Creation of the Nation the Journey to Eretz Yisrael Choveret Chinuch Tevet
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Am Nolad: Creation of the Nation The Journey to Eretz Yisrael Choveret Chinuch Tevet Am Nolad: Creation of the Nation Bamidbar: The Journey to Eretz Yisrael Table of Contents Introduction to the Noseh Page 2 Skit Page 3-4 Peula #1: The Meraglim and the Lashon Hara Page 5-12 Peula #2: The Maapilim: Immigration to Israel Page 13-14 Peula #3 Soviet Jews’ Aliyah to Israel Page 15-27 Peula #4 Leadership Lessons from Sefer Bamidbar Page 28-30 1 Am Nolad: Creation of the Nation Bamidbar: The Journey to Eretz Yisrael Introduction Shalom L’Kulam, This month we are focusing on Sefer Bamidbar. Sefer Bamidbar records the journey of Bnei Yisrael from Mitzrayim to Eretz Yisrael. The sefer is full of stories that we can reflect on in our modern lives. We will learn about the danger of Lashon Hara, the drive of the Maapilim to go to Israel, the stuggle of Soviet Jews in the USSR, leadership lessons from Moshe Rabbeinu. Though these stories happened so many years ago, we will see the parallels between them and our lives. We will show how we can learn from past mistakes and reclaim narratives- like of the Meraglim and the grapes or the name Maapilim. Utilize this choveret and the games and discussion points found within it. But make sure that you make it your own. Not every peula can be run the same way for each age group or even each snif. Add your own games, think about conversation topics your chanichim would enjoy. Try to get the chanichim to think creatively and independently, asking them questions before feeding them information. Many of these peulot include games that simulate experiences- get into it with your chanichim and make the stories come to life. Don’t forget, this choveret needs YOU to make it successful. There are 4 peulot provided for each week of the month. Read through the peulot- take out what doesn’t work for you and add your own ideas, games, and stories. To edit this packet, click tinyurl.com/choveretbamidbar and go to ‘File’, ‘Make a Copy,’ and then you will have your own Google Doc to edit. Bivrachat Chevrei Torah v’Avodah, Jen van Amerongen Merakezet Chinuch Ariel Shields Co-Mazkir Artzi Michal Laub Co-Mazkira Artzi James Williams Director of Administration Rav Shaul Feldman Executive Director 2 Am Nolad: Creation of the Nation Bamidbar: The Journey to Eretz Yisrael Skit Tzion/a: Hey Z! You know what’s cool? My cousins Meraglim: Well it’s really nice and all but we have to just made Aliyah to Israel! I’m pretty sad that they tell you… *talking to himself* stay calm, stay calm…* live far way now but it’s so cool that they got to THERE ARE GIANTS!! AND THEY’RE GONNA KILL move to a new house and a new school. US ALL! WE’RE TOTALLY DOOMED!!! Z: Wow! That is really exciting and a really big Bnei Yisrael: *running around the room screaming* accomplishment. We’re doomed! Why did Hashem even take us out of Mitzrayim?!? For this?? Tzion/a: Why is it such a big deal? I mean all they did was move. I moved when I was in second grade Calev: Calm down guys! Everything’s going to be it wasn’t so crazy. ok. Yes it’s a little scary, but Hashem has our back and the land is amazing. Z: Tzion/a it’s a big deal because making Aliyah is a really big move. You need to start speaking Hebrew Bnei Yosrael: We dont believe you! and make new friends. *phone rings* Moshe: Hey Guys I’ve got some good news and Tzion/a: Well I guess so some bad news. So the bad news is Hashem called and it looks like he cancelled our trip to Israel. Z: But really what I think is cool is that they get to do Something about listening to lashon hara. Now it’s something that so many Jews in Jewish history gonna take us an extra 40 years to get there. wanted to do- go and live in Eretz Yisrael. Bnei Yisrael: Well what’s the good news? Tzion/a: Really? I mean I know we live all over the world now, but couldn’t Jews always go to Israel? Moshe: Oh sorry, yeah there is no good news. Z: No, it’s something we should be very grateful for. Tziona: Why would the people just believe the Maybe we should meet some of my friends who can mergalim like that? show you why. Z: Sometimes when you’re scared, you’ll listen to Together: Lets go! Uka chaki uka chaki uka chaki… any type