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Questions
for Reflection
Judaism
Religion: Judaism
Purpose: to
encourage students to think more deeply and creatively regarding issues
related to the religion in question and to think about how these issues
relate to the real world and even to the student's own life. Cognitive
Skills: application, analysis, synthesis, evaluation
Learning Styles: active
(if discussed with classmates), reflective, sensing, intuitive, global
Intelligences: intrapersonal,
interpersonal (when discussed with others),
logical-mathematical Use: in
classroom, at home, on-line discussion board For:
individual, pairs, small groups Estimated
time: 2 - 5 minutes (or more when done as journaling at home) Materials
needed: none (other than pen and paper) The
Activity: several options for use
In the
classroom: These questions may be presented in class for students
to think-write-pair-share At home: Questions
may also be suggested to students for personal reflection and written
response as a journaling exercise (which may be a graded assignment) On line: Questions
such as these would make for ideal on-line discussions for distance
learning classes
The Questions:
These are just some suggestions. Teachers may feel free to modify these or
use additional questions they may think of themselves
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if you had to
leave your parents home and religion behind and start a new life in
a land you'd never been to? (think about Abraham's response to God's
call)
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if you heard a
disembodied voice telling you it was God and giving you a mission to
complete? (think about Moses encounter with God on Sinai)
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if the
government sent troops storming into your place of worship to
destroy all you considered sacred and tried to force you and your
community to follow the state dictated religion? (think about how
the Greeks tried to force the Jews to worship the Greek gods in the
2nd century BCE)
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When does Judaism become Judaism?
When would you say Judaism began: before or after Sinai? Was it really Judaism before there was Torah? Why or why not? If not, what would you say it was?
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Temple vs. Synagogue Judaism
What is the relationship between Judaism before the year 70 destruction of the Temple and Diaspora (post Temple) Judaism? Are Temple Judaism and synagogue Judaism really the same religion? Why? Why not? Pose two arguments: one that supports a "yes" answer and one that supports a "no" answer.
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Claims to the Land of Israel
Who do you think has a greater claim to the land of Israel: the Jews or the Palestinians? Why? What kind of arguments might you offer in support of either party?
What kind of solution to the problem might you suggest? How would you convince the
Israelis and Palestinians to accept your solution?
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Assimilation
Over the past few centuries, through assimilation, modern Judaism has been able to blend in to the larger society in which it exists. Some Jews see this assimilation as a positive move while other Jews see it as something to avoid. What do you think might be the benefits as well as the drawbacks to assimilation?
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The "Chosen People"
The Jews are often referred to as the "Chosen People"? What do you think this might mean?
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The "Suffering Servants"
Why do you think the Jews have suffered so much over the course of their history? What does their continued survival suggest to you about this people, their purpose and their destiny? What role (if any) do you think God might have played in Jewish suffering and/or survival?
(An
overview of 2000 years of Jewish persecution [under Christianity])
(An essay exploring the question of "who killed Jesus?")
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Jewish Holidays
Which of the Jewish holidays do you find most interesting? Why?
Alternative
possibilities: Reflective questions can be a developed for any course.
The main point is to design questions that elicit creative, original
thinking and encourage students to relate what they are learning to the
real world and to their own life - to see and make connections.
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