art of the heart: symbols of judaism and ritual...

Hanegev USY Spring Sub-Regional Conventions 2014

Art of the Heart: Symbols of Judaism and Ritual JudaicaCreated by Amy Dorsch

Core Judaic Concepts: Hidur Mitzvah (Beautifying a Mitzvah) (holiness through action)

Session 1 at a Glance: The “Art” PartCore Concept: Define Hidur Mitzvah and K’doshim Tihiyu. Explore how beautiful objects can help enhance a mitzvah or motivate one to perform the mitzvah

Activity: “Shuk”You have been commissioned by the Jewish Federation to purchase Judaica objects for new Jews by choice (those who converted to Judaism). They instructed you to spend 500 “Shabbat Shekels” and choose objects you feel would “enhance a mitzvah” and motivate someone with no prior experience or memory to perform the associated ritual act. This activity illustrates how a beautiful object can encourage the performance or enhancement of a mitzvah.

Session 2 at a Glance: The “Heart” PartCore Concept: Hidur Mitzvah defined as both use of beautiful objects to enhance a mitzvah as well as personalizing the mitzvah with an object of personal significance (physical and emotional beauty of an object)

Activity: Your Hidur Mitzvah of the Heart: The personal stories of Jewish ritual objectsWhat ritual objects would you want in your Jewish home that may have personal significance? Through published stories, USYers will explore/uncover their own personal stories related to the emotional side of Hidur Mitzvah.

Materials for sessions 1 Google Image photos of ritual objectsSmall dot stickers to mark item choices Copies of texts (labeled as “USYer handout”)Shabbat Shekels (separate document)

Materials for Session 2: 1 copy of each story of personal Jewish ritual objects (separate documents) for each sicha groupThe Shabbat Candlesticks- Chicken Soup for the Jewish Soul, page 201The Power of a Blue Box – Chicken Soup for the Jewish Soul, page 85The Always Prayer Shawl- included in this packet

Sessions 1 and 2 Objectives (long term understanding)


USYers will undertand two sides of the Jewish concept of Hidur Mitzvah/Beauitfying the Mitzvah –

USYers will know that ritual objects allow us to perform holy actions and understand that symbols (ritual objects) give meaning to our actions

Beautiful ritual objects inspire Jewish living, to fulfill mitzvot The “beauty” of ritual objects is not just in its physical appearance, rather the

personal or emotional significance tied to the object as well. Texts to be used: Pirkei Avot 1:17. 3:12 and Vayikra 19:2, Dvarim 6:9, Sefer

Hachinuch--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Session 1: The “Art” Part

Step Instructions for Facilitator Guiding Questions

1. Set Induction - create an experience Pose a question: “If I walked into your home, how would I know that Jews lived there?”

Option 2: Sharing personal Judaica stories- facilitator can show the USYers a piece of Judaica or Jewish jewelry that has a personal story to it and ask USYers to do the same. (describe a piece of Judaica in their home and what it symbolizes, ask USYers to share a story of a Jewish ritual object that is significant to their family). eg. The Channukiah we use each year at Channukah belonged to my great grandmother. To me it symbolizes…

What piece of Judaica do you own that is significant to you, tells a story or ties you to your history?

Does the Judaica you own in your home remind you of Jewish memories or moments?

Do you associate your Judaica with Jewish holidays or ritual acts, family history or your own personal memories?

How does an object stir emotion or feeling?

2. Step 2- discuss the experience Pose guiding questions (choose which to ask)

Almost all of us have some kind of Jewish symbol in our homes. What is special/significant about the Jewish symbols in your home?

Why do people return from Israel with Jewish ritual objects? Why do they seek out artistic, beautiful, designer Judaica? Can’t you perform the same


mitzvah with something inexpensive and unattractive? What does having a beautiful seder plate or Jewish art symbolize?

Why do we display our Jewish ritual objects in our homes? Do you think that by having beautiful Judaica in our homes that we are more inclined to use them and perform mitzvot?

3. Step 3- integrate opening exercise and discussion

Explain- the business of Jewish ritual art

Judaica art is not only a booming business but also a holy business.

Isn’t it more important to be Jewishly knowledgeable (spending money on Jewish books) than to have a “designer” Kiddush cup?

