TG_iyar.qxd:Layout 1 3/29/07 8:57 AM Page 8 LESSON PLAN BY JAMIE HARRIS-GERSHON AND TAMMIE RAPPS “Naomi Shemer: QUOTES & QUESTIONS Which line do you like best in the song? Why? Golden Girl” “That’s the beauty of Israel: a word spoken 4,000 years ago How do you understand the chorus of the song? can be set beside a word spoken by a child today, and both 3. Read the article about songwriter and composer Naomi have meaning for me.” MAGAZINE PAGES 6–7 Shemer on pages 6–7 of BABAGANEWZ. What do you think Shemer means by this statement? This article about Naomi What does Jerusalem symbolize for Naomi Shemer? What is it that is so meaningful to her? Shemer provides insight into What could it mean for Israelis? The Jewish People? Shemer’s love for Israel, the “Though it is true that the Bible constituted my bedside reading, I am not a religious writer…. We had a very 4. Divide the class into pairs to study the following Jewish Hebrew language, and her intimate knowledge of the Bible because of the way it was texts. deep connection to Jewish taught. These words are part of my language and part of TALMUD NEDARIM 50A history. In this lesson, my life, and therefore part of my songs.” students will explore the The daughter of Kalba Savu’a betrothed herself to Rabbi Shemer talks about a deep connection to the words of Akiva. When her father heard this, he vowed that she was metaphors that Shemer used the Bible (and other Jewish texts), however, she also not to benefit from any of his property. Then she went and in her song “Yerushalayim states that she is not religious. Does that surprise you? married Rabbi Akiva in winter. They slept in a straw bin, and Shel Zahav” and consider Why or why not? he had to pick out the straw from her hair. He said to her: what makes Jerusalem ACTIVITY: GOLDEN OPPORTUNITIES “If I had the means, I would give you a Jerusalem of Gold.” sparkle. 1. Begin the lesson by playing a word association game. Why can’t Rabbi Akiva give a Jerusalem of Gold to his Post the following words on individual pieces of paper OBJECTIVES wife? around the room. Instruct students to circulate and on Students will analyze the lyrics each page to write the first word that comes to their mind Does Rabbi Akiva wish he could give his wife the City of to a song about Jerusalem. when they read the printed word. Jerusalem?! What is it that he would like to give her? Why Students will study Jewish texts do you think that was the ultimate gift? about Jerusalem to identify how gold shofar wall violin the song echoes the texts. light crown empty bronze TALMUD SOTAH 49B Allow students three minutes to complete the circuit. What are crowns worn by brides? Rabbah Bar Bar Hanah Students will discuss what said in the name of Rabbi Yohanan: a golden [Jerusalem].˙ made Jerusalem golden in the Discuss some of the associations. ˙ mind of the lyricist and how it Which word had the most varied responses? Which had Why do you think brides wore headpieces with a relief remains golden today. the most uniform associations? of Jerusalem carved into them? VOCABULARY What do you think the posted words have to do with PSALMS 137:5–6 bh5z5 gold each other? If I forget thee O Jerusalem, let my right hand wither; let rt3=3 crown 2. Explain that each of these words appears in a song about my tongue stick to my palate if I do not remember you, if I Jerusalem, “Yerushalayim Shel Zahav.” Play the song for do not set Jerusalem above my greatest joy. ryv1 song your students (available at www.babaganewz.com/teachers) How does this text relate to the previous one? Nomz4<1 chorus and have them follow along with the lyrics. Visit our web site for a link to the words in both English and Hebrew. Why do you think we need to remember Jerusalem at Discuss: times of joy? What, according to tradition, do we do to remember Jerusalem at times of joy? Have you ever heard this song before? When? Reconvene to discuss how the texts relate to Shemer’s song What do you think of the tune to the song? How does the and how they are echoed in the composition. tune make you feel? 5. To conclude the lesson, ask students: Does it remind you of anything? If yes, what? How can Jerusalem be considered golden? Think of the What image of Jerusalem is painted in this song? How word associations that began the lesson to help you form does the lyricist create the image? your answer. How is the last section of the song different from the rest In what ways is Jerusalem still the crown of gold for the of it? [Note that the song was written in May 1967, only Jewish People? three weeks before the reunification of Jerusalem. The final stanza was added after the Six Day War.] Shemer’s song has a very personal quality to it. What can you do personally to reflect Jerusalem’s preciousness in your own life? 8 BABAGANEWZ TEACHERS’ GUIDE IYAR 5767.