Learning to Give, Curriculum Division of The LEAGUE

The LEAGUE

Home / Teachers / Do Not Stand Idly By (Private-Religious) / Jewish Heroes Congress (Private-Religious)

Jewish Heroes Congress (Private-Religious)

Lesson 2:

From Unit Do Not Stand Idly By (Private-Religious)

Lesson

Handouts

Academic Standards

Philanthropy Framework

3rd-5th Grade

Subjects:

Arts, Language Arts, Philanthropy and Social Studies

Key Words/Concepts click to view

ART-VA:	Visual Arts: Create/Communicate
ELA:	Biography; Research; Universal Themes
PHIL:	Heroes; Judaism; Philanthropist; Religious Perspectives
SOC:	Historical Biographies; Parochial

Purpose:

This lesson identifies those who partake in tikkun olam activity as being heroes and role models. Students investigate various Jewish "heroes" from the past and reflect on how they can use their ancestors’ behavior as a model.

Duration:

One to two forty minute periods

Objectives:

The learner will:

research a Jewish hero.

collaborate with peers to identify positive ways in which the hero uses his body.

share his/her knowledge with classmates.

Materials:

Information on Jewish "heroes" (See Attachments One, Two, Three, Four, Five)
Jewish Hero Worksheet (See Attachment Six)
Five sheets of banner paper that are bigger than your students
Markers or other coloring utensils
Scissors

Handout 1: Abraham
Handout 2: Baron Edmund James de Rothschild
Handout 3: Rebecca Gratz
Handout 4: Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel
Handout 5: Phoebe Yates Levy Pember
Handout 6: Jewish Hero Worksheet

Instructional Procedure(s):

Anticipatory Set:

Ask students to identify a role model and to explain why they chose that person. You may need to clarify that a role model is someone that a person looks up to and wants to imitate in some way. Make a list of the student’s responses and discuss their choices.

Separate students into five groups and assign each group one of the following people: Abraham, Baron Edmund James de Rothschild, Rebecca Gratz, Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel, and Phoebe Yates Levy Pember.

Distribute the appropriate reading material to each group (See Attachments One, Two, Three, Four, Five). Give students time to read about their person and complete the "Jewish Hero Worksheet" (See Attachment Six).

Tell students that they will make a model of their Jewish hero to bring to a meeting of Jewish heroes that the class will be hosting called the Jewish Hero Congress. Trace one student from each group on banner paper. Instruct students to cut out the oval shape for the face, color the body so that it resembles their hero and to label different parts of the hero’s body that s/he may have used to conduct tikkun olam. They can also add drawings of different tools they may have needed. (For example, Abraham is famous for welcoming guests to his home. He would have used his eyes to look out for guests, his feet to run after them, his hands to prepare food, and his mouth to welcome them. He would need a pillow to offer them and a chair for them to sit on.)

Instruct students to choose one group member to represent the hero at the Jewish Heroes Congress by explaining who s/he was and the acts of kindness s/he did to perfect the world.

Call the Jewish Heroes Congress to order and give each group a chance to share their model. Instruct the group member who is representing the hero to hold up the model so that his/her face shows through the cut-out oval while the rest of the group explains the illustration.

Assessment:

Ask students to write a paragraph describing how they can (or do) follow in their role model’s footsteps

School/Home Connection:

Instruct students to observe their family members and choose one who emulates any hero that was at the Jewish Heroes Congress. Have the student make an award for that family member. The award should list the recipient’s name, the award title, and why the recipient deserves the award.

Bibliographical References:

Jewish Theological Seminary Web Site
http://www.jtsa.edu/
Jewish Virtual Library
http://www.us-israel.org/jsource/bios.html
Tzedakah Fund, Inc.
www.ziv.org
Giraffe Heroes Project
www.giraffe.org

Lesson Developed and Piloted by:

Shira Hammerman
Areyvut
http://www.areyvut.org
New York, NY 10018

Handouts:

Handout 1Print Handout 1

Abraham

Name: __________________ Date: _______________

All About Abraham

Abraham is a very important figure in Jewish tradition. He was born in Babylonia in 1800 BCE. According to the Bible, Abraham was the first man to worship a single God instead of worshipping many idols. He followed God’s command to move to Canaan, and God promised to make him a big nation in exchange. He and his wife, Sara, settled in Canaan and devoted their lives to serving God.

Besides being Judaism’s first patriarch, Abraham had many heroic qualities that make him an important role model. Abraham is well-known for his hospitality and kindness to guests. In Hebrew, this is known as hachnasat orchim. He was always waiting for guests to arrive at his tent. In fact, his tent had many entrances so he could invite guests in from all sides. In Genesis 18:1-8, the Bible explains: "When Abraham raised his eyes, he saw three men standing at a distance from him. As soon as he saw them, he ran from the entrance of the tent door to meet them, and bowed down to the earth and said, If I find favor with you, do not pass by your servant. Let a little water be brought so that you may wash you feet yourselves. Abraham ran to the herd, picked out a good, tender bullock, and gave it to his servant who hastened to prepare it."

We see that Abraham was very enthusiastic to welcome guests, even those who were complete strangers. He even went by himself (instead of sending a servant as was common in those days) to get the finest meat he had. Think of how wonderful his guests must have felt! What a way to bring kindness to the world!

