Tikkun+Olam

=Tikkun Olam and MVP (Mitzvah of Valuing Philanthropy)= Publicity: http://www.canada.com/vancouvercourier/news/story.html?id=29991e75-b3b2-4e6b-9fec-6f262c163a1b
 * =Our Understanding:= || =Our Inspiration:= ||
 * ===Universe of Obligation:===

obligations are owed, to whom rules apply, and whose injuries call for amends."
- From Accounting for Genocide by Helen Fein (Free Press, 1979) || ===אם אין אני לי מי לי? וכשאני לעצמי מה אני? ואם לא עכשיו אימתי? י===

פרקי אבות א:יד
If I am not for myself who will be for me? If I am only for myself, what am I? And if not now, when?

-- Pirkei Avot 1:14 ||

Moving beyond ME-WE-THEY
=TERM 1: Exploration of Self=

אם אין אני לי מי לי?י - If I am not for myself who will be for me?
Theme: As Jews, we are each individuals, but part of a larger collective
 * Understanding Identity by Understanding Your Name
 * Origins & Collective Memory: From where do we come and what are national memories?
 * The //mitzvah// of שמירת הבריאות/protection of health and well-being

Major Project: ROOTS & WINGS

Lessons 2 & 3 - What's in a Name? How Our Names Contribute to Our Identities
[|NYTimes] ||  || for he sought mercy over his name, that his name would not be mentioned with regard to their dispute, as it says, 'With their congregation do not join my honor' (Gen 49:6). And where is Jacob's name mentioned with reference to Kora__h__? When the lineage is given regarding 'the platform' in the Book of Chronicles, as it says, 'son of Eli'asaf son of Kora__h__ son of Yitz'har son of Levi son of Yisra'el.' (I Chronicles 6:22-23) || http://www.meaning-of-names.com/ http://www.behindthename.com/nmc/jew.php http://www.etymonline.com || [|7A Names and meanings] ||
 * The Grave Marker Project || [|MSNBC]
 * Korah's Name || [|Torah and Rashi's Commentary] || Rashi on 16:1
 * //ben Yitzhar ben k'hat ben Levi//.** But it does not mention "son of Jacob",
 * Name Meanings || http://www.name-meanings.com/
 * Hello My Name Is || [[file:Hello My Name Is.pdf]] ||  ||

My Name Lineage (Where Do Names Come From?) & Collective Memory

 * =Lesson 4= ||  ||
 * ===לכל איש יש שם===

Everyone Has a Name || You Tube video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0RQTgw63Ots&feature=related

Lyrics: http://www.hebrewsongs.com/song-lecholishyeshshem.htm ||
 * =Lesson 5= ||  ||
 * Collective Memory || [[image:Screen_shot_2011-10-11_at_1.55.06_PM.png width="481" height="165"]]

Remembering: I Stood With Abraham Poem: ||
 * =Lesson 6= ||  ||
 * Remembering: I Stood With || Writing your own "Remembering" poem based on selections from your collective memory. ||

Lessons 7-10 - Roots & Wings
- Interview assigned for next week ||
 * Lesson 7 || - Assignment and detailed explanation of the project
 * Lesson 8 || - Assignment of the narrative essay for next week & in-class working time ||
 * Lesson 9 || - Peer editing of Narrative Essay and in-class working time ||
 * Lesson 10 || - Roots & WIngs Due & Peer Evaluation ||

Lesson 11 - Bridging from Roots & WIngs

 * ===Reflection on the Term So Far===

We will take 10 minutes for you to reflect on the following 3 questions. You can write out full answers or just take notes to yourself.

After 10 minutes, we will go around the class and each person will share the MOST IMPORTANT idea that emerged from your thinking about these three questions. || 1) How did our assignments in Tikkun Olam this term facilitate your coming to a better understanding of yourself and your identity?

2) What are some things that you learned about yourself this term, specifically in connection to this course?

3) Why is this course a core subject of the Grade 7 curriculum? ||
 * ===Responding to Quotations on the Theme of "Self"=== || [[file:Self-Importance Quotations.pdf]] ||

