Bibliodrama for group with children and intermarrieds?

[Yael Unterman]

Dear all,

We haven't used this forum for a long time but I have  question. I have been asked to do a bibliodrama for a group that will contain several challenges.
1) It will be intergenerational - from six year old child to grandfather (it is a family group)
2) It contains intermarried people so no stories that touch too strongly on Jewish identity
3) I have been told to "avoid anything that might bring 'open scars' to the surface" (e.g. inter-marriage) and to find "something safe, thinking about it, something to do more with 'tikkun-olam' 'achnasat-orchim' something 'feel-good'."

The Cain and Abel story I have been told does not feel safe enough.

My feeling is that the Tanach stories are not safe and feel-good; they are full of drama and conflict, and Jewish identity issues.  Going through Bereshit now, I can barely find anything that is very sweet and safe, as the Tanach does not bother to tell us about when times were good. Plus that would make for a boring bibliodrama.

But do you have any ideas for Tanach OR perhaps Talmud stories that don't involve death or sexuality, or Jewish tribalism, and could be understood by children?
So far I have only come up with around three.

Secondly - any ideas for how to include both children and adults in the same bibliodrama? I have never done that before....

Thanks! Hope you are all well.

Yael

 

 

[Stacey Blank]

Quick thoughts –

The Joseph story – has lots of brothers so the kids can play different parts.  You can focus on sibling rivalry, parents picking favorites, what should Joseph have done, what should his family have done so they could have gotten along.  But maybe it was for the best because then Joseph could save them.

A feel-good Tanach story is Ruth – about going on a journey to a new place, being confident and loving, not afraid to do hard work and to speak up to find true love (put very simplistically)

Maybe the story of Miriam saving Moses  in the basket – also they are kids so you can bring the kids into it, focusing on Miriam’s heroism as a kid and that kids CAN make a difference – something a la the Disney movie, Prince of Egypt.

 

Good luck!

Stacey

 

Rabbi Stacey Blank             הרבָּה סטייסי בלנק

Home: 972-77-662-3060                  בית:

 Cell: 972-54-779-1030נייד:           

 

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[Yael Unterman]

Thanks Stacey for your thoughts.

The Joseph story is one I too thought of.
Ruth is a great idea but unfortunately problematic for intermarrieds, as she is a non-Jewess joining the Jewish people, and I don't want to go there just in case it's sensitive.
Your third idea is a sweet one, though of course the background (of Pharaoh wanting to eliminate all the baby boys) is very dark - I am realising that few stories in the Tanach are not dark in some way or another (in the Ruth story, Naomi's husband and both sons die!)

Anyway thanks a lot.

Yael

At 22:04 13/03/2013, Stacey Blank wrote:

Quick thoughts –
The Joseph story – has lots of brothers so the kids can play different partss.  You can focus on sibling rivalry, parents picking favorites, what should Joseph have done, what should his family have done so they could have gotten along.  But maybe it was for the best because then Joseph could save them.
A feel-good Tanach story is Ruth – about going on a journey to a new place, beinng confident and loving, not afraid to do hard work and to speak up to find true love (put very simplistically)
Maybe the story of Miriam saving Moses  in the basket – also they are kids so you can bring the kids into it, focusing on Miriam’s heroism as a kid and that kids CAN make a difference – something a la the Disney movie, Prince of Egypt.
 
Good luck!
Stacey
 
Rabbi Stacey Blank             הרבָּה סטייסי ×‘×œ× ×§
Home: 972-77-662-3060                  בית:
 Cell: 972-54-779-1030× ×™×™×“:          Â

 
Check out my blog: http://rabbistaceyblank.wordpress.com/

http://rabbastaceyblank.wordpress.com/ ×§×¨× ×• × ×ª הבלוג שלי:  

 
From: bibliodra...@googlegroups.com [ mailto:bibliodra...@googlegroups.com] On Behalf Of Yael Unterman
Sent: ×™×•× ×“ 13 מרץ 2013 21:30
To: bibliodra...@googlegroups.com
Subject: Bibliodrama for group with children and intermarrieds?
 
