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Nov e m b e r Theme:

Defiance

Sefira:

NETZACH

educational

Humanitarian

Social

Discussion 1: General Theme

focus

ICE BREAKERS & Games

Terror Victims

Melt It

Negating External Pressures Discussion 2: Personal Challenge

Shaping Up

Changing For Real! Moshe

Staying True to Our Faith Even With No Opposition Discussion 4: Zal

Kippah (Yarmulka)

Forbidden Letter

Chabadâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Terror Victims Project

Group Dreidel Game Crafts

Profile

Discussion 3: Holiday connection

Partner

Glowing Paper Lamp Shade Oil Lava Lamp Wax Hand Recipe

Ice Cream Donut Sandwich

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p l annin g Planning

Sample schedules

TRAck 1 Weekly program (cteen recommended)

WEEK 1: 1 hr 30 minutes

WEEK 3: 1 hr 30 minutes

hh Ice Breaker: Melt It

hh Ice Breaker: Group Dreidel Game

hh Discussion 1 hh Humanitarian Component

hh Disussion 3

hh Craft: Glowing Paper Lamp Shade

hh Recipe: Ice Cream Donut Sandwich

hh C-Notes

hh Craft: Oil Lava Lamp hh C-Notes

WEEK 2: 1 hr 30 minutes hh Ice Breaker: Shaping Up

WEEK 4: 1 hour

hh Discussion 2

hh Ice Breaker: Forbidden Letter

hh Craft: Wax Hand

hh Discussion 4 Zal

hh C-Notes

TRAck 2 BI-Weekly program Week 1: 2 Hours

Week 2: 2 Hours

hh Ice Breaker: Melt It

hh Ice Breaker: Shaping Up

hh Discussion 1

hh Disussion 3

hh Humanitarian Component

hh Game: Group Dreidel Game

hh Game: Forbidden Letter

hh Recipe: Ice Cream Donut Sandwich

hh Craft: Wax Hand

hh Craft: Glowing Paper Lamp Shade

hh C-Notes

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Single Program: 2 hours 30 min

Planning

TRAck 3 monthly program hh Game: Group Dreidel Game hh Recipe: Ice Cream Donut Sandwich

hh Ice Breaker: Melt It

hh Partial C-Notes

hh Disussion 3

A dvan c e d p r e p hh Print the handouts from the monthly package in the Shluchim Lounge. hh Gather all the objects from the “Things You Will Need” list for all of your programs.

hh Test all video and electronic equipment to ensure they are in proper working condition. hh Make sample crafts.

hh Prepare your discussion with the teens ahead of time. Feel free to elaborate using your own education and creativity.

hh Familiarize yourself with the ice cream donut sandwich recipe. Be sure to have all the ingredients and utensils that you will need.

hh Decide which teens will be leading parts of the discussion and prep them.

hh Make arrangements for the Humanitarian Component.

hh Set up the room. (See Décor and Food section below.)

D éc o r and F ood Option #1: CHANUKAH LIGHTS

Decorate the room with electric (or real) candles, lanterns, as well as red, yellow, and orange streamers, tablecloths, and paper goods.

For centerpieces, arrange red, yellow, and orange cellophane paper together in a vase, giving the impression of a flickering fire. Alternatively, you can either purchase a deco fake flame hanging lamp or create your own by placing a small fan at the bottom of a pot and attaching flame-colored cellophane to the sides of the pot. The fan will then blow them upward to imitate a flame.

http://tinyurl.com/kt4sked

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Give your teens the sense that they are Jews hiding from the Greeks in a forest, proving their defiance. Scatter dried leaves and twigs

on the floor, place a fire pit or wood stack in the middle of a circle of small stools or wood blocks for the teens to sit on. To create the right ambiance, rent a smoke machine and keep the lighting low. Additionally, you can hang camouflage sheets from the walls, place potted or plastic trees around, and get a soundtrack of forest noises to play on the speakers.

T h in g s Yo u W i l l N e e d Green

Around the House/Shul

Pink

Grocery/Food

Red

Craft store

Blue

Home Improvement store

Décor Option#1: Chanukah Lights Candles Lanterns Streamers Cellophane Vase Deco fake flame hanging lamp* Pot* Fan* Option #2: Defiance! Dried leaves Twigs Fire pit/wood stack Small stools/wood blocks Smoke machine Camouflage sheets Plastic trees Speakers

KEY

Planning

Option#2: DEFIANCE!

Purple

Download from computer

Brown

Order online

Optional (will enhance activity)

Educational General Pens C-Notes DVD Discussion 1 Ski mask Discussion 2 Discussion images Discussion 3 Discussion images Discussion handouts 2 sealed packages or envelopes

Humanitarian Abacus 6 wooden popsicle or tongue depressor sticks 2-3 bamboo skewers 30 plastic pony beads High-temp hot glue gun Personalized Monopoly Plain white game board Permanent markers Ruler Stickers Real Monopoly game board Canvas Checkerboard Pinking shears Canvas Ruler Knife Eraser Stamping pad

Mancala Board Printed pattern Salt Flour Vegetable oil Water Measuring cups Bowl Mixing spoon Acrylic or poster paints Paintbrush Glue Small ball or plastic egg Cookie sheet Wire rack Rolling pin Toothpick Oven mitts Oven Knife* Ruler* Varnish or acrylic sealant* Comfort Pillowcases White or light colored pillow cases Cardboard sheets Stencils Bingo bottle paint Markers Baby Mobile 5 baby socks Fiberfill stuffing Thread

Small beads Needle Tacky glue 5 small felt triangles Scissors 3 yards of narrow ribbon Embroidery needle 6-inch embroidery hoop

Social Melt It Ice cubes Plastic or styrofoam bowls Icebox (optional) Shaping Up Long ropes Forbidden Letter Chocolate Chanukah coins Group Dreidel Game Coins Charity Box (large bucket) Chocolate coins Latkes Blindfolds Donut String Olives (pitted) L’chaim cups Task Cards Glowing Paper Lamp Shade Puncturing tool Plain sheet of thick paper

Paper with outlined graphic Scissors Foam core Tape (optional) Pencil Bull nose clips Clip top wire ring Plain wire ring Ribbon Glue Paintbrush Heavy object/weights

Oil Lava Lamp Clear plastic bottles, cleaned and labels removed Vegetable oil Water Food coloring Pie pan Effervescent antacid tablets such as Alka-Seltzer *Chanukah-themed foil confetti Wax Hand Bucket Crockpot Play sand Wick* Pencil* 1-pound paraffin wax Candy thermometer Candle color chips Wooden spoon Liquid candle color Metal ladle Paintbrush

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Ed u c at iona l discussion

GENERAL THEME

NEGATING EXTERNAL PRESSURES

I want to do the right thing but I often donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have the guts to. Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m afraid of what other people will think, especially if by expressing myself, I am too different from everyone else. The greatest act of defiance is overpowering the impulse to base our actions on those inner voices that try to convince us that everyone is watching and judging us.

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Watch featured video

shareyourVIEW

Video Response

Where are all these imagined judgments coming from?

shareyourVIEW

Watch video clip titled “Horse Drinking Water”

Why do you think it is so easy for us to fool ourselves?

a little horse

?ASKtheTeens

We often walk down the street and think the whole world is talking to or about us. Our classmates, neighbors, even the mailmen seem so intimidating when we imagine that they’re wondering and talking about why we are dressed the way we are, what we ate for breakfast and how we’ll be spending our winter break.

