learning for jewish life

URJ

Learning For · Jewish Life

UNION FOR REFORM JUDAISM URI PRESS

F>r Ltfet e of Jewtsh Le~r ng

Printed on acid-free paper Copyright© 2003 by URJ Press

Manufactured in China 10 9 8 7

1

TABLE OF CONTENTS

TORAH

Guidebook for Am Yisrael, Then and Now 1

AVODAH

Sefer Avodah 21

G'MILUT CHA9ADIM

My G'milut Chasadim Diary 43

TORAH LESSON 1

I

e

Write definitions of the terms.

Am Yisrael:

Eretz Yisrael:

B'rit:

Draw a picture that shows the connection between Am Yisrael, Eretz Yisrael, and b'rit.

Torah Lesson 1 ~ 3

rna

At home, think about these questions, and come to class prepared to discuss them.

1. You are a member of Am Yisrael!the Jewish People. What do you think that means?

2. What is most special about being a member of Am Yisrael! the Jewish People?

3. What makes you feel a part of Am Yisrael!the Jewish People?

4. Do you have any responsibilities as a member of Am Yisraellthe Jewish People?

4 Torah Lesson 1

TORAH LE990N 2

I

•

e 0 •

Answer the questions.

1. Who are the "Jewish people"?

2. What do you think the line "The Jewish people lives" means?

3. What does it mean that God continues to live?

4. How do you help ensure that Am Yisrael continues?

Torah lesson 2 5

• • tsr:a 19

Write or draw a picture in each part of the shield to complete the sentences.

Something special that we as a family bring to or offer the Jewish community is ...

The thing that makes our family feel most connected to Am Yisrael is ... OR The thing that could help our

family feel more connected to Am Yisrael is ...

S Torah lesson 2

Our favorite Jewish holiday to celebrate as a family is ...

The thing that makes me feel most connected to Am Yisrael is ...

TORAH LE990N 3

• rn 1sra an

Read the quote. Then answer the questions.

The Vilna Gaon said: No one c~n by himself observe all the commandments, for some are

addressed to priests, others to women, to owners of fields and houses, and so forth. Only all of

Israel together can do God's will completely.

1. How does this text connect with what we just studied about the twelve tribes of Israel?

J

2. What qualities and characteristics are necessary to have a complete community within

Am Yisrael?

3. What are your contributions to Am Yisrael?

Torah lesson 3 7

~~Er tz 1~ ts

israel/The land of I rael: • • 1gn1 1ca ce en an

Work with an adult from your family. Read the text and then together answer

the questions.

w

The Land of Israel was the birthplace of the Jewish people. Here their spiritual, religious and national identity was formed. Here they achieved independence and created a culture of national and universal significance. Here they wrote and gave the Bible to the world.

Exiled from Palestine, the Jewish people remained faithful to it in all the countries of their dispersion, never ceasing to pray and hope for their return and restoration of their national freedom.

Impelled by this historic association, Jews strove throughout the centuries to go back to the land of their fathers and regain statehood. In recent decades, they returned in their masses. They reclaimed a wilderness, revived their language, built cities and villages, and established a vigorous and evergrowing community ....

The State of Israel will promote the development of the country for the benefit of all its inhabitants; will be based on precepts of liberty, justice and peace taught by the Hebrew prophets .... (Declaration of Independence of the State of Israel, 1948)

1. Based on the above text, and in your own opinion, why is Eretz Yisrael!the Land of

Israel so important to Am Yisrael!the People of Israel?

2. Why is Eretz Yisrael/the Land of Israel important to you?

8 II Torah lesson 3

TORAH LE990N 4

1. Mark on the map where you think the center of the world is.

2. According to this map, where is the center of the world?

Circle it.

'

Courtesy of W. Graham Arader Ill Gallery

Torah lesson 4 9

as ar I • escr • I

Using the following verses from the book of B'midbar/Numbers and the map, try to draw

what you think the text describes as the borders of Eretz Yisrael. Work with two or three

other people as a way to check your own understanding of the verses. Be sure to remind

yourself which way is north, south, east, and west on your maps.

B'MIDBARINUMBERS 34:1-12

1. The Lord spoke to Moses, saying:

2. Instruct the Israelite people and say to them: When you enter the land of Canaan, this is the

land that shall fall to you as your portion, the land of Canaan with its various boundaries.

3. Your southern area shall go from the wilderness of Zin alongside Edom. Your southern

border shall start on the east from the tip of the Dead Sea.

4. Your boundary shall then turn to pass to the south of the Akrabim Steps. It shall then pass

toward Zin with its southernmost point at Kadesh Barnea, and then extend to Chatzar Adar

and reach as far as Atzmon.

5. From Atzmon the border shall turn (north) and follow the Egyptian Wadi which shall be its

far boundary to the west.

6. The western boundary will be the Mediterranean Sea and its shores. This will be your

western border.