Handout 2Print Handout 2

Baron Edmund James de Rothschild

Name: __________________ Date: _______________

All About Baron Edmund James de Rothschild

Baron Edmund James de Rothschild was born in Paris in 1845. During his lifetime, many Jews in Europe began to think about the possibility of making Israel into a home for Jewish life and culture. Although Baron Rothschild came from a well-known family of bankers, he was more interested in art and culture than the family business. He dedicated most of his wealth and energy to rebuilding a Jewish culture in the land of Israel.

Baron Rothschild began donating money to help Jews settle in Israel during the 1880s. He helped save a settlement called Rishon L’Tzion by donating money to it founders. This was just the first of many settlements that Baron Rothschild supported with his charity. In fact, he gave so much charity to settlements in Israel that he was known as "Father of the Yishuv (settlement)."

Baron Rothschild’s dedication to giving tzedakah (charity) makes him a true Jewish hero. The money that he gave to settlements in Israel was very important in giving Jews a safe place to go in Israel. His generosity was an act of tikkun olam that we should all follow. He continued to offer financial support for Israel until his death in 1934.

Handout 3Print Handout 3

Rebecca Gratz

Name: __________________ Date: _______________

All About Rebecca Gratz

Rebecca Gratz was one of the most famous Jewish women in Colonial America. Born to a wealthy Philadelphia family in 1781, Rebecca played a leading role in helping less fortunate Jewish families in early America. She serves as a role model both for giving tzedakah (charity) and fulfilling the obligation to treat others the way you would like to be treated, know in Hebrew as v’ahavta l’reacha kamocha.

At the age of twenty, Rebecca opened the first of many organizations that were dedicated to helping others live in respectfully. Her organizations were mainly dedicated to helping unfortunate children and women who were left orphans and widows. She opened the first orphanage in American and created the first Hebrew school where Jewish children could learn more about their Judaism. At the same time, Rebecca raised her eight nieces and nephews after her sister passed away at a young age.

Rebecca’s actions helped to make the world a better place, and were therefore acts of tikkun olam. Rebecca donated large sums of money to her charities and collected even more money from others. She did not stop there; rather, she also played an active role in organizing and managing the organizations that she funded by taking leadership roles and motivating others to do the same. Her devotion to others makes her a true Jewish hero.

Handout 4Print Handout 4

Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel

Name: __________________ Date: _______________

All About Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel

Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel was born in Poland in 1907. During the Holocaust, Rabbi Heschel was forced to leave Poland. He moved to America and began teaching at Jewish colleges. Rabbi Heschel is known to have been a great scholar and philosopher. He was also well known for fighting for civil rights for others. His efforts to spread peace and equality to all people make him a Jewish hero.

Rabbi Heschel spoke out against war and was a leader in efforts to help Jews in the Soviet Union when they were not being allowed to practice their religion freely. He was also very involved in the civil rights movement that protested unequal laws for African Americans. He was a good friend of Martin Luther King, Jr. and even flew to Selma, Alabama to march next to him in a protest in 1965. He believed that everyone should live in peace and freedom.

It is very important to spread peace around you. The rabbis say that everyone should chase after peace whenever they can. This is exactly what Rabbi Heschel did. He made the world a better place by treating EVERYONE kindly and teaching his followers to respect one another. This makes him a Jewish hero.

Handout 5Print Handout 5

Phoebe Yates Levy Pember

Name: __________________ Date: _______________

All About Phoebe Yates Levy Pember

Phoebe Yates Levy Pember was born in Charleston, South Carolina in 1823. During the Civil War, Phoebe served in Chimborazo Military Hospital, which claimed to be the largest hospital in the world. Over 76,000 soldiers had been treated in that hospital by the end of the Civil War. Phoebe dedicated her life to helping those soldiers.

Life in the hospital was very difficult for soldiers. They did not have medicine to make their injuries less painful, and there was never enough food to go around. The hospitals were not always clean, and most people were miserable to be there. Phoebe tried to make life better for the wounded and sick soldiers. When she was not helping doctors to care for the soldiers’ wounds, she would play cards, read stories, and write letters for soldiers. She even held hands with dying soldiers so they would not be scared or lonely.

In Chimborazo, Phoebe dedicated herself to caring for the sick. The act of kindness was an example of bikur cholim, or caring for the sick, which is another way to fulfill one’s responsibility to make the world a better place. Phoebe was a hero to the soldiers that she helped because she showed them that someone cared about them. It is very important that we follow in her footsteps.

Handout 6Print Handout 6

Jewish Hero Worksheet

Name: __________________ Date: _______________

A. Answer the following questions using the information that you have been given about your hero.

1. WHO are you researching?

___________________________________________________________________

2. WHAT acts of kindness did s/he do to help perfect the world?

___________________________________________________________________

3. WHERE did s/he live?

___________________________________________________________________

4. WHEN did s/he live?

___________________________________________________________________

5. WHY is it important to have him/her as a role model?

___________________________________________________________________

6. HOW did s/he use all different parts of his/her body to make the world a better place?

___________________________________________________________________

B. Trace one of your group members on the paper that was given to you. Label different parts of the body with an explanation of how your hero could have used them to do Tikkun Olam. You can also add objects that may have been helpful to your hero in completing acts of kindness. Bring your picture to the Jewish Hero Congress.

C. Choose a group member to represent your hero at the Jewish Hero Congress by explaining who s/he was and what acts of kindness s/he did to perfect the world.

Academic Standards:

State:

Philanthropy Framework:

Unit Contents:

Overview:Do Not Stand Idly By (Private-Religious) Summary

Lessons:

1.: Piecing Together the Puzzle (Private-Religious)
2.: Jewish Heroes Congress (Private-Religious)
3.: Following in Their Footsteps (Private-Religious)