Teaching Responsibility and Taking Action Through Pirkei Avot: A Jewish SEL Lesson
Help children explore what it means to do the right thing at the right time through the wisdom of Pirkei Avot. This Mishnafari sample lesson is based on the saying, “If not now, when?” (וְאִם לֹא עַכְשָׁיו, אֵימָתָי), from Hillel’s teaching: “If I am not for myself, who is for me? And if I am only for myself, what am I? And if not now, when?”
This resource includes:
A chapter from the sixth book in the Mishnafari series, Later Alligator
A discussion prompt
A hands-on activity
A coloring page
A sing-along song
Designed for children ages 4–8, this resource can be used in Jewish day schools, Hebrew and Sunday schools, at home, or as part of a Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) curriculum.
These samples are taken from Unit 6, based on the sixth book in the Mishnafari series, Later Alligator, which focuses on responsibility, priorities, and learning not to put off important things. Explore the complete unit at www.mishnafari.com for additional stories, lesson plans, games, songs, discussion guides, printable activities, and classroom resources.
- Character Strengths
- Social Emotional Learning
- Age 4
- K - 3
- After School and Beyond
- Charter/ Independent School
- Early Childhood Education
- Congregational Learning
- Day Schools and Yeshivas
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