Enduring Understandings For Third Sixth Grades

Transcription

1 Enduring Understandings For Third Sixth Grades Rosh Hashanah Enduring Understandings: (9//7/14) As Jews, we have a specific time of year dedicated to introspection and considering our actions from the previous year so that we can try to better ourselves for the coming year. (T shuvah) Within each human being exists both the tendencies to do good and bad and that we have the power to decide between these competing tendencies. (Yetzer ha tov and Yetzer ha rah) In order to honor others and become our best selves, we must take time to pause and evaluate our choices. (Yetzer ha tov and Yetzer ha rah) It is human to not always do the right thing, which is why the process of t shuvah is done throughout our lives. Yom Kippur Enduring Understandings (9/14/14) The holiday of Yom Kippur and the Book of Jonah teach us many lessons: o The purpose of Yom Kippur is not to punish us but rather to help us find the good inside ourselves. o We are responsible for one another. o We become the hands of God through the mitzvot we do. o We cannot hide from ourselves or from God. Rediscovering the Jewish Holidays, Behrman House, pgs o It is never too late to change. Everyone has the ability to grow and to atone.

2 Sukkot Enduring Understanding (9/28/14) (to be added) Simchat Torah Enduring Understandings (10/12/14) Some people believe that God dictated the Torah to Moses word by word. Some people say that God inspired Moses to write the Torah. Some people believe that Moses inspiration from God moved them to write the Torah. Some people say that God inspired other people to write the Torah. Most Reform Jews subscribe to either one or a combination of all of the above. The Torah is an instruction manual of how to live a Jewish life. Even though it was written thousands of years ago, its stories and lessons can be reinterpreted in every generation, bringing relevance to our lives. On Simchat Torah, we read the last section of the Torah followed by the first section of the Torah. We think about endings and beginnings. Our lives are full of beginnings and endings. At beginnings, sometimes we are excited and sometimes we are afraid. At endings, sometimes we are happy and sometimes we are sad. Shabbat Enduring Understandings (11/2/14) God s work was creating the world, which God did in six days. On the seventh day, God rested. We are commanded to do the same. We can make Shabbat special by living differently than

3 the rest of the week. Derech Eretz Enduring Understandings (11/16/14) Derech Eretz means way of the land. In order to survive, communities have set standards and expectations for how people treat one another. Adhering to these standards and expectations means that every individual takes into consideration the needs and feelings of all those in their community This is the way of the land. We are members of many communities: our family, our neighborhoods, our school community, our synagogue community, our sports teams, and the larger Jewish community. Practicing derech eretz strengthens each of these communities. Practicing derech eretz reminds us that we are responsible for each other. Enduring Understandings for All Four Israel Lesson Plans Israel is a special place for Jews worldwide. Israel is our Jewish homeland. The Israeli Declaration of Independence presents goals for the existence of an ethical Jewish country. It is important to be critical consumers of media, carefully evaluating the veracity and slant of the news about Israel. Israel was created as a spiritual, national, and cultural

4 center. There are specific actions we as American Jews can do to support Israel. Love of Israel (Ahavat Tziyon) is a mitzvah. Just as a family member may not like everything you do, they still love you. Just as we may not like everything Israel does, we love Israel. Israel Lesson 1 Map of Israel January 18, 2015 Lesson Concepts for Israel Lesson 1: Israel is the only country in its area where most of the population is Jewish. Israel is much smaller than the surrounding countries. Israel is the only democracy in the area where it is located. Israel Lesson 2 - Why Israel Matters/Our Love of Israel February 22, 2015 Lesson Concepts for Israel Lesson 2: Israel is a special place for Jews worldwide. Israel is our Jewish homeland.

5 Love of Israel (Ahavat Tziyon) is a mitzvah. Just as a family member may not like everything you do, they still love you. Just as we may not like everything Israel does, we love Israel. Israel Lesson 3 - Made in Israel March 1, 2015 Lesson Concepts for Israel Lesson 3: Israelis are frontrunners in the world when it comes to inventions and technology.