| |
For a printer-friendly version of this activity
please
Click Here.
This Month's Activities:
|
|
|
Building the Temple
(A Story and Song)
Introduction:
Here is a story about building the Temple, which is based on excerpts from the Torah. Preschool teacher and singer Lisa L., who submitted this story, recommends singing the song "U-v'nei Yerushalayim" while telling students the story.
Link to Song - U-v'nei Yerushalayim
Story
Once there was a great king of Israel named Solomon, and it was his job to build the Holy Temple in Jerusalem. He planned to hire the finest craftsmen for this important job, but the Children of Israel complained, "If you only hire skilled craftsmen, how can we help? We want to be part of building the house of the Lord."
|
So the people watched as tremendous stones were quarried to lay the foundation of the Temple and they began singing "U-v'nei Yerushalayim, ir hakodesh" (And you shall build Jerusalem, the holy city.)
|
Begin singing the song "U-vnei Yerushalayim" with your students. Sing:
U-v地ei Yerushalyim, ir hakodesh (2x)
(After singing the word "hakodesh", make bang, bang or clink, clink noises in rhythm with a hammer and chisel motion.)
|
The Children of Israel watched as the beautiful cedar trees sent from Lebanon were cut to make the walls of the Temple, and they sang, "U-v地ei Yerushalyim, ir hakodesh" (And you shall build Jerusalem, the holy city.)
|
Sing:
U-v地ei Yerushalyim, ir hakodesh (vzzz, vzzz in rhythm with a sawing motion.) 2x
|
When the foundation was laid and the walls were in place, B地ei Yisrael (The Children of Israel) witnessed the carving of beautiful pictures of flowers and cherubs in the wood walls and doors, and still they sang:
U-v地ei Yerushalyim, ir hakodesh
U-v地ei
U-v地ei Yerushalayim
Bimheira
Bimheira b馳ameinu
(And you shall build Jerusalem, the holy city. And you shall build. And you shall build Jerusalem. Soon. Soon, and in our days.)
|
Sing the following verses of the song, making "tch, tch" sand paper noises, with a sanding motion:
U-v地ei Yerushalyim, ir hakodesh. (tch, tch) 2x U-v地ei (tch, tch)
U-v地ei (tch, tch)
U-v地ei Yerushalayim
Bimheira (tch, tch)
Bimheira (tch, tch)
Bimheira b馳ameinu...
|
The people of Israel gazed on as King Solomon had all the carvings covered in gold. They rejoiced when the Temple was finished. It had taken seven years. Their voices rang out with joy as they sang, because they knew their love for Hashem would always remain here.
|
Sing the full song "U-v'nei Yerushalayim", with clapping or bells ringing or harps strumming.
|
|
Some say that if you go to the Temple mount today listen very carefully, you can still hear the voices of the builders and their helpers floating in the wind. Maybe it sounds like this.
|
Sing the song very quietly, elongating "oo" sounds and "shhh" sounds within the lyrics.
|
Related Discussion
The mention of the "Children of Israel" in the first paragraph can lead to a discussion of "who are the children of Israel"? It is a term referring to all of the descendants of Jacob, not just children.
|
