pluralism, values, and jewish texts for the isjl education fellows
TRANSCRIPT
Sharing Stories
Inspiring Change
Which event would you most like to attend and why?
1 2 3
45
6
7
8
9
11 12
10
Sharing Stories
Inspiring Change
What did your partner’s
choice/response tell you about their
values or priorities?
Sharing Stories
Inspiring Change
Values, Actions, Context
Values Actions
Sharing Stories
Inspiring Change
What did she believe?
What motivated her?
What impact did she have on the world?
What do I believe?
What motivates me?
What impact do I want to have on the world?
Wrestling with Big Questions
Sharing Stories
Inspiring Change
Enduring Understandings
• Historical sources teach us about the context in which
they were created.
• Exploring historical sources gives us a safe way to think
about our values and talk about our differences.
• In every generation, Jews have wrestled with diverse
beliefs and practices. Conflict and disagreement are
part of communal life.
• For pluralism to be successful, we must understand
ourselves and strive to both understand and respect
others.
Sharing Stories
Inspiring Change
Essential Questions
• How can historical texts help us reach our educational
goals?
• What makes a text “Jewish?”
• How do we reconcile conflicts between our own values
and the values held by others or by our communities?
Sharing Stories
Inspiring Change
First Text: Letter to Haym Peretz
• Source the text
• What is it?
• Who wrote it and who is it to?
• When and where was it written?
• Analyze the text
• Why was this letter written?
• What does this text tell us about the author’s values and
beliefs?
• What does this text tell us about the historical context in which
it was created?
Sharing Stories
Inspiring Change
Background/Historical Context
Sharing Stories
Inspiring Change
What does this text teach us?
1. How does this text conflict or align with your
Jewish values?
2. How does this text conflict or align with the
Jewish values of the communities you
serve?
3. What, if anything, can this text teach us
about Judaism and pluralism?
Sharing Stories
Inspiring Change
Second Text: Advertisement from Mother
Earth Magazine
• Source the text
• What is it?
• Who wrote it and who is the intended audience?
• When and where was it written?
• Analyze the text
• Why was it written?
• What does this text tell us about the author’s values and
beliefs?
• What does this text tell us about the historical context in which
it was created?
Sharing Stories
Inspiring Change
Background/Historical Context
Sharing Stories
Inspiring Change
What does this text teach us?
1. How does this text conflict or align with your
Jewish values?
2. How does this text conflict or align with the
Jewish values of the communities you
serve?
3. What, if anything, can this text teach us
about Judaism and pluralism?
Sharing Stories
Inspiring Change
Closing Discussion
• What questions do you have?
• How might you use these sources in the communities you serve?
• What would your goals be in teaching these texts?
Sharing Stories
Inspiring Change
About the Twersky Award
• Any Jewish educator working with students in grades
6-12
• Apply for the award or nominate a friend/colleague
• Two prizes
• Winner receives $2,000 + $400 for their school/program
• Finalist receives $500 + $100 for their school/program
• Deadlines:
• Submissions: Monday, June 1, 2015
Sharing Stories
Inspiring Change
Submission requirements
• Statement of purpose
• Lesson plan
• Classroom product (handout, assignment, etc.)
• Two examples of student work
• Two letters of support (from supervisor,
colleague, student, parent, etc.)
Sharing Stories
Inspiring Change
Other Examples
Sharing Stories
Inspiring Change
Adapting and Scaffolding Texts
for Younger Students
Thursday, April 23@ 1pm
With Jonah Hassenfeld, Stanford School of
Education and Jewish Studies