Lihitraot Lot! Avraham and Lot Separate – Lesson 1
Lesson plan on Bereshit 13:5-11. After studying the text, students act out the separation of Avram and Lot as described in the text. Students also learn the roots of common Biblical words.
Introduction
In this lesson plan on Bereshit 13:5-11, students study the text in preparation for acting out the texts’ events in the next lesson.
Lesson objectives
The student will be able to:
1. Describe how the shepherds of Avram and Lot were fighting.
2. Describe how each shepherd felt his cattle did not have enough land on which to graze.
3. Relate how Avram expressed concern about family fights and offered a compromise.
4. Explain that Lot decided to choose a direction to travel, and Avram chose the opposite way.
5. Describe how Lot chose Jordan, towards Sodom. Avram made his way toward Canaan. They separated.
Skills
The student will be able to:
Identify a list of common Biblical vocabulary
Resources & Equipment needed
- Whiteboard and board markers
- Chumashim or Sefaria link to text for all students
- Vocabulary list:
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Procedure
Teacher Set Up
Whiteboard setup: In large letters, on the top middle of the whiteboard, write “Lihitraot Lot!” In the space remaining, draw the scene as described in the Chumash. On the left, draw a sheep, cow, tent, and shepherd. On the right, draw a sheep, cow, tent, and a shepherd. The shepherds should be facing each other with angry expressions on their faces. Label one group רועי לוט and the other רועי אברם.
Write all vocabulary words (listed above) on the board.
Assign parts of the skit below.
Trigger
Skit – children playing in sandbox.
Jakie: You’re taking up all the space in the sandbox!
Eliot: Well I want to sit here, too!
Jakie: You can’t have it all.
Eliot: Well neither can you! Look – all my sand toys need to be here.
Jakie: There’s no more room. (look angry at each other) Eliot: Why don’t you move?
Jakie: Why don’t you?
Eliot’s mom (can be played by teacher) steps in: Boys, don’t fight. You’re cousins! There’s plenty of room for both of you. Look at how big this sandbox is! Why don’t you separate? One of you goes to the right (pointing) and one of you to the left (pointing the other way). Jakie – you choose first – where would you like to go?
Jake (pausing, looks up, and points): There!
Eliot (looks up and nods): OK, then I’ll play over there. (Pointing in a different direction)
Classroom Discussion
Check student comprehension by asking the students what the children were fighting about (not enough room in the sandbox) and how they resolved the issue (separating and playing on opposite sides).
Vocabulary
Students should copy the vocabulary list into their notebooks. While students are finishing (circulate the room to make sure the majority are done), say: You are going to see the skit again. This time, 5 words will be said in Hebrew. When you hear them, think of their meaning in English. When the skit is done, I will ask you each word’s definition and we will write it down.
Skit #2 – with Hebrew Vocabulary
Jakie: You’re taking up all the space in the sandbox!
Eliot: Well I want לשבת here, too!
Jakie: You can’t have it all.
Eliot: Well neither can you! Look – all my sand toys need to be here.
Jakie: There’s no more room. (angry looks abound)
Eliot: Why don’t you move?
Jakie: Why don’t you?
Eliot’s mom (can be played by teacher) steps in: Boys, לא לריב! You’re cousins! There’s plenty of room for both of you. Look at how big this sandbox is! Why don’t you תפרדו? One of you go to ימין (pointing) and one of you to שמאל (point the other way). Jakie – you choose first – where would you like to go?
Jake (looks up and points): There!
Eliot (looks up and nods): OK, then I’ll take over there (Pointing in a different direction).
Check Comprehension
Check student comprehension by asking the students what they thought words meant and how they got that impression. Students should write down the meanings of the words. Discuss how the word אחים could mean a relative.
Textual reading
Tell students you will read the text, and they should take note of the Hebrew words used in the skit.
Expressive Reading
Read the text again, acting out phrases or using board pictures of sheep and shepherd, and angry faces.
Check for comprehension
Ask: Which groups of people were fighting? (shepherds of Lot vs. shepherds of Avram) In what verse does the Torah say the shepherds are fighting? (pasuk 7)
Who wanted to separate – Avram or Lot? (Avram)
What words does the Torah use to say this? Look in pasuk 8. (אל נא תהי מריבה ביני וביניך)
What reason does Avram give for not fighting? (We are ‘brothers’ = relatives, כי אחים אנחנו)
In which verse is this stated? (pasuk 8)
Word Comprehension
Clarify other difficult words or concepts that students don’t understand. (Note: tell students to skip the end of pasuk 10 after the word משקה until the end. Go right to pasuk 11.)
Student Reading/Acting in Front of Class
Choose 2 students whom you feel understand the text well and have them act out the verses as they, or you, read. In pasuk 7, they can ad-lib a bit, by including what they think Avram and Lot said to each other during the fight (‘There’s no more room here for your sheep!’ or ‘Your cow is eating my cow’s grass!’, etc.)