igniting your shabbat services
HOW TO USE THIS GUIDE Hello and welcome to Spark! Spark is aimed at facilitating the smooth running of Toddlers Services, Children s Services and Youth Services across United Synagogue communities. Firstly, thank you for offering to run a Children s Service in your local shul. The US is very proud of the numerous Children s services that are run every week across the UK. We would not be able to do this without you! Spark has been designed in order to help you run your Children s Services. Obviously, every Children s Service is different, in terms of how many children there are; what their age range is; its length; and how knowledgeable the children are likely to be of this week s parasha. Ideally, where possible, a Children s Service should consist of some time used to discuss the weekly parasha and some time devoted to davening. Spark gives you an overview of the weekly parasha, a song, activity, discussion or Dvar Torah linked to the parasha or any important event that week. It is separated into sections for different age groups but often you will find that an activity in one section will be suitable for children in another section. So, please take the time to read through it all I know you are busy people but it will help you and ultimately the children. Please also try to read Spark during the week as sometimes some props will be needed. It will give you a chance to find them. It is important to note that Spark should help you to run Children s Services, but it does not completely run it for you. It is not designed to give to one of the children to read out to the group for them to run themselves. You are running the Children s Service, and Spark is here to help you do it. I hope that you and the children in your service will benefit from Spark2. As always your feedback would be welcomed. Shabbat Shalom, Sharon Radley sharonradley@tribeuk.com 2
PARASHA SUMMARY Parasha Summary n This week we start the fourth Sefer of the Torah, The Book of. n Hashem commands Moshe to take a census of all the Jewish men ages 20-60. n The Leviim are counted separately. n Hashem gives Moshe a system of where all the different Tribes should position themselves when encamped. The Mishkan is in the centre. Each tribe is given a special place. n Each Tribe is given as flag with a symbol on that reflects the nature of that Tribe. n The Torah tells us the responsibilities that were given out for when it came to transporting the Mishkan. 3
PRE-NURSERY TO RECEPTION In the parasha this week we read about the 12 Tribes of the Bnei Yisrael the Jewish People. Each Tribe had their very own flag with a special sign on it. For example the Tribe of Yehudah had a blue flag with a lion on it. The lion was a sign of royalty as King David came from the Tribe of Yehudah. The Tribe of Yissachar had a sun and moon on its flag as the people from this tribe were very good astronomers and they set up the Jewish calendar. n Ask the children if each one of them had their own flag which represented them what would it have embroidered on it and why? Game to show how we all have similarities and differences yet we must respect every creation n Sit the children in a circle. The game is called Stand up, sit down. The leader should say a statement and the children should stand up if it is true for them. They should sit down before the next statement is said. Discuss the following points: n Was anyone surprised by the results? n Did you learn anything about the group today? n What would it be like if we were all exactly the same? n We can see from the parasha that each shevet/tribe had their own strengths yet they were all part of the Jewish People. Every person in the world is a unique creation and we must respect everyone. Sing the names of the Tribes to the tune of In and Out the Dusty Bluebells. (Tune can be found on You Tube) Reuven, Shimon,Levi, Yehudah, Yissachar, Zevulun,Dan, Naftali, Gad, Asher, Yosef and Binyamin, These are the Tribes of Yisrael. 4
YEAR 1 & 2 Ages 5-7 n In the parasha this week we read about the 12 Shevatim/ Tribes of the Bnei Yisrael the Jewish People. Each shevet had their very own flag with a special sign on it. For example the shevet of Yehudah had a blue flag with a lion on it. The lion was a sign of royalty as King David came from the shevet of Yehudah. The shevet of Yissachar had a sun and moon on its flag as the people from this shevet were very good astronomers and they set up the Jewish calendar. n Ask the children if each one of them had their own flag which represented them what would it have embroidered on it and why? n Game 1 to show how we all have similarities and differences yet we must respect every creation Sit the children in a circle. The game is called Stand up, sit down. The leader should say a statement and the children should stand up if it is true for them. Discuss the following points: n Was anyone surprised by the results? n Did you learn anything about the group today? n What would it be like if we were all exactly the same? n We can see from the parasha that each shevet/tribe had their own strengths yet they were all part of the Jewish People. Every person in the world is a unique creation and we must respect everyone. Game 2 Before Shabbat write each child s name on a piece of paper and put all the papers in a bag or a hat. Sit the children in a circle and ask each child to pick one name out of the hat. Ask them to say something they like about that child. See summing up points above. 5
YEAR 3-6 / YOUTH SERVICE Ages 7-11 Ages 12-18 This activity is suitable across the age ranges and can be adapted to suit the needs of your participants. n Note to leaders: Please see page five above as there may be suitable activities for your group on that page too. In the parasha this week we read about the 12 Shevatim/ Tribes of the Bnei Yisrael the Jewish People. Each shevet had their very own flag with a special sign on it. For example the shevet of Yehudah had a blue flag with a lion on it. The lion was a sign of royalty as King David came from the shevet of Yehudah. The shevet of Yissachar had a sun and moon on its flag as the people from this shevet were very good astronomers and they set up the Jewish calendar. Activity n Start by introducing the concept of prejudice and ask the children to give their own definition of the word. The dictionary defines prejudice as: A preconceived idea, usually one that is unfavourable or an opinion held in disregard of facts that contradict it. Intolerance of other races. n Before Shabbat prepare cards or papers with characters on from movies, stories, music, TV, historical times, fairy tales etc... Some examples are Shrek, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, Cinderella and Aladdin. n Split the children into small groups and give each group a card. The groups should brainstorm all the ways that the character on their card was discriminated against and the prejudice that took place in each situation. They can also discuss how each character handled the situation. In my examples above Shrek would be physical appearance, Hunchback of Notre Dame would be disability, Aladdin would be social class and Cinderella would be position in family. n The groups should feedback to the rest of the groups and the leader should facilitate a discussion on how the characters felt, and how they handled their situation. CONTINUED ON PAGE 7 6
YEAR 3-6 / YOUTH SERVICE Ages 7-11 CONTINUED Ages 12-18 Other questions to discuss might include: n Why do people sometimes show prejudice toward a group of people? (learned at home, follow the crowd, etc.) n Can they apply any of the character s successful strategies to combat present day prejudice? n Does any of the prejudice and discrimination in the examples remind them of anything in their own life? n Why is it important to discuss prejudice? Sum up: If possible end off by putting on a large brimmed hat as a prop. Explain that in the parasha this week we are told that each shevet/tribe had their own flag with its own picture embroidered on it. The picture was a symbol of the characters and it reflected nature of the people in that shevet. They were however all part of the Jewish people. The Jewish people are strongest when they respect each other and work together as a united nation. Prejudice is like putting on a large hat. (Point to the brim of the hat you are wearing.) The hat blocks the vision of the wearer who can only see the brim. The hat represents prejudice blocking one s vision to see others as they really are. Prejudice has always been present in the world and challenges us to practise ways to show acceptance of our differences. n Ask the participants if each one of them had their own flag which represented them what would it have embroidered on it and why? 7
igniting your shabbat services We hope you find our guide to this week s Parsha useful. I would be grateful for any feedback. Please remind the children of the exciting Tribe programmes in your shul and also to look on the US website for current Tribe central events. Shabbat Shalom Sharon Radley sharonradley@tribeuk.com Tribe is part of the United Synagogue Registered Charity No. 242552.