Key question: How is owning beautiful Judaica holy? It is not necessarily the object that is holy, but the inspiration to perform the mitzvah through which we become holy. (eg. It encourages people to buy beautiful objects for USE- encourages the performing of mitzvot through Hidur Mitzvah- beautifying the ritual!

4. Step 4: Teach the Concept- K’doshim Tehiyu and Hidur Mitzvah

Hand out texts.

Explain: Judaism is more about practice than knowledge or belief. Jewish ritual art encourages the practice of Jewish ritual as a demonstration of knowledge and commitment

3 texts: Vayikra 19:6, Pirkei Avot, Sefer Hachinuch, Dvarim 6:9

Instruct: With a Chevruta or rotate partners for each text, read the texts provided. Use the guiding questions to focus your discussion

What do you think? Does a beautiful object motivate one to perofmr a mitzvah vs. something plain? Does a beautiful object make performing the mitzvah more holy?

What does it mean “You shall be holy for I, the Lord Your God am Holy? How can mitzvoth make us holy like God?

How do Jewish rituals make us holy? Does fancy Judaica make the act more or less holy? How so? How not so? Do ritual objects bond us as Jews? Make us closer to God? Is it the object or the action? The objects give us the opportunity


After 5-7 or so minutes, ask the USYers to respond to each text.

You can do this in a couple of active ways:

1. Four corners: identify, don’t identify with, strongly identify with, sort of identify with

2. 2 side debate: is this important to Jewish life or unimportant? Does this idea really make a difference in how we live?

3. Pose a problem and have pairs figure out solutions: Does this put a price tag on a the spiritual practice or turn holy acts into a “business”

4. Have each pair come up with one question that wasn’t posed to them that this mitzvah may bring up for them and pose to the group

Use the guiding questions on the hand out or the ones to the right

to perform the action(ie. It makes one who may not perform the act, want to do it, it gives the act/mitzvah added kavod and significance)

Is it the object that we use to perform the mitzvah that is holy or the performance of the mitzvah itself? Must objects accompany a bracha in order to become a holy act?

Hidur Mitzvah- we do a beautiful act with a beautiful object- sanctifies the mitzvah with its beauty

Would the mitzvah be less meaningful with an unattractive ritual object?

Practice the concepts: Hidur Mitzvah Shuk

Before moving into activity, post some of the questions from each text. Ask the USYers what issues or questions may have come up. Activity:Split USyers into 3 smaller groups. Hand out Shabbat Shelkels and images of Judaica objects. Instruct them to spread out Google images on


the floor for all to view. Explain:You have been commissioned by the Jewish Federation to purchase Judaica objects for new Jews by choice (those who converted to Judaism) to help them build a Jewish home- they “essentials” for Judaica ritual objects to help them observe mitzvoth. They instructed you to spend 500 “Shabbat Shekels” and choose objects you feel would “enhance a mitzvah” and motivate someone with no prior experience or memory to perform the associated ritual act. This activity illustrates how a beautiful object can encourage the performance or enhancement of a mitzvah. They cannot surpass a $500 “budget” so they must prioritize and make choices

Another option is to split the ritual objects into three give them an additional opportunity for interaction by “buying” items from other groups!

Discussion Which items did you choose and why?How do these items enhance a ritual act? Would one purchase this item as an artistic object or display or to acutally use it? When does an object become a piece of art and not an example of Hidur Mitzvah? How would this object represent the holiness of the act it allows one to perform? Do beautiful objects help remind us of our holy obligations or would a simpler item do the same?

Wrap up- Bring core concepts home (reiterate)

Place all objects on “display.”Reiterate that beautiful ritual

Allude to next sicha:Is there an object here that would


objects make us more likely to perform a mitzvah or make it more meaningful or more of a special act. A beautiful object enhances a holy act, making us holy through our actions

inspire YOU to do a mitzvah you may otherwise not be so quick to do? If you had one of these objects at home, that you don’t currently have, would you use it? Do you consider yourself performing a holy act when using a beautiful ritual object? How do you personally relate to this idea, if at all. Think about your own ritual objects at home and what makes them special or what you may be missing that would motivate you to act on a mitzvah. What ritual objects would you want to build your Judaica treasury, if this “shuk” experience was real?

