Time: | 50 minutes |
Materials: | Laptop and projector or monitor Photograph Waiting for Seven Jews by Zion Ozeri Peoplehood Worksheet 1A: Objective and Subjective Peoplehood Worksheet 1B: What Is Community – Jewish Texts Blackboard or chart paper |
Preparation: | Set up projector to display the photograph “Waiting for Seven Jews” at the front of the room. If projector or monitor is not available, make high-resolution photocopies of the photograph to distribute to students. Also, make enough copies of Worksheets 1A and 1B for the class. |
Overview: | In this lesson, students practice their close-looking and visual literacy skills by making objective and subjective observations of a photograph. They also begin to consider the meaning of community through the examination of texts and images. |
Big Idea: | By exploring both images and texts, we can gain insight into the meaning and importance of Jewish community. |
Have students do an objective/subjective reading of “Waiting for Seven Jews” using Worksheet 1A: Objective and Subjective. See Introductory Lesson here for instructions and further guidance on the objective/subjective activity. Review the procedure with students if they are unfamiliar or need a refresher on the concepts and approach.
Homework:
For homework, have students consider the concept of “community.” Each student should write a short reflection paper on the topic: “What is community?”
If your students have not yet done the Introductory Lesson, we recommend beginning with that lesson before progressing through the lessons in this unit.
IMAGES
This is the El-Ghriba Synagogue on the Tunisian island of Djerba. Although the current building was constructed in 1929, it is believed that a synagogue has existed on this site for 2,000 years. According to tradition, the first synagogue on the spot was built with a stone from the destroyed Temple in Jerusalem. If you look closely at the patterns, shapes, and motifs in the picture, you can see how the builders of this synagogue were influenced by Muslim art and culture. In 2002, after this picture was taken, al-Qaeda tried to bomb the synagogue. The building was not destroyed, but about 20 tourists and local workers were killed.
Why do you think the photographer called this photo Waiting for Seven Jews?
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Hillel said,
“Don’t separate yourself from the community.
Don’t be overconfident until the day of your death.
Don’t judge your fellow human being until you have reached that person’s place.
Don’t say anything that is unintelligible with the hope that it will be understood.
And don’t say, ‘When I have leisure I will study’ – perhaps you will never have that leisure.”
– Pirkei Avot 2:4
Nine tzaddikim cannot make a minyan, but if one common man joins them, he completes the minyan.
– Rabbi Nahman of Bratslav