(aka“missthemark!”).

Lesson Plan Guide Inordertohelpyouunderstandhowactivitiesrelatetotheoverallunitandassistyouinselectingtheappropriateactivitiesforyoursetting,eachactivityhastagsatthebottomthatarerelatedtotheenduringunderstandingaswellastypeofactivity.

EnduringUnderstandings:Thesearewaysforyoutofilterwhichsectionsfitintothegoalsyouaretryingtoacheivemorespecifically.FortheTeshuvaunittheyinclude:

• Loveyourneighbor• Ritualreminders• Findingstrength• Changingbehavior• Personalgrowth

Tags:Thesearecategoriesoftypesoflearning/activitiesineachsectionoraspecificJewishtopic

Unit Lesson Overview 1. Beingapartofanygrouprequiresawarenessaboutourinteractionsandrelationships

withothersinthegroup.TheHighHolidayseasonoffersritualsandsymbolstoremindustorecognizeourmistakesandtheirimpactonothers.

2. Beingamemberofagroupgivesyoutheresponsibilitytorecognizeandspeakupwhenthegroup’sbehaviorhasgoneastrayandrequiresreflectionandchange.

3. TheholidaysofTishreiprovideustheopportunitytoappreciatediversityamongpeopleandunderstandhowwecanimproveatwelcomingotherpeoplebasedontheirindividualneeds.

4. Byengaginginreflection,wecanmakechangewithinourselvesandothersanddemonstrateourneedtoberesponsibleforoneanother.

Week1:Teshuvah(5.1.1)HavurahorOnlineClass

Beingapartofanygrouprequiresawarenessaboutourinteractionsandrelationshipswithothersinthegroup.TheHighHolidayseasonoffersritualsandsymbolstoremindusto

recognizeourmistakesandtheirimpactonothers.

Teachers:ThelinkstotheresourcesinShalomLearningwillworkfromthisdocumentwhenyouareconcurrentlyloggedin.Otherwise,thenameoftheresourceisgiven.

SuggestedSettingTheHavurah1sessionisyouropportunitytointroducethetopicofthemonthtobothstudentsandparents.SincefamilyengagementisacriticalcomponenttothesuccessofallShalomLearning'sgoals,carefulplanningoftheHavurahsessionsiscritical.Thechoiceofvenuecanenhancetheactivities.Forteshuvahinthefall,wesuggestasitewherefamiliescandoapplepicking(RoshHashanah),vegetablegleaning(Sukkot),agrouptashlich2nearastream,and/orwhereyoucanholdapartycelebratingtheJewishandacademicnewyears.Anotheroptionishelpingtobuildasukkahforalocalgrouphomeoraseniorlivingresidence.Usethisexperienceasapromptfordiscussionsaboutbeingsensitivetotheneedsofothersandtogroupdynamics–harnessingthecourageandenergytobeourselvesamidstagroupandtohavepositiveimpactonthegroup.

LearningGoals• Studentswillgettoknowalittlebitabouttheirclassmatesandgetusedtothe

ShalomLearninginterface.

• StudentswillassociateRoshHashanawithanewbeginningandachancetolearnfrompastmistakes.

1Achavurahorhavurah(חבורהHebrew:"fellowship",pluralchavurot)isasmallgroupoflike-mindedJewswhoassembleforthepurposesoffacilitatingShabbatandholidayprayerservices,sharingcommunalexperiencessuchaslifecycleevents,orJewishlearning2TashlichisaJewishritual,performedontheafternoonusuallyofthefirstdayofRoshHashanah,inwhichtheparticipantssymbolicallycastofftheirsinsbygatheringalongthebanksofariverorstreamandrecitingprayerofrepentance.Seehttp://www.chabad.org/holidays/jewishnewyear/template_cdo/aid/564247/jewish/What-is-Tashlich.htm(5.1.1Chabad)

• StudentswilllearnaboutsomeoftheRoshHashanaritualsincludingblowingtheshofar,eatingsymbolicfoods,tashlich.Studentswillunderstandthesymbolismofactionsandseethemasacatalystforpersonalchange.

• Studentswillreflectontheirownbehaviorandthepotentialthatanewbeginninghasto

offer.

MistakesHappen!TimeAllotment10minutes

Teacherbeginsadiscussionoffixingmistakesbypresentingthefollowingscenario.