7. This will be your northern border. From the Mediterranean Sea, draw a line to Hor Mountain.

8. From Hor Mountain draw a line to Lebo-Hamat and all the way to Zedad.

9. The border should then run to Ziphron and end at Hazar-enan. That shall be your northern border.

10. For your eastern boundary you shall draw a line from Hazar-enan to Shefam.

11 . From Shefam the boundary shall run ... to Rivlah to the east of Eyin. Continuing to

the south, the border shall run along the eastern shore of the Kinneret Sea [Sea of Galilee] .

12. The border shall then continue south along the Jordan River, continuing until the Dead Sea.

All these shall be your borders on all sides.

10 Torah Lesson 4

Egyptian Wadi

CANAAN

• Atzmon

• Chatzar Adar

• Kadesh Barnea

Wilderness of Zin

Kinneret Sea

• Akrabim Steps

Lebo-Hamat • Zedad

• • Ziphron

• Hazar-enan

• Rivlah •

Shefam • Eyin

N

W..--1---..E

s

Dead Sea

EDOM

This map is based on W. Gunther Plaut, ed., The Torah: A Modern Commentary (New York: UAHC Press, 1981 ), p. 11 06; and Aryeh Kaplan, ed., The Living Torah (New York: Maznaim, 1985), p. 853. Locations are approximate.

Torah Lesson 4 11

s

Complete the map of modern Israel. Use the key.

KEY

Brown for desert: from just

below Jerusalem all the

way to the Red Sea and all

along the jordan River to

the bottom of the Sea of

Galilee (Kinneret)

Green for plains: from just

next to and above

Jerusalem all the way up to

Lebanon

Blue for water: the

Mediterranean Sea, the Sea

of Galilee (Kinneret),

jordan River, and Dead Sea

A little black triangle for

mountains: up by the

Lebanon border all across

and down along the Jordan

River following a straight

line past the Dead Sea to

the Red Sea

White for snow: on the

mountains by the Lebanon

border

Green and brown palm

trees: along the

Mediterranean Sea from

Ashkelon up to Haifa

12 Torah lesson 4

Mediterranean Sea

Tel Aviv

EGYPT

SYRIA

Dead Sea

• Beersheva

JORDAN

ra

Discuss and answer the questions with your parents.

1. How can a physical place feel spiritual?

/

2. Write three sentences describing a place you found to be spiritual.

Torah lesson 4 13

TORAH LE990N 5

hat is Eretz Yisrael?

loak_back_ aUhe deflnition_of Eretz Yisrael you wrote on _ . . . .

you have learned abouL&eiz Yisraelduring_fbe. past two essons.

-·t------------------

14 Torah Lesson 5

TORAH LE990N9 S & 7

a a a e a

Complete the sentences.

1. I am like Joshua and Caleb when ...

2. I am like the Israelites when ...

(An example: "I am like Joshua and Caleb when I am optimistic and think things will ~ork

out in a positive way." "I am like the Israelites when I am afraid of people who look different

than me.")

Torah Lessons 8 & 7 15

arashat h'lach l!cha: ecoming Like Joshua and Caleb

Discuss the questions with your parent(s) and write your responses.

1. From what you learned in class, why did God decide to let Joshua and Caleb into Eretz Yisrael? How were they different from the people God decided not to let enter the land?

2. From Joshua and Caleb we learn some of what God expects of us as part of our special

relationship with God, what we call in Hebrew the b'rit. When you keep the b'rit with

God, you help to make the world a better place to live in. One way you can do this is

by believing in yourself and believing that God will support you (even when things look

tough). When you believe this, things that seem hard at first can seem easier. The glass

that at first looked half-empty may look half-full. Even if you can't control how much

water is in the glass, you can control how you look at things! When other people around

you are doubtful or worried, your positive beliefs might make them feel differently.

How can you believe in yourself even more than you already do?

3. In what ways can you see God supporting you?

4. Give an example of how your attitude or behavior can affect the way other people think,

feel, or act.

18 Torah Lessons S & 7

TORAH LE990N 8

ear

Read the letter. Then give the worried Israelite some advice.

Deet Y J OS Vt IA.Ct,

LetV\,ol ( E7retz yi.srael). r ~11\,0W r et~ s~A.-p-poseol to

~ee-p tV\e h'rit w~tV\ <::;ool, b~A.t r olo&A,'t ~V\,OW wV\ett

tV\ett ~eet V\,S oY V\ow r sV\o~A.Lol olo ~t. r et ~ et L~ttLe

(et LOT) V\,eYVo~A.s et V\,ol Yeet LL~ V\,eeol ~ OIA.Y V\eL-p so r

cetV\, get ~11\,to tV\e LetV\,ol et&A,ol L~ve weLL tV\eYe.

~eep~vvg tV\e h'rit.

s~gV\,eol,

A WOYY~eo( fSYeteL~te

P.S. fs tV\eye Ct&A,tjtVt~~ f SVtO!A.Lol ~V\,OW fyo~ k:jOIA.Y

et olveV\,t~A.Ye wV\eV\, !:1 o~A. weV\,t to sco~A.t tV\e Let 11\,ol?

