JTown: ‫ירושלים של כולם‬
Session 2 – The Other Jerusalem“s” (45 Minutes)
(This session should take place outside)
Tziyud Needed:
1. Baton
2. Big jacket/sweatshirt with pockets
3. Sticks
Note:
It should be noted that the two trigger activities are intended to be triggers to
understanding the significance of Jerusalem to Christianity and Islam; it is not
intended to be a simulation of the last moments of Jesus’/Mohammed’s life, or
put campers in their places.
Procedure:
 Part A – Trigger 1 – Fourteen Stations of the Cross Activity (15 minutes)
• Chanichim should be divided into groups of fourteen, and these groups will
compete against one another in a relay race. If it is not possible to divide
the chanichim into groups of fourteen, then each team must still field
fourteen competitors (some chanichim may race more than once).
• Line-up the chanichim and create some form of a short/simple relay race.
This can simply be a multi-leg running race, or a more complicated relay
race with various components. Feel free to use your imagination and be
creative.
• Each chanich/a must pass a baton to the next competitor, as well as a
heavy jacket/sweatshirt, which is weighted down with heavy materials.
Each competitor must wear the overcoat and carry the baton before
running.
• The first team to have all fourteen players, all of whom have worn the
heavy weighted-down jacket/sweatshirt, carried the baton, and crossed
the finish line, wins.
• It is best if this relay race can be done around a big open space.
 Part B – Explanation of activity (10 minutes)
• The madrich/a should gather the chanichim and explain that the previous
activity represented the Fourteen Stations of the Cross, which are the
most important points of Jesus’ journey from being tried and condemned
to death, to being buried. These Stations are along the Via Dolorosa (Way
of Sorrows) in today’s Christian Quarter of the Old City.
•
The stations are:
1. Jesus is condemned to death
2. Jesus is given his cross
3. Jesus falls the first time
4. Jesus meets his Mother
5. Simon of Cyrene carries the cross
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JTown: ‫ירושלים של כולם‬
6. Veronica wipes the face of Jesus
7. Jesus falls the second time
8. Jesus meets the daughters of Jerusalem
9. Jesus falls the third time
10. Jesus is stripped of his garments
11. Crucifixion: Jesus is nailed to the cross
12. Jesus dies on the cross
13. Jesus' body is removed from the cross
14. Jesus is laid in the tomb and covered in incense.
(This information is included for the madrich/a only; do not get into this
level of detail with the campers.)
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Although the vast majority of the ministry of Jesus took place in the
Galilee, especially on the northern (north-west) banks of the Kinneret,
Jesus’ final days took place in Jerusalem, and his “Passion” (the suffering
which he underwent before his trial, and during his trial, crucifixion and
death) took place in Jerusalem and its surrounding area (e.g. Har
HaZeitim).
According to Christian theology, this suffering was an atonement offering
for the sake of humanity. Jesus was resurrected on the third day after his
burial and will return as the Messiah (“the Second Coming”).
The Church of the Holy Sepulcher was later built on the site of Jesus’
crucifixion and burial. It is the holiest site for Catholics today.
Jerusalem is clearly a very holy and important place for Christians.
Catholics place a greater theological significance on the sites where Jesus
preached, healed, lived, and died, whereas Protestants place a greater
theological significance on the ministry and message of Jesus.
You may like to invite a Christian speaker to your camp to speak about the
Christian connection to Jerusalem (and Israel). Please remember that the
purpose of bringing the speaker – and of this activity – is to learn about
this connection, and not to learn about Christianity itself.
 Part C – Trigger 2 – “Fly” (12 minutes)
• Each chanich/a should take a stick and these are placed equidistant from
one another in a straight line, with enough space for one and a half feet
between each stick (or ruler).
• The chanichim line up behind the first stick (ruler) and the final chanich/a
in the line is named “The Fly.”
• Each chanich/a must run through the sticks, taking care to take only one
step between sticks and to not step on the sticks. If a chanich/a takes
more than once step between sticks or if he/she steps on them, he/she is
out.
• Once “The Fly” finishes, he/she makes a special effort to jump particularly
far (i.e. “to fly”) over the final stick. He/She remains in place and selects
one stick to be removed from its place and replaced to the point where
he/she has landed.
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JTown: ‫ירושלים של כולם‬
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This process continues until the spaces between the sticks gradually
become larger and larger, leading to more and more chanichim being out.
If “The Fly” is called “out,” the chanich/a in front of him/her (i.e. the
penultimate chanich/a) replaces him/her as “The Fly.”
The game continues until only one chanich/a can complete the mission.
This chanich/a wins and is named “Super Fly.”
Part D – Explanation 2 (8 minutes)
• The madrich/a should gather the chanichim and explain that the previous
activity was supposed symbolize Mohammed flying from Mecca to
Jerusalem on al-Buraq.
o Explanation: In 621 CE, Mohammed was ordered to go from
Mecca, Saudi Arabia to Al Masjid al-Aqsa (“The Far-Away
Mosque”), Jerusalem, Israel, (which is accepted widely to be the
Temple Mount), and was given Al-Buraq, a winged horse, to take
him on his journey.
• According to mainstream Muslim theology, he reached his destination, tied
Al-Buraq to the Kotel (others say to an area within the Temple Mount
precinct, today known as Solomon’s Stables), and ascended to heaven
from the Temple Mount.
• In 637 CE, Jerusalem was conquered by Mohammed’s successors, and in
691 CE they built the Dome of the Rock on the Temple Mount (“Haram alSharif,” or “The Noble Sanctuary,” according to Muslims).
• The Al-Aqsa Mosque was also built on the Temple Mount.
• Along with Mecca and Medina, Jerusalem is one of Islam’s holy cities. It is
called “Al-Quds” (“The Holy”) in Arabic, a shortened form of “Al Bayt alMiqdas” (Beit HaMikdash).
• You may like to invite a Muslim speaker to your camp to speak about the
Muslim connection to Jerusalem. Please remember that the purpose of
bringing the speaker – and of this activity – is to learn about this
connection, and not to learn about Islam itself.
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