The Parsha Companion Project
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Date: Semester 1, 2022-2023
Teachers: Rabbi Tavi Koslowe & Ms. Mimi Farb
Grade: 11th-12th
Subjects: Beit Midrash
Project Description:
This semester in Beit Midrash, the 11th and 12th grade students collaborated on the Parsha Companion Project. While a wide variety of Parsha (weekly Torah portion) material already exists, we noted that most are presented using a particular voice and/or are targeted to a particular audience. As a result, there does not yet seem to be a Parsha companion that can engage a wider audience with relevant, creative, thoughtful, and engaging entry points. Our Idea School Parsha Companion brought together multiple layers of artistic, musical, culinary, poetic, and intellectual illustration, interpretation, conversation starters, Parsha-related projects, and more. Within our Beit Midrash classes, we focused our textual study on Parshat Bereishit. The students each anchored their companion work on that Parsha as a prototype for what could then be replicated for other Parshiyot.
Essential Questions:
How can a single image or sound make you wonder about the ambiguity of a passage in Tanakh?
Does ambiguity add to or detract from the way that you connect with the Torah?
Content:
Close textual reading of ambiguous or vague passages and commentaries throughout Parshat Bereishit, including :
Skills:
Project Deliverables:
This semester in Beit Midrash, the 11th and 12th grade students collaborated on the Parsha Companion Project. While a wide variety of Parsha (weekly Torah portion) material already exists, we noted that most are presented using a particular voice and/or are targeted to a particular audience. As a result, there does not yet seem to be a Parsha companion that can engage a wider audience with relevant, creative, thoughtful, and engaging entry points. Our Idea School Parsha Companion brought together multiple layers of artistic, musical, culinary, poetic, and intellectual illustration, interpretation, conversation starters, Parsha-related projects, and more. Within our Beit Midrash classes, we focused our textual study on Parshat Bereishit. The students each anchored their companion work on that Parsha as a prototype for what could then be replicated for other Parshiyot.
Essential Questions:
How can a single image or sound make you wonder about the ambiguity of a passage in Tanakh?
Does ambiguity add to or detract from the way that you connect with the Torah?
Content:
Close textual reading of ambiguous or vague passages and commentaries throughout Parshat Bereishit, including :
- The collaborative phrase "Let us create humankind"
- Sefaria source sheet can be found here
- The many disparities that exist between Genesis Ch.1 and Genesis Ch. 2
- Note taking guide can be found here
- The scene of Kayin killing Hevel
- Note taking guide can be found here
- The vague scene of the Bnei Elohim
- Sefaria source sheet can be found here
Skills:
- Acclimate to and utilize the Chavruta [learning in partnership] protocol
- Develop an ability to respectfully articulate and comment on different perspectives through Socratic seminars
- Develop collaborative skills as students work together and share responsibility for the content and quality of their finished Parsha Companion
- Develop interdependence skills as the success of the project depended upon the success of each individual group and each person within that group
- Depending on the creative preference of the student, they would:
- Utilize music production software
- Utilize 3D printing software and equipment
- Develop artistic techniques
- Develop an understanding of and appreciation for the beautiful and thought-provoking ambiguity of Torah and its commentators
Project Deliverables:
- A collection of artistic, musical, culinary, poetic, and intellectual illustration, interpretation, conversation starters, Parsha-related projects.
- An artist statement to accompany and explain the thoughtful background of each project.
- An oral presentation to parents at Exhibition where they pitched their Companion prototype.