Special thanks to Dr. Elliot Lefkovitz for these recommendations from “Unpacked for Educators” curriculum:

Would like to suggest to teachers in grades 5,6, and 7 the following videos from “Unpacked for Educators” that deal either directly with Rosh Hashana or with themes relating to the holiday. They would be a worthwhile supplement to curricula in these grades. 

Of course instructors would have to preview the videos, give an overall description of them, explain some difficult vocabulary words and have pre video and post video discussion questions.

We’ll go in order of where the videos appear in the “Unpacked for Educators” curriculum

“The Jewish Value of Tzedakah”. This video relates to the idea of becoming a better person in the coming new Jewish year. It emphasizes the ideas that giving is better than receiving, that giving not only impacts the life of the recipient but also impacts the giver by making him/her feel better about themselves and that Tzedakah is can mean monetary gifts but it can also mean giving of oneself in various kinds of ways. This video is especially important for seventh graders as they prepare for Bar/Bat Mitzvah mitzvah projects.

“The Rosh Hashanah card”. This video traces the history of the Shana Tova card. It includes Yiddish references, musical greetings and a Shoah reference. It obviously invites students to create their own Shana Tova cards or design Shana Tova greetings on Internet devices.

“Tikkun Olam: Is It Jewish?”. This video investigates the history of the term, Tikkun Olam and shows how it came to be universalized. Just as the “The Jewish Value of Tzedakah”, it stimulates students to think how they can better the world through engaging in deeds of lovingkindness and is especially relevant for pre Bar/Bat Mitzvah students.

The video shows examples of Israelis engaging in Tikkun Olam, which is especially important given the current situation. What is especially valuable about this video is that it enlarges on the meaning of Tikkun Olam. Tikkun Olam can mean, prayer, Torah study and Jewish religiously based acts, but it can also be viewed in a larger sense.

Therefore, Tikkun Olam should be broadly understood and is something worthwhile to think about engaging in during the new Jewish year.

“The Jewish People’s Origin Story: Abraham, Idols, Angels and Sacrifice”. Since Rosh Hashanah Torah readings deal with Abraham, this video is very appropriate for the holiday. It succinctly reviews the story of Abraham’s life, but it continues on with a summary of key incidents in the lives of Isaac, Ishmael, Jacob and Esau, Abraham’s sons and grandsons. Thus, it is a good short review of part of the Book of Genesis.