Why is this horse kicking the water while he drinks? What does the horse see when he looks down at the water? A n s w er :

When the horse looks down at the water, he sees another horse stealing his water! In defense, the horse begins to violently kick at his opponent. Little does he realize that his opponent is merely his own reflection!

Discussion

113

When we think things such as, “Everyone will laugh at me,” or “What will they think?” or even, “They so won’t accept me for that!” we must realize that these assumptions are merely a reflection of attitudes stemming from our inner horse. You may be wondering, “But how can that be? It often seems so clear that my classmates, parents and teachers are rallying against me! Am I really just being delusional?”

?ASKtheTeens What normally happens when we hear that there’s a lice epidemic spreading? Ans w e r:

Many of you can attest to the fact that the mere mention of the word lice can cause everyone to start feeling an urge to scratch their heads and believe that they have lice. This clearly shows us how our thoughts can give life to tangible yet imaginary forces.

D is c u ssion Ac t i v i t y

Call up 3 teens and ask them to tell the audience their names and what they like to do in their spare time. Secretly ask a teen to put on a ski mask and interrupt your discussion (ideally this should be arranged before the program.) The masked teen will then act out a non-violent holdup and will force the teens to hand over cash or any valuables. The masked teen will then demand of the teens: “I need you to hand over your name! From now on you will go by Thing 1, Thing 2 and Thing 3! As of today, you will not be allowed to be called by your former name. From now on you can not like any of your past hobbies and you will forgo any future ambitions and goals!”

Debrief Even if you are prevented from expressing your identity, you still retain the knowledge of who you are, unless you choose to give it away.

When you surrender yourself to what other people are saying and thinking, or you make your goal in life to be someone you are not, there is no greater captivity. It is an oppression of the worst sort, but also the easiest to escape. After all, you admitted yourself into this place. So who is preventing you from signing out?

Now that you understand there’s no need to surrender to what you perceive as other people’s opinions, you can focus inward and see how you can improve yourself.

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E d u c at i o na l

We all have a little horse within us - the animal soul. In the name of survival, our horse creates false assumptions about our surroundings.

N OT E S ��

Ed u c at iona l discussion

Personal challenge

Changing - For real! Profile

Moshe Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m not really satisfied with how I go about my daily life and routine but when I resolve to do better, nothing happens. Why canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t I change? One of the challenges of changing our behavior is resisting the natural tendency to rationalize and justify our actions and undesirable traits. But when we focus on our potential, we will ultimately transform into the amazing person G-d created us to be.

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shareyourVIEW See page #11

Can you relate to the following scenario?

RESOLUTIONS

You just had an argument with your parent or best friend when it hits you - some aspect of your life is just not the way itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s meant to be. So you resolve to do better. You tell yourself from this day on, things will be different. It all sounds good; youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re on to a new beginning. Except that the resolution never materializes in actual behavior modification. You are still the same old you.

Circle the resolutions that you tried making in the past and cross off the changes that you were successful in keeping. ff Quit fighting with siblings ff Quit procrastinating ff Quit smoking ff Quit arguing ff Quit raising my voice ff Quit going to sleep too late ff Quit cheating in school ff Quit lying ff Quit finding excuses Choose one of the above unresolved resolutions. What prevented you from changing?

Discussion

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Why is change so difficult? If we clearly understand how a behavior is self-destructive, wouldn’t change be almost natural? We are very good at outsmarting ourselves because, often, we don’t really want to change. Show teens images #1 and #2.

shareyourVIEW Do these pictures and warnings usually cause one to stop destructive behavior? As is illustrated by the ineffectiveness of these ads, which provide logical reasons for quitting smoking or drugs, we understand that logic is not the answer to our destructive problems. Why is simply understanding the destructiveness of a behavior unable to help one discontinue such behavior?

The solution Ancient Jewish texts describe this problem as “Pharaoh Syndrome.”

You’ve all seen these images in “Say No to Drugs” campaigns in school or watched videos about the dangers of texting while driving.

The story of Exodus – the Jews seeking liberty from the enslaving Egyptians – is also a personal narrative. It depicts our continuous struggle for freedom from our personal “Egypts” - our limitations. The primary blockage to liberation in ancient Egypt was Pharaoh himself, who possessed a “hardened heart.” What does it mean to have a hard heart?

?ASKtheTeens What warning does every pack of cigarettes clearly state? Ans w e r:

Show image #3

The Hebrew word for Pharaoh actually shares the same letters as the word ‘haoref’, which means stubborn. Pharaoh understood that his actions were self-destructive and bringing ruin upon his country. He realized that the plagues were only a result of his refusal to let the Jews go. He even fleetingly agreed to stop the madness. But he couldn’t finalize change. Why? Because his heart wouldn’t allow his recognition to translate into behavior modification. He knew what needed to be done, but he couldn’t “close the deal.” This is the internal Pharaoh - stubbornly disregarding logical recognition and clinging to self-destructive behavior.

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shareyourVIEW

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Do you recognize him? Do you have an internal Pharaoh?

?ASKtheTeens A n s w er :

By following the lead of Moshe. Moshe stood up to Pharaoh and eventually brought his destructive behavior to an end, ultimately redeeming the Jewish nation.

?ASKtheTeens How then do we combat our internal Pharaoh?

E d u c at i o na l

P r ofi l e : m os h e Our closest relationships are superrational. After all, is a parent’s commitment to a child purely rational? Should a child’s commitment to parents be purely logic based? Obviously not.

What was it about Moshe that qualified him for this great task? And what can we learn from that? Moshe is described in the Torah as a man of total commitment. Brilliant as he was, he didn’t guide his life by intellect alone. Logically, it didn’t make sense for Moshe, who had a speech impediment, to be the leader chosen to stand up to Pharaoh. On top of that, not one slave had ever managed to escape the confines of Egypt, and here Moshe was demanding an entire people be set free!

See page #13 When we try to logically explain to ourselves how something ought to be changed, we tend to rationalize our behavior, finding excuse after excuse for our actions. This inevitably prevents us from implementing any true changes.

But Moshe had a profound, superrational relationship with G-d which guided his behavior and allowed him to defeat Pharaoh.

However, we all have a Moshe within us. Mobilizing our inner Moshe means selflessly committing to our highest potential and tapping into the vision of who G‑d created us to be. We will then automatically step beyond the rationalization of our minds, and ultimately change.

The only way to combat negative stubbornness is with a superrational positive stubbornness which Moshe embodied.

See page #13

So stop thinking about change, and just do it!

Think about a person related to you that you love. Why do you love this individual? Suppose these reasons were no longer true or relevant. Would your love for this individual discontinue?

Discussion

119

Women Power

The next time you resolve to change your behavior, see it as a part of your commitment to G‑d, see it as an exercise of your relationship with your destiny, see it as an expression of the very reason for your existence. Then see if excuses can block your way!

We tend to implement change in our lives when faced with challenges. But how do we stay committed and strong when there is no opposition?

November

E d u c at i o na l

Moshe’s mother and sister, Yocheved and Miriam, possessed the same superrational commitment that he did. As midwives in Egypt, they blatantly refused to cooperate with Pharaoh’s decree to kill all newborn Jewish boys. They stood up to Pharaoh and were greatly rewarded by G-d for their courageous actions.

