If someone said they were the Messiah right now, it might seem very odd. Yet, in Jewish history, there have been several individuals who have gained many followers who believed they were the Messiah. In this lesson we will explore the causes for the rise of these movements at different stages of Jewish history, as well as the consequences of these events. Thought provoking discussion triggers and creative activities such as an opportunity to analyze and compare the stories of Jesus, Bar Kochba, and Shabbatai Zevi using a venn diagram are included in this resource.
The learners will:
understand the reasons why messianic movements are both compelling and potentially dangerous.
know about some of the messianic movements that impacted the Jewish people
be able to explain the impact of false messiahs on the Jewish people and the traditional Jewish approach to describing the messianic era.
Unpacked for Educators materials include:
An educator’s guide that contains many rich components. These are organized under the following titles:
review (questions that relate to the video)
discussion
activities
reflection
further learning
A video designed to spark interest in the topic.
A lesson plan (link in the attachment above) that incorporates additional building blocks for the construction of an engaging and interactive lesson.
Computer, Projector, White board and markers, pens, student handout
The website link includes a “further learning” section in the educator’s guide.