Category: Grade 7 – Mr. Washerstein

This week we will begin discussing interpersonal mitzvot. Our course will focus on understanding and incorporating Jewish values into our lives. As the year progresses, we will begin to read and analyze Pirkei Avot.

The link below can be used to access the Google Slides Presentation that we will be using in class to take notes/participate in activities. Students should feel free to bookmark this page on their devices. Please note that this document is a living tool, which will be changed and updated regularly.

Grade 7 Jewish Studies Slideshow

We have spent the last few weeks analyzing the second chapter of Pirkei Avot. As we study these texts, it is important to think about personal connections that you can create. Additionally, I encourage you to take notes, look up unfamiliar terms, and experiment with decoding the Hebrew prior to jumping into the English.

Think about the following:

• What lesson does this Mishnah teach me?
• What personal connection can I relate to this text?
• How can I use this information to make me a better person?

Pirkei Avot Playlist Assignment

This assignment asks students to read and analyze the verses in the second chapter of Pirkei Avot. After you have read and analyzed the text, students are being asked to create a playlist of five songs. I have provided additional sources along with a link to the Illustrated Pirkei Avot (Cartoon) text in the links below.

Important Dates:

• Read and select five verses by Tuesday, June 8th, 2021 (let Mr. Wash know which verses you have selected)
• Check-In with Mr. Wash on Friday, June 11th, 2021
• Assignment due (posted on the blog) by Wednesday, June 16th, 2021

Please click the links below to access the Google Docs for this assignment:

Pirkei Avot Playlist Instructions

Pirkei Avot Playlist Graphic Organizer

Pirkei Avot Playlist Rubric

Illustrated Pirkei Avot Ch. 2 (Cartoon Interpretation)

• Create a playlist of 5 songs that are each related to a specific Pirkei Avot Chapter 2 verse

1. 1. You must choose 5 different verses; one for each song on your playlist. (There are 16 verses in Ch. 2)
   2. Decide how you will connect each verse to your song 
      1. Here are a few different ways you could create a connection:
         1. • The lesson/meaning
            • The way the song makes you feel 
            • The lyrics themselves
      2. You do not have to create your connection to the entire verse…your song may only connect to one part of that verse (which is okay!)
   3. Write 5-10 sentences explaining the connection between your song and the verse you choose
      1. Use these questions to guide your writing:
         1. What does the verse mean? What is the verse about?
         2. What is the song about?
         3. How does this song connect to the verse?
            • Remember that the connection does not mean the words are the same 

Schedule: 

This week students will be completing their analysis of the first chapter of Pirkei Avot. We have reviewed the majority of these verses as a class. Students are being asked to review the 18 verses and select the two verses that they feel are most important. This activity requires students to synthesize information and create personal connections with historic Jewish texts.

Task Breakdown:

Step 1: Each student will read Pirkei Avot Chapter 1 individually

• • • As you are reading…feel free to look at the corresponding cartoon images to provide clarity 
    • In addition, check out the explanations of each verse on Sefaria

Step 2: Decide which two verses (lessons) you believe are most important

Step 3: Write two paragraphs (one per verse) explaining their importance and the lesson that you learned from contemplating these texts

• What does the text say?
• Why is this text important?
• What lesson can we learn from this text?

Step 4: Share your Google Doc with Mr. Wash