N OT E S ��

Ed u c at iona l discussion

HOLIDAY connection

Staying true to our faith even with no opposition

Is Chanukah still relevant today? Nowadays, most Jews can practice their Judaism freely and without oppression.

In our present state, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s far more difficult to cling to Judaism because thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s no opposition. We therefore need Chanukah more than ever!

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Debate

Chanukah’s Message

Is Chanukah still relevant today? For the first time in recent history, the vast majority of Jews live in countries where they can practice their Judaism freely without oppression. Do we still have a need to relive Chanukah’s story and reinforce its message?

In the days of Chanukah, the Maccabees demonstrated that they would not allow anyone to dictate their relationship to G-d. They were prepared to give up everything- including their lives - for the sake of preserving their Jewishness . As we all know, light always prevails over darkness and the Maccabees celebrated a miraculous victory over the Greeks and returned to the Holy Temple to experience yet another miracle - the oil burning in the Menorah for 8 consecutive days.

See page #17 For 70 seconds, write down any words that come to your mind in response to the following question:

The core dynamics of this holiday have been repeated time and time again throughout Jewish history.

“What does Chanukah symbolize?” Optional: Teens read out the words they wrote and cross off any identical words that a friend wrote.

?ASKtheTeens

Words teens may have come up with: Dreidel, miracle, fighting evil, light, latke, donuts, oppression, Jewish survival, etc.

Can anyone think of other times in history when Jews have succeeded in maintaining their beliefs against numerous attempts to forcibly change them, often at great personal risk?

Putting aside all the yummy foods and fun traditions for a moment, let’s focus on the words that really illuminate what Chanukah symbolizes.

Discussion

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Ans w e r:

Answers may vary, can include: Egyptian exile, Purim, Holocaust, Spanish Inquisition, Communist Russia, Iranian Revolution.

shareyourVIEW Are there any challenges to our faith today? Dis c u ssion Ac t i vit y

Hand teen A a closed package or envelope and announce: “I am giving teen A a package. Please give it to teen B.” Hand teen C a second closed package or envelope and say: “I also have another package for teen C. But under no circumstances should this package be opened. It contains highly confidential information!”

shareyourVIEW Who is more curious to open their package, teen B or teen C?

Most people don’t normally go around touching walls. But when we are told not to, human nature gets a kick out of touching them. While this may be a simple example, it demonstrates why there’s a thrill in going against the odds and fighting for what one believes in. So with all due respect and admiration for people who clung to their Jewishness when it was illegal, it is an even greater challenge for our generation to cling to our faith since no one is opposing us. That is why in our present state we need Chanukah more than ever. Chanukah continues to inspire us to persevere and overcome great obstacles to living our Judaism. The core of this struggle has merely shifted from external challenges posed by human enemies to the internal challenges evoked by our own human natures.

?ASKtheTeens What are today’s societal pressures? What are we bombarded with today? A n s w er :

During the days of Chanukah, the billboards displayed such messages as these: Show teens images #5-7

Don’t touch - Wet paint!

Hold up image #4

Today we are bombarded with images like these: Show teens images #8-10

shareyourVIEW Let’s speak honestly. What is our natural instinct when we see such a sign?

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?ASKtheTeens

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too busy pursuing the latest styles and gadgets that we ask ourselves this question of core purpose a lot less often.

shareyourVIEW

E d u c at i o na l

Does society’s need to access all the necessities and luxuries of life help or prevent us from appreciating the preciousness of life?

Ironically, when we are not threatened, and we can express our Judaism freely, we often fail to evoke that intense commitment. Chanukah challenges us to look within ourselves and find heroism and determination. Not the literal, physical courage needed to overcome oppression and religious persecution as in the past, but more subtle - though no less intense - expressions of spiritual courage:

When we have to struggle for physical or spiritual existence, we constantly need to remind ourselves of the reason we work so hard to preserve it. We need to constantly ask ourselves, “Why am I struggling so much for this life? What is its value and purpose?” But under less challenging circumstances, we are

Assign 3 teens to read:

1) It takes courage to find the willingness to overcome taking life for granted. 2) It takes courage to find the moral strength to defy the self-indulgent, complacent nature of our secure existence. 3) It takes courage to insist on extracting meaning, purpose and holiness out of every moment of life that G-d blesses us with.

Perhaps one of the most difficult challenges of staying true to our faith is in choosing to portray oneself clearly as a Jew in public, particularly by wearing that little Yarmulka on our heads. Why do we wear a Yarmulka (Kippah) anyways?

Discussion

Ed u c at iona l discussion

Zal

YARMULKA (KIPPAH) ff Why do Jews cover their heads? From when and where does this originate? ff What effect do you think the Yarmulka has on its wearer? ff When is it most important to ensure your head is covered? ff Why historically have the belt and hat always been Jewish garments? ff What is the spiritual and Chassidic significance of a Yarmulka?

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Why Jews Cover their Heads Yarmulka (Kippah) S e c t ion 1 - Ta l m u di c Bac kg r o u nd We find that already in the Talmud, Jews wore head-coverings for two reasons.

E d u c at i o na l

Text 1 ‫תלמוד מסכת קידושין דף לא עמוד א‬

‫ שכינה למעלה‬:‫ אמר‬,‫רב הונא בריה דרב יהושע לא מסגי ארבע אמות בגילוי הראש‬ .‫מראשי‬ XX We see that the

Talmud Kidushin 31a

Yarmulka was already worn in Talmudic times as a sign of respect to G-d above!

R. Huna, son of R. Yehoshua, would not walk four cubits bareheaded, saying: “The Shechinah (the Divine Presence) is above my head.”

The word “Yarmulka” literally means “fear of the King” in Yiddish.

Text 2 ‫תלמוד מסכת שבת דף קנו עמוד ב‬

.‫ אין מזל לישראל‬,‫ומדרב נחמן בר יצחק נמי‬ ‫ לא שבקתיה גלויי‬.‫ בריך גנבא הוה‬:‫דאימיה דרב נחמן בר יצחק אמרי לה כלדאי‬ ‫ לא‬.‫ ובעי רחמי‬,‫ כי היכי דתיהוי עלך אימתא דשמיא‬,‫ כסי רישיך‬:‫ אמרה ליה‬.‫רישיה‬ .‫הוה ידע אמאי קאמרה ליה‬ ‫ נפל גלימא מעילויה רישיה דלי עיניה חזא‬,‫יומא חד יתיב קא גריס תותי דיקלא‬ .‫ סליק פסקיה לקיבורא בשיניה‬,‫ אלמיה יצריה‬,‫לדיקלא‬

Discussion

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XX R. Nachman was

‘diagnosed’ as a kleptomaniac, a person whose nature compels them to steal, even before he was born.

From R. Nachman ben Yitzchak [we learn that] Israel (the Jewish nation) is free from planetary influences. For R. Nachman b. Yitzchak’s mother was told by astrologers, “Your son will be a thief.” [So] she did not let him ever [be] bareheaded, saying to him, “Cover your head so that the fear of heaven may be upon you, and pray [for mercy].”

XX Nevertheless, since his

mother ensured that even from when he was an infant (!!!) he always wore a Yarmulka, she succeeded in instilling within him fear of G-d, and he overcame this compulsion. When his Yarmulka fell off, he lost this sensitivity and reverted to his inborn nature.

