The first day of Communiteen was just right for the 8th graders. We introduced ourselves according to the poet Zelda: "One which his father and mother call him, And one which people call him, And one which he earns for himself." Then we played "Cross the Line." Some of the questions included: Do you agree or not agree that an Islamic Center should be built near the site of the Twin Towers where 911 occurred? Do you think reputation matters? Do you think that Jesus' last name is Christ?
Students learned that the word "Christ is not a last name but refers to "messiah." We learned that last names were not really part of the time period, but one was identified by the town they lived in or the name of their father or occupation.
We briefly discussed the the young college student who was bullying at Rutgers University and took his life. We talked about privacy and this led to the planned discussion of bullying and the Jewish view on bullying. After the break, we played "Have You Ever?" We had to say something like...."Have you ever celebrated Shabbat? Read a Jewish comic book? Been to Israel? Read the book Defiance? Had a bar, bat, or b'not mitzvah? Said the full kiddush? Had havdalah service? etc... It was a nice icebreaker and we got to learn what we have done an what we have in common or not.
We watched a video about Muslims in France and some of the public prayer that has been going on. The commentator emphasized how "France is conforming to Islam, instead of Islam conforming to France."
We also watched the short video of The Hebrew Mamita about Jewish pride and then practiced if someone says, "You're Jewish? You don't look Jewish." The point was to be able to diffuse such comments and that students don't meekly say, "yes" but stand up and not down.
Our last activity was a game called Kosher Not Kosher? and discovered which animals, insects and fish are truly kosher or not. Finally, we ended with Highs/Lows. Comments that were made are as follows: "My favorite was the Hebrew Mamita." "I liked having you as a teacher." "I'm glad Ben came to class, it was nice to see him again." "I liked the Kosher, not Kosher game." "My favorite was the Have You Ever Game?" Til next week!!!
Students learned that the word "Christ is not a last name but refers to "messiah." We learned that last names were not really part of the time period, but one was identified by the town they lived in or the name of their father or occupation.
We briefly discussed the the young college student who was bullying at Rutgers University and took his life. We talked about privacy and this led to the planned discussion of bullying and the Jewish view on bullying. After the break, we played "Have You Ever?" We had to say something like...."Have you ever celebrated Shabbat? Read a Jewish comic book? Been to Israel? Read the book Defiance? Had a bar, bat, or b'not mitzvah? Said the full kiddush? Had havdalah service? etc... It was a nice icebreaker and we got to learn what we have done an what we have in common or not.
We watched a video about Muslims in France and some of the public prayer that has been going on. The commentator emphasized how "France is conforming to Islam, instead of Islam conforming to France."
We also watched the short video of The Hebrew Mamita about Jewish pride and then practiced if someone says, "You're Jewish? You don't look Jewish." The point was to be able to diffuse such comments and that students don't meekly say, "yes" but stand up and not down.
Our last activity was a game called Kosher Not Kosher? and discovered which animals, insects and fish are truly kosher or not. Finally, we ended with Highs/Lows. Comments that were made are as follows: "My favorite was the Hebrew Mamita." "I liked having you as a teacher." "I'm glad Ben came to class, it was nice to see him again." "I liked the Kosher, not Kosher game." "My favorite was the Have You Ever Game?" Til next week!!!