Lesson 12 - שמירת הבריאות Text Study
By keeping the body in health and strength, one walks in the ways of God...[Therefore] it is a person's duty to avoid whatever is harmful to the body and to cultivate habits that lead to good health. -- Rambam/Maimonides || TEXT 2: According to legend, one day, as the great sage Hillel was leaving class, a student asked, "Where are you going?" "To the bathhouse to perform a religious duty, a //mitzvah,//" Hillel answered. "What religious duty could possibly be fulfilled there?" asked the young man in surprise. "Bathing, of course," replied Hillel. "I don't understand," said the student. "Why is bathing a religious duty?" "As you know," Hillel responded, "cleaning statues that are created in the image of the king is considered an important and distinguished responsibility. How much greater, then, is the obligation to care for the human body, which is created in God's image." || The Torah tells the story of how God created the first person from dust and then blew the breath of life, a //n'shama//, into him. Thus, our tradition teaches that since Creation, every person receives at birth a //n'shama//, a personal connection with God, a divine spark of holiness that glows inside the body.
 * TEXT 1:
 * TEXT 3:

The ancient Jewish pihilosopher, Philo of Alexandria, whose writing focus on biblical stories, taught, "The body is the soul's house. Shouldn't we, therefore, take care our house so that it does not fall to ruin?" || TEXT 4: Before he died, Rabbi Zusya said to his students, "In the world to come, I will not be asked, 'Why weren't you Moses?' I will be asked 'Why weren't you Zusya?' " ||

Questions to prepare for your presentation of your text to the class?
1) Who is the master teacher of this text? When (years and rabbinic period) did this master teacher live? 2) What does this text say about the relationship between humanity and God? 3) What is the obligation that is the consequence of this relationship? 4) What specific behaviour(s)/action(s) does this text recommend to the reader in order to fulfill this obligation?

...Uvimkom she'ein eesh...Pirkei Avot 2:6
In a place where there is no (upstanding) man, try to be an (upstanding) man.

**Lesson 18 - The Issues Which My Mitzvah Has to Face - Presenting Research and Narrowing the Focus**

 * MVP - Preliminary Agency List**


 * 7B || 7A ||
 * //__מתיר אסורים - Overcoming Limitations__//
 * BC Wheelchair Basketball Society** - Jared
 * Right to Play** - Danielle
 * BC Center for Ability** - Ethan & Itamar
 * Water Team** - Yuval
 * Canucks Autism Network** - Leora

//__סומך נופלים - Supporting Those in Adversity__//
 * Canuck Place** - Adam & Jacob
 * Ronald McDonald House** - Adam S.

__//רופא חולים - Healing the Sick//__ Benjamin
 * Looking Glass BC** - Eden & Leeor
 * Heart & Stroke Foundation** - Sappir
 * C.H.I.L.D. Foundation** - Noah
 * Kelty Resource Center** - Eden K.
 * Aaron's Apple** - Aimee
 * Child's Play** - Josh
 * Hannah's Heroes** - Sophie
 * Joint Distribution Committee/Dr. Rick Hodes** -

__//רופא חולים - Healing the Sick//__ __//אהבת ציון - Love of Zion/Israel//__
 * Hadassah WIZO/Hadassah Hospital** - Daniel

//__צדק, צדק תרדוף - Pursing Justice__//
 * Because I Am a Girl** - Michelle & Ashley

//__מאכיל רעבים - Feeding the Hungry__// //__צדק, צדק תרדוף - Pursing Justice__// //__מתיר אסורים - Overcoming Limitations__//
 * Oxfam Canada** - Elle || __//רופא חולים - Healing the Sick//__
 * Little Travelers** - Talia & Daniel

//__מאכיל רעבים - Feeding the Hungry__// //__סומך נופלים - Supporting Those in Adversity__//
 * Potluck** - Justine

//__סומך נופלים - Supporting Those in Adversity__//
 * Covenant House** - Jordan
 * Cambodian Children's Sanctuary** - Tal

__//שמירת הבריאות -// Safeguarding Your Health & Well-Being__
 * Kids Help Phone** - Justin & Saul

__//רופא חולים - Healing the Sick//__
 * Walter Sisulu Pediatric Cardiac Foundation** - Eli
 * First Candle** - Shayna & Rachel
 * Alzheimer's Society** - Maya Y.

__//אהבת ציון - Love of Zion/Israel//__ __//פקוח נפש - Saving a Life//__
 * Magen David Adom** - Josh & Lis

__//רודף שלום - Pursuing Peace//__
 * Peace It Together** - Elan
 * citizenU** - Julia & Inbal

//__לא תשיך לאחיך - Do Not Charge Interest on a Loan__// //__סומך נופלים - Supporting Those in Adversity__//
 * Hebrew Free Loan Association** - Braden