Torah lesson 8 17

Dear Worried Israelite,

Signed,

Joshua's Research Assistant

18 Torah lesson 8

th 'rit

Follow the directions below.

1. Write ONE thing you can do to keep the b'rit.

2. Tell your parent(s) what you have decided and, with their help, come up with a plan

that will help you to do this one thing. Write your plan here. Try to do this during the

coming week.

3. When you have carried out your plan, describe what you did and why you think it was

important.

Torah lesson 8 19

TORAH ·LEBBON 9

I

Draw or write an introduction to your Guidebook.

20 Torah lesson 9

AVODAH LE990N 1

Try to attend services with your family over the next two weeks. After services, answer

the questions.

1. Was there a time during the service that you experienced a feeling of connection to

God, a moment of kavanah?

2. If so, when? Do you remember which prayer?

3. How do you know you felt kavanah? What do you remember about that moment

that felt different?

4. If you didn't feel kavanah (and not everyone does, and certainly not at every service),

why do you think that is?

5. Do you think someone around you had an experience of kavanah? How could

you tell?

(Sometimes it is hard to express these kinds of feelings in words; if you prefer, feel free to

draw your feelings, write a poem or use another method to share your thoughts.)

Avodah lesson 1 ~ 23

AVODAH· LESSON 2

After attending a worship service, think about what you know about keva, the fixed

words and order of the service, and kavanah, the feeling that we bring to the prayer

experience that helps us feel connections to God. Complete the sentences and answer

the questions.

1. Saying the prayers I knew by heart made me feel ...

2. When we read parts of the service I didn't know I felt ...

3. Did you feel a connection to God during this worship experience?

If so, at what point in the service was it? What helped you feel that connection?

If you didn't, what might have helped you feel a connection?

24 Avodah lesson !2

[

]

Introductory Prayers and

Readings

Amidah (and silent

prayer)

AVODAH LESSON 3

TORAH

I __ SERVICJ

Just kidding!! Not really

CONtUSION Aleinu

Kaddish

Did you know that

"oneg shabbat" means

"Sabbath delight"?

Avodah lesson 3 25

P'tichah

Blessed are You, Eternal, Our God, Sovereign of the universe,

o?iYQ 1.?9 ~)'iJ?~ ?~ nl)~ 1~1~

Creator of light and darkness,

You make peace and fashion all things.

In mercy, You light up the world and those who live upon it.

In Your goodness You renew each day the eternal creation.

How great are Your works, 0 Eternal One!

In wisdom, You have formed them all,

Filling the earth with Your creatures.

Be blessed, Eternal God

For the praiseworthy work of Your hands,

And for the lights You created which crown You.

I get it!

If there's a p'tichah,

the words right after tell

us what the prayer or

blessing is about!

Blessed are You, Eternal One, ?~ nl)~ 1~1~ Creator of all cosmic lights.

Right!

And the chatimah

does too!

(Translation from Mishkan T'fi/ah-Sabbath Morning, p. 54)

26 Avodah Lesson 3

AVODAH LESSON 4

1''!1?~ n_:in~ 11~ lj~o~q :10~ 111n~ ~)'P"'~ 111n~ '~1'?'? )'P-'?i 1~~ n.p~o 0'J~1D ~S'b1 :1'JN'?-??~~ ~~~~-??~~ 3'~;}?-??~ !P~~~~ q~ Jll~11 1''~~? op~~~1 :1';}~?-?~ Oi~D . ~~~'? ';.>)~ 1'J~-'~ 111~? o~l~i?~ :,~~P~~ 3~=?XJ~~ =rr!~ 3T:l=?.(~~ ~~,~~

:1''1~'/i~~ 1'Jl'~ 111J~P.-?~ o~~lJ=?~ :1''#'):' 1',~ 11·~'?\?? ~;01 Deuteronomy 6:4-9

0'>~/'Ti( OJl'?Q) '>J')~~-?~-11~ OJ)'>'?f~l ~.,f1J:l 1~9? o?1~~ 'CJ~~ ~o~~~ 'BN..~in ,~~ o~'DI~ nJn? 'r~ =O;>'DIN.?

:OJ'il?N illil' ')N O'il?N? OJ? 11l'il? r." •• I •.•1 ,IT I \." -: N r• \."." T ,I l "

Numbers 15:40-41

(The following verses appear in Mishkan T'filah but not in Gates of Prayer.)

oi!D o,~~~ 1'1"1.~'? ';.>)~ ,~~ 'JJ1~~-,~ ~~)J'?'/iJ:l ~)t~-o~ n?v1 o:>:t:t?-?:>!1 11:t~?~ ~OJ'>n?N nin'>-11N n5nN?

