General

Goal: Chanichim should see why Avimelech is such a terrible leader and what negative leadership traits we learn from him, and what happens when no one appropriate steps up to fill a leadership role.

Goal: Teach the story of Barak and Devora

Goals:

The chanichim should analyze the leadership skills of Devorah and Yael versus Barak. Devorah and Yael  step up to the challenge and provide leadership from the side, when no leadership is coming from the men.

The chanichim should start to see the instability of the Shoftim cycle – there is no one clear leader (Devorah, Barak or Yael?) and the disunity of the Shevatim (only the ones in danger come to fight).

Goals: Teach about the general pattern of Sefer Shoftim, and about the events of Ehud

Goals: The chanichim should see Ehud Ben Gera’s strengths as a leader, in how he used creative measures to save Am Israel, and how he used his own weaknesses to his advantage in battle.

Goals: Teach the story of Gidon

Goals:

The chanichim will see the creative measures with which Gidon fights, and how he has progressed as a leader.

The chanichim will discuss why Gidon refuses to accept the offer to become King, and how if he had accepted, he might have ended the Shoftim cycle for good.

Goal: Through the story of Gidon, the chanichim will discuss the issues of:

When its acceptable for a leader to step down.

Striking a balance as a leader between helping the community and taking time for yourself.

Goals:

The chanichim will discuss what leadership characteristics we can see in Gidon, and why he was chosen to be the Shofet.

The chanichim will discuss why Gidon refused at first to accept the leadership of being a shofet, and if this is an appropriate response. They will discuss the questions: How does one balance being humble with stepping up to be a leader? How does one go from doubting oneself as a leader to realizing their potential?

Intro: In our last shiurim, we focused on Yehoshua. Now, we will move onto Shoftim, and compare it to Yehoshua. We will also outline the two themes in this Perek which will continue throughout Sefer Shoftim.

Lack of leadership – manhigut

Failure of Am Israel to kick out the other nations in

Israel (hitnachalut- settling the land) – which leads to them worshipping avodah zara, as they are then influenced by those nations.

Lack of unity among the shevatim - achdut. They act as separate nations and not as one cohesive unit.

Goals:

(1)     The chanichim will see the failures and lack of leadership of the Shoftim generation by contrasting the first two perakim of Shoftim to parallels in Sefer Yehoshua.

(2)     The chanichim will realize the issues created due to Bnei Israel not taking initiative to finish conquering the land and kick out the avodah zara worshipping nations.

Aim: The chanichim should learn about the qualities a leader has and the challenges a leader must face, within the framework of the story of Joshua ben Nun to teach them about his life!