Day 4
Hinduism - Under Construction!
Suggested Schedule
5:30-5:45 - registration, gather, move into main gathering room
5:45-6:00 - welcome, recap of the week for those who are new tonight, introduction to the evening's theme and of the guest presenters
6:00-6:20 - Shabbat
6:20-7:10 - break into 3 groups by age (adults, teens, elementary)
adults join the Jewish family for a question/answer session
children rotate between quilt square craft and dreidel game
7:10-7:15 - stop by spice table to make Havdalah spice bags
7:15-7:30 - regather in large group a Havdalah blessing and/or blessing of the children; final remarks and invite everyone back for tomorrow!
Food
Challah bread
For Tuesday evening, our Jewish friends shared with us how they celebrate Shabbat in their home. We shared challah bread and grape juice (we had a glass of wine there, too, but no one seemed interested in it). Coconut macaroons are a traditional Passover sweet, and a nice addition to round out the evening. They might be set up on a side table for people to snack on after the Shabbat portion is done, on their way to the breakouts. An explanation of the macaroon tradition is online at http://www.myjewishlearning.com/the-nosher/why-do-we-eat-coconut-macaroons-on-passover/.
Decorations
Daily Beauty
We had Jewish calendars and books to lay out on a table (see Bibliography for suggestions). We also made a poster showing the Jewish and Gregorian calendar years together, to give a sense of how they overlap. We used this one from Pinterest as a guide: https://joyfuljewish.wordpress.com/2014/06/29/jewish-months-calendar/. A poster of the Hebrew alphabet hung near the craft tables. Our Jewish guests brought a prayer shawl, a cover for the challah bread, several candelabras, including a menorah, a shofar, and several other significant items from their own home. Because Judaism is lived out in daily life as much as or more than in the synagogue, Jewish families often have many beautiful and sacred objects in their homes.
Craft
Quilt Blocks
We continued the quilt craft with quilt squares featuring Hebrew letters and/or the Star (Shield) of David. We made cutouts of each Hebrew letter using heavy card stock, and let each person choose which letter they wanted to make. Those who wanted to do a Star of David did it freehand. They used fabric paints and fabric markers to decorate them. As they worked, we shared some of the images of the illuminated letters in our Hebrew Illuminated calendars. We also read excerpts from the poetic interpretations of the Hebrew letters, written by Lawrence Kushner.
Craft
Havdalah
Havdalah is done at the close of the sabbath, as night falls on Saturday. It is a series of blessings over wine, spices, and candles. As we gathered for our closing, we invited families to stop at a table where we had spices set out in baskets. They picked up a small organza bag and took a few spices from each basket to make up a little spice bag to take home with them.
Game
Dreidel Game
The Dreidel game is traditionally played at Hannukah, not on every sabbath, but it was a fun way to introduce people to Jewish traditions, and many people are already a little familiar with it. Plus, there’s a song! The rules of the game are pretty easy and can be printed off here: http://reformjudaism.org/jewish-holidays/hanukkah/how-play-dreidel-traditional-game-plus-new-spin.
Teaching
Shabbat
The most important holy day in Judaism happens every week, beginning at sundown on Friday evening and ending at sundown on Saturday. http://reformjudaism.org/jewish-holidays/shabbat offers information on the customs and blessings that make up a shabbat observance in a Reformed Jewish home. Ask a local Jewish family to share their traditions with you, and to explain why they do it the way they do. Our Jewish friends brought a handout with them that they got at their synagogue. It included blessings and prayers that they use for their shabbat each week. They shared a little about their own experience, and then offered a blessing of the wine and bread, which we then passed around.
Teaching
Holidays and History
Our Jewish presenters spent the breakout session with the adults. They shared a bit of their own family story and then talked about the Jewish cycle of holidays. They also talked about the different divisions within Judaism (Orthodox, Conservative, Reform), as well as some of the historic differences (Sephardic, Ashkenazi), and the importance of the Jewish diaspora around the world. They shared some of the traditional items they had brought with them, including the yarmulke/kipa, shofar, and Tanakh Bible. They ended with a time for questions and answers.
Song
Shabbat Shalom
This song is sung in many Jewish families and even synagogues to welcome the sabbath. It can be found on YouTube and CD, and is very easy to learn. Everyone can get involved, especially with the “Hey!” Click on the picture to go to one kid-friendly version.
Song/Prayer
Shema
The Shema is the oldest daily prayer in Judaism, dating back to the time of Moses, according to Deuteronomy 6:4-9. It is often sung or chanted both morning and evening, as Scripture commands, and is a part of the Shabbat service in the synagogue. "Sh'ma Yisra'eil Adonai Eloheinu Adonai echad." In English, "Hear, O Israel, the Lord is our God, the Lord is One." Click on the picture to go to a YouTube video of a group of students learning to sing the song. Our presenters led us in a singing of it, using the transliterated Hebrew words on their handout.
Prayer/Blessing
Blessing over the Children
One of the most moving parts of a Shabbat service is the blessing of the children. Our Jewish friends gathered all the children at the front of the room before we left, held a prayer shawl over them, and offered this blessing in Hebrew: “May God make you like Sarah, Rebecca, Rachel and Leah. May God make you like Ephraim and Menasheh. May God Bless you and guard you. May the light of God shine upon you, and may God be gracious to you. May the presence of God be with you and give you peace.” You can find this in Hebrew and English, along with the transliteration, at http://reformjudaism.org/practice/prayers-blessings/shabbat-and-holiday-blessings-blessing-over-children.