\.': : - : "r : : T : •: •• I •:: <T : •: T -: r- :

!l~Q~1 'liip?Y:1~ il).l' l~).'~ O;?~l~-19'? 'f:llJ#1 :0;?'/i ~~-??~~ J1?~~1 1'J;l'?Q~? ~1~~ :t~~. '!llJ#1 :1'1.0~?1 3'Yil'l:11 ,~~1 0'p?~ ~O{ll~~l O~lQ1 q~~~? nrt~?-1~ 0~/ ~l'?~D ={1~~'?'1 ~o?~~o-11~ 1~~1 o~~ n\nt~~ n1o1 =no/ OJ1'10~~D1 O'lO~ niD'? OJ;ll~~l ry/~:tt11~ \:133:1 N/ nf;l1~P1 1\j1;1 ;rQ?-N?l

:o;>/1J.l) il1n? ,~~ n~ t>o ~rJ~O ~,~~ Deuteronomy 11 :13-17

Avodah Lesson 4 '1..7

(1) Listen, 0 Israel, the Eternal is our God, the Eternal is One.

[Blessed is God's glorious majesty forever and ever!]

(2) You shall love the Eternal your God with all your heart, with all your soul and all your being.

(3) And these words which I command you on this day, shall be upon your heart. (4) And you

shall teach them to your children, and speak of them sitting in your house, walking along the

way, upon lying down and upon rising. (5) And you shall bind them as a sign upon your

hand and they shall be for frontlets between your eyes. (6) And you shall write them on the

doorposts of your house and on your gates.

(7) Then you will remember and do all My mitzvot and be sacred to your God. I am the

Eternal your God who bore you up from the land of Egypt to be your God. (8) I am the Eternal

your God.

(The following verses appear in Mishkan T'filah, but not in Gates of Prayer.)

(9) If you hearken to [listen to] My mitzvot which I command you this day: to love the Eternal

your God, serving with all your heart and soul; I will give the rain of the land in its season, the

autumn rain and the spring; and you will gather your grain and wine and oil; and I will give you

grass in your fields for your cattle; and you will eat and be fulfilled.

(1 0) Take care lest your heart be deceived into straying, serving other gods and bowing to them.

(11) Then God's anger will flare against you, and God will seal the heavens and there will be

no rain, and the earth will not produce, and sooner than you imagine, you will disappear from

the good land which the Eternal gives you.

28 Avodah lesson 4

BIG QUESTION: In verse 3, what "words" do you think God means?

P0991 Bl LIT I E9: The Ten Commandments All of the 613 commandments (mitzvot)

All the words in the Torah

All of the above

Other possibilities:

Write at least three ways we're supposed to love God.

1.

2.

3.

Write at least three ways we'll be rewarded if we remember to love God and observe the commandments.

1. 2.

3.

These rewards were meant mostly for people who earned their living by farming or growing things,

like the family in the "Growing Up on the Farm" story. Can you think of the good things you might

have by loving God and living a Jewish life? Circle the rewards that are important to you:

1. Having fun holidays to celebrate with my family.

2. Feeling proud about learning Hebrew so I can say the prayers. 3. Coming to temple and knowing the rabbi, the teachers, and the people in the

congregation are proud of me and happy to see me.

4. Feeling good about being part of a people that works hard to do tikkun olam (helping the world).

5. My own ideas: ________________________ _

THE BIG NO-NO!!

What's the one big thing we Jews are not supposed to do-ever-according to this prayer?

Avodah Lesson 4 29

AVODAH LE990N 5

Read the blessings. Then complete the sentences.

1. Blessing #1 before the Sh'ma

Blessed are You, Eternal, Our God, Sovereign of the universe,

Creator of I ight and darkness,

You make peace and fashion all things,

In mercy, You light up the world and those who live upon it.

In Your goodness You renew each day the eternal creation.

How great are Your works, 0 Eternal One!

In wisdom, You have formed them all,

Filling the earth with Your creatures.

Be blessed, Eternal God

For the praiseworthy work of Your hands,

And for the lights You created which crown You.

Blessed are You, Eternal One, Creator of all cosmic lights.

Kidspeak Version: You are wonderful, Cod. You made the world and everything in it,

including me! You give us daytime to live in and nighttime to rest. You keep an eye on

things to see how this is all working, and you make corrections when it's necessary.

You are responsible for making absolutely everything, and the world is full of Your

caring and Your love. Everyone should bless You for creating this amazing world and the

beauty of even the stars in Heaven. Everybody should bless Cod for creating light and

the world.

