The Big Inning

On August 17th I posted these ideas for lessons. Let's look again at what I wrote and now see how it's going:

In The Beginning - Breishit

1 class - Introduction to school and class / One main rule: respect (for self, others, teacher,
G-d). Teachers must be respectful too. I try. Let me know how I'm doing. I'll let you know how you're doing. Expectations. Curriculum. Home work. Quizzes. tests. Grades. Progress reports: negative, but surprise! - positive too. Give out info card asking how students best learn, what their background is in Chumash, etc. Much of what we complain about in life is in our hands, depends on our attitude more than on externals. Not to brag, but ever notice teachers don't have to go to the bathroom as often as kids do? No food in class, it's class, not a birthday party.

1 class - Introduction: Ramban/Netziv overview of book inside. Ramban - theme of needing to earn and maintain. Netziv - the book of the yesharim- straight, the lessons of the righteousness of the Avot. Intro Q - If stories are for children why does the Torah start with stories? Why is Breishit most people's favorite section of the Torah?Ramban VS Rashi on why Torah begins with world's creation. Rashi - idea that Israel belongs to us, G-d created the world and gives what he wants to who he wants. Ramban - expands this concept. Develops theme of entire book being about people getting and then losing what they were given if they don't continue to deserve it. This lesson is why Breishit starts the Torah with all these stories.

1 class - Creation of World: Age of world/evolution, meaning of 7 days. Lubavitcher Rebbe on days being longer. Traditional view that day always means the same day as we know it. Rashbam on what came first (day came first. because erev came first and erev is the process of day turning into night)

1 Class - What was created on the seventh day? Nothing? Wrong - Shabbat. A study of the VaYechulu text.

2 classes - Ramban on Yesh MeiAyin - G-d created a general something out of nothing and from that something created everything else. Overview of what was created on each day (students should know by heart the paragraphs which can be remembered by these names: Ohr, Rakiah, Desha, Meorot, Daggim, Addam, Shabbat). Key Rashis and Chazals re the sun VS moon moral (via Shemen HaTov regarding shared leadership), idea of havdalla, etc.

2 classes - two descriptions of man's creation: Lonely Man of Faith as well as other approaches. Rabbi Soloveitchik's idea that one narative presents man as social and communal and the other as existential/alone.Briefly noted - man and woman - Lo Tov Heyot. Rabbi Hirsh: Heyot, means all that exists in the world, this heyot/existence is not good if man remains alone, eizer kenegdo: Rav Hirsch - a parallel side, like a coin blank on one side, not worth half but valueless.

I've had most of my Chumash classes 3 times. The introduction to rules etc was done fast and well, I think. The Rashi was done. I taught them about the Taz's statement that Rashi is citing his father, disproved it, then stuck up for the concept. We did the Ramban (and discussed general methadology of Rashi VS Ramban.

The Ramban is very long, so it took a while to do inside. It's always a rough practical call, how much to do inside, the more the better in an ideal world.

I plan to contrast the Rashbam with Rashi and Ramban.

Also, to talk about the idea of parshiot that are open and closed and look at the upcoming parts in that context and identify themes (via rabbi menachem Liebtag). I have an idea (got it down to two words via dara Unterberg) that the key theme of this book is Brit and Bechira, which very much fits with the Ramban - let's see if the kids get to it or what they come up with.

The Netziv is important I think, hope I can get it in in a timely fashion - the idea that the book is called the book of the Yesharim and why that's the case.

The Rambam and Sforno on time being created, and how that's what the first pasuk is telling us needs to be done.

I also hope to get to the Torah VS science soon and to cite from In The Beginning by Aviezer and Carmell and Domb's Challenge. I will be giving some homework Q's, and continue to open classes with on the spot questions to random students chosen via cards.

One of my classes knows about this blog and visits it - so hello to you, you know who you are.