JTown-Session 1

JTown: ‫ירושלים של כולם‬
Session 1 – Trigger/Introduction (45 Minutes)
Tziyud Needed:
1. Small pieces of paper (one per chanich/a, with a few spares), plus coloring
equipment (e.g. crayons, markers, etc.) and other arts and crafts supplies.
2. Television and DVD player or a computer. You will also need the two
music videos that are available on the “RILI CD” or from the National
Ramah Program Bank.
3. Double-sided song sheets (one per chanich/a) (Appendix I)
4. Map packets (one between every two chanichim) (Appendix II)
5. If you intend on facilitating the extra map discussion, at the end of Part C,
you will need to print a copy of the additional map (Appendix III)
Procedure:
 Part A – Trigger 1 (15 minutes)
• The madrich/a should ask each chanich/a to draw a picture of Jerusalem,
according to what the city means to him/her. The picture does not have to
be realistic; ideally, it should be symbolic/abstract. Afterwards, each
chanich/a will be asked to present his picture, and explain it, relating it to
what Jerusalem means to him/her.
• The madrich/a should highlight that although there exist similarities
between different chanichims’ conceptions of Jerusalem, there were clear
differences (hopefully this will actually be the case) and that it is
important that we realize this point before we even commence this unit of
study. Moreover, what holds true for this group of chanichim on a microlevel holds true for the Jewish world and especially Israeli society on a
macro-level, and certainly for the Arab, Haredi, and non-Jewish worlds.
 Part B – Trigger 2 (20 minutes)
• The madrich/a should distribute lyrics sheets (Appendix I) and then play
“Im Eshkachech Yerushalayim,” sung by Yaakov Shwekey and “Jerusalem
If I Forget You,” sung by Matisyahu. Both of these are available on the
“RILI CD” or from the National Ramah Program Bank.
o Please note that, depending on the time available, you may like to
only show a portion of “Im Eshkachech,” as it is relatively long.
•
Suggested sicha questions:
o Did you recognize any of the places in the “Im Eshkachech
Yerushalayim” video? If so, which ones? Have you been to any of
these places before?
o Were most of these places in “Old” or “New” (also, East or West)
Jerusalem?
o Which part of the city is the “more authentic” Jerusalem?
o Which part is more relevant to you as Diaspora youth?
o Might this answer be different for Israelis, or for you if you lived in
Israel?
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JTown: ‫ירושלים של כולם‬
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•
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o This song comes from Psalms 137:5-6, which is sung, among other
places, under the chuppah at a wedding, and which some Jews say
before Birkat HaMazon on yamei chol. To which part of Jerusalem do
you think it is referring?
o When Jews sang this throughout the ages, to which part(s) of
Jerusalem were they referring?
o What are the similarities and differences between the two songs?
Compare and contrast them. Which is more meaningful to you, and
why?
It is important to stress that Jerusalem is holy to Judaism, because Mount
Moriyah is traditionally the site associated with Akedat Yitzchak/the
Binding of Isaac, Even HaShetiyah/the Foundation Stone (from which the
world was created, according to midrash), and the site of the First and
Second Temples. Jews pray towards Jerusalem three times a day, and
participate in a number of religious rituals to remember its destruction and
express hope for its rebuilding (e.g. Tisha B’Av, breaking the glass at the
chuppah, leaving a corner of a house unpainted, salting the challah at the
Shabbat table, putting ashes on the head of the chatan at a wedding, and
leaving the dining table not completely set).
Especially as many of the other sessions of this unit deal with challenging
themes, it is important to stress wholeheartedly the Jewish connection to
Jerusalem. Do not take it for granted that the intense, long-lasting, and
enduring nature of this connection is familiar to the campers.
Is the holiness of Jerusalem intrinsic (i.e. Jerusalem is holy because
Jerusalem is holy) or a construct (i.e. Jerusalem is holy because people
infused it with holiness)? Is one type of holiness “better” than the other
type of holiness, or is the distinction between them irrelevant? Why/why
not?
 Part C – Maps (10 mins)
• The madrich/a should distribute maps of Jerusalem throughout the ages
(Appendix II and included on the “RILI CD”) and show how Jerusalem’s
borders have changed throughout history. All maps are taken from Martin
Gilbert, Jerusalem: Illustrated History Atlas, in conjunction with The Board
of Deputies of British Jews, London, 1977. It should be noted that the
maps are not intended to be used as a resource to teach an extensive
history of Jerusalem, but simply to demonstrate the changing face of
Jerusalem throughout history.
• Distribute and examine the final map – “Jerusalem Boundaries 19472000”. (Note: This map is published by the Palestinian Academic Society
for the Study of International Affairs, but it does portray an accurate picture
of the changing nature of the borders of Jerusalem over the last halfcentury.)
• ”The question of “What is Jerusalem?” should be addressed. In other
words, if “Im Eshkachech” was sung by Jews for the last 2500 years, how
does this song – and how should a Jew – relate to the neighborhoods of
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JTown: ‫ירושלים של כולם‬
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•
Jerusalem which are new, having only been built in the last almost 150
years?
If we have asked the question “What is Jerusalem?” and examined the
different physical maps of Jerusalem throughout the ages, we must also
examine the notion of “Yerushalayim shel Ma’alah” (Heavenly Jerusalem)
and “Yerushalayim shel Mata” (Earthly Jerusalem). Perhaps the song was
never about an actual area of land called “Jerusalem,” but rather about an
idea or concept called “Jerusalem.” What is the difference between the
two Jerusalems? Can these differences be reconciled? Which is the
“holier” Jerusalem?
