Last night 12 marvelous middle schoolers, four fantastic facilitators, and a posse of parents put together an awesome evening of spiritual exploration and community building. Many thanks to everyone who made it possible!
The Crossing Paths kids had their final session of their first unit on Unitarian Universalism. In pairs or trios they did a fun scavenger hunt around our building. They begin this yearlong study (including visits) of other faiths, with this intensive unit on our own UU faith. Other highlights:
- taco bar dinner with contributions from families including homemade organic corn tortillas that were still warm (thank you Lucia and Erin Aguayo)
- a session launching their unit on Judaism that included breaking a pot with a hammer and then engaging in the process of repairing it with a glue gun
- late night card games and other games in the Bell Tower Room.
Here's a snippet from the lesson plan, to explain about the broken pottery activity to illustrate the Jewish idea of Tikkun Olam. They visit Beth Jacob Synagogue on Fri. 11/8 after one more session of study.
There are several ways Jews work to repair the world and make it whole. One of the primary ways is through “mitzvoth,” which are good deeds or commandments that Jews do and follow. Today, we focus on one way of doing this work of good deeds and repair: “Tikkun Olam.”
Using the below Leader Resources, explain the idea of Tikkun Olam to your youth. Be sure to highlight that Tikkun Olam represents a distinctive Jewish attitude towards life: The idea that the world can be made better by human action. This may not sound that radical to UU youth. But it’s worth reminding them that not all religions believe that human action can fundamentally improve the world.
One simple but sweet explanation of Tikkun Olam is here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BUmZqu2E3sU
ENGAGE
The Broken Pieces in Front of Us: Sculpture Activity
After explaining the concept of Tikkun Olam, create a group sculpture representing the work of Tikkun Olam and the meaning it has for our own lives.
Break a medium-sized pot or vase. The goal is to avoid shattering it and instead end up with 8-12 pieces that can be easily glued back together.
One way is to this is to cover the vase/pot with a towel and hit it gently with a hammer a few times.
Once it is in pieces, invite the youth to think of one way they are being invited to offer kindness, healing or repair to others and the world. What opportunity for repair is sitting right in front of them? With that in mind, ask the youth to take one broken piece and decorate it in a way that symbolizes the “repair work” or act of kindness they want to do in the coming week or month. Use glitter glue or silver and gold Sharpies to represent the divine light attached to the shattered shards. Then use E-6000 glue or glue guns to repair the vase/pot/bowl.
Place it on your worship table when done.
Have the youth share what their piece represents.
More pictures from the evening:
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