I think the best name for this blessing would be:

30 Avodah Lesson 5

2. Blessing #2 before the Sh'ma

Deep is your love for us, Eternal our God, Your compassion overflows. For the sake of

our forebears who trusted in You, whom You taught the laws of life, be gracious now to

us, and teach us. Have compassion upon us, Source of Mercy, and guide us to know and

understand; help us learn and teach, observe and uphold with love, all the teachings of

Your Torah. Enlighten us with Your teaching, help us hold fast to Your mitzvot and unite

our hearts to love and revere Your name. Then we shall never be shamed; for we put our

trust in You, great, holy, awesome One. We will rejoice and be glad in Your salvation, for

You effect salvation, 0 God. In love You have chosen us and drawn us near to You, to

serve You in faithfulness and proclaim Your unity. Blessed are You, Eternal One, who

chooses this people Israel in love.

Kidspeak Version: Dear God, life can be difficult and hard to understand and we

sometimes need help figuring things out. That's why you gave (revealed) the Torah to the

Jewish people. Our ancestors used your Torah teaching as their instruction book for life.

We pray that you will help us understand the important rules of your Torah so that we

will be able to make good decisions that will help us live good and happy lives. Thank

you for loving us enough to tell (reveal) Your rules to the Jewish people.


3. Blessing after the Sh'ma

True and enduring, beloved and precious, awesome, good and beautiful is this eternal

teaching. Such truth we hold to be forever certain: the Eternal God is our Sovereign, the

Rock of jacob, our Protecting Shield. God abides through all generations; God's name is

Eternal. God's throne stands firm; God's sovereignty and faithfulness are everlasting.

God's words live and endure, true and precious for all time. From Egypt You redeemed

us, Eternal our God; You set us free from the house of bondage. For this the people who

felt Your love sang songs of praise to You: Living God, high and exalted, mighty and

awesome, humbling the proud, raising the lowly, freeing the captive, redeeming the

Avodah lesson 5 31

oppressed, the Answer to all who cry out! All praise to God Most High, Source of

blessing! Like Moses and Miriam and all Israel, we sing out and rejoice!

Who is like You, 0 God, among the gods that are worshipped?

Who is like You, gloried in holiness, extolled in praises, working wonders?

With new song, inspired,

The redeemed people praised Your name at the sea shore;

In unison they proclaimed Your sovereignty; and they said,

"The Eternal will reign forever and ever!"

0 Rock of Israel,

Rise up on behalf of Israel and faithfully redeem Judah and Israel.

Redeem us, Eternal One of Hosts,

Holy One of Israel.

Praised are You, Redeemer of Israel.

Kidspeak Version: We totally believe in You, God. You're awesome forever! You're

always there for us, like when You took us out of slavery in Egypt in the Passover

story. No matter how bad things might get for us, we know with all our hearts that

we shouldn't give up because You're on our side and will find a way to help us.


32 Avodah Lesson 5

After you have decided what you think each blessing should be called, unscramble the

words below to find the "real" names.

(Blessing #1 Before)

ATICREON

C T N

(Blessing #2 Before)

_I L A V E R T 0 N E

R V T N

(Blessing After)

PENTIOMDER

R t:> P 0

Avodah Lesson 5 33

AVODAH LE990N 6

Kadosh (holy)

Chatzi (Reader's) Kaddish

34 Avodah Lesson S

'()-1-p

Kiddush I (sanctification)

1

K'dushah (holiness)

Kaddish Yatom (Mourner's Kaddish)

What are the main themes of this blessing? Circle the words that prove your point.

We set the seventh day (Shabbat) aside for God. With sweet wine or grape juice, our symbol

of joy, we celebrate this day and its holiness. We give thanks for all our blessings, for life

and health, for work and rest, for home and love and friendship. On Shabbat, eternal sign of

creation, we remember that we are created in the divine image. We therefore raise the cup

in thanksgiving:

Blessed is the Lord our God, Ruler of the Universe, Creator of the fruit of the vine.

Blessed is the Lord our God, Ruler of the Universe, who makes us special and holy with rules

that teach us how to live in a good way and who takes delight in us. In love and favor God has

given us the holy Shabbat as a gift forever, as a reminder of the work of creation. It is our very

most important sacred day, and it reminds us of when God freed us from slavery in Egypt.

0 God, You have chosen us and set us apart from all the peoples, and in love and favor have

given us Shabbat as a sacred inheritance. Blessed is the Lord, for Shabbat and its holiness.

Avodah lesson B 35

Read about holiness. Then answer the questions.

1. Sometimes holiness can be a feeling that we have inside when we feel God very close to us. This feeling might come when we are praying with kavanah, with all our heart, mind, and

soul, or this feeling can come when we're doing something Jewish with our family,

like saying the Kiddush prayer on Friday night.

Can you think of a time that you have had this special feeling? Draw a picture of it or tell about it:

2. Holiness can also mean the things we do. When the Torah tells us that God said, "You shall be holy, for I the Lord your God am holy" (Leviticus 19:2), it means that we have to live a

certain way as Jews: we have to be kind to other people, we have to protect people who are different than us, we have to care for the poor and the less fortunate.*

Can you think of a time that you have done something to help another person or to take care of someone who had less than you? Draw a picture of it or tell about it:

*Adapted from Arthur Green, These Are the Words: A Vocabulary of jewish Spiritual Life (Woodstock, Vt.: jewish Lights Publishing, 1999), p. 129.

