Whole School Tu B'Shvat 7: Day in the Life of a Verse

Grades: 7-8     The Whole-School Holiday lessons make up a spiral curriculum, in which each lesson focuses on a different aspect of Jewish holiday, value, or key subject. With some exceptions, Whole School Holiday lessons are built around a matrix that allows students to have an unique experience each year.

• Grade 1–2: Tu B'Shvat Celebrations
• Grade 2–3: The Four High Holidays
• Grade 3–4: Honi The Circle Maker
• Grade 4–5: Tree Blessings
• Grade 5–6: Tu B'Shvat Food
• Grade 6–7: Tu B'Shvat Seder
• Grade 7–8: A Day in the Life of a Verse
• Teacher's Guide

This lesson begins with a fictitious Responsa letter that asks the student to apply this value to a contemporary situation. The students are then given five source documents from the Bible, the Mishnah, the Gemora, the Mishnah Torah and the Shulchan Aruch. Through these five sources they come to understand the evolution of ba'al tash'hit from a biblical law about trees to an all-encompassing ecological mandate. Here they are introduced to the books and styles through which Jewish law has evolved.

When you purchase this lesson you will be provided with a link to download the lesson. Make as many copies of this lesson as you need for your school and only your school. Materials that are downloaded are not returnable. Teacher Guide not included.