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Love Your Neighbors Like Yourself (Private-Religious)

Grades: 
K, 1, 2
Subjects: 
Arts Education
Language Arts
Philanthropy
Keywords & Concepts: 
Act of Kindness
Brainstorming
Friendship
Judaism
Music: Perform

This lesson emphasizes the importance of "V’ahavta Lereacha Kamocha – Love Your Friend as Yourself." Children discuss the importance of helping others and will have the opportunity to have firsthand experience in this aspect of tikkun olam.

Duration 
PrintOne 30 Minute Session
Objectives 

The learner will:

  • learn a song that teaches the meaning of the verse "V’ahavta Lereacha Kamocha" (Leviticus 19:18).
  • identify ways that one can help a friend by walking side by side.
Materials 
  • audio and words to song "Don’t Walk in Front of Me, I May Not Follow" (see handout)
  • magazines
  • scissors, glue or glue stick, construction paper
  • Role Play Scenarios, as reference
Home Connection 

Children may teach the song to a sibling or family member and choose a helpful act to do at home.

Related Resources 

Instructions

Print

  1. Anticipatory Set:

    Play or sing the song "Don’t Walk in Front of Me, I May Not Follow" (See handout). Teach children the words and sing it together a few times. Talk about what it means to walk beside and how that is a kind and generous act.

  2. Explain that "V’ahavta Lereacha Kamocha" means to "Love Your Friend Like Yourself," and that this is an important lesson in Judaism.

    Brainstorm ways children can help each other and their family and community members. 

  3. Share an experience when you appreciated the help of others and let the children share their experiences. Emphasize how good it feels to help others.

  4. Model how you can act out scenarios in which you need help, and someone volunteers to offer to help you. Act out one of the role-play scenarios (handout) with the help of the children. Then let the children act out the others. Discuss why this is good for all. 

  5. Children may look through magazines and cut out pictures of people helping others and being good friends. They may glue their pictures on construction paper. Label the pictures with V’ahavta Lereacha Kamocha.

    Have students write or dictate an explanation of their pictures, depending on the grade level.

Philanthropy Framework

  1. Strand PHIL.III Philanthropy and the Individual
    1. Standard PI 01. Reasons for Individual Philanthropy
      1. Benchmark E.5 Give examples of actions students can take to improve the common good and list or describe responsibilities that go with those actions.
      2. Benchmark E.7 Give classroom examples of when a student does not need the teacher's permission to act philanthropically.