In the past year, we’ve witnessed the incredible strength that comes from our shared responsibility as a global Jewish community. As we approach Oct. 7th and the start of the new Jewish year, let’s unite and uplift each other, growing even stronger together.
Reach out your hand – Send a message of support to a Jewish person or community of your choice, upload and become part of a virtual chain of hands across the world, a global Jewish network of support, solidarity, and shared responsibility.
Each student should decorate and write a supportive message and who is he referring it to. To maintain privacy, we recommend mentioning only a first name and name of school/city
Scan each hand
(the easiest is to use a scan app on your mobile phone)
As part of our efforts to promote mutual solidarity, or “Arvut Hadadit,” we’ve created a set of special educational resources. These include lesson plans, classroom posters, and a New Year’s ceremony guide. We invite you to download and use these materials in your school or community!
Topic Areas: Israel at War, Jewish values
Grade Level: Grades 1-3, 4-6
Topic Areas: Israel at War, Jewish values
Grade Level: Grades 7-9
Topic Areas: Israel at War, Jewish values, Hebrew Language
Grade Level: Grades 7-9
Topic Areas: Israel at War, Jewish values
Grade Level: Grades 9-12
In light of this past year’s events following October 7, we suggest gathering students together an opening ceremony or “yom iyun” dedicated to the theme of solidarity and responsibility for Jews worldwide.
Imagine there was a ship and there was a hole in the lower part of the ship. If you were seated in another part of the ship, would you say: “that’s ok, only the lower part of the ship has a hole in it”? I hope not! Instead, you would immediately recognize that the whole ship is liable to sink and that everyone must work – even if they themselves are in another part of the ship – to repair the hole down below. The Midrash tells us that the Jewish nation is like a ship – and no matter how far apart we may be from each other – physically or culturally – we are all in the same boat and must help each other, no matter where the “hole” – or the danger is happening. (This story can be told dramatically or with pictures to engage the students! Students can also be tasked with drawing the story in one image or in a comic strip)
Today and in the upcoming days we are going to explore our connection to and responsibility for Jews in other parts of the world, especially in times of suffering or danger.
We are about to listen to a song, watch a video, and do an activity that hundreds of other Jewish students around the world are also doing.
The song Yad b’Yad featured on Ofra Haza’s 1984 album Bait Ham. The words of the chorus are: “Yad b’yad nitz’ad et kol haderech,” “Hand in Hand we will walk the whole path.” The message of the song is that we can only overcome adversity together and that hope can only be found when we support one another. “Yad b’yad” is the name of our world wide campaign because its goal is to connect Jewish students throughout the world to each other.
Following the opening midrash and inspirational song, we encourage you to close the program by having students create their own “hands” as part of the YAD B’YAD campaign.
Connect Your Class Worldwide via ZOOM
Send us your photos or videos, and we’ll feature them in our upcoming newsletters and social media.
Thank you for being part of our community!
Important: Please ensure that any children shown in the photos have parental authorization for their images to be shared publicly.
Posters Up to A3 Size:
Posters Larger Than A3:
Before Rosh Hashana, we read in Parshat Nitzavim that we all stand together before God.
The Rabbis compared the four species to four different types of Jews.
Why is it important that different types of Jews be united despite their differences?
On Yom Kippur, we say “we have sinned” and not “I have sinned.”
