Hebrew Words in Jewish Languages (Beyond the Family Tree Lesson 6)
Through a variety of games, students will activate their own knowledge of Hebrew, then connect it to examples of use of Hebrew by Jews worldwide and throughout history. Finally, students will come up with new ways to add Hebrew into their lives.
About
Theme/Topic/Big Ideas: Hebrew words are integrated into a variety of Jewish languages and used by Jews across geographic divides.
Summary: Through a variety of games, students will activate their own knowledge of Hebrew, then connect it to examples of use of Hebrew by Jews worldwide and throughout history. Finally, students will come up with new ways to add Hebrew into their lives.
*Note to Educators: we recognize that students will have varying Hebrew levels. Please adapt as needed to meet your students’ needs.
Essential Question(s)
- How are Jewish people connected linguistically across time and place?
- How am I connected to Jewish languages?
Objective:
In this lesson, students will:
- Learn that Jews around the world have continued to use Hebrew for
prayer and study and have pronounced Hebrew in diverse ways - Understand that in most places, Jews have used hundreds of Hebrew
words within their spoken language, from Judeo-Arabic to Judeo-Italian
to Jewish Malayalam - Recognize that they, too, use Hebrew words in their everyday language,
(Jewish) English
This resource is a part of a larger curriculum: Beyond the Family Tree: Jewish History and Diversity through Family Names and Languages. Within this resource is the singular lesson plan that can be used individually or alongside the rest of the curriculum, as well as handouts that accompany it. The entire curriculum can be found here: https://www.sepharditoolkit.org/jewish-language-project/
Discover more
Mayim, our initial example of "Additional" Models, could be placed in a Multi-aged, Project-Based Learning, or Experiential Learning bucket. Mayim is a K-5 learning community in which depth of relationships and depth of learning are intentionally fostered and visible everywhere.
In this lesson, students examine their own first, middle, last, and Hebrew (or Jewish ritual) names.
Temple Shaaray Tefila, New York, NY. MASA (the Hebrew word means journey) is an innovative year-long Jewish educational “journey” for groups of 25 families with children in grades K-7.
This lesson uses video and written examples to take a closer look at Ladino.
Congregation Tifereth Israel (CTI), Glen Cove, NY. CTI learners and their families participate in hands-on experiential learning. The curriculum focuses on Jewish values learned through our stories (both modern and ancient).
Temple Adat Elohim, Thousand Oaks, CA. Families come together twice a month, once to experience Shabbat as a B’Yachad community and another time to help heal the world by participating in Tikkun Olam (repairing the world) projects