Learning to Give, Curriculum Division of The LEAGUE
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Purpose:
Duration:
Four to Five - Forty Minute Class Periods
Objectives:
The learner will:
- explain the Biblical prohibition against destroying fruit trees in an expansive way that prohibits all wasteful behavior, known in Hebrew as Ba’al Tashchit.
- list numerous reasons why humans need trees, based on The Giving Tree, by Shel Silverstein.
- create a storybook to explain why other elements of nature are important to humans.
- work to incorporate Ba’al Tashchit in their lives by limiting wastefulness in their home.
Service Experience:
Learners will choose one way to limit trash in their individual household.
Materials:
- Handful of sticks
- Attachments One: Deuteronomy 20:19
- Attachment Two: Comentary on Deuteronomy 20:19
- The Giving Tree, by Shel Silverstein
- Chart paper cut into the shape of a very large tree or chart paper with a very large tree drawing
- Markers or paint
- Attachment Three: Storybook Pre-Write Worksheet
- Lined Paper
Instructional Procedure(s):
Anticipatory Set:
Bring in a handful of sticks in all shapes and sizes. Ask students to list as many uses for the sticks as they can think of in two minutes. Ask them to share their ideas and write them on the board.
- As a class, read Attachment One: Deuteronomy 20:19. Ask students to explain what action is not allowed during war. (Cut down a fruit tree)
- Explain that destroying trees without a reason is called ba’al tashchit. Have each student write an explanation as to why we are not allowed to do this. Share the students' responses.
- Read The Giving Tree, by Shel Silverstein. Ask the class to explain how the tree taught the little boy a lesson. What was the lesson? Was the boy appreciative of the tree? Did he become more appreciative of the tree at the end of the story? Was he a good steward of the Earth’s resources?
- Assign each student a partner and have them list different ways in which trees help man. Guide them to include ideas mentioned in the book as well as other ideas (fruit, shade, fun, rest, paper, blossoms, host animals, oxygen, and wooden furniture.)
- Cut a large tree out of chart paper or draw a large tree on chart paper. Go through the lists that the students developed, allowing each pair to share one at a time. Discuss which parts of the tree helps man in each particular way and have them label the picture accordingly.
- Read the Attachment Two: Commentary on Deuteronomy 20:19. Expand the idea that you cannot waste a fruit tree and that any wasteful behavior is prohibited. Explain that all wasteful behavior fits into the category of ba’al tashchit and is strongly discouraged by the rabbis. Ask the class why they think the rabbis would discourage wastefulness. Guide them to see the negative results of wasteful behavior.
- Ask the students to brainstorm other things which humans may misuse besides tree products. List responses on the board.
- Tell students that it is important to teach others the lesson that we learned about “ba’al tashchit” and explain that they are going to do so in a similar way to Shel Silverstein’s book about trees. They are to select a natural resource (besides a tree) that is helpful to humans. They must write a story that teaches its readers not to misuse this item.
- Distribute Attachment Three: Storybook Pre-write Worksheet and give students time to plan their story and fill out the worksheet.
- Give students time to write their stories.
- Once drafts have been edited and rewritten (and even illustrated), share stories with the class.
Assessment:
Students will be assessed based on the level of understanding of ba’al tashchit that they demonstrate in their class participation in discussions and brainstorming activities and their short stories.
Extension:
- Adapt the School/Home Connection into a class project.
- Read The Lorax, by Dr. Seuss to point out the negative effects that man can have on trees.
Bibliographical References:
- Navigating the Bible II: http://bible.ort.org/books/pentd2.asp?ACTION=displaypage&BOOK=5&CHAPTER=20
- Wasting Resources,” by Rabbi David Bassous http://home.earthlink.net/~etzahaim/halakha/wasting.html
- Silverstein, Shel. The Giving Tree. Harpercollins Juvenile Books, 1964. ISBN:0060256656
- Seuss, Dr. The Lorax. Random House,1971. ISBN #: 0394823370
Lesson Developed and Piloted by:
Shira HammermanAreyvut
http://www.areyvut.org
New York, NY 10018
Handouts:
Handout 1Print Handout 1
Deuteronomy 20:19
Name: __________________ Date: ________________
Deuteronomy 20:19
When you lay siege to a city and wage war against it for a long time to capture it, you must not destroy its trees by forcing an axe against them for you may eat from it, but you cannot cut it down.
1. What are we not allowed to do doing war?
2. Why do you think we are not allowed to do this?
The rabbis call this BA’AL TASHCHIT.
Handout 2Print Handout 2
Commentary on Deuteronomy 20:19
Name: __________________ Date: _____________
In the verse from Deuteronomy that you read, the Torah says not to cut down fruit trees in time of war. It is wasteful, and falls under the prohibition of ba’al tashchit. Many rabbis explain that this verse is REALLY telling us a lot more. According to the Talmud*, this verse shows that people are never allowed to waste fruit trees, even when it is not a time of war. In fact, according to the Rambam (Maimonides) **, ba’al tashchit prohibits us from being wasteful AT ALL!
The following story comes from the Talmud. It shows how King David was punished for being wasteful. According to the Talmud, this is an example of Ba’al Tashchit:
Before David became king, he spent many years running from his father-in-law, King Saul, who was very jealous of David. At one point, David was hiding and King Saul came in. The men that David was with encouraged him to kill King Saul. Instead, David cut off a piece of his coat. David later showed this piece to King Saul to prove that he did not want to kill him. If David had wanted to kill King Saul, he would have done it when he had the chance.
After King Saul’s death, King David became king. King David ruled for many years. In the beginning of the Book of Kings (1:1), the text explains:
“Now King David was old, advanced in years; and they covered him with clothes, but he could not become warm.”The Talmud connects these two stories. The rabbis explain that the reason why King David could not become warm was because he had cut King Saul’s coat in the cave. He was very wasteful and did not show respect for the coat:
“Then David arose and cut off the skirt of Saul's robe. R. Jose son of R. Hanina said: Whoever treats garments contemptuously will in the end derive no benefit from them; for it says, 'Now King David was old and stricken in years; and they covered him with clothes, but he could get no heat.' (Talmud Bavli, Berakoth 62B)”
Notes:
* The Talmud is one of the most important books in Jewish law. It was written during the 5th and 6th Centuries. It contains discussions between many different rabbis. The rabbis tell stories and try to decide the law.
** The Rambam was a rabbi who lived in Spain during the 12th Century. He wrote many books about Judaism.
Handout 3Print Handout 3
Storybook Pre-write Worksheet
Name: _________________ Date: ____________
Directions:
Use this worksheet to help you plan our story. Answer the questions as completely as you can.
1. What natural resource will your story be about?
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2. How does this natural resource help humans?
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3. Where will your story take place?
___________________________________________________________________________
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4. Who will the other characters in your story be?
___________________________________________________________________________
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5. What will they do to show that they do not appreciate the natural resource at the beginning of the story?
___________________________________________________________________________
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6. How will the middle of the story teach them to appreciate and take responsibility for the natural resource?
___________________________________________________________________________
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7. How will your story end?
___________________________________________________________________________
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Unit Contents:
Overview:Nature and You (Stewardship) (Private-Religious) Summary
Lessons:
- 1.
- Guardians of Eden (Private-Religious)
- 2.
- One of a Kind (Private-Religious)
- 3.
- Saving the Trees (Private-Religious)
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