Session 2: Step Teacher Action Questions

Step 1: A common question asked to a group to initiate discussion is: If you were forced to leave your home behind and had to leave immediately what object would you want to save or take with? Why are those objects personally significant to you? Let’s put this in Jewish terms, what Jewish object do you have at home that has particular meaning or relevance for you?

OR If anyone is wearing Jewish jewelry, ask them to show others and explain its significance or “story” behind it

Pose question

Step 2: discussion and introduce concept.

How do inanimate objects become significant with an emotional connection? Does the object have to be physically beautiful?Can you apply the concept of Hidur Mitzvah (beautifying a mitzvah) to an object that may be physically plain, but emotionally relevant?


Concept to convey to USYers: The story of Jewish ritual objects, Hidur Mitzvah as both a physical concept and emotional concept, personal meaning of Jewish ritual objects

Step 3: Making MeaningMaterials: 1 copy of each story: “My Grandmother’s Candlesticks” and “The Power of a Blue Box” (Chicken Soup for the Jewish Soul)The Always Prayer Shawl- included in following pages

Split into three groups Give 1 story to each of the three groups. Ask them to assign a leader to read the story aloud.

Think about while you listen to story:How does this object become personally meaningful or emotionally significant? Explain Hidur Mitzvah through an emotional perspective after hearing this story.

Step 4: Jigsaw! Make new groups by having a mixture of groups 1,2,3 in each of the three groups. Each of the three groups should have USYers in it that heart each of the three stories. This is called “Jigsawing”

Step 5: Share stories Have someone summarize each of the three stories in the new “Jigsaw” groups. Once they have done this, post discussion questions.

Do the ritual objects your family chooses to own versus others reflect your family values in any way (eg. A fancy seder plate but no Tzedaka box).

Are there certain Judaica objects you would spend more money on personally? Why?

Can we still be holy with less than beautiful Jewish ritual objects? How does beautifying the mitzvah enhance the holiness of it? How was this reflected in your choices?

Step 6: Discussion Ask USyers to share their own personal stories of “The heart of the Art” or their emotional ties to Judaica objects (even home-made ones that may be falling apart or no-so-pretty).

1. After hearing these stories, how could you redefine Hidur Mitzvah beyond the physical?

2. Think about your own Judaica ritual items at home. Do any of them have particular emotional significance for you? Do you get excited to perform a particular mitzvah during the Jewish year because of the memories associated with a particular object? Something you made at camp one tear? A


Kiddush cup from your grandfather? A seder plate you made in Kindergarten?

USYer HANDOUT

Text Sources: Kdoshim Tehiyu and Hidur MiztvahText 1: (Concept- Kdoshim Tehiyu/You shall be holy)

Vayikra 19:2

ואמרת ,ישראל-בני עדת-כל-אל דבר ב אני, קדוש כי :תהיו קדשים--אלהם

.אלהיכם יהוה

2 Speak unto all the congregation of the children of Israel, and say unto them: Ye shall be holy; for I the LORD your God am holy.

What does it mean that we should be holy because God is holy? How does that translate into action? Is our purpose then is to imitate God through holy acts or mitzvoth? Another explanation could be that God is within us through out actions. Do you agree or

disagree with that? What do you think this text means? What does it mean to you?

Text 2 (Concept- physical performance of mitzvot)

Pirkei Avot 1:17. Simeon, the son of Rabban Gamliel, said:“it is not the study/learning (alone) that is the essence – but the practice/doing is the chief thing…”

Pirkei Avot 3:12He also used to say, everyone whose actions are greater than his learning, his learning will endure; but everyone whose learning is greater than his actions, his learning will not endure.

Does this mean that knowledge isn’t important? That we should act without thinking? Explain what this means in your own words. Apply this to an example from your own life. Why are actions such an important part of living a Jewish life? Why is it important to

know and do?

Sefer Hachinuch One whose knowledge surpasses his deeds, to what is he likened? To a tree with abundant boughs and scanty roots. The wind blows, uproots it and it lies a dead log ... However, he whose deeds exceed his wisdom, to what is he likened? To a tree with sparse boughs but abundant roots. Though all the winds in the world come and blow against it, they cannot budge it from its place.