Now, he did not know why she said that to him. But one day, he was sitting and studying under a palm tree and his head-covering fell off his head. He looked up and saw the date palm, and his temptation overcame him. He climbed up and bit off a cluster [of dates] with his teeth [even though the tree did not belong to him].

E d u c at i o na l

Talmud Shabbos 156b

Even though we are all born with challenges - both due to our personalities and life circumstances - we can overcome them with proper education and conduct.

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Text 3 ‫תלמוד מסכת שבת דף קיח עמוד ב‬

.‫ תיתי לי דקיימית שלש סעודות בשבת‬:‫אמר רב נחמן‬ .‫ תיתי לי דקיימית עיון תפלה‬:‫אמר רב יהודה‬ .‫ תיתי לי דלא סגינא ארבע אמות בגילוי הראש‬:‫אמר רב הונא בריה דרב יהושע‬ ‫ תיתי לי דקיימית‬:‫ ואמר רב נחמן‬.‫ תיתי לי דקיימית מצות תפילין‬:‫אמר רב ששת‬ .‫מצות ציצית‬ XX These Sages were all

E d u c at i o na l

Talmud Shabbos 118b

Rav Nachman said: “May [it be G-d’s will that] I be rewarded for observing [the partaking of] three meals on the Shabbat.” Rav Yehudah said: “May I be rewarded for working on devotion in prayer.” Rav Huna son of R. Yehoshua said: “May I be rewarded for never walking four cubits bareheaded.” R. Sheshes said: “May I be rewarded for fulfilling the precept of tefillin.” R. Nachman also said: “May I be rewarded for fulfilling the Mitzvah of tzitzit.” (R. Sheshes and R. Nachman never walked four cubits without tefillin and tzitzit.)

Discussion

extra scrupulous in a certain field and hoped and prayed that G-d accepted their efforts.

XX Rav Huna (same as

in Text 1) mentions his custom to wear the Yarmulka constantly.

XX From these sources

it would appear that although covering one’s head is admirable and will instill Yirat Shomayim, fear of G-d, it is a hidur, a personal stringency, and not a requirement.

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Text 4 ‫ הלכה יב‬,‫מסכת סופרים (מסכתות קטנות) פרק יד‬

,‫ פורס על שמע‬,‫ או מי שראשו מגולה‬,‫ או בגדיו פרומים‬,‫ הנראין כרעיו‬,‫פוחח‬ ‫ אבל לא בראשו מגולה‬,‫ פורס על שמע‬,‫ או בגדיו פרומים‬,‫ויש אומרים בכרעיו נראין‬ ;‫שאינו רשאי להוציא אזכרה מפיו‬ .‫ ואינו נושא את כפיו‬,‫ ואינו עובר לפני התיבה‬,‫ אינו קורא בתורה‬...‫ובין כך ובין כך‬

One who is barefoot or whose clothes are ripped or whose head is exposed may recite the Shema. Others say that although one who is barefoot or whose clothing is ripped may recite the Shema, if his head is exposed he may not because then he may not utter the name of G-d. All agree that all of these people may not read publicly from the Torah, serve as Chazzan, or [if they are Kohanim] lift their hands in the Priestly blessing.

XX This is a new reason to wear a Yarmulka: According to the second opinion, which is later accepted as authoritative by all Codifiers of Halacha (as we will see in Text 6), one is not allowed to mention the name of G-d without first covering one’s head.

E d u c at i o na l

Tractate Sofrim Chapter 14, Halacha 12

Summary: Already in the Talmud we find that Jews embraced the custom of

wearing a head-covering. There are two distinct reasons mentioned. 1) To instill fear and constant awareness of G-d above and 2) in order to pray and mention the name of G-d.

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‫‪S e c t ion 2 - Cod e of J e wis h Law‬‬ ‫‪As the custom of wearing a Yarmulka constantly, not just during prayer, became universally‬‬ ‫‪accepted in Jewish communities, new reasons developed for the Yarmulka based on cultur‬‬‫‪al realities. These are brought by contemporary authorities (both Shulchan Aruch HaRav and‬‬ ‫‪Mishna Berura).‬‬

‫‪Text 5‬‬ ‫שולחן ערוך אדה’’ז סי’ ב‪ ,‬סעיף ו’‬

‫ומדת חסידות שלא לילך ד’ אמות בגילוי הראש‪ ,‬גם בימיהם שרוב העם היו רגילים לילך‬ ‫לפעמים הרבה בגילוי הראש מפני החום בימים ההם‪.‬‬

‫וגם הקטנים נכון לכסות ראשם‪.‬‬ ‫וכ”ש במדינות אלו שהנכרים נהגו לגלות ראשם‪ ,‬וישראלים קדושים נזהרים בזה משום‬ ‫צניעות‪ ,‬א”כ ההולך או אפילו היושב בגילוי הראש כמו הנכרי הרי זה עובר בלאו‬ ‫דו’’בחוקותיהם לא תלכו’’‪.‬‬ ‫אך אם משים ידו על ראשו לכסותו די בכך להיכר‪ ,‬רק שלא יזכיר שם שמים‪ ,‬כמו שיתבאר‬ ‫בסימן צ”א‪.‬‬

‫‪Discussion‬‬

‫‪4‬‬

‫‪E d u c at i o na l‬‬

‫ועכשיו בזמן הזה שכולם דרכם לכסות ראשם לעולם‪ ,‬אסור לילך‪ ,‬או אפילו לישב‪ ,‬בגילוי‬ ‫הראש משום צניעות‪ ,‬שהרי זה כמגלה בשרו המכוסה‪.‬‬

131

It is pious conduct not to walk even four cubits with one’s head uncovered. [This applied] even in the [Talmudic] period, when most people often went about bareheaded because of the [excessive] heat that prevailed at that time. When people always cover their heads, it is forbidden to walk or even sit bare-headed. [Doing so is considered] immodest, because one thereby uncovers part of the body which is usually covered. It is proper to cover the heads of even young children. Certainly this applies in these countries, where the gentiles customarily go bareheaded and the holy people of Israel are careful [to cover their heads] as an expression of modesty; here, a person who walks or even sits bareheaded like a gentile transgresses the prohibition, “Do not follow their statutes.” Placing one’s hand over one’s head to cover it is sufficient as a distinctive sign, though not sufficient to enable one to mention Gd’s Name, as will be explained in chapter 91 (Text 6.)

XX After mentioning the first

reason for Yarmulka as we learned above (virtuous conduct), the Alter Rebbe adds two new interesting points:

1 ) In a society where everyone covers their head (like in America sixty years ago), uncovering your head is immodest, just like uncovering any part of your body that should be covered.

E d u c at i o na l

5. Shulchan Aruch Admor Hazaken 2:6

2) If all non-Jews do not cover their heads (like modern society) since it is already established Jewish custom to cover ours, not doing so would be transgressing the Biblical command of, “Do not follow their statutes.” XX For these two reasons,

covering your head with your hand suffices.

