On being kind to animals...

 

צאר בעלי חיים

Tzaar Baalei Chayim

The Humane Treatment of Animals

“If one encounters one's friend on the road and sees that that person's animal is suffering from its burden, whether the burden is appropriate for the animal or is excessive, it is a mitzvah to remove this burden.

-Mishneh Torah, Hilkhot Rotzeah 13:1

“When you come across your enemy’s ox or donkey wandering, you must be sure to take it back to him. If you see the donkey of a man who hates you lying helpless under its load, you must refrain from deserting him; you must be sure to help him unburden the animal.

-Shemot (Exodus) 23: 4-5

“It is forbidden to sit down to your own meal before you have fed your pets and barnyard animals. As it says, ‘and I will give feed to your animals,’ and only after that does the verse say ‘and you shall eat and be satisfied.’

-Deuteronomy 11:15, Babylonian Talmud, Berachot 40a

“We must emulate G-d’s ways.  Concerning G-d it is written, ‘And [G-d’s] mercy is upon all [G-d’s] creatures’; so we, too, show our mercy to animals.”

-Chabad Lubavitz, Aryeh Citron

“One must not only refrain from causing an animal pain but actively intervene to relieve  it….[W]e are obligated to assist an animal; and, on the Sabbath, this obligation takes precedence over all rabbinic restrictions.”

-Canfei Nesharim, Rabbi David Sears

“I consider therefore the following opinion as most correct according to the teaching of the Bible, and best in accordance with the results of philosophy; namely, that the Universe does not exist for man’s sake, but that each being exists for its own sake, and not because of some other thing…each part is declared to be the product of [G-d’s] will, and to satisfy by its  existence the intention [of the Creator].  This is expressed by the phrase, ‘And [G-d] saw that it was good’ (Gen i.4, etc.).”

-Moses Maimonides

“It is a great principle that there are holy sparks in all there is in the world.  Nothing is void of sparks, even trees and stones.”

-Yisrael Ba’al Shem Tov

Compiled by Sean Samitt

                                                               Hillel: The Jewish Student Center at ASU

3^rd Cheshvan 5773 / 19 October 2012

Shabbat Noach

Lech Lecha

SHALOM! / HELLO!
For Sunday:
Read Pages 12-15 in Text Messages, "Lech Lecha" and write one (or 2) paragraph(s) responding to the following prompt:

What does Lech Lecha mean to you? Based on the readings this idea of "going forth" is one central to Judaism. How come it's so important and what does it (or can it) mean to you in your life?

Just in case you want to hear my voice even more during the week, here is a recording I made singing "L'chi Lach" by Debbie Friedman.

L'chi Lach

Debbie Friedman 

L'chi lach, to a land that I will show you
Leich l'cha, to a place you do not know
L'chi lach, on your journey I will bless you
And you shall be a blessing, l'chi lach
L'chi lach, and I shall make your name great
Leich l'cha, and all shall praise your name
L'chi lach, to the place that I will show you
L'sim-chat cha-yim l'chi lach

Reminder!

Remember to come up with some ideas for our play on D'varim. Take a look at the parsha and be ready to get to work on Sunday!

Here's a video summarizing D'varim,

We'll watch something in class but what's this weeks Parsha?

SEE YOU ALL SOON! :)

Dereḥ Shel HaKitah!

What your classmates view as "fun"...

Only with USY/ Kadima at TBS-EV!
:)

The B'nai Mitzvah Curriculum

 The B'nai Mitzvah Curriculum 

Between Persons בן אדם לחברו

• Engage students to develop and understand Jewish values and traditions through Contents of Their Character (Torah Aura), activities, writing, and conversation both as a class and בחברותא (in haveruta settings). 

• Thinking and learning “Jewish” - wrestling with texts, ideas, and values from traditional and modern sources and ideas (The Prophets: Speaking Out for Justice).
• Being Jewish is more than attending services, it is a part of us from when we wake to when we lie down.  
• Showing respect for adults (teachers, administrators, board members, clergy and guests) by rising when one enters the room. 

Between Jews and G-d בן אדם למקום

• Living with G-d, Struggling with choices and conditions (The Time of Our Lives, God: Jewish Choices...) Yi-sra-Eil: He (Jacob) who struggles with G-d- We are ALL JACOB. K’lal Yisrael struggles with G-d. 
• Holidays- connecting ritual to meaning to ourselves, connecting to G-d through tradition, ritual, prayer, time and space (Rediscovering the Jewish Holidays) 
• Using ברכות (blessings) for various, appropriate times, most importantly over food, studying תורה, and שהחינו (Sheheheyanu)
• Wearing כפות (males: mandatory, females: optional) 
• WWAD: “What would Adonai Do?” 
• On becoming בני מצוה (b’nei Mitzvah): becoming under the law
• What does this event mean to the student, to their family? 
• How does this change someone? 
• What is the meaning? 
• How can you grow to form a new relationship with G-d?

Learning Torah לימוד תורה  

• The Rabbis remind us there are Seventy faces to תורה... What’s yours? 
• Wrestling, understanding, conversing, experiencing תורה. (Topical Bible)
• Weekly Parshiot (Text Messages) 
• Introduction to Mishnah (Learn Mishnah) 
• Prophets (Moses, Samuel, Elijah, Amos, Isaiah, Jonah, Jeremiah) 
• Torah Portion for בני מצוה
• G-dcast, other internet tools 

Hebrew עברית

• Increasing reading confidence
• Introduction to Modern Hebrew (Let’s Talk Hebrew: Modern Hebrew for Teens)
• Establishing a Hebrew classroom (inserting hebrew into lesson, classroom flow, greetings and salutations)

T’filah תפילה

• Sunday morning minyan to reenforce what is learned on Wednesdays 
• Using ברכות (blessings) for various, appropriate times, most importantly over food, studying תורה, and שהחינו (Sheheheyanu)
• Increase knowledge of keva vs kavanah 
• Shirah Sessions
• Sidduraudio.com 

Israel ארץ ישראל

• Spring topics to revolve around יום הזיכרון לשואה ולגבורה  יום העצמאות (Experiencing Israel)

Conservative Judaism

• Students are encouraged to join USY. 
• Spring: Jewish History and differences in movements, Jewish thought and philosophy, modern jewry (American and worldwide). 

For September 9th

Judaism is something that continues beyond becoming b'nai mitzvah, and lasts from generation to generation.

I'd like for you to bring in something from your family that illustrates an important value or story to share with the class (Shabbat candlesticks, mezzuzah, a book, etc.). It does not need to be Jewish (although that may be a good start). 

We will be talking about S'lichot and Yamim Noraim so bring questions, talk about them with your families and be prepared with the following items:

1) Your family history item (story, why you chose it etc.)
2) What becoming a bar or bat mitzvah means to you AND your family (other than the party)
3) What are the High Holy Days about (Hint: take a look at your textbook Rediscovering Jewish Holidays)

Check out these videos!

Dip Your Apple

Shofar Callin' (g-dcast.com)

And here's what I tried to show you in class: Rosh Hashanah Anthem (aish.com)

Let me know if you have any questions. I will be putting up our class rules hopefully later Wednesday and will add a couple things, and ask for you to sign our derekh shel hakitah (ways of the classroom).

Best wishes for your labor day, and S'lichot and I look forward to our time together soon!

M. Yochanan
914.357.0146
ssamitt@asu.edu