We ❤ being Jewish and we ❤ Jewish heroes!
What is a hero? Who is a hero?
In this lesson plan, we'll explore the word hero with our students!
Kick off with a brainstorming session with your students:
What makes someone a hero?
Is heroism something that you were born with? Either you have it or you don't?
Heroes from Tanach
Divide the class into teams. Give each team a different personality from Tanach:
Yosef
Moshe Rabbeinu
Yehoshua
Devorah
Shimshon
Chana
Dovid Hamelech
Mordechai
Esther
Each team discusses and answers these questions:
What were some of their major accomplishments?
What challenges did they face?
What qualities did they possess that made them heroic?
Each team presents their Tanach personality and their answers to the three questions.
Modern Jewish heroes
Next, choose a Jewish hero from modern times and answer these three questions:
Who is your Jewish hero?
Why did you choose that person as your hero?
Describe one event that best showcases the heroism of your Jewish hero.
Now it's time for the big question! 🥁
Is heroism a one time life event or can it be an everyday event and if so, how?
This is the moment of truth!
Ask your students: Which of these actions is heroic? Answer yes or no!
Waking up for davening every morning?
Playing computer games?
Respecting our teachers?
Playing football?
Helping a friend in need?
Doing chesed beyond what's needed?
And more!
As we can see, there's no end to what heroism means. Each and every student can be a Jewish hero in their own way. They don't have to wait for that magical once-in-a-lifetime moment to be an amazing hero like in the stories. They can decide right here and now to become a Jewish hero. It's all up to them, and of course with help from Hashem!
Thoughts? Comments? We're a chat away. 🙋♂️