Note: This lesson is best integrated into the curriculum after Rosh Hashanah has ended and before the eve of Yom Kippur.
Set Induction:
Discuss the Jewish Holiday of Rosh Hashanah.
Ask several questions to review what students know about the holiday, discussion questions may include:
- “Did anyone go to synagogue on Rosh Hashanah?"
- “Did you hear any songs you knew? Which?"
- “Did anyone hear the shofar blast?”
- “What did it sound like? (Give students the opportunity to try to imitate the sound of the shofar.)"
- “Who knows why we blow the shofar? “
Discuss with students what they might know or have experiences about the
tashlich ceremony that occurs following Rosh Hashanah-when we symbolically “cast off” or toss pieces of bread into flowing water, to activate background knowledge before partaking in the activity. Guide students to understand that Jewish people say that we are sorry for mistakes we have made and people we have hurt. on Yom Kippur, and just as the water carries away the bread, the things we do wrong are carried away .
Remind students the our next holiday is Yom Kippur. What do students know about Yom Kippur? Make a class list to reflect their understanding of this important holiday. Reinforce, clarify, and guide them as appropriate.
For example:
What’s the most important thing we say on Yom Kippur? ( “I’m sorry.”)
When do we say, “I’m sorry?” (We say “I’m sorry” to the people that we’ve hurt. Sometimes, we hurt people’s feelings without even knowing we’ve done something wrong. On Yom Kippur we say, “I’m sorry” to EVERYONE! )
Share the story of Jonah, in one or more of the formats that best suits your community, orally, and/or with a picture book, and/or with a video.
As you prepare to share the story:
Ask, “What’s the biggest fish you can think of? Have students draw a picture of the biggest fish they have ever seen and share. Explain that they will be hearing the story of Jonah and how Jonah ran away from G-d when he was scared, and found himself inside a great big fish. (As appropriate, you may wish to explain that in many stories about Jonah, he is swallowed by a great big whale, which is a mammal-- not a fish.)
While you share the story:
Encouraging student questions, comments and predictions. Stop and ask the children to give give Jonah advice at the following points: When Jonah decides to run away rather than listen to G-d; when Jonah is on the ship, when Jonah is in the whale’s belly; at the end of the story.
Suggested ways to share the story:
Oral ReTell
Share the story through a classic storytelling, familiarize yourself with the original text
MyJewishLearning-Jonah and get tips for
storytelling strategies.
Book
Read
Jonah and the Great Big Fish by Rhonda Gowler Greene which tales the story of Jonah
in simple to follow rhyme:
“God told Jonah to obey, said, ‘Go to Nineveh this day.’
But, stubborn Jonah fled instead. Didn’t do just what God said.”
Video
“Overboard” A song by Josh Nelson
Jonah and The Whale Musical Cartoon:
The story of “Jonah and the Big Fish” in a very “child-friendly way” though simple puppetry and narration:
Jonah on YouTube
After sharing the story, discussion questions might include:
- What did Jonah do when he was scared and didn’t want to listen to G-d? (He
ran away from G-d.)
- Do you think that running away a good idea?
- What could Jonah do instead of running away? (i.e. Say, “ I’m sorry, “ have
faith in G-d, ask G-d for forgiveness, etc.)
- Do you think anyone can ever run away from G-d? Why or why not?
Before students leave for the Yom Kippur holiday say, “
g’mar chatima tovah.” Explain that it means, “I hope you have a great year!” and that it is important to say to our friends and family on Yom Kippur . Give each the opportunity to say this to the class and remind them to say it to all their friends and family! --“I hope you have a great year!”