Until now, we’ve discussed using literature to teach Torah at home, whether as homeschoolers or as parents or grandparents. This post is about using Jewish literature in traditional classrooms. Rebbetzin Sarah Feldbrand is the former principal of Bnos Chava High School, where she introduced a ninth grade curriculum based on the following four novels: her own The Decree, Rabbi Meir Uri Gottesman’s The Morning Star and The Harp, and And Rachel Was His Wife, written anonymously. The curriculum covers the period from the Babylonian exile to the destruction of the Second Temple.
In addition to the reading, Rebbetzin Feldbrand asks her students questions and gives them assignements based on the books. Here are some examples:
For The Decree:
1. Create two letters. In one have the writer explain why he is choosing to stay in Babylon. In the other have the writer explain why he is opting to go back to the Land of Israel.
2. What do you think you would have chosen to do if you had lived in Shushan?
3. How was life the same in Shushan as it is now? How was it different?
For The Morning Star:
1. Cite several examples of the dangers that lurked in Jerusalem and explain what the dangers were?
2. Why was Yitzchak initially asked so many questions about his lifestyle?
3. Would you enjoy living during the time of this book? Explain why or why not.
For And Rachel Was His Wife:
1. What did you learn about the Romans from reading this book?
2. Describe the activities of day to day life in Rabbi Akiva’s time. What did women do? What did men do?
3. How did their lives resemble ours? How were they different?
Please e-mail me if you’re interested in the full list of questions and assignments.