The revelation at Mount Sinai was a seminal event for the Jewish people. How does the collective memory of Sinai shape national Jewish identity? How does it influence who we are individually as Jews? In this resource, learners will study the biblical texts and a midrash that describe “matan Torah”, and discuss what elements stand out in this formative story. To further their understanding of and relationship with this historic milestone, students can create their own interpretation of the story by using different genres such as artwork, comics, or poetry.
The learner will:
understand how collective Jewish memory influences an individual’s Jewish identity
know the ways in which receiving the Torah is described in the Torah and midrash
be able to give additional examples, with an explanation, of collective Jewish memories that deepen their Jewish identities
When you click on the Jewish Education by Design resource link featured above, you will find the following educational building blocks for the creation of a lesson plan:
Essential questions that get to the “heart” of the learning
A hook/s to open the lesson in an engaging fashion and spark the learners’ curiosity
In depth discussion questions that are designed to elicit conceptual thinking and personal reflections about the featured source/s
Suggested activities that enable the students to both process and apply what was learned in a thought provoking and creative fashion
A further study option/s to related materials on the JEBD site or to external links
Student handout