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NFTY Action Theme Program-Healthcare Program Title: PROPHETS - The Reform Jewish Mascot Category: Judaism Author(s): Ivy Giserman- NAR President 05-06, Ben Levine- NAR PVP 05-06 Created for: NFTY-NAR Fall Kallah 2003-2004 Touchstone Text: “Our view is that there is truth and holiness in other religious faiths. Our view is that there are many paths to God.” -- Rabbi Eric Yoffie Goals: 1. To educate PP’s about certain prophets in the Tanakh 2. To educate PP’s about the foundations of Reform Judaism Objectives: 1. Through role plays and discussion PP’s will learn about and discuss Jewish prophecy 2. PP’s will choose from the list of prophets which one best represents the Reform movement Materials: • Markers for each group • Poster board • 7 people to play the prophets -- Abraham, Moses, Joshua, David, Miriam, Sarah, Esther and Deborah) {Found at end of program packet} • Costumes for each prophet • Fact Sheets for each prophet • Quotes on Reform Judaism • PP’s to read Reform Judaism quotes People: 1)Head GL 2) 8 GL’s 3) 8 Prophets Space Needed: Beit am Timeline: 00:00-00:10 Intro 00:10-00:15 Split into groups ( By number on name tag- 8 groups) 00:15-00:20 First rotation for prophets 00:20-00:50 Prophet Rotations (Each should be 5 minutes long) 00:50-01:00 Groups choose their mascot 01:00-01:05 Groups come together in Beit-Am 01:05-01:15 Groups present their prophets and vote is taken 1. Detailed Procedure: PP’s will enter Beit-Am and will sit down together at the front of the room This resource has been provided by the North American Federation of Temple Youth. For additional resources, visit our website at http://www.nfty.org. 2. Selected PP’s will then read quotes from leaders in the Reform Movement about what Reform Judaism means. (Quotes can be found at the end of this packet) 3. GL will then, in front of the room read this statement to the PP’s. “As the youth of the Reform Movement it is your task to choose a mascot who is best able to represent our people to the rest of the world. You will hear from a variety of candidates, when choosing the mascot remember that they must represent us as Reform Jews.” 4. PP’s will then split into 8 groups and go to their respective meeting locations. 5. People dressed up as prophets will come around to each room and give a brief speech about who they are and what they accomplished in their life, additionally they will try to plead their case for why they should be the mascot for the reform Jewish movement. Each prophet will hand PP’s their personal fact sheet. 6. After the short speech PP’s will be able to ask questions to the prophets, who will answer as if they were, the prophets. Possible questions could be: o Why are you a role model to Reform Jews? o What makes you the most qualified to be a mascot of Reform Judaism? o Why would you consider yourself a prophet? o What in your opinion was the greatest accomplishment in your career as a Jewish prophet? 7. Prophets after 3-5 minutes will then move on and rotate to the next room 8. Steps 5, 6 and 7 will be repeated until every prophet has gone to every room and seen each group. Once each group has seen each prophet PP’s in their groups will discuss the prophets and choose one to be the mascot for the Reform Movement. When coming up with the mascot certain things should be addressed: o How is the prophet a role model for the people? o What is the message the prophet is trying to deliver? o What makes this person a prophet? o How is this person a role model of holiness? o What is this person’s connection with God? o What makes this person a role model of Reform Judaism? o Why should this person represent Reform Judaism as a mascot? 9. Groups will then come to the Beit-am and sit by group. 10. One by one groups will present the mascot they choose within their group and explain quickly why they choose that prophet. 11. Once all the groups have presented the votes will be tallied and which ever prophet has the most support will become the mascot for the Reform Jewish Movement. If there is a tie we will have a run off. This resource has been provided by the North American Federation of Temple Youth. For additional resources, visit our website at http://www.nfty.org. 12. PP’s will be thanked for their input and contribution in choosing the mascot for Reform Judaism. Background Information: Reform Judaism Quotes (to be read by PP’s) Reform Judaism is “the stream of Jewish life and thought that aims at reinterpreting (or “reforming”) Judaism in the light of Western thought, values and culture, where such a reinterpretation does not come into conflict with Judaism's basic principles.” -- Bluethread Glossary “Reform Judaism affirms the central tenets of Judaism - God, Torah and Israel - even as it acknowledges the diversity of Reform Jewish beliefs and practices. We believe that all human beings are created in the image of God, and that we are God’s partners in improving the world. Tikkun olam — repairing the world — is a hallmark of Reform Judaism as we strive to bring peace, freedom, and justice to all people.” -- The Union for Reform Judaism “Reform Jews are committed to the principle of inclusion, not exclusion…Reform Jews are committed to the absolute equality of women in all areas of Jewish life. We were the first movement to ordain women rabbis, invest women cantors, and elect women presidents of our synagogues…Reform Jews are also committed to the full participation of gays and lesbians in synagogue life as well as society at large.” -- The Union for Reform Judaism “Our view is that there is truth and holiness in other religious faiths. Our view is that there are many paths to God.” -- Rabbi Eric Yoffie “Throughout the ages it has been Israel's mission to witness to the Divine in the face of every form of paganism and materialism. We regard it as our historic task to cooperate with all men in the establishment of the kingdom of God, of universal brotherhood, Justice, truth and peace on earth. This is our Messianic goal.” --The Guiding Principles of Reform Judaism “We affirm that the Jewish people is bound to God by an eternal covenant, as reflected in our varied understandings of Creation, Revelation and Redemption....We are Israel, a people aspiring to holiness, singled out through our ancient covenant and our unique history among the nations to be witnesses to God's presence. We are linked by that covenant and that history to all Jews in every age and place.” --Statement of Principles for Reform Judaism “Reform Judaism seeks to reconcile basic Jewish beliefs with life in the modern world. The concept of prophetic Judaism motivating social action is a primary focus of Reform Judaism. Prayers began to be offered in the vernacular as well as in Hebrew, and the service was shortened. The essential principal of Reform is that religion is organic and dynamic.” --Rabbi Melanie Aron This resource has been provided by the North American Federation of Temple Youth. For additional resources, visit our website at http://www.nfty.org. ABRAHAM According to Jewish tradition, Abraham was born under the name Abram in the city of Ur in Babylonia in the year 1948 from Creation (circa 1800 BCE). He was the son of Terach, an idol merchant, but from his early childhood, he questioned the faith of his father and sought the truth. He came to believe that the entire universe was the work of a single Creator, and he began to teach this belief to others. Abram tried to convince his father, Terach, of the folly of idol worship. One day, when Abram was left alone to mind the store, he took a hammer and smashed all of the idols except the largest one. He placed the hammer in the hand of the largest idol. When his father returned and asked what happened, Abram said, "The idols got into a fight, and the big one smashed all the other ones." His father said, "Don't be ridiculous. These idols have no life or power. They can't do anything." Abram replied, "Then why do you worship them?" Eventually, the one true Creator that Abram had worshipped called to him, and made him an offer: if Abram would leave his home and his family, then G-d would make him a great nation and bless him. Abram accepted this offer, and the b'rit (covenant) between G-d and the Jewish people was established. (Gen. 12). The idea of b'rit is fundamental to traditional Judaism: we have a covenant, a contract, with G-d, which involves rights and obligations on both sides. We have certain obligations to G-d, and G-d has certain obligations to us. The terms of this b'rit became more explicit over time, until the time of the Giving of the Torah. Abram was subjected to ten tests of faith to prove his worthiness for this covenant. Leaving his home is one of these trials. Abram, raised as a city-dweller, adopted a nomadic lifestyle, traveling through what is now the land of Israel for many years. G-d promised this land to Abram's descendants.
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