FTL #3 - Shabbat - December/January 2013

1) Shabbat or Not?

Read these verses from the 2nd chapter of Genesis:

• On the seventh day God finished the work that God had been doing, and God stopped on the seventh day from all the work that God had done. And God blessed the seventh day and declared it holy, because on it God stopped from all the work of creation that God had done. 

Discuss the following questions:

• Everyone take a turn finishing the following sentence: When I stop working hard I feel __________________. 
• Is it an easy thing to do or a hard thing to do to stop working? Why? Give some examples. 
• Why do you think this day of stopping work was important enough to bless? 
• The Torah does not describe what God stopping or resting looks like. What do you think resting looking like? 

Watch this slideshow.

• Each slide has a picture and asks you a question: REST OR NOT? 
• Using this survey (which you will need to print out), each person should answer if they think the picture is REST OR NOT? 
• Share and compare your answers.

2) Shabbat-O-Vision

Pretend that you are the judges in a special music video contest for Shabbat songs. Judge these three songs based on three categories: Music, Video and how well the song feels like Shabbat. Rank them all using this ballot and see which one wins.

1. Song #1 - Cups
2. Song #2 - Shalom Aleichem
3. Song #3 - I’ve Got a Feeling

3) The Shabbat Spice - What's Your Recipe?

Listen to the story from Rabbi Mo about the special Shabbat Spice.

So, what is 'The Shabbat Spice'? It is the things we do that make us feel connected. It is the things we do that make us feel restful. It is the things we do that make us feel special.

As a family take some time to list what things you can do to add that special kind of spice to your lives. List things that the whole family can do together and some things that each individual person in your family can do.

FTL #2 - Chanukah - November/December 2013

1) Welcome!

2) Chanukah Lab - Candle Lighting Experiment

For this activity you will need:

1. Copies (or access to screens) of the Hillel/Shammai Candle Lighting Plans that is in the Talmud.
2. Chanukah Menorah (at least one)
3. Candles
4. Matches/lighter
5. Copies for everyone of the Chanukah Lab Review Form
6. Copies of the Chanukah Blessings 

• As a group read the argument between Hillel and Shammai that is in the Talmud. As you read make sure that everyone understands each rabbi’s Candle Lighting Plan!
• Summarize Hillel’s suggestion. 
• Summarize Shammai’s discussion.
• Take out a Chanukiah and light it the way that Shammai suggests. (Yes, pretend that you are going to do all 8 nights very quickly - you do not need to let the candles burn down.) Recite one of the blessings to give it a ritual feel as if it were the 1st night in Shammai’s candle lighting plan. Let it burn for a few moments and then blow it out and do night #2 (blessing, candle, etc.) as outlined in Shammai’s candle lighting plan ... continue and light the Chanukiah for all 8 nights for Shammai. 
• Record what you like and did not like about Shammai’s Candle Lighting Plan on the Chanukah Lab Review Form.
• Take out a Chanukiah and light it the way that Hillel suggests. (Yes, do it all over again like it is all 8 nights - in the name of science you have to have the experience of seeing what it is like to light the Chanukah menorah BOTH ways!). Recite one of the blessings to give it a ritual feel as if it were the 1st night in Hillel's candle lighting plan. Let it burn for a few moments and then blow it out and do the remainder of the nights (blessing, candle, etc.) following Hillel’s Candle Lighting Plan. 
• Record what you like and did not like about Hillel’s plan on the Chanukah Lab Review Form.

3) Bluff The Listener 

For this activity you will need:

1. Paper 
2. Pens/pencil
3. Possibly crayons/markers

• Not only are our rabbis well known for their great debates about all kinds of things, they are also known as great storytellers. One of the best tradition of Jewish stories are called MIDRASH. A MIDRASH is often a story that is an answer to a question about something in Jewish tradition that does not make sense. We do not know if these stories are true, made-up or somewhere in between. All that matters is that they are great stories to listen to and to make us think. 
• It is your turn to make up some stories and see which stories are the funniest, most interesting or believable.
• Here is the question that your stories need to answer: When we light Shabbat candles we do not have a helper (Shammes) candle to light them, why do we have a helper (Shammes) candle on the Chanukiah?
• Decide to split yourselves into small groups or to make up your stories as individuals.
• Give each group or individuals a few minutes to make up a story that they will tell to the rest of the group. Write out the story, draw pictures or anything that might help to tell the story.
• As a group listen to all of the stories and see which ones you like the best.