November

Educational

132

Text 6 ‫שולחן ערוך אדה’’ז סי’ צא‬

‫ צריך לאזור אזור בשעת התפלה אפילו אם יש לו אבנט שאין לבו רואה את הערוה‬.‫ב‬ ‫משום שנאמר הכון לקראת אלהיך ישראל אבל בשאר ברכות מותר לברך בלא חגורה‬ ...‫מאחר שיש לו אבנט במכנסיים ואין לבו רואה את הערוה‬ ‫ ויש אומרים שיש למחות שלא ליכנס לבית‬,‫ אסור להוציא אזכרה מפיו בראש מגולה‬.‫ג‬ .‫הכנסת בגילוי הראש‬

E d u c at i o na l

‫ כמ”ש‬,‫ אפילו שלא בבית הכנסת‬,‫ומדת חסידות הוא שלא לילך ד’ אמות בגילוי הראש‬ .‫בסי’ ב‬ ‫ ואין הגוף‬,‫ לפי שהיד והראש גוף אחד הן‬,‫הנחת ידו על ראשו אינה חשובה כיסוי‬... .‫ד‬ .‫ יש להקל‬,‫ אבל אם אחר מניח ידו על ראשו‬.‫יכול לכסות את עצמו‬ XX Here we see the Talmudic

Shulchan Aruch Admor Hazaken 91:2-3

2. One must wear a belt while praying the Amida even if he already has a separation between his heart and private parts, like the waist strap of his pants, because it is written, “Israel, prepare to greet your G-d.” However all other blessings and prayers are permissible without an extra belt as long as one’s heart does not “see” his private parts... 3. It is forbidden to utter G-d’s Name bareheaded. Some authorities maintain that one should protest against anyone’s entry into a synagogue bareheaded. It is pious conduct not to walk [even] four cubits bareheaded, even outside a synagogue, as was explained in chapter 2 (Text 5.) 4. …placing your hand on your own head is not considered a covering, as the hand and head are both one body, and a body cannot cover itself. However, if someone else places their hand on your head, it is permitted.

Discussion

opinion brought in Text 4 codified, but with the addition that one may not even enter a synagogue without a Yarmulka. Unlike the first reason, this is a legal requirement.

XX According to this reason,

covering your head with your hand while praying is insufficient because both hand and head are one entity.

133

Text 7 ‫שולחן ערוך אדה’’ז סי’ מו‬

’‫וכשחוגר חגורו או לובש האבנט המפסיק בינו לערוה יברך ‘אוזר ישראל בגבורה‬... .‫ב‬ .’‫וכשמשים כובע או מצנפת בראשו יברך ‘עוטר ישראל בתפארה‬ ?‫ולמה הוזכרו שם ישראל בב’ ברכות אלו ולא באחרות‬ ‫ שבאומות אינן אלא להנאת הגוף‬,‫לפי שהחגורה והכובע בישראל אינם כמו באומות‬ ,‫ החגורה להפסיק בין לבו לערוה‬,‫ אבל בישראל הם ג”כ משום צניעות וקדושה‬,‫בלבד‬ .‫והכובע שלא יהא בגלוי הראש‬

Shulchan Aruch Admor Hazaken 46:2

XX In order to recite the Shema

When he puts on his belt or his gartel which sets apart his private parts, he should recite the blessing “Ozer Yisrael B’gevurah,” “He who girds Israel with might.” When he puts his hat or turban on his head, he should recite the blessing “Oter Yisrael B’tifarah,” “He who crowns Israel with glory.”

and Amida, one must separate between the heart and private parts. A belt (or even elastic on underwear) is sufficient, but there are those who wear a special prayer belt called a gartel.

Why is the name Yisrael (Israel) mentioned in these two blessings and not in the other [morning blessings]?

XX As these two items of

For the belt and the hat serve a different purpose for the Jewish people than for the other nations. For other nations they are [worn] only for their bodily benefit, whereas for Jews they also serve the purpose of modesty and holiness. The belt separates the heart from the private parts, and by wearing a hat one averts the possibility of having his head uncovered. Although according to the letter of the law [leaving one’s head uncovered] involves no prohibition, [covering it] is characteristic of modesty and holiness, for by doing so one causes a reverence for Heaven to abide over one’s head.

clothing, the belt and headcovering, have unique Jewish significance, they are singled out in our morning blessings.

November

E d u c at i o na l

‫ מכל מקום מדת צניעות וקדושה הוא על ידי כך ממשיך‬,‫ואף שאין איסור בזה מן הדין‬ .‫מורא שמים על ראשו‬

Educational

134

Summary: The Shulchan Aruch writes that 1) One must cover one’s head in order to enter a synagogue or pronounce the name of G-d. 2) It is an established and virtuous Jewish custom to not walk even four cubits (six feet) without a head-covering. 3) If standard societal practice is to cover the head, not doing so is immodest.

E d u c at i o na l

4) Today, when most non-Jews do not cover their heads, there is the added element of not going in the “statutes of gentiles” and preserving Jewish tradition. It is also necessary to wear a belt when praying in order to separate one’s heart from his private parts. These two garments, the hat and the belt, have special blessings due to their unique Jewish significance.

Discussion

‫‪135‬‬

‫‪S e c t ion 3 - C h assidi c De p t h‬‬ ‫‪Jewish males throughout the ages have strictly observed the custom to wear a head-covering‬‬ ‫‪not only in synagogue or during prayer, but throughout the day in public and at home.‬‬ ‫‪In the following letter, (written just two weeks before his passing,) the previous Lubavitcher‬‬ ‫‪Rebbe explains that although only a custom and not a commandment per se, constantly wear‬‬‫‪ing a Yarmulka actually serves a more fundamental purpose than any Mitzvah, that of accepting‬‬ ‫‪the authority of G-d which must precede the acceptance of His commands, the Mitzvot. This‬‬ ‫‪acceptance is the very foundation of Judaism.‬‬

‫‪Text 8‬‬ ‫אגרות קודש אדמו’’ר מוהריי’’צ נ’’ע כרך י’‪ ,‬ע’ שמו‬ ‫‪E d u c at i o na l‬‬

‫ב״ה כ״ז טבת תש״י‬ ‫ברוקלין‬ ‫ידידי וו״ח אי״א מוה״ר ניסן שי׳‬ ‫שלום וברכה!‬ ‫במענה על מכתב ידידי בשם ידידנו הנעלה ‪ .. .‬בטעם כיסוי הראש‪ ,‬וסיבת השאלה כי‬ ‫מכירי מר ‪ ...‬נתבקשו לסעודה למר ‪ .. .‬ונתבקשו לחבוש יארמולקעס לראשיהם‪.‬‬ ‫ידידי יודע כמוני כל האמור והמסופר בדרז״ל בטעם כיסוי הראש‪ ,‬ונכון אשר ידידי יסדר‬ ‫מאמר מסודר בשפה שיבין השואל על יסוד המאמר ‘’למה קדמה שמע לוהי׳ אם שמוע‪,‬‬ ‫אלא בכדי שיקבל עליו עול מלכות שמים תחלה ואחר כך יקבל עול מצות‪.‬‬ ‫הדברים מפורשים דקבלת מלכותו ית׳ וקבלת קיום המצות שניהם צריכים להיות בדרך‬ ‫ואופן קבלת עול שאין עליו בעיקרו טעם שכלי אלא כך היא גזירת רצונו ית׳ והטעמים‬ ‫שכלים הם רק הבנה שכלית בדרך מהיכי תיתי‪ ,‬אבל אין זה טעם על עניו המצוה‪ ,‬כי‬ ‫המצוה היא גזירה שלמעלה מהטעם‪.‬‬ ‫ובמוחש הננו רואים דמקיימי המצות מפני שהוא ציווי הבורא ית’ בדרך גזירה הנה‬ ‫מקיימים אותה בכל עת ובכל מקום‪ ,‬אבל ההולכים אחר הטעם הנה כמה פעמים טועים‬ ‫און פאלן דורך אין איסורים גמורים מבלי דעת אמיתת עניני איסור והיתר‪ ,‬כמו נגיעת‬ ‫מחלל שבת ביין שפוגמו ובפרט נכרי‪.‬‬

