Why Should We Fix the World? (Private-Religious)

Hand out a copy of Aleinu in English (or Hebrew – if the learners are adept in their use of Hebrew) and divide the class into small groups.

Have each group talk about the themes in AleinuTeacher Note: Make sure the class focuses on G-d’s creation of the world and the imperfections remaining in it that need fixing – i.e. tikkun olam).

Hand out copy of Mishna: Ethics of our Fathers 2:21 in English (or Hebrew – if the learners are adept in their use of Hebrew) dealing with human activitytelling the groups to talk about the Mishna and compare and synthesize it with the Aleinu (i.e. one deals with divine improvement and one with human action striving for the same goal).

Have each group write down themes that they identify from Aleinu.

Pose this discussion question–What does Aleinu identify as imperfect with the world? (The Aleinu provides for spiritual involvement in worldly improvement the result of digression among the peoples of the world requiring G-d to eradicate foreign deities so that there is one single true G-d)

Have each group write down themes that they identify from Mishna: Ethics of the Fathers 2:21 – lo alecha hamilacha ligmor.

Pose this discussion question- (The Mishna provides for human involvement in worldly improvement.) Why must the world be changed? Why didn’t G-d create perfection? (i.e. G-d wanted the creation of the world to involve partnership between the focus of creation, humanity and Himself, the Creator.

Distributing a copy of Attachment One: The Worksheet to each group. This worksheet contains two questions that each group needs to respond to. Once completed, allow time for each group to articulate their responses to the questions.