ThereareonlytwominutesleftinthebigsoccergameandAbigail’steamisdownbyone.AbigailgetstheballandmakesaperfectpasstoherteammateSherrywhoisstandingrightinfrontofthegoal.Sherrykickstheballbutitbouncesoffofthegoalpostanddoesn’tgoin.Gameover.Afterthegame,AbigailtellsBrendathatSherryisaterribleplayer.BrendatellsSherrythatAbigailsaidthatabouther.NextdayinschoolSherryrefusestospeaktoAbigail.

Discussion:

• WhatmistakedidAbigailmake?• Howcanshetrytofixhermistake?• Didanyoneelseinthestorymakeamistake?• Wereallmistakesmadeequal?• Dotheyallhavethesamesolution?• Canyouthinkofanyotherscenarioslikethisonewheremistakesweremade?• Howmightthosescenariosbechangedtofixthemistakes?

(Additional15minutesforin-personclass)Studentscanbebrokenupintogroupsoffour.Twomembersofthegroupcancomeupwithandactoutascenarioandtheothertwomemberscandiscussthemistake.Alternatively,theclasscanbrainstormscenariosandtheteachercanassigneachonetoagrouptodiscuss.

ConnectiontoEnduringUnderstanding:Loveyourneighbor,personalgrowth

Tags:skits,discussion,mistakes

LearningfromMistakesTimeAllotment:10minutes

Video:FormerAppleCEOJohnSculley:YouLearnfromYourMistakes,NotYourSuccesses(5.1.1JohnSculley)

JohnSculleydiscussesthattorunasuccessfulbusiness,itiscrucialtolearnfromyourmistakes.Heexplainsthateveryonemakesmistakes,thekeytosuccessistolearnfromthemfornexttime.Thisisanimportantideainunderstandingteshuvaasapositivesteptowardsgrowth.EveryonewillmakemistakesbutRoshHashanaandteshuvaremindustolearnfromourmistakes.

Discussion:

• Whydosomepeoplenotwanttoadmitthattheyhavemadeamistake?• Howcanrecognizingthatyoumadeamistakehelpyoubecomeabetterperson?• Inthevideo,JohnScullysaysthatthemarkofagoodentrepreneuris“nevergiveup.”

Howdoesthisapplytoteshuva?• Canyouthinkofatimethatyoumadeamistake?• Wasithardforyoutorecognizethemistake?• Howmightyoubehavedifferentlynexttime?

ConnectiontoEnduringUnderstanding:findingstrength,changingbehavior,personalgrowth

Tags:video,discussion,mistakes

Teshuva–RootsoftheWordHavurahandOnline

Timeallotment10minutes

Writetheword תשובה/teshuvaonawhiteboardoronbutcherpaperordisplayslideonthescreen.Doesanyoneknowwhatthiswordmeans?

Highlightthelettersשובinthemiddleofתשובה.ExplainthattherootofthewordinHebrewoftenshowsanessentialqualityoftheword.Therootofwordteshuvais שוב–return/again.

Inpersonclassactivity:Everyonestandupandmovetoadifferentpartoftheroomandhighfivesomeoneontheway.NowRETURNtoyourseat.

Onlineactivity:StandupandgogetsomethingfromanotherpartoftheroomandthenRETURNtothecomputer.

Discussion:

• Whywasitimportantforyoutoreturntoyourseatafteryougotup?• Withoutyourreturn,wouldwehavebeenabletokeepgoinginourclass?• Whenyoumakeamistake,doyouneedtodoanythingtocontinueon?• Whydoyouthinkthatweusethewordforreturnwhenwetalkaboutfixingour

mistakes?• Whatarewereturningtowhenwedoteshuva?

o “ToGod”:HowmightweshowGodthatwearedoingteshuva?o “Toourgoodselves”:Whataresomewaysyoutrytobeagoodperson?How

mightwedoteshuvaforourselvestogetbacktothesethings?o “Toourcommunity”:Whyisitimportanttorememberthatwearepartofa

community?Howmightwedoteshuvaforourcommunity?

ConnectiontoEnduringUnderstanding:personalgrowth,changingbehavior,findingstrength,loveyourneighbor

Tags:Hebrew,discussion

BrainBreak:HokeyPokeyTimeAllotment:3minutesClass:HavurahandOnline

RoshHashanaRitualsTimeAllotment:5minutesClass:HavurahandOnline

DoingTeshuvaisrepresentedintheritualsandsymbolsofRoshHashana.

WhydoyouthinkeachofthesesymbolsispartofRoshHashana?

HowdothesesymbolsmakeusthinkaboutTeshuva?