As an additional point, if you have time, the 1581 map of Jerusalem as the
center of the world (Appendix III) can be shown to the chanichim.
o What is the difference between this map and “regular” maps?
o Why would somebody draw a map that cannot be used like a
“regular map”?
o What is the purpose of each type of map?
o Which type of map is more important? Why?
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JTown: ‫ירושלים של כולם‬
Appendix I
“If I forget you, O Jerusalem”
(Psalm 137)
"‫"אִ ם אֶ שְׁ ָכּחֵ* יְרוּשָׁ ָליִם‬
(‫קלז‬:‫)תהילים‬
:‫שׁבְנוּ גַּם ָבּכִינוּ ְבּזָכ ְֵרנוּ ֶאת צִיּוֹן‬
ַ ָ ‫שׁם י‬
ָ ‫עַל נַהֲרוֹת ָבּבֶל‬
‫שׁאֵלוּנוּ‬
ְ ‫שׁם‬
ָ ‫ כִּי‬:‫עַל ע ֲָרבִים בְּתוֹכָהּ תָּ לִינוּ כִּנּ ֹרוֹתֵ ינוּ‬
‫שׂ ְמחָה שִׁירוּ לָנוּ ִמשִׁיר‬
ִ ‫שׁוֹבֵינוּ דִּ ב ְֵרי שִׁיר וְתוֹ ָללֵינוּ‬
:‫ נָשִׁיר ֶאת שִׁיר י ְהוָה עַל אַדְ ַמת נֵכָר‬1‫ אֵי‬:‫צִיּוֹן‬
By the rivers of Babylon, there we sat, sat and
wept, as we thought of Zion. There on the
poplars we hung up our lyres, for our captors
asked us there for songs, our tormentors, for
amusement: “Sing us one of the songs of
Zion.” How can we sing a song of the Lord on
alien soil?
If I forget you, O Jerusalem, let my right
hand wither; let my tongue stuck to my
palate if I cease to think of you, if I do not
keep Jerusalem in memory even at my
happiest hour.
‫ תִּ דְ בַּק לְשׁוֹנִי‬:‫ יְרוּשָׁ ָליִם תִּ שְׁ כַּח יְמִינִי‬0ֵ‫אִ ם אֶ שְׁ ָכּח‬
‫ְל ִחכִּי אִ ם לא אֶ זְכּ ְֵרכִי אִ ם לא אַ ֲעלֶה אֶ ת יְרוּשָׁ ָליִם עַל‬
:‫ראשׁ שִׂ ְמחָתִ י‬
Remember, O Lord, against the Edomites the
day of Jerusalem’s fall; how they cried, “Strip
he, strip her to her very foundations!” Fair
Babylon, you predator, a blessing on him who
repays you in kind what you have inflicted on
us; a blessing on him who seizes your babies
and dashes them against the rocks!
‫שׁ ָלי ִם הָא ֹ ְמ ִרים עָרוּ עָרוּ‬
ָ ‫זְכ ֹר ה` ִל ְבנֵי ֱאדוֹם ֵאת יוֹם י ְרוּ‬
‫ ֶאת‬$ָ‫שׁלֶּם ל‬
ַ ְ ‫שׁי‬
ֶ ‫שׁ ֵרי‬
ְ ‫שּׁדוּדָ ה ַא‬
ְ ‫ בַּת ָבּבֶל ַה‬:‫עַד ַהי ְסוֹד בָּהּ‬
‫ אֶל‬$ִ ‫שׁ ֵרי שֶׁיּ ֹאחֵז ְונִפֵּץ ֶאת ע ֹ ָל ַלי‬
ְ ‫ ַא‬:‫שׁ ָגּ ַמלְתְּ לָנוּ‬
ֶ $ֵ‫גְּמוּל‬
:‫ַה ָסּלַע‬
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JTown: ‫ירושלים של כולם‬
"Jerusalem If I Forget You"
by Matisyahu
[Chorus]
Jerusalem, if I forget you,
Fire not gonna come from me tongue.
Jerusalem, if I forget you,
Let my right hand forget what it's supposed to do.
In the ancient days, we will return with no delay
Picking up the bounty and the spoils on our way
We've been traveling from state to state
And them don't understand what they say
3,000 years with no place to be
And they want me to give up my milk and honey
Don't you see, it's not about the land or the sea
Not the country but the dwelling of his majesty
[chorus]
Rebuild the temple and the crown of glory
Years gone by, about sixty
Burn in the oven in this century
And the gas tried to choke, but it couldn't choke me
I will not lie down, I will not fall asleep
They come overseas, yes they're trying to be free
Erase the demons out of our memory
Change your name and your identity
Afraid of the truth and our dark history
Why is everybody always chasing we
Cut off the roots of your family tree
Don't you know that's not the way to be
[chorus]
Caught up in these ways, and the worlds gone craze
Don't you know it's just a phase
Case of the Simon says
If I forget the truth then my words won't penetrate
Babylon burning in the place, can't see through the haze
Chop down all of them dirty ways,
That's the price that you pay for selling lies to the youth
No way, not ok, oh no way, not ok, hey
Aint no one gonna break my stride
Aint no one gonna pull me down
Oh no, I got to keep on moving
Stay alive
[chorus]
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JTown: ‫ירושלים של כולם‬
Appendix III
1581 map of Jerusalem as the center of the world
(From: http://www.zionism-israel.com/maps/Jerusalem_1581_Map.htm)
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