of lashon hara that makes you feel better. SNAP! *spin* Tzion/a: But they ended up getting to Eretz Yisrael Z: So do you remember how last month we saw right? Bnei Yisrael in the desert? Z: I think you have to see what comes next Tzion/a: Yeah, did they get to Israel yet? Tzion/a: Are we time traveling again? Oooka chaki... Z: Well it’s a little complicated you’ll see. Listen- Z: Nope, this story actually happened the next day... Meralim: ...and the land is so big and even the food is giant! Maapilim: So Moshe, we realized it was like totally not cool and immature to freak out like that with the Bnei Yisrael: Tell us more!! whole Meraglim thing yesterday, so you could tell Hashem we’re sorry and we’re ready to go now. 3 Am Nolad: Creation of the Nation Bamidbar: The Journey to Eretz Yisrael Moshe: I don’t think that’s how it works, Hashem said 40 years and it’s been 1 day which means we have… approximately 14,599 days until we get to Eretz Yisrael. Maapilim: But we said we’re sorry! What’s the big deal? We had one day of time-out and we get it now. And you know what? We don’t care what Hashem says, we’re going anyway! Moshe: Good luck with that Z: I don’t think we need to time travel to figure out that it wasn’t going to work out for them Tzion/a: But I don’t get it, Hashem wanted Bnei Yisrael to go to Eretz Yisrael right? Z: Right Tzion/a: But then Hashem didn’t want Bnei Yisrael to go to Eretz Yisrael? Z: That’s also right Tzion/a: How? Z: Hashem wants Bnei Yisrael to be in Eretz Yisrael but the point is that Eretz Yisrael is a gift from Hashem. Hashem decides if we get that gift, and if we misbehave- we don’t deserve it. So my point about your cousins making aliyah is that we have to realize that it’s not like we were always able to be in Eretz Yisrael and its a gift! Tzion/a: Wow I’ve never thought about it that way. Well I think we should probably head back to snif, I heard we were going to be learning about some aliyah stuff. Z: Sounds good to me Together: chaki uka chaki uka chaki… SNAP! *spin* 4 Am Nolad: Creation of the Nation Bamidbar: The Journey to Eretz Yisrael Peula #1: The Meraglim and Lashon Hara Goal: Have the chanichim understand the story of the Meraglim and their Lashon Hara about Eretz Yisrael, and the dangers of speaking Lashon Hara. Trigger: Optical Illusions ● Print and show the chanichim each of the optical illusions and ask them what they see ● At the end, hold up the picture of the grapes- ask them to say what they see ● Have madrichim (or chanichim with scripts) represent Yeshoshua and Calev vs. the Rest of the Meraglim ● Have them argue about what they see in the grapes- are they good or are they bad? Are they scarily giant or are they amazing because they’re so big and yummy looking? Is land is so beautiful and we have to go, or its too scary and we can’t! ● After this little back and forth briefly explain the story of the meraglim (or ask the chanichim if they know it! A skit would be a great way to illustrate the story. Story of the Meraglim1: ● Bnei Yisrael was ready to enter Eretz Yisrael after leaving Mitzrayim and traveling through the desert. But the people were worried and asked Moshe if they could send scouts who could bring back information that would help them conquer the land. Hashem (grudgingly) approved their wish. ● Moshe sent the spies (12 in total, each one representing another tribe of Israel) to scout out the Land. ● Following Moshe’s instruction, the spies took samples of fruit from the land. A cluster of grapes was so large that it took eight men to carry it. Two more men carried a pomegranate and a fig each, leaving Yehoshua and Calev to carry nothing at all. ● When the Meraglim returned, “Sure enough,” they said, “the land flows with milk and honey, but we cannot capture it. The nations who live there are strong, their cities are fortified and they are giants.” ● Cries of despair rang out from the camp. "If only we had died in Mitzrayim, or if only we had died in this desert,” wailed the panic-stricken people. “Why does Hashem want bring us to this land? In’t it better for us to return to Mitzrayim?" ● But Yehoshua and Calev did not remain silent. “The land we passed through to see really is a good land! Hashem will bring us to the land and give it to us,” said the two brave scouts with confidence.