Milchemet Hamelachim – Lesson 3
Four-lesson unit on Bereshit 14: 1-24. Students participate in multiple intelligences exercises in order to understand the battle of the kings. Includes worksheets.
Lesson objectives
Students will be able to
1. Relate this story of Milchemet Hamelachim (see lesson 2)
Values
Students will be able to appreciate
1. Avram’s self-sacrifice in going to war and saving his nephew Lot.
2. The mitzvah of pidyon shvuyim (redeeming captives).
Resources & Equipment needed
Chumashim or or Sefaria link to text for all students
Procedure
Student Pantomime Preparation
Divide students into groups of four. Give them five minutes to prepare the scene of the fugitive running to tell Avram about Lot’s capture, Avram preparing for battle, fighting, and saving Lot.
Group divisions:
1. Narrator – reads the verses slowly and carefully, and doubles as Lot’s property.
2. Avram – listens to the fugitive, prepares students for battle, fights, and returns Lot and his belongings.
3. Fugitive – tells the story to Avram and doubles as Avram’s students.
4. The enemy – fights and loses against Avram, runs away, then comes back and doubles as Lot.
Student Performances
Call up groups to perform. Optional: The teacher and students can rate each group and choose the best-performing team. Announce the winner at the end of class. (You can even give out certificates, and tell students ahead of time that they will be recognized for outstanding achievement).
Discussion
Ask students: All of you who acted like Avram’s students, how did it feel to go to war? Those of you who acted like Lot, how did it feel to be returned home with your family? Those who acted like Avram, how did it feel to be told to Lot was captured?
Tell students that what we learn about Avram is that he went straight to war to save Lot, even though he was outnumbered, and he didn’t even get along so well with Lot and probably hadn’t seen him in years. This tells us that he does what’s right and doesn’t think about himself, even if it’s scary or dangerous, that he doesn’t fear for his own safety, and that Avram is a really kind and selfless man.
Conclusion
Ask students: If you could perform your skit again, what would you do differently, now that you understand Avram a bit more?