“Getting in Sync with the Hamsa Boys” (PAGES 10-11)
LESSON PLAN
The article about the up-and-coming Jewish band the Hamsa Boys highlights the importance of harmonizing for the success of a music group.
In this lesson, students will use writing to expand their understanding
of shalom by comparing shalom and harmony.
CONCEPTS AND OBJECTIVES
k Musical harmony is an apt metaphor for shalom.
KEY QUOTES AND QUESTIONS
“And singing together isn’t always easy. Matching up
five different voices—harmonizing—requires lots of
patience and practice. ‘That’s a key word, harmony,’
says Zvika. ‘When you have harmony, things go
smoothly. If we had harmony in the world, we
wouldn’t have all these problems.’ ”
What comparison is Zvika making in this statement?
“To harmonize, all five of the Hamsa Boys must work
together. ‘If one person is off, then everyone is off,’
Zvika says.... ‘Harmony is about everybody going in
the same direction, reaching and achieving that goal.’ ”
How can the group ensure that each of the Hamsa Boys
goes “in the same direction” even if they each have a
different voice?
MOTIVATION AND DEVELOPMENT
1. Before class begins write the word “harmony” on
the board. As students enter the room, play a recording of a song that uses harmonizing voices. You may
want to listen to the Hamsa Boys’ song “Tnu Li
Shalom” available at www.babaganewz.com. (The
Hamsa Boys’ complete “Shema Yisrael” CD is available to purchase from Baba Bookz.) As an alternative you may also choose to teach a song with several
parts of harmony. Then pose the following questions:
BABAGANEWZ TEACHERS’ GUIDE TISHREI 5763
What do you think the function of harmony is in a song?
(While each singer sings a different part, the multiple voices
blend into a beautiful composition.)
10
Why is singing in harmony a challenge?
2. Read the article and discuss the Key Quotes and
Questions cited above, which imply that we can compare musical harmony to shalom. Ask students to
consider how harmony is like peace. Instruct
students to brainstorm as many ways as possible that
harmony and shalom are similar. As students brainstorm, list their responses on the board. Follow that
brainstorming session with one in which students
consider how harmony and shalom differ.
3. To conclude the lesson, instruct students to write a
paragraph or poem comparing shalom to music.
Additionally, students may want to think about how
singing can help promote peace.
FOLLOW-UP AND ENRICHMENT
1. Teach the Hamsa Boys’ song “Tnu Li Shalom.”
Discuss the meaning of the lyrics and how they
express concepts of peace. A printable version of the
lyrics and a worksheet with questions are available
at www.babaganewz.com.
2. Study Walt Whitman’s poem “I Hear America
Singing.” (Look at http://www.poets.org/poems/
poems.cfm?prmID=1731 for the text of the poem.)
How does this poem enhance your class’s understanding of harmony? How does the poem reflect the
idea that each person uses his or her own voice to
help create harmony?
3. Read the sidebar that explains the meaning of
the word h.amsa. Visit www.babaganewz.com for
instructions for a h.amsa craft activity.
VOCABULARY FOR YOUR STUDENTS
song
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l/q
t/wv4hl6 4
harmony
voice
to compare