Learning to Give, Philanthropy education resources that teach giving and civic engagement

generationOn

Home / Teachers / Sacred Giving (Tzedakah) (Private-Religious)

Sacred Giving (Tzedakah) (Private-Religious)

Unit of 3 lessons

6th-8th Grade

Subjects:

Language Arts, Philanthropy and Social Studies

Key Words/Concepts click to view

Lesson 1 :	ELA:	Expository Writing; Personal Response; Point of View; Summary/Paraphrase; Theme; Viewpoint; Vocabulary
	PHIL:	Judaism; Justice; Kindness; Traditions; Values
	SOC:	Analyze/Interpret; Compare/Contrast; Ethics; Parochial; Religion
Lesson 2 :	ELA:	Personal Response; Retelling
	PHIL:	Hunger; Judaism; Kindness; Philanthropic Organization; Philanthropic Traditions (tzedakah); Sensitivity; Service Project (tzedakah)
	SOC:	Analyze/Interpret; Ethics; Parochial; Religion; Values
Lesson 3 :	ELA:	Personal Response; Retelling
	PHIL:	Caring/Sharing; Contribute; Family; Judaism; Need; Personal Giving Plan; Sacrifice; Traditions
	SOC:	Analyze/Interpret; Ethics; Family; Parochial; Religion; Values

Unit Purpose:

This unit contains primary source materials that are basic to the Jewish practice of tzedakah. The sources are proscriptive and descriptive as well as responsive to essential questions such as: Why are Jews expected to perform the mitzvah of tzedakah? How is the practice to be done? How can I do it?

Unit Objectives:

The learner will:

define the words charity, philanthropy, and tzedakah.

compare and contrast the words charity, philanthropy, and tzedakah.

explain that the way in which tzedakah is performed, matters.

explain that tzedakah benefits both the donor and the recipient.

cite mitzvot (commandments) that relate to how the mitzvah of tzedakah is to be performed.

create a personal response, in the form of a commandment that expresses a Jewish tzedakah tradition.

retell the story of Rabbi Tanchum and his tzedakah-model.

cite ways that their family can adapt a tzedakah-model to their own lives, incorporating tzedakah into family celebrations and observances.

will practice an additional or new act of tzedakah.

identify and describe the outcomes of this additional or new act of tzedakah.

Service Experience:

Although lessons in this unit contain service project examples, decisions about service plans and implementation should be made by students, as age appropriate.

An optional School/Home Connection activity is suggested along with Attachment One: Sacred Giving: A Story. The activity could be modeled on the sensitivity and kindness – the concern for chesed and kavod - in the story.)

Unit Assessment:

Provisions for learner assessment are provided for each lesson.

School/Home Connection:

An optional activity is suggested along with Attachment One: Sacred Giving: A Story. The activity could be modeled on the sensitivity and kindness – the concern for chesed and kavod in the story.)
The learners, and their families, are asked to adopt a tzedakah habit in their lives.

Notes for Teaching:

For the performance of the mitzvah of tzedakah to be most effective, it must be affective as well! The learners must know Jewish traditions and feel their own personal connection to the mitzvah. This unit is intended to create that balance and advance the learners’ connection to responsibility.