LESSON PLANS | Cantor Anna May

Psalms of Healing in Music and Art (Published on JTeach.org)

A lesson plan and audio "blendspace" integrating music and art into study of the Psalms

https://jteach.org/project/psalms-of-healing-in-music-and-art/

Psalms Blendspace (collection of curated videos of musical settings):

https://www.tes.com/lessons/y7KaMq3hBJXTeg/jteach-org-s-psalms

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Zemirot - Songs for the Shabbat Table

A multi-media exploration of shabbat songs from a variety of traditions

Grade Level(s)

All grades but ideal for grades 3-8

Goals for the Lesson/Activity

Students will

Learn about the tradition of singing songs at the Shabbat meal
Learn to sing zemirot from different traditions
Make their own Shabbat bencher (booklet of songs and prayers)

Materials needed

Text sheet, sample benchers (optional), art supplies: drawing/construction paper, cardstock paper (optional), colored pencils/crayons/markers, hole-puncher, yarn or ribbon, glue stick, scissors

Technology needed

Laptop computer or tablet to play music

Background for Teachers

“Just as the Sabbath is central to Jewish life and tradition, music has always been indispensable to the Sabbath”

- Neil Levin, introduction to Z’mirot Anthology

Zemirot are songs traditionally sung on Shabbat, during or following the Shabbat meal on Friday night and Shabbat day. In the Sephardic tradition, they are also known as pizmonim. Unlike during the week, on Shabbat we have time to sit, eat and sing with friends and family, without the pressures and obligations of work, school and daily tasks. Along with the blessings and rituals before and after the meal, the singing of zemirot elevates the meal to a spiritual level, and increases the joy and festivity of Shabbat.

The tradition of singing zemirot is quite old, and it seems that precursors to what we now know as zemirot were even sung in Ancient Israel. A reference in the Talmud (Sota 48a) tells us that this practice ceased following the destruction of the second Temple. Yet the practice of singing table songs did continue and developed over the centuries. By the time of the early Middle Ages, singing zemirot was an established custom.

Most of the songs are based on Hebrew and Aramaic poetry from the 10th – 17th centuries. They share themes rooted in two ideas in the Talmud – one is the idea that two angels accompany a Jew home from the synagogue on Friday night (one of the most famous of the zemirot, Shalom Aleichem, is based directly on this). The other idea is that on Shabbat we partake of special food and drink, in order to honor the day (Tzur Mishelo is a good example of this). These themes are a common thread throughout the zemirot.

(Based on introduction to Z’mirot Anthology, Neil Levin, 1981 Tara Publications)

Description of Activities

Begin by talking about the tradition of singing Shabbat zemirot.

What are zemirot?

Why do we sing them?

Which zemirot are you familiar with?

As a group, listen to one of the settings of Shalom Aleichem (choose from those listed below or your own)

Hand out songs sheets with the Hebrew text and translation of the song. Together, read through the translation and discuss – what are some of the themes of the song? Why do we sing it on Shabbat? Read the Talmud passage (above) about the two angels, on which the song is based.

Play a different version of the song and compare the two versions. Sing along.

Break the class into small groups, and ask each group to focus on a different song. They will listen to the song and read through the translation. What are some themes of the song? Listen to the song a few times and try to sing along.

Afterwards, come back together as a group and ask each group to present their song and what its about, to play the video and to sing along

2. Design your own bencher

Begin by passing out a variety of different benchers for the students to look through. Discuss what a bencher, or birkon is. Ask the students what they notice about the benchers? What kinds of texts are in the bencher? Ask them if they can find any of the songs they learned in the bencher.

Each student will get 4x5 song sheets with the text of the songs and English translation. On a separate sheet of 4x5 drawing paper, students can make illustrations based on the themes in the songs, and other Shabbat related images. You may want to ask for some suggestions from the group beforehand.

To make the book, take 3 sheets of 8.5 x 11 inch construction paper or cardstock paper. Punch three holes in the side with the fold, and cut short pieces of yarn or ribbon. Tie the yarn/ribbon through the holes and make a knot or bow.

On the right hand side pages of the book, use a glue stick to paste the song sheets into the book. On the left hand side pages, paste in the illustrations. Students can then add more illustration and decoration of their choice for the cover, back cover, and margins around the song sheets.

Afterwards, students can share and present their benchers to the group

Differentiation Options

Knowing that students learn in a variety of ways and modalities, the following options are provided to adjust the above lesson to meet the unique needs of your learners.

For learners who need more assistance

Make a bencher with just one or two songs instead of four. Or make a single illustrated song sheet for one song, to display or to use.
Work together as a group to make a bencher. Each student or pair of students can be responsible for illustrating one song

For learners who need extension opportunities

Use the benchers to sing along with the zemirot videos
Ask students to look up other zemirot on the internet and to present what they find
Add blessings to the bencher (Candlelighting, Kiddush, Motzi, etc.)