38 Avodah lesson S

AVODAH LE990N 7

Think about our discussion of communal prayer. Then follow the directions.

1. Make a list of the times and reasons you pray on your own.

2. Describe what it feels like when you pray on your own, whether you use the traditional

words of the siddur or your own words from your own heart.

3. Compare how these feelings are different when you pray in services with

the congregation.

Avodah lesson 7 1/1 37

AVODAH LE990N 8

Over the next week, try to take note of at least one experience within each category

listed below. Look at pages 39-41 for the appropriate blessing to recite. Write down what

you experienced and share your thoughts on what kind of moment that created for you.

I"" ~ -Types of Experiences Describe what you Did saying a blessing

experienced. make the moment

extraordinary?

Why or why not?

Awesome tastes

Awesome sights

Awesome smells

38 Avodah Lesson 8

Blessings for Taste

On eating bread:

Baruch atah Adonai, Eloheinu Melech haolam, hamotzi lechem min ha'aretz. Praised are You, Adonai our God, Sovereign of the Universe, who brings forth bread from the earth.

On eating foods other than bread prepared from wheat, barley, rye, oats, or spelt (such as cakes and cookies):

.ni)itrt .,~.,>? Nl.iJ. ,o?i))D 1.IP ~).,1j?~ ,~? nJ)~ 1~1~ Baruch atah Adonai, Eloheinu Melech haolam, borei minei mezonot. Praised are You, Adonai our God, Sovereign of the Universe, who creates different kinds of nourishment.

On drinking wine:

Baruch atah Adonai, Eloheinu Melech haolam, borei pri ha'gafen. Praised are You, Adonai our God, Sovereign of the Universe, who creates the fruit of the vine.

On eating fruit:

Baruch atah Adonai, Eloheinu Melech haolam, borei pri ha'eitz. Praised are You, Adonai our God, Sovereign of the Universe, who creates the fruit of the tree.

On eating foods which grow in the ground, like potatoes:

.n);l1~D 'l~ Nl.iJ. ,o?i))D 1/P ~)'>ij?~ ,~? nJ)~ 1~1~ Baruch atah Adonai, Eloheinu Melech haolam, borei pri ha'adamah. Praised are You, Adonai our God, Sovereign of the Universe, who creates the fruit of the ground.

A general blessing for other food and drink:

.i1;t"T~ n?,D~ ?jDW ,o?i))D 1.IP ~)'ij?~ ,~? nJ)~ 1~1~ Baruch atah Adonai, Eloheinu Melech haolam, she'hakol nihiyeh bidvaro. Praised are You, Adonai our God, Sovereign of the Universe, at whose word all things come into existence.

Blessings for Smell

On smelling fragrant spices:

Baruch atah Adonai, Eloheinu Melech haolam, borei minei vesamim. Praised are you, Adonai our God, Sovereign of the Universe, who creates different kinds of spices.

Avodah Lesson 8 39

On smelling the fragrance of shrubs and trees:

.O'>>;l~q. '~~ Nl.tl ,O/iYiJ l.tP, ~)'>;j?~ ?? n{l~ 1~i~ Baruch atah Adonai, Eloheinu Melech haolam, borei atzei vesamim. Praised are you, Adonai our God, Sovereign of the Universe, who creates fragrant trees.

On smelling the fragrance of plants and herbs:

.0'>>;)~~ '~~~ Nl.t:l ,O/iYiJ l.tP, ~)'>;j?~ ?? n{l~ 1~i~ Baruch atah Adonai, Eloheinu Melech haolam, borei isvei vesamim. Praised are you, Adonai our God, Sovereign of the Universe, who creates fragrant plants.

On smelling fragrant fruit:

Baruch atah Adonai, Eloheinu Melech haolam, hanotein reiach tov bapeirot. Praised are you, Adonai our God, Sovereign of the Universe, who gives a pleasant fragrance to fruits.

On smelling fragrant oils:

Baruch atah Adonai, Eloheinu Melech haolam, borei shemen areiv. Praised are you, Adonai our God, Sovereign of the Universe, who creates fragrant oil.

Blessings for Seeing Special Things

On seeing a rainbow:

.iiY;)~Y:l~ O~i?1 ,in'l~::;l V?~~1 ,n'l~D i~it ,o/iYD 1.IP ~)';j?~ ?? nJ)~ 1~i~ Baruch atah Adonai, Eloheinu Melech haolam, zocheir ha 'brit v'ne'eman bivrito vekaam b'ma'amaro. Praised are You, Adonai our God, Sovereign of the Universe, who remembers the covenant and is faithful in keeping promises.

