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This Month's Torah Portions:
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Genesis Chapter 6, Verse 11
Before the great Flood
"Vateeshachet Ha'aretz Leefnai Ha'Elokim- Vateemaleh Ha'aretz Chamas"
"And the earth became corrupt before G-d and the earth was filled with robbery"
Overview of the Biblical Text:
Civilization at the time of Noah had become lawless and self-centered. Each man did as he pleased without the laws and justice system which are necessary for a healthy, productive society. With the exception of Noah, there was no one on earth who feared G-D and behaved accordingly. This greatly displeased G-D who had higher aspirations for the world He created. Therefore, G-D decided to start again, using Noah and his family as the building blocks for His new world.
Explanation of the text for children:
The people who lived in the time of Noah were mean to each other and stole each other's things. If someone was wearing a nice necklace and someone else liked it, the person would just grab it away! Everyone did exactly what they wanted and no one followed any rules. The only person who behaved nicely to everyone was Noah.
G-D was not happy with the way people were treating each other so He decided to start the world again. The only people He saved were Noah, his three sons- Shem, Ham and Japheth and their wives. This family would start a new civilization.
Discussion Questions:
- Have students describe something people do which is not nice or not right. Tell students that one of the reasons people do things that are not right is because everyone else is doing the same thing. Ask students if they think something that is wrong or bad becomes right to do just because everyone else is doing it.
- Ask students to describe what they could do that would make G-D smile if G-D had a face.
- In Genesis, Chapter 6, Verse 8 it is written that "Noah found favor in G-D's eyes". What does this mean, since we know that G-D does not have a body, or face or eyes?
- What did Noah do that G-D liked so much?
- How does it feel to do the right thing when other people around you are behaving improperly?
- Noah "walked with G-d". What does it mean to "walk with G-D"? What are some things that we can do to help us to "walk with G-D?"
- What are some ways that we are taught rules? (through parents, teachers, signs on the street, etc.) Discuss the systems that are in place to enforce the rules in our society (at home, in school, in society (police, courts of law, etc.).
- Why do we have rules? What would happen if no one followed any rules? For example-What would happen if no one stopped at red lights or stop signs?
Activity Ideas:
- Classroom Rules - Draw up a list of rules and regulations that make a classroom run smoothly or discuss the reasons for having class rules that you already have. See Rules for You and Me for ideas on creating classroom rules with your students.
- Role Playing Activity - Have children act out and/or discuss techniques for standing up for what is correct in different situations. Here are some pretend situations that students could react to:
- Children are making fun of something that your friend is wearing. How could you stick up for your friend?
- Kids are pushing at the water fountain and you know that someone could get hurt. How do you get them to do the right thing?
- It is time to come in from outdoor play. Your friend is hiding outside and wants you to hide too. What do you do?
- Someone (the teacher, another student) is talking to the class and another student is making funny faces and distracting the other students in the class. What can you do?
- Blessing Poster - During the time of Noah, people were not very nice to each other and did not appreciate the things that they had. This activity helps us to appreciate things in nature and in our lives. Discuss with students the importance of saying "thank you" when receiving something. (For example, when we receive a present and say "thank you", it makes the other person feel good and it makes us feel even better to receive the present.) Tell students that one of the ways we say "thanks" in Judaism is by saying a prayer. In this activity, students show their appreciation for things that they like in nature through a blessing poster:
Ask students to tell you what things about nature -- about birds, animals, the weather, plants or even special foods they like to eat -- that they would like to include in the blessing. If students say things like "chocolate cake" or "ice cream", take a moment and think aloud about what makes up these things. For example, "Ice cream comes from milk, which comes from cows. So, when we say thank you for ice cream we are also saying thank you for cows."
Make a blessing poster by drawing or pasting pictures of the items listed by your children onto posterboard, a large sheet of cardboard, etc.
Decorate the blessing poster and hang in your classroom. This is a good activity to do around Thanksgiving time or as the seasons change (to give thanks for elements of each season).
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