Jewish Culture in Today’s Society
Touchstone Text: “If I am I because you are you, and you are you because I am I, then I am not I
and you are not you. But if I am I because I am I, and you are you because you are you, then I am I and
you are you.” – Rabbi Menachem Mendel of Kotzk
Goals:
1. Participants will further their sense of pride for being a Jew.
2. Participants will discover Jewish impact on today’s media and society.
Materials:
1. 6 Sheets of Butcher Paper (1 per group)
2. 1 Marker per PP
3. 2 (at least) Electronic Devices per group
4. Tape
5. Computer with reliable internet access
6. Hat
7. 6 Strips of Paper with the words: Sports, Music, Hollywood, Dance, Comedy, CEO
People Needed:
1. 1 PL
2. 6 GL’s
3. PP’s
Space Needed:
● TeaTrone
● Carpet Room
● Cooking room
● Oolam
● Kita Bet
Description
0:00-0:10 Introduction
-PP’s will enter the TeaTrone and “Wherever you go, there’s always someone Jewish” in the
Background (​https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MJy7Jh8mxjk​) and Program Leader cuts the
music once PP’s are seated and says: ​Hey everyone! Did you guys hear the song that was
playing when you came in here? ​(Wait for responses)​ Awesome! Well today we are going to
explore how Jews affect the media around us. On you name tags, you will find a number
written in ​(insert color here)
Each group will go to one of the spaces listed above, 2 groups in the Oolam
If you have a 1, go with ________ to _________
If you have a 2, go with ________ to _________
If you have a 3, go with ________ to _________
If you have a 4, go with ________ to _________
If you have a 5, go with ________ to _________
If you have a 6, go with ________ to _________
00:10-00:15 - Group Introductions
Group Leader will say: ​Before we start, we are going to go around the circle and say
our names, TYG, and your favorite Icecream flavor.
00:15-00:30 - Group Research
Groups will research the topic given to them by the pulling of a strip of paper in a hat that
the PL brings around to all groups. Groups will then do research either on phone or using correct
Appendixes, share discoveries, and write anything interesting down on the piece of butcher paper
that is assigned to them. GL’s need to remind their groups that the handwriting on the poster
needs to be legible enough for others to read.
00:30-00:40 Set Up
Group Leaders will bring their poster back to the TeaTrone and, using tape, put their
poster on one of the walls, at about eye level.
00:40-00:50 Gallery Walk
PP’s will come back to the TeaTrone and look silently at what every group put up on the
wall. PL will say: ​Feel free to walk at your own pace.​ Once everyone is done, have them sit
back on the floor.
00:50-01:00 Wrap up
Once all PP’s are sitting, PL will ask: ​Who was the most interesting Jew that you saw
during the gallery walk? ​(acknowledge answers) ​As we saw by this Gallery Walk, even
though Jews make up .87% of the population on Earth, we can still make a huge impact on
the world around us. Even here in NFTY, we impact the world around us. Whether it’s
visiting a grandparent in the hospital, or volunteering your time for a charity, you can
make a difference to the world around you.
APPENDIXES
Sports:​http://bleacherreport.com/articles/436252-the-25-greatest-jewish-athletes-of-all-tim
e
CEO’s ​https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Jewish_American_businesspeople
Music ​http://www.billboard.com/articles/list/1481533/the-top-30-jewish-musicians
Dance ​http://www.ranker.com/list/list-of-famous-jewish-dancers/famous-jews
Hollywood ​http://www.imdb.com/list/ls000549440/
Comedy ​http://mentalfloss.com/article/22596/top-20-jewish-comedians-all-time