The Yerusha, Lesson 1

Introduction

In this two-lesson unit, students learn about God’s promise to grant Avram a child.

Lesson objectives

The student will be able to describe the conversation between God and Avram as follows:
1) God tells Avram that He protects him.
2) Avram is concerned about his lack of children.
3) Avram does not want his inheritance to go through Eliezer.
4) God promises Avram that Avram will produce his own offspring.

Skills

Students will be able to:
Identify Biblical words with the root “yerusha” (ירושה).

Values

Students will:
Relate to Avram as a real person with emotions (i.e. he fears, worries, and gets upset).

Terms

yerusha (ירושה) – inheritance

Resources & Equipment needed

• Highlighters for all students
• Copies of the text sheets for all students
• Paper and coloring supplies for all students

Procedure

Textual Reading of Pasuk 1 (1 minute)

Read a line in Hebrew and choose a student to read the translation (a good way to include a weaker Hebrew reader is by having them read the English). Instruct the student to translate each phrase as it is read. Read each phrase with feeling, acting when possible. After the end of each section, enter into the discussion below.

Discussion (2 minutes)

Ask students: Why is Avram suddenly afraid? He just beat a massive army with a smaller army! How does God reassure Avram, and make him feel better?

Explain to students that God has protected Avram all along, but now, Avram may be worried that God is done protecting him. Ask students: How can God prove to Avram that He is still protecting him?

Textual Reading of Pasuk 2 (1 minute)

Continue to read and act out paragraph 2. English readers should continue reading the translation as well.

Discussion and Highlighting (2 minutes)

Ask students: How do you think Avram is feeling in this verse? Happy? Angry? Upset? Explain that Avram is upset because he has no children, and he wants to be able to share his yerusha with his family. He only has his servant, Eliezer, in charge of his house, but no other family.

Ask students: What is a yerusha, an inheritance? Explain that it is a gift someone gives you after they die. These types of gifts usually come from a parent or other family member. Ask students to highlight that phrase in the pasuk that explains Avram’s concerns about not having recipients for his yerusha. (Answer: ואנכי הולך ערירי)

Textual Reading of Pasuk 3 and Discussion (5 minutes)

Appoint different Hebrew and English readers to read the parts of God, Avram, and a narrator. Encourage them to act if possible.

Then, ask students: What does Avram repeat in these phrases? Answer: He repeats his concern about not having children. Ask students to highlight the 2 phrases in the pesukim in which Avram states this concern. (Answers: לי לא נתתה זרעand והנה בן ביתי יורש אותי). Explain that Avram repeating his concern implies that this is an issue that is very troubling to him and that he is looking to God for reassurance.

Textual Reading of Pasuk 4 (4 minutes)

Tell students to read paragraph 4 quietly to themselves and then ask for two volunteers to read it aloud. Appoint new readers who can read with feeling.

Discussion (4 minutes)

Ask students: How does God tell Avram not to worry about sharing his yerusha? Have students highlight the phrase from the pasuk where God tells Avram that he will have his own child. (Answer: כי אם אשר יצא ממעיך).

Then, ask students to highlight the phrase in the pasuk that explains that Avram’s child will be his heir (inherit from him) and share his rewards. (Answer: הוא יירשך).

Then, ask students to highlight the phrase in the pasuk that explains that Avram’s children will receive his yerusha. (Answer: כי אם אשר יצא ממעיך הוא יירשך).

Finally, ask students: Did you notice how many times a form of the word yerusha appeared? Circle all the words in paragraphs 1,2,3,4 which are forms of the word yerusha.

Ask students to draw how they think Avram feels now, after receiving this reassurance from God.

Conclusion (2 minutes)

Ask students: Avram is now on the brink of receiving everything he ever wanted. When you’re about to get something you really want, do you ever doubt that it will happen? Do you think maybe it’s hard for Avram to believe it?

Explain that in the next class, we will learn what Avram asks of God to prove that his yerusha will really happen.

 

CONTINUE TO LESSON 2