Optional

• Any props needed for the first game ie cups

Gvura in the Face of Assimilation

This week, we will talk about how a really important type of gevurah is strength in the face of assimilation.  Through all of Jewish history, we were constantly under the pressure to assimilate and be lost forever.

Here is an idea to bring home the pressure to assimilate.

Play one or two rounds of any short game that your chanichim/ot enjoy.  (for example, snatch the cup, belts, murder handshake, etc.)  Then, tell them that the second round can only be played by people with black kippot, or blue shirts, or hairbands, or whatever characteristics that will exclude a good amount of chanichim.  Play another couple of rounds.

Suggestions:

 -This can also be played with two groups, and then one group is told that they have to just watch the next couple of rounds. 

Discussion: How did it feel to be left out?  While the game was going, did you also want to have ______? Would you have put it on if there was an extra?

Basically, we can see that it is a miracle that Jews still exist, and are so strong today.

A great example of a gibor who fought against the loss of Judaism is R. Yehudah Hanasi.  He saw that the Jews were going to be involved in a war, and realized that he had to take steps if he didn’t want the Torah SheBeAl Peh to be lost.  If the Toshba was lost, nobody would know how to keep Halacha.  So, R. Yehudah HaNasi wrote down the Torah Shbaal Peh.  At the time there were people who were against what he was doing but because of the Gevurah of R. Yehudah HaNasi the Torah Shbaal Peh has survived even until today.

“The Pizza Game”

This is a really fun game, and it can be funny too, for any age. (I don’t know its real name but the example is always given of making a pizza)

            The game begins by sending three chanichot/im out of the room.  The rest of the group then picks another chanich to be the starter and decide on a situation the starter has to act out (no words).  One of the three chanichim originally sent out is called back in.  He then watches the situation the starter is silently acting out.  When the starter is finished, the second chanich is called in.  The first chanich must then act out the situation (again, acting silently) that he saw the starter act out to him.  When he is finished the second chanich must act the situation out to the third chanich that was sent out.

Now obviously since it was a silent act the chaniching that were sent out might not understand what the skit is.  That’s the point! they must try to figure it out the best they can and make up whatever saw.  Once the third chanich is finished watching the skit he must then tell the group what he was watching.  The second and first chanichim also must tell the group what they were trying to act out. 

Discussion: This could happen too with halacha, and Judaism in general.  If you don’t understand what you are doing, or why, why would you continue? This can also lead to assimilation.