Humash+Bamidbar-Numbers

=__H__umash Studies Page/למודי תורה= =ספר במדבר=

#2 The Torah (and the entire תנ"ך) is our __BELOVED GUIDEBOOK__, which helps us to navigate our everyday lives as Jews and inspires us to pursue further study.
Our study of the book of Numbers will be broken up into several different units, each with its own thematic focus. It is not possible to read every verse of every chapter in a book of the Torah in one 40 minute period per week, so this curriculum is designed to go in-depth into stories and texts that I have chosen as the most central to be able to know and understand what happens in ספר במדבר.

Click the link to take you to [|Sefer B'midbar] on Mechon Mamre.

UNIT I. ORGANIZING A NATION
 * פרק א-ד**

In this unit, we will study selected texts that deal with בני ישראל getting organized for its travels from Mount Sinai to the Promised Land. There was much to do to prepare for the journey. We will study the texts and discuss what we learn from them for our own lives today, 3300 years later. The big ideas and essential questions that rest at the foundation of this unit are:

BIG IDEAS: 1) Organization/being organized is a basis for success and progress 2) Everyone has a part/role to play in a community, no matter one's position

ESSENTIAL QUESTIONS: 1) Why is being organized important for a person or a group? 2) What can I do to contribute to my own community?

RESOURCES:

THE MAP OF TRIBES CAMPED AROUND THE MISHKAN



Homework Assignment (assigned Tuesday, November 16th, due November 30th)
Use the link above to go to Mechon Mamre, then click on the number 3 to go to chapter 3. 1) Read 3:1-4; 17-20 and draw a family tree of the family of Levi (including Levi, his sons, their sons, Moses, Aaron, and Aaron's children - whether alive or dead).

2) Read 3:5-13 and answer the questions below a) What is the job of the Levites? b) Why were the Levites chosen for the job?


 * Bring this work into class to be handed in on Tuesday, November 30th.**

ORGANIZING A NATION - FINAL PROJECT
The year is 2154. Human beings have caused such environmental destruction and waste upon planet Earth that it is no longer inhabitable. For many years, the secret of the planet Pandora has been kept away from the larger human population in hopes that human beings would take it upon themselves to change their lifestyle and repair the world. Unfortunately, this has not happened and Pandora must become humanity’s new home. A massive global transportation plan is being developed by all Heads of State, while smaller communities are also making their arrangements to set themselves up on their new home. Just as in all previous generations, the Jewish community has vowed that it will be able to overcome the challenge it faces. However, with a move off planet Earth and the permanent loss of Jerusalem ahead, this generation of Israel faces a more difficult and transformative reorganization effort than ever, including after the destruction of the Second Holy Temple in the year 70 C.E. Nevertheless, the Jewish community has 4000 years of history, tradition, and experience from which to learn and then to apply on their new Pandoran home. Assignments:  A. In the Torah, the Israelite community in the desert was organized with the following institutions and groups:  
 * the tribal chiefs (who also served as census takers),
 * the Kohanim descended from Aaron,
 * the Levites and their clans,
 * the army,
 * the משכן and tribal map that surrounds it, and
 * Moses as the national leader.

 Going forward on Pandora, the following community-wide plans must be made:    Your project for this assignment must include the following:    B. In this new community on Pandora, there will be many community positions that will need to be filled. Having held a position on Earth will not result in an automatic renewal on Pandora. Using our chapters 1-4 of ספר במדבר as your guide, choose a job from that text and create a HELP WANTED ad for an equivalent position for the newly formed Jewish community on Pandora. The ad must include:   <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Your ad can take any form of media that you wish. It could be a print ad or a commercial. The final product can be for viewing live as a recording. Be as creative as you can! <span style="background-color: transparent; display: block; font-family: Times; font-size: medium; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"> <span style="background-color: transparent; display: block; font-size: medium; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">**<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">REMEMBER THAT THE MORE REFERENCES TO OUR TORAH TEXTS THAT YOU INCLUDE IN YOUR PROJECTS, THE MORE CLEAR IT WILL BE TO ME THAT YOU HAVE LEARNED OUR MATERIAL AND CAN APPLY IT TO DILEMMAS OF TODAY. ** <span style="background-color: transparent; display: block; font-size: medium; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"> <span style="background-color: transparent; display: block; font-size: medium; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">**<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">UNIT II. ** <span style="background-color: transparent; display: block; font-size: medium; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"> <span style="background-color: transparent; display: block; font-size: medium; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">**<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">__________________ ** <span style="background-color: transparent; display: block; font-size: medium; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"> <span style="background-color: transparent; display: block; font-size: medium; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Keeping your faith in God is not always easy, agree or disagree and why? <span style="background-color: transparent; display: block; font-size: medium; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"> <span style="background-color: transparent; display: block; font-size: medium; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I doubted my own faith in God when __________....
 * The land and borders of the new Jewish country on Pandora, in which all Jews of the world will live, must be designed, determined, and drawn
 * The organization of the Jewish people within the new Jewish country must be set up
 * Selection of institutions for the Jewish communities must be determined and strategically placed within the community
 * Collection of community information with a national census
 * Establishment of national and community leadership structure
 * 1) Two maps: one of the geography, organization and borders the new Jewish country on Pandora and a schematic diagram/map ("zoom in") of one of the communities within the Jewish nation, including institutions, and locations of the homes of the leaders
 * 2) A legend for each of your maps that identifies each of the homes and institutions on the maps
 * 3) A written document to accompany your maps that explains the reasons for the design and set-up of the national and community maps, including references to the Torah text for the decisions you are making for your project.
 * 4) A list of a few leadership positions that will need to be filled in the new Jewish community,
 * 5) A sample census questionnaire.
 * 1) the connection to the Torah job
 * 2) a full job description
 * 3) an explanation of why the job is important to the community