__//בל תשחית - Safeguard the Environment/Do Not Waste//__
 * Evergreen** - Eytan
 * World Wildlife Fund** - Maya P.

__//ושננתם לבניך - Teach Your Children Diligently//__
 * Free the Children** - Elena & Adam ||

TERM 3: Taking Action in the Real World
JOSH || 7A BRADEN JUSTINE || April 17th || 12:25-12:45 - Yuval 12:45-1:05 - Ashley & Michelle 1:05-1:25 - Adam S. 1:25-1:45 - || 2:00-2:20 - Lis & Josh 2:20-2:40 - Tal 2:40-3:00 - 3:00-3:20 - || April 18th || 12:25-12:45 - Ethan & Itamar 12:45-1:05 - Eden & Leeor || 2:00-2:20 2:20-2:40 - Eli || April 24th || 12:25-12:45 - Aimee 12:45-1:05 - Elle 1:05-1:25 - Eden K. 1:25-1:45 - Benjamin || 2:00-2:20 - Elan 2:20-2:40 - Adam & Elena 2:40-3:00 - Daniel & Talia 3:00-3:20 - || April 25th || 12:25-12:45 - Sophie 12:45-1:05 - Adam C. & Jacob || 2:00-2:20 - Julia & Inbal 2:20-2:40 - Saul & Justin || May 1st || 12:25-12:45 - Leora 12:45-1:05 - Daniel 1:05-1:25 - Danielle 1:25-1:45 - Sappir || 2:00-2:20 - Jordan 2:20-2:40 - Maya P. 2:40-3:00 - Maya Y. 3:00-3:20 - Shayna & Rachel || May 2nd || 12:25-12:45 - Noah 12:45-1:05 - Jared || N/A ||
 * || 7B
 * Tuesday,
 * Wednesday,
 * Tuesday,
 * Wednesday,
 * Tuesday,
 * Wednesday,

Ceremony of Giving Preparations: [[file:Ceremony of Giving Prep Memo to Grade 7.pdf]]
1) Invitations to Agencies 2) Speech Writing Introduction: My name is... Paragraph 1: What the MVP experience means to me. What did I learn? What do I understand? (Universe of obligation, mitzvot...)

Paragraph 2: "I chose _ because..." (do you have a personal connection?) What do they do - go deep? You MUST mention your mitzvah/mitzvot in this paragraph.

Conclusion 1: On behalf of the Grade 7 class, I would like to invite (name and position with the agency) up to the podium to receive the allocation cheque for (name of agency).

Conclusion 2: _(name of agency)_ is not located in Vancouver, so (your contact) is not able to join us today to receive the allocation cheque. S/he sent us (video/letter)___ for today's Ceremony.

=Weekly Current Events:= Each week. two students will be assigned to bring current events' reports to our Tikkun Olam class sessions. Students will make no more than a 5-10 minute presentation on the news article of their choice. The news event that you chose must in some way be related to the theme of Tikkun Olam and the concept of "Universe of Obligation." Your presentation should include the following: 1) a BRIEF summary of the news article/event - Reading the article aloud is not a summary. 2) An explanation of how this news event is connected to Tikkun Olam and Universe of Obligation. 3) What מצוה is connected to the issue that is raised by your article? 4) Ideas/suggestions for what can be done to respond to the issue raised by the article or event.

Current Events Presentation Schedule

 * Date || 7A || 7B ||
 * October 11th || Daniel || Danielle & Benjamin ||
 * October 18th || Maya P. & Tal || Sappir & Itamar ||
 * October 25th || Inbal & Braden || Leeor & Jacob ||
 * November 1st || Jordan & Justine || Noah &Yuval ||
 * November 8th || Saul & Talia || Ethan & Ashley ||
 * November 15th || Elan & Elena || Daniel & Aimee ||
 * November 22nd || Josh & Julia || Elle & Josh ||
 * November 29th || Adam M. & Maya Y. || Adam S. & Michelle ||
 * December 6th || Rachel & Justin, Maya Y. || Eden K. & Leora, ||
 * December 13th || Shayna & Braden || Eden L., Jared, Adam S. ||
 * January 10th || Elan & Elena || Daniel & Aimee ||
 * January 17th || Josh & Julia || Elle & Josh ||
 * January 24th || Adam M. & Maya Y. || Adam S. & Michelle ||
 * January 31st || Rachel & Justin || Eden K. & Leora ||
 * February 7th || Shayna & Braden || Eden L., Jared & Leeor ||
 * February 14th || Saul & Talia || Benjamin & Ethan ||
 * February 21st || Jordan & Justine || Noah & Yuval ||
 * February 28th || Inbal & Daniel || Jacob ||
 * March 6th || Maya P. & Tal || Sappir & Itamar ||
 * March 13th || Eli & Eytan || Danielle & Ashley ||
 * March 20th || Lis || Adam C. & Sophie ||
 * March 20th || Lis || Adam C. & Sophie ||