Dear all,

We haven't used this forum for a long time but I have  question. I have been asked to do a bibliodrama for a group that will contain several challenges.
1) It will be intergenerational - from six year old child to grandfather (it is a family group)
2) It contains intermarried people so no stories that touch too strongly on Jewish identity
3) I have been told to "avoid anything that might bring 'open scars' to the surface" (e.g. inter-marriage) and to find "something safe, thinking about it, something to do more with 'tikkun-olam' 'achnasat-orchim' something 'feel-good'."

The Cain and Abel story I have been told does not feel safe enough.

My feeling is that the Tanach stories are not safe and feel-good; they are full of drama and conflict, and Jewish identity issues.  Going through Bereshit now, I can barely find anything that is very sweet and safe, as the Tanach does not bother to tell us about when times were good. Plus that would make for a boring bibliodrama.

But do you have any ideas for Tanach OR perhaps Talmud stories that don't involve death or sexuality, or Jewish tribalism, and could be understood by children?
So far I have only come up with around three.

Secondly - any ideas for how to include both children and adults in the same bibliodrama? I have never done that before....

Thanks! Hope you are all well.

Yael

 
 
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Creative educator, life coach, translator www.yaelunterman.com

[Toby Klein Greenwald]

I didn't reply right away but not for lack of thinking about it.

Aside from the dilemma, I find the situation itself so representative of the times in which we live.

I've worked a lot with the story of Ruth in Biblio-Playback (not to mention having co-authored our Raise Your Spirits musical on the book). I would like to suggest that you be bold and grab the bull metaphorically by the horns and try the story of Ruth as being about a woman who is accepted by Boaz even though she is a stranger. It is Ruth (Naomi actually) who make/s the first move, not Boaz.

Will they see it as missionizing? Bibliodrama is all about what THEY have to say, not you.

And they are in Israel, are they not?

 

Oops, went back and read your first post and you were instructed to not touch on anything…touchy.

 

I find myself agreeing, then, with Stacey that the Joseph story has many universal elements in which children can also be included.

 

Many years ago I remember taking a drama workshop with someone called Shulamit (she's retired now…the name will come to me…) who had us stand in a circle and all be Joseph's brothers while one person stood in the middle as Joseph and s/he had to walk around the circle trying to find a friendly face while everyone else scowled at him. (Presumably Benjamin didn't scowl…) It was very powerful. (I remember because I was Joseph.) Years later I used that little exercise while preparing our RYS cast to perform Joseph.

 

I know it's not traditional bibliodrama but maybe you can find a way to work that into the session – having children taking turns being the Joseph in the middle; perhaps they can volunteer to switch so there would be a number of Josephs, and then ask them how they felt being there. You can give them enough psukim from which to choose so each of them can decide which brother they are playing, and debrief them after the fact, which would bring it back to bibliodrama, kind of.

 

Good luck! Let us know what happens, whatever you choose!

 

Oh, and of course, there is always the story of Creation. And of Noah. Those preceded Judaism. And what's more fun for kids than planets and animals?

 

TKG

 

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[Yael Unterman]

Thanks very much Toby.
I like that Joseph exercise.
The story of Creation could also be good.

Yael

At 04:57 15/03/2013, you wrote:

I didn't reply right away but not for lack of thinking about it.
Aside from the dilemma, I find the situation itself so representative of the times in which we live.
I've worked a lot with the story of Ruth in Biblio-Playback (not to mention having co-authored our Raise Your Spirits musical on the book). I would like to suggest that you be bold and grab the bull metaphorically by the horns and try the story of Ruth as being about a woman who is accepted by Boaz even though she is a stranger. It is Ruth (Naomi actually) who make/s the first move, not Boaz.
Will they see it as missionizing? Bibliodrama is all about what THEY have to say, not you.
And they are in Israel, are they not?
 