‫‪November‬‬

Educational

136

Adaptation of a letter from Rabbi Yoseph Y. Schneerson Letters, vol. 10 p. 346

Adapted from The Skullcap, by Rabbi Immanuel Schochet

In response to your letter regarding the reason for covering the head, our Sages have said: “Why was the first portion of ‘Shema’ placed before the second portion of ‘And it shall come to pass?’ Because one should first accept the yoke of the reign of Heaven and then accept the yoke of the precepts.” (Berachot 2:1)

E d u c at i o na l

In the first portion of the Shema we proclaim the Unity of G-d and His Sovereignty; He is One, the Creator and Lord of the Universe. At the same time we profess our complete and absolute submission to G-d’s reign, with a love that is greater and stronger than anything we possess, including our very life. The second portion of the Shema speaks of G-d’s commands, the Mitzvot: G-d is the Supreme Judge, rewarding the fulfillment of His commands, and warning about eventual retribution for their non-fulfillment. Our Sages observe that the order of the first two portions of Shema is not accidental, but is in fact logical and purposeful. It tells us, first of all, that both in the case of our submission to the reign of Heaven and our acceptance of the Mitzvot, such submission and acceptance must be in a manner similar to a “yoke” and that the first prerequisite of observing the Mitzvot is the acceptance of G-d’s Sovereignty with absolute conviction. The analogy of a yoke is not used to suggest a burden, far from it. It is used in the sense that a) the animal cannot comprehend its master’s will, and b) the yoke is the means of enabling the animal to fulfill its functions. Judaism is based upon the Divine Revelation and presentation of the Torah at Mount Sinai. We have accepted the Torah in the spirit of na’aseh v’nishmo, “We will do [first] and [then] we will understand.” In other words, we have accepted the practice of our precepts as decrees from the Supreme Master of the Universe in the full realization that our human intellect is limited and cannot grasp the Infinite Wisdom of G-d. We do not know, nor can we know, the full effect of performing the Mitzvot, what they do to and for us and the world around us. Any explanations or significances that may be attributed to any Mitzvah must be considered as incomplete.

Discussion

137

In practice we see that those who observe the precepts because they are G-d’s commands - decreed by His will - fulfill them faithfully at all times, and in all places; but those who would be guided by “explanation” often fall into error, for the human intellect is limited, while the precepts are given by G-d, whose wisdom is infinite. (I.e., during the religious persecutions at the time of the Crusades the Jews of Germany could not be forcibly converted; they died to sanctify G-d’s name (“Al Kidush Hashem”). In Spain, however, where the Inquisition brought to an end a golden era of philosophy and theological research, the religious persecutions led to comparatively numerous conversions.) The Yarmulka, which is worn above our heads and over of our brains, represents this most basic tenet of Judaism more than any other custom or practice: we are committed to the “will” of G-d unconditionally and supra-rationally.

Summary: As limited human beings, we will never fully understand G-d and the

true depth of His Mitzvot. The basis of Judaism is this humility and “acceptance of the yoke,” and only after is this followed by studying His Torah and the meaning behind the Mitzvot. This is also the theme of the first paragraph of the Shema where we proclaim G-d’s oneness and our love and devotion to Him. And it is only after this statement that we proceed to the second paragraph of the Shema which discusses studying and adhering to the Mitzvot. The Yarmulka, which is worn above the head, represents this acceptance of the presence and authority of G-d which precedes all Mitzvot.

November

E d u c at i o na l

To be sure, Jewish scholars, sages and philosophers have written volumes on the meaning and significance of various Mitzvot. But whatever intellectual reasons may be advanced to explain any particular Mitzvah, they by no means represent the entire significance of the Mitzvah; for the Mitzvah is in its root a Divine “will” which is above reason.

H u m ani ta r ian Focus

Terror Victims Partner

Chabadâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Terror Victims project

140 Humanitarian Connection

whose equally frightened parents can barely offer them comfort.

Show the teens Humanitarian image #1

shareyourVIEW

Imagine being trapped in a bomb shelter for many terrifying hours. You hear sirens screaming outside, the air inside is tight and hot and you are crammed together with screaming children

How can we give back to these courageous men, women, and children in Israel who refuse to be terrorized despite the continuous threats to their safety?

P r oj e c t s By sending them packages of games to help pass the time in bomb shelters, we are praising their defiance and showing our support. Packages should be sent to:

H u m a n i ta r i a n

Chabad Terror Victims Project P.O. Box 14 Kfar Chabad 60840 ISRAEL

Abacus |

step

15min |

step

How to

Toolbox 6 wooden popsicle sticks 2-3 bamboo skewers

step

Lay down 1 popsicle stick and apply glue on its top face, along its whole length.

Lay the ends of the bamboo skewer sticks in the glue.

(Cut into 6 3-1/2” long pieces (you’ll want to cut off the pointy ends)

30 plastic pony beads

(Not the tiny ones, make sure they fit and slide smoothly on your bamboo skewers)

High-temp hot glue gun

140

141

Apply glue all along one face of a 2nd popsicle stick.

10 Thread one bead on the end of each skew-

Place it glue side down over the ends of the bamboo sticks (you are sandwiching the ends between the 2 popsicle sticks.)

Squeeze the popsicle sticks firmly together with your fingers and allow to set.

6 7

Thread 4 beads onto each stick.

Place the partially assembled abacus on top of the glued stick, leaving about a half inch or so gap between the beads and the stick.

Glue another popsicle stick and sandwich the skewers like you did before. Press firmly.

Lay down another popsicle stick and apply glue along its whole length.

12 Place the bare ends of the skewers in the glue.

13 Glue the last popsicle stick and place it

glue side down over the ends, sandwiching them between the two popsicle sticks. Press firmly.

Variation: You can make a larger abacus using the larger “tongue depressor” craft sticks and larger wooden beads.

1 . P e rs o n a l i z e d M o n o p o l y

How to

Toolbox Plain white game board Permanent markers Ruler

Stickers Real Monopoly game board (to use for reference)

Teens research a city in Israel they’re assigned to and create a personalized Monopoly board game for that city. Decorate with fun stickers. Email lrivkin@cteencental.com to be assigned to a city.

H u m a n i ta r i a n

Board Games

er.

2 . Ca n vas C h e c k e rb o ar d

Toolbox

Pinking shears Canvas Ruler Knife Eraser

Stamping pad Pieces: Pennies Nickels

November 141

142

How to

With a knife, slice a plastic art eraser into a square that’s 1 1/2 by 1 1/2 inches; this will be the stamp.

Begin by stamping a single square in one corner of the board; stamp a second catercorner to the first, then add a third square along the border, catercorner from the second and a full square-space from the first.

