Category: Jewish Studies

Grade 8: Antisemitism Current Event

mwasherstein / / Grade 8 - Mr. Washerstein

This year students will be responsible for researching, analyzing, and presenting a current event in our Jewish Studies course.

Directions: Find an article either in the newspaper or online from a newspaper source. Examples include: CBC News, USA Today,  CTV News, Associated Press, The New York Times, Ynetnews Jerusalem Post, Haaretz, Times of Israel,  etc., or any other reputable national or local source. Read the article and fill out the statements or answer the questions below.

Please find and read about important issues that relate/connect to antisemitism.

Because this is a current events assignment, you are to choose an article that is no more than two weeks old from when the assignment is given.

Be prepared to discuss your article in class on the due date!

 

Please click the link below to access the current event template: 

Current Events Write Up Assignment Instructions

Grade 6: Jewish Wedding/Divorce Quiz (Thursday 6/2)

mwasherstein / / Grade 6 - Mr. Washerstein

This week we will be concluding our study of the Jewish wedding and divorce. We have spent the last month learning and discussing these significant life cycle events. Students should begin to review their notes/complete the review sheet below in preparation for their quiz on Thursday, June 2nd.

Jewish Wedding/Divorce Review Sheet

 

Text of the Traditional Get

Jewish Divorce 101

Grade 8: Escape from Sobibor (Due: Tuesday 6/14)

mwasherstein / / Grade 8 - Mr. Washerstein

This week we are shifting our focus in Jewish Studies to various resistance attempts that were made by both Jews and gentiles during the Holocaust. Students will be watching, analyzing, and discussing the film, Escape from Sobibor. This film depicts the largest escape from an extermination camp during the Holocaust.

Please read the corresponding questions prior to watching the film. Students will be asked to jot down notes as they watch. By taking notes, students will be able to more accurately recall details as they answer the critical analysis questions.

We will set a due date for these questions upon completing the movie.

Please click the link below to access the Escape from Sobibor Questions:

Escape from Sobibor Critical Thinking Questions

Please skip the scene at 45:40. This scene contains graphic content and will be skipped in class as well.

The movie can be watched via Youtube on the link below or on Amazon Prime (for those who have access). If you decide to watch it on Prime, please make sure you choose the Escape from Sobibor 1987 film.

Grade 6: Admitting Mistakes

mwasherstein / / Grade 6 - Mr. Washerstein

This week we will continue to discuss the various ceremonies, principles, and concepts relating to the Jewish wedding. Our course will examine the significance of admitting mistakes. Students will review various scenarios and textual sources related to this topic. After responding to the corresponding questions, students will work in groups to design a skit.

Admitting Mistakes Instructions 

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Grade 8: Reflect Upon a Survivor’s Story (Due: Friday 5/20)

mwasherstein / / Grade 8 - Mr. Washerstein

Today students will read and reflect upon the story of a Holocaust Survivor. The website  Holocaust Survivor Stories provides students with various personal narratives of survivors.

*Students are encouraged to read multiple stories in order to determine which narrative speaks to them personally*

Directions: Students will choose a survivor’s narrative to read. After reading their story, students will answer the following reflection questions. 

  1. What feelings did this narrative elicit? (Explain the thoughts or emotions you felt while reading this story)
  2. What part of the story did you find most intriguing? Why?
  3. What lessons can you learn from this narrative?
  4. How could you use this story to educate others?

 

Answer the questions in paragraph form. 

Review reflective writing strategies: Reflective Writing Google Slides

 

Click the link below to access the Holocaust Survivor Narrative Reflection Graphic Organizer:

Holocaust Survivor Narrative Reflection Graphic Organizer

Grade 8: Holocaust Test (Tuesday 6/7)

mwasherstein / / Grade 8 - Mr. Washerstein

As a class, we decided that we will be taking our assessment on Tuesday, June 7th. This assessment will be a mixture of multiple-choice questions, matching, definitions, and short answers. Students should begin to review their notes daily. Although we have not fully completed the curriculum at this point, the students have asked to be provided with their study sheets well in advance.

If anyone is missing notes, our entire Google Slides notes presentation can be found here: Holocaust Notes Presentation 

Students can begin to prepare for their assessment by making a copy and completing the study guide below:

Holocaust Test Study Guide

Click the link below to access a review Kahoot:

Holocaust Review Kahoot

Grade 7: Pirkei Avot Playlist (Due: Friday, May 20)

mwasherstein / / Grade 7 - Mr. Washerstein

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 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 April 29, 2022 (let Mr. Wash know which verses you have selected)
  • Check-in #1 with Mr. Wash on Friday, May 6, 2022
  • Check-in #2 with Mr. Wash on Monday, May 16, 2022
  • Assignment due (posted on the blog) by Friday, May 20, 2022

 

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. 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:
          • 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: 

Day 1
  1. Read the instructions. If you have any questions, write them down and email Mr. Wash
  2. Spend 30 minutes reading and interpreting Verses 1-5
    1. Jot down any ideas, lessons, meanings that you could connect to in your Pirkei Avot Playlist Planner Doc next to each verse 
  3. Take a 10-minute break and listen to some of your favourite songs for inspiration
Day 2
  1. Spend 30 minutes reading and interpreting Verses 6-10
    1. Jot down any ideas, lessons, meanings that you could connect to in your Pirkei Avot Playlist Planner Doc next to each verse 
  2. Take a 10-minute break and listen to some of your favourite songs for inspiration
  3. Begin writing your explanations as you match a song to a particular verse
Day 3
  1. Spend 30 minutes reading and interpreting Verses 11-16
    1. Jot down any ideas, lessons, meanings that you could connect to in your Pirkei Avot Playlist Planner Doc next to each verse 
  2. Take a 10-minute break and listen to some of your favourite songs for inspiration
  3. Continue writing your explanations as you match a song to a particular verse
Day 4
  1. Spend 20 minutes reviewing your notes
  2. Focus your time and energy on creating your connections and developing your playlist

 

Grade 6: Jewish Wedding Webquest (Due: May 6th)

mwasherstein / / Grade 6 - Mr. Washerstein

As we dive back into the Jewish life cycle students will be working on a Jewish Wedding Webquest! Over the course of the last two weeks, we have begun to analyze the various traditions and practices associated with the Jewish wedding.

Jewish Wedding Webquest Assignment

This assignment provides students with 11 response questions. Students will need to click and read the link above the question in order to find the answer. Please do not simply search for these answers on random internet sites. I will be looking for specific information from the articles/videos associated with each question. Your responses should be written in complete sentences. Be sure to read over the instructions prior to starting the assignment.

Due: Friday 5/6

Grades 6-8: Mitzvah Trip #2 JFS Food Packaging

mwasherstein / / Grade 6 - Mr. Washerstein, Grade 7 - Mr. Washerstein, Grade 8 - Mr. Washerstein

On Monday, April 4th, 2022 we will be creating Passover care packages for senior citizens. We will be partnering with Jewish Family Services (JFS) to help them create care packages for elderly members of our community. Many of these members of our community are isolated and are unable to celebrate the holiday with their family members. These care packages will allow them to celebrate the holiday.

Today students learned about the Jewish value:

Kibud Zekaynim

כבוד זקנים

Judaism teaches us that we must “honour our elders”. Paying respect to senior citizens is essential. It is important to learn from those who have come before us. We value the wisdom of past generations. We will be spending time analyzing and discussing this essential Jewish value. 

Mitzah Trip #2 Slideshow