4) Worth Fighting For

For this activity you will need:

• Paper 
• Pens/Pencils

• The Maccabees stood and fought Antiochus and his army because Antiochus told the Maccabees that it was illegal to practice their Judaism!  Celebrating Shabbat and other Jewish holidays were not permitted. They could not go to the Temple in Jerusalem and gather as a community. They were not allowed to study and teach Torah. The Maccabees felt so strongly about being able to freely be Jewish that they decided to fight Antiochus and his army. 
• What is so important to you that is someone took it away or or made it illegal for you to do, that you would fight someone else for the right to get it back or to be able to do it?
• Every individual (with a little help from parents if needed) make a list of 5 things you would fight for.
• Then, as a family share your lists with one another and see of you can come up with a list of 5 for your whole family.
• If you are with some other families, try to make that list as a group of 5 things you would fight for.
• All through the process - don't be shy about asking each other questions about the things each of you listed.

FTL #1 - October/November 2013

FTL #1 - Jewish Time

1) Welcome!

2) Holiday & Calendar Review: At our first Family Session we learned about the Jewish Calendar and were introduced to significant Jewish Holidays (many that we will study this year together). Here are a couple of activities that will give you the chance to review what we learned.

Jewish Calendar Exercise:

• Use this list of the Months of the Hebrew Calendar to write the name of each month on a separate sheet of paper. 
• Shuffle the sheets and deal them to each person. 
• Without looking at the order of the months, try and arrange the group in the correct order based upon the month(s) each person is holding.
• Check your guess against the actual order to see how you did. 
• Put the months sheet away and try it again.
• Collect the month sheets and hand them out again (to different people) and see how quickly you can put the months in order. 
• Collect and randomly hand out the month pages a few times to the group.
• Time yourselves each time to see how fast the group can order the months.

Jewish Holiday Exercise:

• Print out the Jewish Holiday Poll and make sure there are enough copies for everyone in the group.
• Review the list together - saying the name of the holiday and what it celebrates.
• Ask the each person in the group to think about which are the three MOST IMPORTANT holidays. On her or his sheet each person should rank their top 3. Share that information with one another, give everyone a chance to explain their choices. Take a tally of the group and see how the group ranks the top three.
• Ask the each person in the group to think about which are the three FAVORITE holidays. On her or his sheet each person should rank their top 3. Share that information with one another, give everyone a chance to explain their choices. Take a tally of the group and see how the group ranks the top three.
• Enter your group’s results on the Mishpacha! Poll on the Mishpacha! Blog.

Some helpful questions for this exercise:

• How easy was this choice to make?
• What are a few words that describe your choice for MOST IMPORTANT holiday?
• Why is the holiday you choice more important that the others?
• What would be missed if it were not on the calendar or celebrated?
• How would you like to celebrate that holiday?
• What are a few words that describe your FAVORITE holiday?
• Why is the holiday you chose your favorite one?
• How do your lists (most important and favorite) compare?

3) Battle of the Jewish New Years:  Did you know that there are 4 different Jewish New Years? Watch the video from Rabbi Mo to learn more:

Choosing the ONLY New Year:

• Print out the Jewish New Year sheets.
• Divide your group into 4 smaller groups (okay if only one person in some of the groups due to your numbers).
• Assign a New Year to each group and ask each group to come up with three reason that its New Year should become the ONLY Jewish New Year.
• Present your reasons to one another and take some time (if needed) to respond or challenges each group’s reasons.
• Take a vote to see which New Year your group thinks should be the ONLY Jewish New Year.
• Post your result on the Mishpacha! Blog.

Learning More About The Calendar:

• Calendar Basics
• 4 Jewish New Years