Continue to fill the board; your finished board will have eight squares (four stamped and four blank) in each row and column.

Using pinking shears, cut a square of canvas to 12 by 12 inches. (The shears will protect edges from fraying and give the board a decorative flair.)

3 . Ma n c a l a B o ar d board. The pattern is for half the game board and is used to size and position the holes.

H u m a n i ta r i a n

Toolbox

Printed pattern Salt Flour Vegetable oil Water Measuring cups Bowl Mixing spoon Acrylic or poster paints Paintbrush Glue

S mall ball or plastic egg Cookie sheet Wire rack Rolling pin Toothpick Oven mitts Oven Knife* Ruler* Varnish or acrylic sealant*

Make Dough Clay:

Ingredients:

1/2 cup salt 3/4 cup hot water 2 cups all-purpose flour 2 tablespoons vegetable oil

Yields 2 cups of dough clay

Prep Download and print 2 copies (per person) of the pattern for the mancala game

142

How to

In a bowl, add salt to hot water. Stir until salt is dissolved.

Add 1 cup of all-purpose flour and 1 tablespoon of vegetable oil. Stir. Add the remaining flour and mix with your hands. Knead until well blended, keeping your hands wet. (Add more water if the dough is stiff. Add more flour if it is sticky.)

Cut the patterns out on the black outline. Glue the two halves together to complete your game board pattern.

143

Using your oiled hands and a rolling pin, pat and roll the clay into a rectangle on a lightly oiled cookie sheet. Use the printed pattern as a sizing guide. Be sure that the clay is a uniform thickness of about 1/2” to 3/4”. Tip: Start by rolling a clay “snake” the required length, then pat the clay into the rectangular shape. Use the rolling pin to make an even thickness.

Press something round (a small ball, the end of a plastic egg, a large marble, etc.) into the clay at each hole mark. Use the printed pattern to see how big to make each hole. Smooth the clay around the edges, the ends, and the holes.

Bake the dough game board in an oven at 300 degrees for about an hour, or until dry and hard.

Place the dry game board on a wire rack to cool.

Paint the board with acrylic paints or poster paints. Paint the holes in a contrasting color.

Seal the board with varnish or an acrylic finish. This will make the board more durable, and keep the poster paint from rubbing off.

Position the printed pattern over the board and push a toothpick into the clay through the center of each hole.

4 . C o l l e c t B o ar d Ga m e s Run a drive to collect new or good-asnew board games for bomb shelters.

Toolbox Boxes

How to

1 2 3

Create a flyer.

Assign volunteers to collect the games and/or to man designated drop-off spots.

Ensure the games are all in good condition.

Box them and ship them out!

Hang the flyer in public locations. Advertise the drive via email and Facebook.

H u m a n i ta r i a n

November 143

144

Comfort Pillowcases for children sleeping in bomb shelters | 18 min |

Toolbox

White or light colored pillow cases Cardboard sheets Stencils Bingo bottle paint Markers

Prep H u m a n i ta r i a n

144

Print and cut out multiple copies of the

Hebrew stencils on hard paper.

How to

Purchase white or light colored pillowcases. Iron flat if needed.

Place a piece of cardboard inside of the pillowcase to ensure the paint does not bleed from one side to the other.

Choose a phrase in Hebrew connected to Israel, Hashem’s protection, or sleep.

Copy the phrases onto the pillow. (If the teens can write in Hebrew they can do it freestyle with markers, if not they can use the stencils provided. )

To use the stencils, place stencil on the pillowcase. Hold down firmly with one hand while applying the paint using the bingo bottle paint.

Decorate the pillowcases with the markers.

Sample phrases: ff Layla Tov ff Hashem Yishmorcha Mikol Ra ff Hiney Lo Yanum v’lo Yishan Shomer Yisroel ff Shema Yisroel/Modeh Ani

145

Baby Mobile

25 min |

Scissors 3 yards of narrow ribbon Embroidery needle 6-inch embroidery hoop

To make each bird, stuff a sock just up to the ankle with fiberfill.

Tie a piece of thread securely around the toe, about an inch or so from the end, to make the head. Use another piece of thread to tie off the tail as shown.

Sew on the bead eyes (or draw them on with a permanent marker.) Then sew or glue on a felt triangle beak.

To hang the flock, cut the ribbon at varying lengths (we used 8, 10, and 16 inches.)

With the embroidery needle, thread a section of ribbon through the back of each bird.

Knot together the loose ends and trim them. Then loop the ribbons around the hoop so the birds hang down.

To keep the ribbons from sliding, you can attach them to the hoop with a dab of tacky glue.

Attach three additional loops of ribbon to hang the mobile with.

H u m a n i ta r i a n

How to

Toolbox 5 baby socks Fiberfill stuffing Thread Small beads Needle Tacky glue 5 small felt triangles

November 145

S o c ia l I c e B r e ak e r s & Ga m e s

Melt IT Shaping UP Forbidden Letter Group Dreidel Game C r af t s

Glowing Paper Lamp Shade Oil Lava Lamp Wax Hand Recipe

Ice Cream Donut Sandwich

148

I c e B r e ak e r s & Ga m e s M e lt I t

5 min |

Prep ff Prepare bowls of ice cubes (one cube per teen).1

How to On “Go,” everyone grabs an ice cube and proceeds to melt it without placing it into their mouth. Whoever melts their cube first wins.

Toolbox Ice cubes Plastic or styrofoam bowls

Debrief Defiance against the ice (i.e. Pharaoh and Antiochus.) 1 K eep the ice cubes frozen until right before you start the game. (If you do not have a freezer readily available, store the cubes in an icebox.)

S h a p ing U p

10 min | hold the rope with both hands, not letting go the entire time.

Each group has 8 minutes to form the rope into a Chanukah symbol such as a Menorah, candle or a dreidel. For the first 4 minutes they plan how to form the shape. During this time they are not allowed to move. If any participant moves they have to turn around and hold the rope from behind.

Each group then has 4 minutes to form the shape. During this part of the activity, they are no longer allowed to talk and anyone who does has to turn around and also hold the rope from behind.

Once the group has figured out how to form their chosen shape, they should place the rope on the floor.

Toolbox Social

Long ropes

How to

1 2

148

Divide the teens into groups of 5-6 teens. Hand each group a long rope and instruct everyone in each group to stand up and

149

Judge the shapes and choose a winner. (If there is only one group playing, look and evaluate how their shape came out.)

Debrief Creating change from within.

F o r b idd e n L e t t e r

From that moment on, players are not allowed to say any word that starts with that letter.

Choose a person to be the questioner. (The questioner also has to abide by the rules of the forbidden letter.)

The questionnaire asks the teens questhe group distions about Chanukah, cussion, or about Juda- ism in general. If anyone hears someone using the forbidden letter, they shout “Bust!” and the person must give the one who busted him a Chanukah coin. If a teen manages to answer the question correctly without using the forbidden letter, the questioner will award him a coin.

The player with the most coins at the end of the game wins.

Chocolate Chanukah coins

Every player starts with five chocolate Chanukah coins.

Players decide on a letter of the alphabet that is to be forbidden.

10 min |

Toolbox

How to

Debrief Stay true to your principals!

Social

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G r o u p Dr e ide l Ga m e

40 min |

How to

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Coins Charity box Chocolate coins Latkes Blindfolds Donut String Olives (pitted) L’chaim cups Task Cards

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Each player receives a dreidel.

