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- Article: A Brief History of Voting
By Rabbi Jacob Chinitz
Article discussing Jewish views and exeriences with voting. From the Reconstructionist, October/November 1988.
- Article: The Role of Text Study in Congregational Values-Based Decision Making
By Rabbi Yohanna Kinberg, Rabbi Jonathan Malamy, Sara Mosenkis, Rabbi Shawn Zevit
How studying texts from Torah to mission statements, from Talmud to synagogue newsletters can help us shape our communal values and decisions.
- Article: The World as Sacred Space: Judaic Teachings and Ecological Consciousness
By Rabbi Fred Scherlinder Dobb
Rabbi Fred Dobb lays out the Jewish case for environmental awareness and action. Providing sources and viewpoints from classic Jewish sources classical and modern, Dobb wants us to see contemporary concerns in the context of Jewish concerns over time. He also raises questions about views within Judaism which may be counter to his case.
- Bibliography: Israel And Zionism Selected Bibliography
By Israel Policies Task Force
An extensive bibliography on Israel and Zionism, excerpted from the JRF Israel Policies Task Force Report (2004).
- Bibliography: Resources for Teaching Rabbinic Texts to Middle Schoolers
By Sara Mosenkis
In February 2003, Jeremy Schwartz sent a message to the edtalk listserv asking for materials to teach rabbinic texts to 6th and 7th graders. Over the next few weeks, members of the listserv contributed the following suggestions.
- Class Activity: Hebrew Slaves And Israeli Foreign Workers
By Rabbi Amy Klein
Torah text and newspaper articles draw connections between contemporary Israeli foreign workers and ancient Hebrew slaves. Includes discussion questions and links to Israeli human rights organizations' websites.
- Commentary: Excerpts from Fighting the War and the Peace: Battlefield Ethics, Peace Talks, Treaties, and Pacifism in the Jewish Tradition
By Michael J Broyde
A halahic discussion of the ethics of starting wars, conduct during wars and who is responsible for acts of violence.
- Dvar Torah: Online Interactive Study for Parashat Yitro
By Rabbi Shai Gluskin
Online lesson takes viewer through various aspects of Exodus Chapter 18 and asks the viewer for opinions and ideas. The viewer can view other people's responses at the end.
- Dvar Torah: Unpacking Amalek
By Elaine Moise
Rich reading referencing lots of commentaires which seeks to understand the "Remember Amalek" section in Deuteronomy 25 and it's reading each year on the Sabbath before Purim.
- Essay: Rashi's Method: An Inspiration To Students
By Rabbi Shai Gluskin
An exploration of Rashi's method of questions and answers as a model for our students. He gives permission to ask different questions and pose different answers without declaring which is correct.
- Lesson Plan: Aytz Hayim We: Song of Songs Lesson
By Rabbi Erin Hirsh, Rabbi Jeffrey Schein
Lesson Two from the Aytz Hayim We: Song of Songs adult education curriculum. The full curriculum is available for purchase from the JRF Press. This lesson helps participants get "on the same page" and then set off on an exploratory journey that includes midrash, secular writings, expository analysis of the text and lots of questions.
- Lesson Plan: Esther Chapter 1 - What Does It Mean?
By Rabbi Shai Gluskin
A lesson plan for 4th grade and up that asks students to think critically about Chapter One of the Book of Esther and relate it to a Chelm story and a dictionary definition of "satire."
- Lesson Plan: Introduction To Midrash For Grades 5 And Up
By Rabbi Shai Gluskin, Dena Salmon
This lesson uses a study of the Garden of Eden story to inspire students to generate their own midrash. The lesson models a technique which can be applied to other Torah texts.
- Lesson Plan: Teaching Genesis To Grades 5 And Up
By Dena Salmon
This lesson engages students in thinking creatively about the two creation stories in Bereshit by relating them to a contemporary midrash, a classical midrash and creation myths from other cultures.
- Other: Pirke Avot Chapter One - A Translation
By Rabbi Shai Gluskin
Contemporary translation of the first chapter of Pirke Avot.
- Text Compilation: Climate Change - Musar and Text
By Rabbi Fred Scherlinder Dobb
"MUSSAR as a Jewish Resource on Climate Change, and All Else" and "Jewish Texts as Resources on Global Climate Change"
- Text Compilation: Excerpts from Maimonides' Hilchot Melachim
By Rabbi Shai Gluskin
Two texts by the Rambam about declaration of war.
- Text Compilation: Jewish Values & People with Disabilities- Appreciating the Variety of Life
By Rabbi Micah Becker-Klein
Text compilation - Jewish Values & People with Disabilities- Appreciating the Variety of Life - english only
- Text Compilation: Selected Sources on War and Peace
By Rabbi Robert Tabak
Eight short modern and ancient texts on war and peace.
- Text Compilation: Sustainability Sources from Jewish Tradition
By Derek Rosenbaum, Rabbi Shawn Zevit
For 2007/5767 JRF has launched its third Omer text-study initiative. This year the theme is sustainability. To support folk in developing teachings to offer for the text study, JRF has compiled texts from Jewish tradition (including contemporary and Reconstructionist texts).
- Text Compilation: Tu Bishvat Seder Texts
By Rabbi Amy Klein
Three selections you may wish to use in your Tu Bishvat Seder by secular Zionist thinker A. D. Gordon, Haskalah poet Saul Tchernikovsky and Reb Nachman of Bratslav.
- Text Study: Jacob's Deceit Comes Back To Haunt Him (Parashat Vayetzei)
By Rabbi Shai Gluskin
Draws from Genesis Rabbah to connect Jacob deceiving Isaac with Laban deceiving Jacob.
- Text Study: Jacob/Esau/Rebekah/Isaac - Questioning The Rightness Of Jacob's And Rebekah's Actions (Parashat Toldot)
By Rabbi Shai Gluskin
A guided study that questions Rebekah and Jacob's deceitful actions through Torah text and Rashi commentary, as well as linking this theme to Israeli refuseniks.
- Text Study: Joseph Gets An Audience Before Pharaoh (Parashat Miketz)
By Rabbi Shai Gluskin
A guided study of Joseph's interpretation of Pharaoh's dreams with commentary from Genesis Rabba that asks participants to relate story to the game of Jeopardy, the Book of Esther and their own lives.
- Text Study: Joseph: A Provocative Dreamer (Parashat Vayeshev)
By Rabbi Shai Gluskin
A guided study of Joseph's dream about his family bowing to him using Rashi's commentary.
- Text Study: Midrash On Noah And Og
By Rabbi Shai Gluskin
This mini-lesson looks at a midrash on Noah and asks whether Noah was compassionate or selfish.
- Text Study: Rashi On Jacob's Feelings About Meeting Esau (Parashat Vayishlah)
By Rabbi Shai Gluskin
A guided study of Parashat Vayishlah when Jacob leaves Laban's house and goes to meet Esau with Rashi's commentary.
- Text Study: Rashi On Sarah's Death (Parashat Hayei Sara)
By Rabbi Shai Gluskin
Guided study of Parashat Hayei Sara that connects Sarah's death to the binding of Isaac through Rashi's commentary.
- Text Study: The Binding Of Isaac: What Is The Nature Of The Test? (Parashat Vayera)
By Rabbi Shai Gluskin
A set of texts and guiding questions asking if Abraham's test was to be willing to sacrifice Isaac or to be willing not to sacrifice Isaac.
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