Beth+Elohim-+Israel


 * __Goal__****:**


 * 1) Participants will explore their personal connection to Israel
 * 2) Participants will examine the concept of //K’lal Israel//
 * 3) Participants will discover the connection between our rituals and the land of Israel

Welcome and introduction by Judy and/or Randy
 * 9:30-9:45****:** Name tags, TBE connection with other group housed at the Holiday Inn.


 * 9:45-10:00****:** Break out to 2 groups: adults and children. The adults explore their personal connection to Israel by choosing an item from the selection of pieces on the floor. The children identify places in Israel by placing objects on a large map of Israel (drawn on shower curtain) List answers on white board.


 * 10:00-10:10****:** Bring groups together and find commonalities and differences. Lead to conclusion about the variety of ways we all connect to Israel, different lenses, and how it could create tension when we talk about it. Yet, all Jews care about Israel – bring into discussion the concepts of K’lal Israel and historical connection to the land.


 * 10:10-10:20****:** Break out to small groups for text study. Adults – study in Chevruta. Children divide to 3 age groups. (Older children to participate in text study with adult group). Use “Lech Lecha” text as core material for all age groups. __Resources__: Torah Talk and Teaching Torah for children’s groups. Adult additional texts- see below.
 * 10:25-10:40****:** Adults come together as a group to share different texts and thoughts. Children continue activities and learning.


 * 10:40-10:50****:** Shabbat activity. Sit together as families. Each family gets a paper bag with grapes, wheat and oil. Ask to discuss why they got it and how does it connect to Israel.


 * 10:50-11:00****:** Group discussion (answers). Each of these items is used to celebrate Shabbat and is one of Israel’s seven species. Explain Shabbat and Holidays as unifier of the Jewish people around the world through the connection to the land. Show other species. Ways to connect to the land.


 * 11:00-11:25**: Shabbat plate decoration (ceramic plate)


 * 11:25-11:30****:** Summary and what’s next time.


 * __Text:__**


 * __Children__**
 * //Lech Lecha//** – promise of the land to Abraham.

Opening discussion ideas p 2. P 4 – leaving Haran. P. 7 more of the story. Questions on P. 8
 * Group 1** (grades pre K -2) 9 children: **__Resource__**: Torah Talk

Art: Cut file folders to suitcase. Items they would bring with them. Read: Lech Lecha story as an ending

=Group 2 (grades 3-5) 10 children:= =Resource: Teaching Torah.= Leader to tell the synopsis of the story. Questions:
 * Why might Abram and Sarai have preferred that members of their household join their journey freely and out of shared convictions?
 * What might have motivated these individuals to join them?
 * What journeys or events in your life have you participated in because you were made to?
 * How did the nature of your participation change the event or journey?

Now we are going to give you the actual text highlighting God’s promises to Avram. Divide into chevruta, 5 groups of 2 to discuss the promises. Come together as a group, share the promises and discuss questions from Teaching Torah p 21 #2 = = =Activity:=
 * Write on strips the 6 promises to Abram (divide to pairs) Different color papers for collage.
 * Come together as a group. Share promises. Try to order them – why

=Group 3 (Grades 6-8) 4 children: Adult text=


 * __Adults:__**

All adults get Lech Lecha as a reference. Break out to 5 or 6 groups.

Additional text to discuss and compare to //Lech Lecha//:


 * 1) Direction of prayer
 * 2) Yehuda Halevi
 * 3) Passover Haggadah
 * 4) Marriage
 * 5) On the River of Babylon
 * 6) Jerusalem the center of the world: Clover leaf map + Midrash from Tanchuma Leviticus (for older children group)

Directions: Read the //Lech Lecha// text. (Genesis 12 (1-3, 7-9)13 (14-17) 15 (13-16) 17 (1-8) Discuss the main ideas in the text focusing on the connection between the land and God’s promises. Read the additional text. Discuss the author’s views of Israel and the land as a unifier for the Jewish people. How does the author’s view compare with the //Lech Lecha// text?


 * __Map Activity:__**

Jerusalem: Kotel, Citadel, windmill, Knesset menorah, shrine of the books Haifa: Port, Bahai Garden, Carmel Tel Aviv: city, beach/marina Eilat: tropical fish, scuba diving Desert: camels, tent, goats Kinnert: boats, beach Dead Sea: picture of people floating, Masada Rosh Hanikra? Flowers, pictures of 7 species)
 * 1) Start by asking children what is this. (list on white board)
 * 2) When you see this map or hear the name Israel – what do you think (List on white board)
 * 3) Has anyone ever been in Israel? Anyone’s parents?
 * 4) Can anyone tell us about things or places you might find in Israel? (can they identify desert, water bodies, name major cities)
 * 5) Here are some items/pictures we found. Let’s try to place them in the right place (19-20 pictures or items for us to prepare:


 * __Items for adult activity:__**
 * 1) Ethiopian art work (Judy)
 * 2) Camel/s
 * 3) Israeli army items
 * 4) bible
 * 5) Israeli Jewelry
 * 6) Hamsah
 * 7) Knesset menorah
 * 8) oil jags/lamps
 * 9) Israeli flag
 * 10) Hebrew
 * 11) Israeli food
 * 12) kippa
 * 13) Torah scroll
 * 14) Kafia

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