IfyouwoulddoteshuvaonRoshHashana,howcoulditchangeyouryear?

Symbolism:

• AppleinHoney–LookingforwardtoasweetnewYear • FishHead–Hopetobea“head”andnota“tail.”Thismeansweshouldbeleaders,not

followers,weshouldhavegoodnessinourlives,notdifficulties. • Pomegranate–Thepomegranatehasmanyseedsandwehopetohavemanygood

deedsinthenewyear

ConnectiontoEnduringUnderstanding:ritualreminders

Tags:food,discussion,RoshHashana,rituals

StepstoTeshuvaTimeAllotment:10minutesClass:HavurahandOnline

MosesMaimonidesdefinedTeshuvaashavingfourparts:

• Recognizeyourmistake• Regretwhatyouhavedone• Apologize/confessesandtrytomakeitright• Makeaplansoyouwillnottodoitagain

Discussion:

• Whydoyouthinkeachpartisimportant? o Whatdoesitmeantoregretsomething?Howdoyouknowwhenyouregret

something? o Whyisitimportanttosayoutloudwhatyouhavedone?Howdoesitaffect

you?Howdoesitaffectotherpeople? o Whataresomewaysyoucantryandremembernottomakethesame

mistakes? • Howwouldthesethreestepshelpapersondoteshuva?

ConnectiontoEnduringUnderstanding:findingstrength,changingbehavior,personalstrength

Tags:discussion,text

VirtualTashlichTimeAllotment:15minutesClass:HavurahandOnline

TashlichisanotherRoshHashanaritualinwhichwesayaprayernexttowaterandsymbolicallythrowoursinsintothewaterbytossingpiecesofbread.Itrepresentsthatwearestartingtheyearfresh.Itisanothermethodoflookingatourpastmistakesandhavinganewbeginning.

Activity:

ShowthisbriefvideoexplainingTashlich.

https://youtu.be/JmlPBP3fC1k(5.1.1TashlichARoshHashanahTradition)

TashlichistheHebrewwordfor“castingoff/throwingoff”.Anearlyexampleofthiscustom,carriedoutbyBabylonianJewswastosenda“sin-filled”containeroutintothewaters.KurdistaniJewsthrewthemselvesintothewaterandswamaroundtobecleansedoftheirsins.

Dividetheclassintogroups.Askeachgrouptocreateanewritualthatcansymbolizethecastingoffofthewrongsthattheyhavecommittedinthelastyear.

Studentscancreateareadingoraprayertoaccompanytheirritual,includeritualitemsandexplanationsofhowtheyrelatetothethemesoftashlich.

ConnectiontoEnduringUnderstanding:personalgrowth,changingbehavior,findingstrength,ritualreminder

Tags:tashlich,ritual,writing,activity

RoshHashanaPartywithSymbolicFoodsTimeAllotment:15minutesClass:Havurahonly

JoinotherHavurahgroupsataRoshHashanahpartyandeatthesymbolicfoods,usingtheyehiratzonformulas

http://torah.org/learning/yomtov-roshhashanah-vol1no38a/ (5.1.1 Yehi Ratzon)

https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/judaism/species.htmlWhichofthesefoodscanhelpusthinkaboutourbehaviorswheninagroup?Challengeparentsandstudentstocomeupwiththeirownyehiratzonpunsrelatedtogroupbehavior,usinganyfoodorobjecttheywish.

ConnectiontoEnduringUnderstanding:changingbehavior,ritualreminder

Tags:food,ritual,yehiratzon,family,RoshHashana

WrapUpTimeAllotment:3minutes

• Everyonemakesmistakes,butyoucanbecomeagreatpersonifyoudon’tgiveupandfixyourmistakes

• RoshHashanaritualsremindusthateveryyearwehaveanewbeginningandcanfixourmistakes

• Nextweek:Teshuvacanhelpyoubeabetterfriend!

TableTalkWhatisamistakeyoumadethatyouwishyoucouldgobackandfix?Discuss!

MyShalomLearningActivity

ThisweekwetalkedaboutteshuvaandstartingfreshfortheNewYear.Agreatwaytohaveafreshstartiswithyourfriends.Pleasewatchthefollowingvideoclip:“Youneverhadafriendlikeme”fromAladdin–inHebrew!

Link-https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gJ5x7t_23BE

DiscussionQuestionstoanswer:

1.Canyoudescribeoneoccasioninwhichyouactedlikeagoodfriend?

2.Whataboutyouractionsshowedthatyouwereagoodfriend?