Important note regarding the copying of programmes

Aims / Objectives :
Aims:
• Illustrate idea of self-empowerment to the chanichim by highlighting the principles of community (specifically the implementation of rules - the Decalogue) creating a people by unifying nomadic tribes.

• Illustrate the fact that Sinai is a part of the Jewish collective history.

Trigger :
Trigger: Pass the parcel story writing.
One big circle with 6 groups. At least one madrich/a per group. Six parcels will be passed around the circle whilst music plays. When the music stops the groups get together and parcels are unravelled. Inside each layer is a piece of paper with a trigger sentence. The group must finish the sentence. The music will start again and then the parcels will be moved around again. A different piece of the story will be written on different pieces of paper. This will continue until parcels are finished. The pieces of paper will be piled up in the middle of the circle and distributed randomly at the end of pass the parcel.

Sentences:
There was this geezer called Moses who led…
The Jews wandered….
Moses climbed…
A whole bunch of Jews were left to…
Up the mountain, Moses heard…
Moses came down the mountain and…

(Madrichim can suggest humorous alternatives to write along the lines of the Exodus and Sinai).
10 minutes

Main part of the programme :
Method:
The six groups will receive a finished sentence from each section (not written by themselves). The sentences are to be read out as a story and then the group asked to give the “real account” (i.e. basic discussion of bible story of tribes of Israel leaving Egypt).
5 minutes

Use sources on Sinai.
Get group to read sources and discuss their implications (i.e. the acceptance or creation of the Decalogue to unify tribes, making one community).
Highlight in the sources the idea of collective history. Collective history refers to major events that occur to a people and leave an indelible mark on their history. Often, these situations are viewed as both negative and positive through space and time, possible or improbable, yet still memorable, something happened.
• The event at Sinai was a pivotal point for the Jews, from tribes to a single people.
• The revelation can be viewed as either God giving his word or people deciding on common ground.
45 minutes



Groups revert to the sentences. Each group will have a nominated sentence which they can adapt as they wish to perform to the rest of the group.
10 minutes

Conclusion :
Sikkum:
• Groups come back together to show their part of the make up story.
• An acknowledgement that perhaps there is more to the story of exodus and Sinai than that given in the bible. The Israelites are just like any other historical people, something actually happened, this is not just stories.
• More specifically, the revelation at Sinai (in whatever form) was a time when people came together to form a nation, with rules, rites and practices (largely influenced by their contemporary environment). Relate this idea of coming together to the Bet community.

Resources:
None

Notes:
None