On seeing trees blossoming for the first time in the year:

tl N1~~ i~1 i>J/iY~ i~l') N~Vj ,O/iYiJ l.tP, ~)'>;j?~ ?? n{l~ 1~i~ .01N '>)3 on3 ni~n? O':li\J ni)J'>N1 ni:li\J ni~i3

T T ••: •: T -: • "f' • : •:

Baruch atah Adonai, Eloheinu Melech haolam, she/a chisar b'olamo davar uvara vo briyot tovot v'i/anot tovim /'hanot bahem b'nei adam. Praised are You, Adonai our God, Sovereign of the Universe, who has withheld nothing from the world, and has created lovely creatures and beautiful trees for people to enjoy.

On seeing the ocean:

Baruch atah Adonai, Eloheinu Melech haolam, she-asah et hayam hagadol. Praised are You, Adonai our God, Sovereign of the Universe, who has made the great sea.

40 ~ Avodah lesson 8

On seeing trees or creatures of unusual beauty:

Baruch atah Adonai, Eloheinu Melech haolam, shekacha Ia b'olamo. Praised are You, Adonai our God, Sovereign of the Universe, who has such beauty in the world.

On seeing someone of abnormal appearance:

Baruch atah Adonai, Eloheinu Melech haolam, m'shaneh habriyot. Praised are You, Adonai our God, Sovereign of the Universe, who makes people different.

On seeing lightning, shooting stars, mountains, or sunrises:

.n)'?iNl.:;t n\'l~~ n¥Ji~ ,o/i~D 1.?P ~))fi?~ ?? i1D~ 1~1:g. Baruch atah Adonai, Eloheinu Melech haolam, maasei v'reishit. Praised are You, Adonai our God, Sovereign of the Universe, Source of creation.

On seeing restored synagogues:

Baruch atah Adonai, Eloheinu Melech haolam, matziv g'vul almanah. Praised are You, Adonai our God, Sovereign of the Universe, who restores the borders of the widow [Zion] .

On seeing a person who is really knowledgeable about Torah:

.1)~)'1?? inY;)?Q'd P7QV} ,o/i~D 1.?P ~))fi?~ ?? i1D~ 1~1:g. Baruch atah Adonai, Eloheinu Melech haolam, shechalak mechochmato lireiav. Praised are You, Adonai our God, Sovereign of the Universe, who has given wisdom to those who revere God.

On seeing a person who knows lots of things about lots of things:

.0111~~~ inY;)?Q'd 1JJ~V) ,o/i~D 1.?P, ~))fi?~ ?? nD~ 1~1:g. Baruch atah Adonai, Eloheinu Melech haolam, shenatan mechochmato l'vasar vadam. Praised are You, Adonai our God, Sovereign of the Universe, who has given wisdom to human beings.

On seeing a head of state (like a president):

.011 ~~~~ .111Jf~ 1JJ~V} ,o/i~D 1.?P ~))fi?~ ?? nD~ 1~1:g. Baruch atah Adonai, Eloheinu Melech haolam, shenatan mikvodo l'vasar vadam. Praised are You, Adonai our God, Sovereign of the Universe, who has given special status to human beings.

Avodah lesson 8 41

AVODAH LE990N 9


1. Copy the silent prayer you wrote in class here:

2. Find a time during the next week to say the words of the prayer you wrote. If you don't go

to a worship service, say the words at home at least once. Reflect on your experience using

the silent prayer you wrote in class.

Describe your experience using your prayer.

• What felt good about saying the words you wrote?

• What was difficult?

• Did using your own words make you feel more or less connected to God? to other

Jews? Why?

42 Avodah Lesson 9

G'MILUT CHA9ADI

Talk it out.

listen to each other.

Share.

Take turns.

Compromise.

Make a peace offering.

Say "sorry."

Build trust.

Work together.

Solve the problem

Put it off.

Skip it.

Get help.

G'milut Chasadim lesson 1 ~ 45

Answer the _question.

What could you do to be an oheiv shalom (peacemaker)?

48 ~ G'milut Chasadim lesson 1

G'MILUT CHABA


List three things you already do to fulfill the mitzvah of sh'/om bayit.

1.

2. __________________________________________________ ___

3. __________________________________________________ ___

List three things you should stop doing in order to fulfill the mitzvah of sh'/om bayit.

1.

2. __________________________________________________ ___

3. __________________________________________________ ___

List three things you should start doing to fulfill the mitzvah of sh'/om bayit.

1.

2. __________________________________________________ ___

3. __________________________________________________ ___

G'milut Chasadim lesson !2 ~ 47

G'MILUT CHA9ADIM LE99

V'ahavta L'rei-acha Kamocha

V'ahavta L'rei-acha Kamocha

Zeh k'/al gada/ ba Torah,

Zeh k'lal gada/ ba Torah

Love your neighbor, love your neighbor as yourself

Love your neighbor, love your neighbor as yourself

This is the teaching of our Torah

This is the teaching of our Torah

11n;> 1~1~ {l~D~l 11n? 1~1~ B~D~l

n11r-t3 ?1il ??:;, nl T- T T: "."

n11r-t3 ?"lil ??:;, nl T- T T: "."