Text 3 (leading us to Hidur Mitzvah)Dvarim 6:9


,ביתך מזזות-על וכתבתם ט {ס } .ובשעריך

9 And thou shalt write them upon the door-posts of thy house, and upon thy gates. {S}

All it says in the Torah is that we should bind the words of God to our houses and gates. So what is the need for the fancy shmancy boxes we’ve bought to encase the words of the Shema? All we need for Kiddush is a little wine or grape juice, why the sterling silver goblet?

Hidur Mitzvah- beautifying the mitzvah- if we are going to perform the mitzvah commanded to us, we should fulfill it in the most beautiful way and take it one step further to achieve holiness. This is the concept of Hidur Mitzvah and the reason behind Jewish ritual art and the Judaica business

Apply to your life: do you dress up for a special occasion? How does dressing up nicely make you feel special when attending a big event? How does it make the event more meaningful?


*Full list for sicha leader only*

Shuk Items ListInstructions: You have $1000 Shabbat-Shekels to use. You cannot exceed your limit so choose which Judaica ritual objects are worth the prices listed. You can bargain, buy or trade with other groups. Group 1: Tallit- $200 Havdalah set- $150 Mezuzah casing-$100 Chuppah- $100 Hand painted artistic Kiddish cup-

$150 Gary Leventhal Tzedaka box (famous

Judaica artist)- $110 Chai/magen david necklace- $250 Framed Mizrach (art work of the

word “east” so you know which way to face for prayer)- $125

Jeweled or sterling silver yad- $100 Set of decorated benchers- $100

Group 2: Embroidered challah cover- $75 Ketuba (Jewish wedding

contract)- $500 Tallit bag- $125 Sterling silver B’samim box

(Spices for Havdalah)- $90 Hadaya ring with personally-

significant biblical quote- $60 Hand stitched personalized

kippah - $40 Velvet Mantel (dress that that

Torah is covered in)- $250 Case for broken wedding glass-

$100 Emanuel Netilat Yadayim cup

(well known Judaica artist- paints colorful scenes of Jerusalem) $50

Jewish wall art- $300

Group 3: Silver embellished keter (crowns

on the Torah that cover the etzei chayim or handles)- $400

Tefillin bag- $45 Hand made Havdalah candle-

$20 Stained glass Channukiah- $200 Designer Kos Eliyahu or Miriam-

$90 Easy-to-assemble Sukkah- $500 Nice Siddur and chumash set-

$150 Silver candle sticks- $250 Etrog case- $75 Tallit clips- $30


Group 1:

Tallit- $200

Havdalah set- $150

Mezuzah casing-$100

Chuppah- $300

Hand painted artistic Kiddish cup- $150


Gary Rosenthal Tzedaka box (famous Judaica artist)- $110

Chai/magen david necklace- $250

Framed Mizrach (art work of the word “east” so you know which way to face for prayer)- $125

Jeweled or painted Torah yad- $100


Set of decorated benchers- $100

Embroidered challah cover- $75

Ketuba (Jewish wedding contract)- $500

Tallit bag- $125

Sterling silver B’samim box (Spices for Havdalah)- $90


Hadaya bracelet with personally- significant biblical quote- $60

Hand stitched personalized kippah - $40

case for broken wedding glass- $100

Emanuel Netilat Yadayim cup (well known Judaica artist- paints colorful scenes of Jerusalem) $50


Jewish wall art- $300

Silver embellished keter (crowns on the Torah that cover the etzei chayim or handles)- $400

Tefillin bag- $45

Hand made Havdalah candle- $20

Stained glass Channukiah- $200


Designer Kos (cup) Eliyahu or Miriam- $90

Easy-to-assemble Sukkah- $500

\

Nice Siddur and chumash set- $150

Shabbat candle sticks- $250

Etrog case- $75


Tallit clips- $30Story on Jewish ritual objects:

The Always Prayer Shawl by Sheldon Oberman

Adam was a Jewish boy in Russia many years ago. When Adam went for eggs, he did not get them from a store. He got them from a chicken.When Adam felt cold, he did not turn a dial for heat. He chopped wood for a fire. When Adam went to town, he did not ride in a car. He rode in a wagon pulled by a horse. Adam did not go to a big school. He went to his grandfather’s house. There is grandfather taught all the children the stories of their people and how to read and write in Hebrew. All this was special to Adam, but most special of all was Adam’s name.