Oops, went back and read your first post and you were instructed to not touch on anything…toouchy.

 
I find myself agreeing, then, with Stacey that the Joseph story has many universal elements in which children can also be included.
 

Many years ago I remember taking a drama workshop with someone called Shulamit (she's retired now…the name will come to me…) who had us stand in a circle and all be Joseeph's brothers while one person stood in the middle as Joseph and s/he had to walk around the circle trying to find a friendly face while everyone else scowled at him. (Presumably Benjamin didn't scowl…) It was very powerful. (I remember because II was Joseph.) Years later I used that little exercise while preparing our RYS cast to perform Joseph.
 
I know it's not traditional bibliodrama but maybe you can find a way to work that into the session – having children taking turns being the Joseph in the middle; perhaps they can volunteer to switch so there would be a number of Josephs, and then ask them how they felt being there. You can give them enough psukim from which to choose so each of them can decide which brother they are playing, and debrief them after the fact, which would bring it back to bibliodrama, kind of.

 
Good luck! Let us know what happens, whatever you choose!
 
Oh, and of course, there is always the story of Creation. And of Noah. Those preceded Judaism. And what's more fun for kids than planets and animals?
 
TKG
 

From: bibliodra...@googlegroups.com [ mailto:bibliodra...@googlegroups.com] On Behalf Of Yael Unterman
Sent: Wednesday, March 13, 2013 10:10 PM
To: bibliodra...@googlegroups.com; bibliodra...@googlegroups.com
Subject: RE: Bibliodrama for group with children and intermarrieds?

 
Thanks Stacey for your thoughts.

The Joseph story is one I too thought of.
Ruth is a great idea but unfortunately problematic for intermarrieds, as she is a non-Jewess joining the Jewish people, and I don't want to go there just in case it's sensitive.
Your third idea is a sweet one, though of course the background (of Pharaoh wanting to eliminate all the baby boys) is very dark - I am realising that few stories in the Tanach are not dark in some way or another (in the Ruth story, Naomi's husband and both sons die!)

Anyway thanks a lot.

Yael



At 22:04 13/03/2013, Stacey Blank wrote:

Quick thoughts –

The Joseph story – has lots of brothers so the kids can play differrent partss.  You can focus on sibling rivalry, parents picking favorites, what should Joseph have done, what should his family have done so they could have gotten along.  But maybe it was for the best because then Joseph could save them.
A feel-good Tanach story is Ruth – about going on a journey to a neew place, beinng confident and loving, not afraid to do hard work and to speak up to find true love (put very simplistically)
Maybe the story of Miriam saving Moses  in the basket ‬“ also they are kids so you can bring the kids into it, focusing on Miriamâ€â„„¢s heroism as a kid and that kids CAN make a difference – something a la the Disney movie, Prince of Egypt.
 
Good luck!
Stacey
 
Rabbi Stacey Blank             ׆רבָּ׆סטייס×â¡Ã—â„¢ בל× ק
Home: 972-77-662-3060                  בית:
 Cell: 972-54-779-1030× ×™Ã—™Ã—âד:          Â

 
Check out my blog: http://rabbistaceyblank.wordpress.com/

http://rabbastaceyblank.wordpress.com/ קר× ×• × ת Ã׆בלו×’ à של×™:   n>

 
From: bibliodra...@googlegroups.com [ mailto:bibliodra...@googlegroups.com] On Behalf Of Yael Unterman
Sent: י×—•Ã— ד 13 מרץ 201013 21:30
To: bibliodra...@googlegroups.com
Subject: Bibliodrama for group with children and intermarrieds?
 
Dear all,

We haven't used this forum for a long time but I have  question. I have been asked to do a bibliodrama for a group that will contain several challenges.
1) It will be intergenerational - from six year old child to grandfather (it is a family group)
2) It contains intermarried people so no stories that touch too strongly on Jewish identity
3) I have been told to "avoid anything that might bring 'open scars' to the surface" (e.g. inter-marriage) and to find "something safe, thinking about it, something to do more with 'tikkun-olam' 'achnasat-orchim' something 'feel-good'."