The announcer calls out one of the 4 letters on the dreidel (nun, gimmel, hey, shin)

All those whose dreidels landed on that letter come up. The first person reads a playing card that contains either a task or trivia question. The teen that completes the task or answers the question first, wins a ticket.

Choose a teen to be the announcer. On the count of 3, everyone spins their dreidels.

Sample Task Cards:

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Prep

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ff Throw some Tzedakah in the Charity xox.

Depending on the size of your group, prepare enough Chanukah task items.

ff Make a Shehakol blessing and eat the amount of chocolate coins corresponding to the number of candles of the night.

Prepare all the items for the Chanukah tasks neatly on a table for teens to see.

ff Name 3 Chanukah songs. (Fastest to name them wins)

Cut out the playing cards and mix them up in a jar/hat.

Attach donuts to strings.

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C r af t s Glowing Paper Lamp Shade

35 min |

Toolbox Puncturing tool Plain sheet of thick paper Paper with outlined graphic Scissors Foam core Tape (optional) Pencil Bull nose clips Clip top wire ring Plain wire ring Ribbon Glue Paintbrush Heavy object/weights

With your puncturing tool, punch holes on the outlined graphic so that you get your design on the paper. Once done, remove the outlined graphic paper and foam core and discard.

Attach your completed paper to the clip top wire ring using the bull nose clips.

Lay the paper and wire horizontally and draw a line on the inside seam to mark the seam.

How to

Cut your plain sheet of paper to the desired rectangular size. (The height of this rectangle will be the height of your lamp.) Cut two pieces of ribbon to the exact length of the paper. Place the plain sheet of paper on the foam, then place the paper with the outlined graphic on top of it. (You may wish to tape the two papers together at the edges to keep them from moving.)

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Draw lines on the outside edge of the lamp marking where the ribbons will go (about 1/4 - 1/2 inch from the edge.)

Remove the bull nose clips and put a bit of glue on the inside where you marked the seam and on the external side where you marked it.

Line the seams very carefully and fold the lamp into a circle. Place weights/heavy object on the seam and allow the glue to dry for at least ten minutes.

Paint a bit of glue onto the inside edge of the tube and slide the clip top wire ring in to where the glue is. To help the wire dry in place, clasp the wire and your lamp together with bull nose clips on a 45 degree angle going all around the lamp. Allow to dry.

O i l Lava La m p

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C lear plastic bottle, cleaned and label removed (one pictured is 500-milliliter bottle) Vegetable oil Water Food coloring Pie pan Effervescent antacid tablets such as Alka-Seltzer Optional: Chanukah-themed foil confetti

10 Repeat step #8 to attach the bottom wire ring.

To ensure the ribbons look neat, fold over the ends of both ribbons, crease them, apply glue in the creases, and hold for 30 seconds.

12 Apply

glue to the bottom half of one of the ribbons and line it up to the lines marked on the lamp. Use the bull nose clips to hold it in place while you line it up. Then fold the ribbon into the inner edge and glue it over the clip top wire ring.

13 Repeat step #11 to attach the second ribbon to the bottom wire ring.

Debrief Shining from the inside out.

12 min |

How to

Fill the bottle just over halfway with the oil, then add water until an inch from the top. Add 10 drops of food coloring.

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Optional: Add foil confetti to the bottle.

Let the bottle sit until all the bubbles have completely dispersed. This prevents the buildup of gas in the bottle. Cap it and put it in a safe place to prevent spills.

Place the bottle on the pie pan to catch potential spills. Break an antacid tablet in quarters and drop one quarter into the bottle. When the bubbling slows, add another quarter-tablet to get it started again. (Adding too many tablets at once will cloud the oil with bubbles.)

Debrief The lava lamp relies on scientific principal: oil always rises to the top. Like oil, as Jews we must always rise above our surroundings.

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45 minutes |

Toolbox Bucket Crockpot Play sand (regular sand will not work) Wick* Pencil* 1-pound paraffin wax Candy thermometer Candle color chips Wooden spoon Liquid candle color Metal ladle Paintbrush

How to

Fill a bucket with play sand. Put enough sand in the bucket so that you can insert your hand into the sand up to your wrist.

Determine the shape that you want your wax hand by posing your hand in different forms, such as a “defiance” (fisted) hand, peace sign, or a claw. Hold your hand in that shape.

Push your hand down into the sand in the bucket, maintaining the desired hand shape. Push your hand down far enough so that the sand comes up to the top of your wrist, then remove your hand from the sand, still keeping the desired shape.

Optional: Turn your wax hand into a candle by adding a wick. Tie one end of a string wick to the center of a pencil and drop the free end of the wick into the hand mold in the sand. Rest the pencil over the top of the sand mold. Use this step only if you desire your wax hand to burn as a candle when complete.

Turn the crockpot on high and add about 1 pound of paraffin wax to the pot. The exact amount of wax you need will depend on the size of the wax hand that you are making.

Insert a candy thermometer into the wax and consistently monitor the thermometer as the wax melts. Paraffin wax will melt at about 125 degrees.

Add candle color chips or liquid candle color to your wax as desired while the wax melts and stir in the color with a wooden spoon.

Pour the melted wax from the crockpot into the sand hand mold using a metal ladle. Fill the mold completely up to the top edge with the wax.

9 Remove the hand. 10 Optional: Remove the wick end from the pencil if you made a wick for your wax hand.

Place one hand over the wax mold section of the bucket, then tip the bucket upside down to release all of the sand from around the mold. You may want to do this step outside.

12 Dust the sand off of the wax hand with a

clean paintbrush until the surface of the hand is the desired texture.

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Wa x Hand

Debrief Defiance!

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Recipe I c e C r e a m don u t S andwi c h

ten the scoop of ice cream to the same diameter as your donut. Place the flattened scoop of ice cream on half the donut. Close the sandwich with the other half of the donut.

12 min |

Place prepared donut sandwiches in freezer temporarily.

Pour a bag of chocolate chips into a small heavy-bottomed saucepan and melt them over extremely low heat.

Remove sandwiches from the freezer. Dip each sandwich into the melted chocolate.

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Serve immediately, with lots of napkins!

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Donuts Ice cream Chocolate chips Long, serrated bread knife Spatula Small plastic plate Heavy-bottomed saucepan Napkins

How to

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Remove ice cream from freezer and let it sit out to soften ever so slightly while you prepare the donuts.

Slice each donut in half around the middle. We recommend a long, serrated bread knife.

Place a generous scoop of ice cream on a small plastic plate. Using a spatula, flat-

Optional: Top with sprinkles, chopped nuts or chocolate chips.

Meet our staff CHAIRMAN

Rabbi Moshe Kotlarsky PROGRAMMING

Rabbi Mendy Kotlarsky Rabbi Efraim Mintz Rabbi Mendel Kotlarsky SHLUCHIM ADVISORY BOARD

Rabbi Yitzchok Sapochinsky Rabbi Binyomin Scheiman Rabbi Adi Goodman Rabbi Mendy Cohen Rabbi Michoel Goldin SHLUCHOS ADVISORY BOARD

Mrs Chaya Posner Mrs Rochel Telsner Mrs Sara Sherman Mrs Chaya Rivka Schmerling Mrs Chaya Elishevitz