(Ask the children to each take turns reading one of the lines of the introduction to this exercise.)
- The Torah story tells us that God and Abraham spoke regularly - maybe they even texted, too!
- Here are a few examples from the Torah:
- The Eternal One appeared to Abraham by the terebinths of Mamre; he was sitting at the entrance of the tent as the day grew hot. (Genesis 18:1)
- Abraham remained standing before the Eternal One. (Genesis 18: 22)
- God put Abraham to the test. God said to him, "Abraham," and he answered, "Here I am." (Genesis 22:1)
- Use your imagination -- think about what it would be like to talk or listen or communicate with God in some way.
- What would our senses tell us about the experience?
(Each person in the group should take a turn completing the following sentences ... )
The God Chair
In the Torah story we watch how Abraham has a conversation with God.
(Ask some of the children to each take turns reading one of the lines of this conversation from Genesis.)
- Talking or listening to God looks like the color ____________.
- Talking or listening to God has the smell of ____________.
- Talking or listening to God feels like touching __________.
- Talking or listening to God sounds like __________.
- Talking or listening to God tastes like ___________.
The God Chair
In the Torah story we watch how Abraham has a conversation with God.
(Ask some of the children to each take turns reading one of the lines of this conversation from Genesis.)
23 Abraham came forward and said, "Will You sweep away the innocent along with the guilty? 24 What if there should be fifty innocent within the city; will You then wipe out the place and not forgive it for the sake of the innocent fifty who are in it? 25 Far be it from You to do such a thing, to bring death upon the innocent as well as the guilty, so that innocent and guilty fare alike. Far be it from You! Shall not the Judge of all the earth deal justly?" 26 And the Lord answered, "If I find within the city of Sodom fifty innocent ones, I will forgive the whole place for their sake." 27 Abraham spoke up, saying, "Here I venture to speak to my Lord, I who am but dust and ashes: 28 What if the fifty innocent should lack five? Will You destroy the whole city for want of the five?" And He answered, "I will not destroy if I find forty-five there." 29 But he spoke to Him again, and said, "What if forty should be found there?" And He answered, "I will not do it, for the sake of the forty." 30 And he said, "Let not my Lord be angry if I go on: What if thirty should be found there?" And He answered, "I will not do it if I find thirty there." 31 And he said, "I venture again to speak to my Lord: What if twenty should be found there?" And He answered, "I will not destroy, for the sake of the twenty." 32And he said, "Let not my Lord be angry if I speak but this last time: What if ten should be found there?" And He answered, "I will not destroy, for the sake of the ten." 33 When the Lord had finished speaking to Abraham, He departed; and Abraham returned to his place. (Genesis 18:23-33)
How do you think such a conversation would go for us?
Directions:
How do you think such a conversation would go for us?
Directions:
- Put two chairs in the middle of the group.
- One chair is the God chair -- and whoever sits in that chair, answers and responds as they think God might respond.
- The other chair is for all of us -- anyone who would like to sit in that chair and ask God any question they would like.
- Only the people sitting in the chairs can speak and participate in the conversation.
- If anyone else would like to sit in either of the chairs, all hey have to do is tap the people currently in the chairs and take their place. Give the people in the chairs a chance to have their conversations.
Suggestions for questions for God:
- Why did you create the world?
- What is the favorite thing you created?
- What is the least favorite thing your created?
- What do you think of religion?
- Why do bad things happen?
- What happens after we die?
Standing Up -- A Jewish Thing To Do
(Ask the children to each take turns reading one of the lines of the introduction to this exercise.)
- Abraham, when he stood up to God to not destroy Sodom and Gemorah, taught us an important lesson about being a Jew.
- When we see things that are not fair, or just or compassionate ... we have to do something.
- The Great Rabbi Hillel said it in this way: In a place where no one is acting like a human being, act like a human being. (Avot 2:5)
- What would each of us to do to change something about the world?
- Pretend that I am a genie and grant each of you the role of King or Queen of the world for a moment -- and in that moment you can make one rule or law that all the world would have to follow.
- Either (1) go around the room and share what your rule would be or (2) take a piece of paper and each person should draw a picture of the world following this rule.
- Talk about which rules you like or want explained more.
- Questions:
- Which rules are the hardest or easiest to follow?
- Which rules are most realistic?