The Cain and Abel story I have been told does not feel safe enough.

My feeling is that the Tanach stories are not safe and feel-good; they are full of drama and conflict, and Jewish identity issues.  Going through Bereshit now, I can barely find anything that is very sweet and safe, as the Tanach does not bother to tell us about when times were good. Plus that would make for a boring bibliodrama.

But do you have any ideas for Tanach OR perhaps Talmud stories that don't involve death or sexuality, or Jewish tribalism, and could be understood by children?
So far I have only come up with around three.

Secondly - any ideas for how to include both children and adults in the same bibliodrama? I have never done that before....

Thanks! Hope you are all well.

Yael

 
 
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[Yael Unterman]

Thank you all for your suggestions about the intergenerational bibliodrama. In the end I chose the birth of Moses story as being one that has children in it and therefore the children could participate. I ran it once as an tryout with a family I know and then did it with the Australian family group.

I found that it's not easy doing intergenerational - the need to keep six kids engaged for over an hour meant that a lot more playacting happened and less bibliodrama, and less work with the adults was possible, but the adults were integrated and asked to engage with the story to some degree. Still, I have to say that I prefer doing it with just adults, or just kids who are a bit older.

Another new thing I'm trying out is a four part series (on Ruth) - never done that before and it's exciting to make our way through one book.

regards

Yael

[Moshe and Chaviva Speter]

שלום לכולם

יעל, אני עכשיו בספריה , בעבר העברתי שניים או שלושה מפגשים של בבליודרמה על מגילת רות , מדובר בעבר רחוק  כשאהיה בבית אבדוק אם יש לי דברים רשומים מאז.... אני זוכרת שפרק אחד עסק "בנשוקה ובדבוקה" נקודת הדילמה של ערפה לחזור לעמה גילה דברים ממש מעניינים , אנחנו בדרך כלל רגילים לחשוב על  רות והמעשה שלה  וערפה קצת עומדת בצל שלה...

ודרך אגב ראיתי את ספרך על נחמה ליבוביץ על המדף לראשונה... דרישת שלום חביבה

2013/4/8 Yael Unterman <yae...@zahav.net.il>

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[מיכאל הנדלסמן‎]

הי חביבה,
מה שלומך ?
long time...
בדיוק אתמול קיבלתי הצעה להעביר ביבליודרמה על רות
ואני מגבש חומרים
אשמח לקבל רעיונות....

2013/4/8 Moshe and Chaviva Speter <speter...@gmail.com>

[Moshe and Chaviva Speter]

שלום מיכאל אכן זמן רב...

אני ממליצה מאד על ד"ר של חברה שלי אורית אבנרי שכתבה על רות ואסתר. אם מזדמנים לספריה לאומית ניתן לקרוא שם , יש לה ניתוחים ספרותיים... גם הסדרה מקרא לישראל עם פרוש של יאיר זקוביץ כהכנה של הפשט. והספר הישן והטוב של יהושע בכרך מכיל הסתכלויות בראי מדרשי שגם הם יכולים להיות פתח...

אני אוהבת בבליודרמות שאני עושה לשלב לימוד של מדרשים לאחר הסשין של הבבליודרמה , ואודה על האמת שכבר המון זמן שלא יצא לי להעביר בבליודרמה, אני מנסה לשלב קצת בבליודרמה בקורסים שאני מלמדת למורות....

כל טוב ודרישת שלום , ודרך אגב אנחנו מתקרבים לירושלים ומתכננים לעבור בקיץ לכפר עציון כך שיהיה לי יותר קל לחדש מפגשים של בבליודרמה....

חביבה

בתאריך 8 באפריל 2013 10:00, מאת מיכאל הנדלסמן <mike...@gmail.com>: