Category Archives: Discussion Plan

Discussion Plan: Setting Civic Norms

Discussion Plan: Setting Civic Norms:

Are these actions within the bounds of our civic (societal) norms or are they socially unacceptable?  Why do you think these might be socially acceptable/unacceptable? 

  1. Not raking the leaves on your own lawn
  2. Leaving rubbish on the front porch all week
  3. Swapping babies at the hospital – you want a girl (but had a boy), they want a boy (but had a girl) – so you agree to swap
  4. Talking about someone behind their back
  5. Not helping a friend with their homework if they ask for your help
  6. Being grounded by your parents
  7. Not sending out thank you notes when you receive presents
  8. Not offering your seat when you notice an elderly person standing on the bus
  9. Refusing to do something your parents ask you because you don’t feel like it
  10. Refusing to do something your parents ask you because you think it is wrong
  11. Avoiding a friend when you are angry at them
  12. Parents giving a child a slap to punish them
  13. Parents giving their child a slap as they reach for the hot stove

Exercise: Lashon hara in Tanach

Look up these examples of lashon hara – what were the consequences? Was there a punishment?

  1. Bereshit    3: 1-20         The serpant uses ‘lashon hara’ with Eve 
  2. Bereshit  18: 12-15       Sarah uses ‘lashon hara’ with Abraham
  3. Bereshit  37:2               Joseph uses ‘lashon hara’ with his brothers
  4. Devarim 14: 36-37        Spies use ‘lashon hara’ with the people

Discussion Plan: Deciding whether something is a punishment

How do we decide if something we experience is a punishment?

  1. Your parents ground you
  2. Your parents ask you to look after your younger siblings
  3. You receive homework from your teacher
  4. Your mother says you can’t go out until you clean your room
  5. You are teased at school
  6. You get sick just as the holidays start and can’t spend time with your friends
  7. You forgot your friend’s birthday and the next day you find out that they forgot  to invite you to their party.

 

Exercise: Punishment, Illness, Markings-ms

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Which do you consider could result from punishment, which are illnesses, which are markings (blemishes)? Which require isolation?

Punishment Illness         Marking       (eg., mole, scar) requires isolation
Pinocchio’s nose growing longer
Rashes
Pimples
Bruises
Leukemia*
Chicken pox*
Flu
Anorexia*
Mole or freckle
Broken leg
Bee sting
Allergies
Aids
Sterility
Tongue piercing
Leprosy (skin disease)
Ear piercing
Tattoos
Cuts
Burn
Depression

* Leukemia is a form of cancer

* Chicken pox is a very contagious. One of the symptoms is a red itchy rash

* Anorexia is an eating disorder where the person is obsessed with the fear of gaining weight and gets thinner and thinner.