© 1996 Steve Brodsky and josh Zweiback. All rights reserved. Hebrew and English text from Leviticus 19:18 and B'reishit Rabbah. Originally released on the CD, "Only This" by Mah Tovu, 1996 (www.mahtovu.com).

Used with permission.


According to the Torah, we should love our neighbors as ourselves-"V'ahavta rrei-acha

Kamocha" (Leviticus 19:18). Choose another student in your school who you do not know

very well. Find out three things about that person that make that person unique.

Name of Person: _________________________ _

Qualities that make this person unique:

1.

2- --------------------------------------------------------

3. ______________________________________________________ __

Something new that I learned from talking to this person:

G'rnilut Chasadirn lesson 3 ~ 49

G'MILUT CHA9ADIM LE990

ti V- h-. IOli ' If""

- - ---

~ Complete the sentence.

-After learning about the mitzvah of kibud av va-eim, I realize that

I fulfill the commandment to honor my parents when I. .. ;: ta E E

- ~ -

E --

~ ;:: - -

;:: ~ 50 ~ G'rnilut Chasadirn lesson 4

G'MILUT CHA9

Steps to Take in Making New Friends

9tep 1

9tep 2

9tep 3


'- il}u

~ -

~ - Complete the sentence. - -

Through the story of Ruth and Boaz I learned about the jewish value

of reaching out in friendship to others. One new thing I learned is ... ;:: i1

-- -----

E -- -

~ ·--

-;: ~ - -

;: - ---

;:: ~

-

I

52 ~ G'rnilut Chasadirn Lesson 5

G'MILUT CHAB

Today, our class focused on the Jewish prohibition against lashon hara or gossip. The

students learned that by engaging in gossip, three people are hurt: the person telling the

gossip, the person listening to the gossip, and the person who is gossiped about. Please

complete this family worksheet as a way of bringing the topic of gossip out in the open

in your own family.

1. Part of being a family is taking care of each other. We need to know each other's business,

but we also need to respect each other's privacy. What are the boundaries we as a family

want to establish so that we show care and concern, but we don't go overboard and

hurt each other by gossiping about each other? (Examples: Show interest in each other's

activities. Keep remarks out in the open to the other person, etc.)


2. Instead of speaking in a hurtful way, how will we avoid gossip in our home? (List steps or

actions you may take, e.g., talking directly to family members instead of talking "behind

their backs/' asking other family members for clarification or help, being open to other

family members if they are upset with something we did)

3. Instead of using words that hurt, how can we boost each other with words that heal?

(e.g., we ask questions, give compliments, give encouragement)

54 ~ G'rnilut Chasadirn lesson B

G'MILUT CHABADI

-Complete the sentences.

--if--

l. One thing Jewish tradition teaches us about the elderly is ...

---1 3. One thing I learned about the elderly that surprised me was ... _

G'milut Chasadim Lesson 11/1 55

G'MILUT CHAQADIM LE

Look at the pictures and read the descriptions. Then answer the questions on page 58.

s ~ .... ~ I

Scene 1

Tam and Tov are in a busy shopping mall waiting for the

elevator with many people, including an elderly person.

When the elevator arrives, Tam pushes in front of the crowd

to make sure he gets in. Not Tov!

What does Tov do?

Scene 2

Tam and Tov are at their favorite family

amusement park having a great time. They

take the shuttle bus to get back to their

hotel. When two senior citizens get on at

the next stop, Tam doesn't notice that all the

seats are taken. He is enjoying the view

from his seat next to the window. Not Tov!

What does Tov do?


Scene 4

Scene 3

Tam and Tov are shopping at the

grocery store with their family. Tam is in

charge of the shopping cart. As they

look over the great cereal display, an

elderly shopper comes down the aisle

in a motorized shopping cart. She is

blocked by Tam's cart. Tam continues to

look at the cereal. There are so many

choices! Not Tov!

What does Tov do?

It is Erev Shabbat at Tam and Tov's house. Grandma and

Grandpa are coming over for dinner and Shabbat celebra

tion. When the doorbell rings Dad opens the door. Tam and

Tov are in the playroom. Grandma and Grandpa go to the

playroom to see their grandchildren. Tam says hi without

moving his head from his video game. Not Tov!

What does Tov do?

G'rnilut Chasadirn Lesson 8 If 57

Answer the questions.

1. In Scene 1, what does Tov do? ___________________ _

2. In Scene 2, what does Tov do? -----------------~--



5. What do all the scenes have in common? -----------------

8. Think about a time when one of these situations happened to you. How did you react?

58 ~ G'rnilut Chasadirn Lesson 8

G'MILUT CHA9

Answer the uestions.

1. What did you learn that was new or surprising about

the seniors who visited?

2. How has your view or understanding of the elderly changed

after this experience?

G'milut Chasadim Lesson 9 /1 59

410101

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