Jewish Identity Aims of the Lesson is to explain how religion shapes a Jew’s identity To explore what shapes our identity as human beings

Success Citeria All will be able to explain the role of religion in shaping Jewish Identity Most will be able to relate this to the traditions and laws that define Jewishness Some will be able to explain why Jewish atrocities have made these traditions all the more important

What about you – what shapes your identity?

How does religion add to a Jew’s sense of Identity In a moment you will be given a “layers of inference” picture of a boy becoming Bar Mitvah. Simply by looking at the picture you will be able to comment on certain things about his identity from the things he wears and the things he carries. Use the layers of inference questions to work out what they are.

He is carrying the Torah scrolls – first 5 books of the Bible. They tell him the laws that will shape the way he lives The tefillin is strapped to his head containing the Shema: “The lord is One” He wears a shawl stressing the imporance of prayer He is at the Western Wall in Jerusalem – when Jews pray, no matter where they are, they face Jerusalem. This is an important place for Jews – their homeland

He is carrying the Torah scrolls – first 5 books of the Bible. They tell him the laws that will shape the way he lives The tefillin is strapped to his head containing the Shema: “The lord is One” He wears a shawl stressing the imporance of prayer He is at the Western Wall in Jerusalem – when Jews pray, no matter where they are, they face Jerusalem. This is an important place for Jews – their homeland

Identity These external things give this boy indentity Doing the same things as others shapes his identity But more than this, all these external features are reminders of past events and laws Jewish life is full of ceremonies and symbols that are the glue that holds Jews together and shapes their sense of who they are

Teaching Triads Get into 3s Each of you will research 3 examples of traditions that shape Jewish Identity Shabbat Circumcision Passover In 5 Mins you will teach each other and make notes about each

Teaching Triads Now make notes for your files about these 3 Jewish Traditions Shabbat Circumcision Passover A sentence or two for each will do

Successful? Are you able to explain the role of religion in shaping Jewish Identity? Can you relate this to the traditions and laws that define Jewishness? Which of you can explain to me why the Jewish atrocities in history make these traditions all the more important?

Jewish Identity Bingo

PesachTefillinBat Mitzvah Bar MitzvahShabbatThirteen TwelveTorahHebrew ShoahCommandmentCircumcision TallitMinyanSon

The Questions The name for when a girl comes of age in Judaism The hebrew name for the festival of Passover The age at which a boy becomes bar mitzvah The name for when there are ten males present for worship This is worn around the arm and the forehead and contains texts from the Torah This happens to boys after their thirteenth birthday The day on which Bar/Bat Mizvah’s happen Abraham was first told to do this to new borns by God The Torah is written in this language Worn with the Tefillin at morning prayers The age at which a girl becomes bat mitzvah What the word Mitzvah means What the word Bar means The hatred of the Jews by Hitler sometimes called Holocaust The name for when a boy comes of age in Judaism

Revd Gareth Williams Bishop of Llandaff High School