One day Adam asked his grandfather, “Why is my name Adam?” His grandfather rubbed his beard and smiled. He took Adam to the synagogue, and they sat by the window. Adam shut his eyes and felt the warm sun shining on his face. Then his grandfather answered, “You are named after my grandfather whose name was Adam. He was named after his grandfather’s grandfather whose name was Adam. That way there will always be an Adam.”

Adam laughed and whispered into his grandfather’s ear. “I am always Adam. That won’t change!” “Aha!” said his grandfather. “Some things change. And some things don’t.”


Then many things began to change. There was trouble in Russia. There was not enough food. People were hungry. Soldiers were fighting everywhere. Everyone was afraid.

Adam’s parents said, “We must leave our home and go to a better place. It is so far away that we can never come back.” Adam’s grandfather said, “You must go without me. I am too old to change anymore.” Adam cried, I don’t want to leave you, Grandfather!” I will never see you again!”

Adam’s grandfather kissed him for the last time. He held out his prayer shawl and he said, “My grandfather gave me this prayer shawl. Now I am giving it to you.” Adam held it tightly against his chest. He could hardly speak for his tears, so he whispered, “I am always Adam and this is my always prayer shawl. That won’t change.”

Off they went. Adam and his family traveled for weeks. They came to a town by the sea and boarded a ship and sailed for weeks.

They came to a new country where everyone spoke a different language and wore different clothes. Things changed even more. They moved into a small apartment in a big city. Adam’s parents went to work in a factory. Adam went to school and learned English, science, and history. Everything felt different except for the prayer shawl. Every Saturday Adam put on the prayer shawl and he said, “I am always Adam and this is my Always Prayer Shawl. That won’t change.”

Other things kept changing. Adam grew up and he married. He worked in a store from morning until night. Still, every Saturday Adam put on his prayer shawl. Finally, the fringes wore out. So he tied on new ones.

Then Adam had children. He moved to a house at the edge of the city. He drove back each day to work in an office. Still, every Saturday Adam put on his prayer shawl. Finally, the collar wore out. So he sewed on a new one.

Then Adam’s children grew up. They moved out. They married and had children of their own. Adam and his wife grew very old, and they went to live in a home with other old people. Still, every Saturday Adam put on his prayer shawl. Finally, the cloth wore out. So he sewed on a new one.

One day Adam’s grandson came to visit. “Grandfather,” the grandson asked, “Were you ever a kid like me?” Adam rubbed his beard and smiled. He said, “I was like you and I was not like you. I got eggs from a chicken, not from a store. I chopped wood for heat, I did not turn a dial. I rode in a wagon pulled by a horse, and not in a car. And I didn’t go to a big school. I went to a little house where my grandfather taught me many things.”


The grandson asked, “What did he teach you?” Adam took out his prayer shawl. He said, “Put this on. Maybe I can teach you something that he taught me.” Adam’s grandson put on the prayer shawl.

They went to the synagogue, and they sat by the window. They shut their eyes and felt the warm sun shining on their faces.

Adam said, “This prayer shawl belonged to my grandfather. Before that, it belonged to his grandfather whose name was also Adam. Now it is mine. And someday I will give it to you. It has changed many times. The fringes changed. The collar changed. The cloth changed. Everything about it has changed. But it is still my Always Prayer Shawl. It is just like me. I have changed and changed and changed and changed. But I am still Adam.”

Adam’s grandson whispered into his ear. “I am going to be just like you. I will have a grandson whose name will be Adam. And someday I will give him this Always Prayer Shawl.” “Aha!” said Adam. “Now I can teach you something that my grandfather taught me. He taught me that some things change and some things don’t.”

Key Concept: The emotional significance of a Judaic ritual object, the meanming behind a piece of material.

art of the heart: symbols of judaism and ritual...

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