Rosh Hashana as a Day of Judgment – Part 1
Students engage in independent text-study to learn about Rosh Hashana as a day of judgment.
Introduction
| The holiday of Rosh Hashana has several names. In this unit, students investigate the name “Yom Ha-Din”, the Day of Judgment. To do so, they study texts in hevrutot or small groups. The focus of this unit is to help students develop independent text skills. Thus, the amount of material covered is small.
There are three versions of the sources (English, Hebrew, and English-Hebrew) and the worksheets (English, Hebrew, English-Hebrew). |
Lesson objectives
| Content:
1. The student will be able to explain Mishnah Rosh Hashana 1:2. 2. The student will be able to describe sections of Gemara Rosh Hashana 16a and b. 3. The student will be able to explain the difference between a “rasha” and a “tzadik” according to the Rambam. 4. The student will be able to describe the difference between judgment on Rosh Hashana and judgment before death according to the Rambam. 5. The student will be able to describe Rosh Hashana according to the Netana Tokef prayer. 6. The student will be able to name the author of the Netana Tokef prayer.
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Skills
1. The student will be able to read a short text independently or with a partner.
2. The student will be able to use reference books/Internet to research simple questions.
Terms
Yom Ha-Din – the Day of Judgment
Resources & Equipment needed
- Source sheets for all students
- Worksheets for all students
Procedure
1. With the class, list the names of Rosh Hashana on the board. Yom Ha-Zikaron (The Day of Remembrance), Yom Terua (The Day of Blowing the Shofar), and Yom Ha-Din (The Day of Judgment). Explain that in this unit, students will be exploring the meaning of Rosh Hashana as a day of judgment.
2. Distribute worksheets and sources. Pair up students or let them choose their own study groups.
3. Circulate the room to aid students with their hevrutot.