Lessons
We Belong at the Table: Centering Jewish Diversity
State standards
Results
2021 West Virginia Social Studies Curriculum Standards [See Full Text]
WV SS.G.16
Analyze ethnicity, nationalism and religion on regional cultures in a global society
(e.g., major world religions, various ethnic groups and rigidity of societal norms).
2014 Wyoming Social Studies Content and Performance Standards [See Full Text]
WY SS8.2.1
Compare and
contrast the ways various
groups (e.g., cliques, clubs,
ethnic communities, and
American Indian tribes)
meet human needs and
concerns (e.g., self-esteem,
friendship, and heritage)
and contribute to identity,
situations, and events.
WY SS12.2.1
Analyze and
evaluate the ways various
groups (e.g., social,
political, and cultural) meet
human needs and concerns
(e.g., individual needs and
common good) and
contribute to identity (e.g.,
group, national, and global),
situations, and events.
WY SS8.2.2
Examine and
evaluate how human
expression (e.g., language,
literature, arts, architecture,
traditions, beliefs, and
spirituality) contributes to
the development and
transmission of culture.
WY SS12.2.2
Analyze human
experience and cultural
expression (e.g., language,
literature, arts, traditions,
beliefs, spirituality, values,
and behavior) and illustrate
integrated views of a
specific culture.
WY SS8.2.3
Compare and
contrast the unique cultural
characteristics of various
groups within Wyoming
and the nation.
WY SS12.2.3
Evaluate how the
unique characteristics of
cultural groups have
contributed and continue to
influence Wyoming’s
history and contemporary
life (e.g., tribes, explorers,
early settlers, and
immigrants).
2018 Wisconsin Standards for Social Studies [See Full Text]
WI SS.BH1.b.m
Analyze how culture,
ethnicity, race, age, religiongender, and social class
affect a person's self-image
and identity and
interactions with others.
WI SS.BH2.a.h
Investigate how language
and culture can unify a
group of people.
Evaluate the factors that
contribute to cooperation
and conflict among peoples
of a country and the world
(e.g., language, religion,
culture, race, ethnicity,
gender, social or financial
inequity, political beliefs,
access to resources,
economics, environment).
2019 Washington Social Studies Learning Standards [See Full Text]
WA SS G3.6-8.1
Explain how learning about the geography of the world helps us understand global issues such as diversity, sustainability, and trade.
2023 Virginia History and Social Studies Standards of Learning [See Full Text]
VA SS WG.14.a
identifying and describing characteristics that contribute to cultural identity, cultural groups, and cultural landscapes
2014 College, Career and Civil Life C3 Framework for Social Studies Standards (Vermont) [See Full Text]
VT SS D2.Geo.5.6-8
Analyze the combinations of cultural and environmental characteristics that make places both similar to and different from other places.
VT SS D2.Geo.10.6-8.
Analyze the ways in which cultural and environmental characteristics vary among various regions of the world.
2022 Utah Core State Standards for Social Studies: 7-12 [See Full Text]
UT SS WG Standard 3.4
Students will identify the causes, methods, and effects for the diffusion and distribution of cultural characteristics among different places and regions.
UT SS WG Standard 3.5
Students will explain how the basic tenets of world religions affect the daily lives of people.
UT SS WH Standard 2.1
Students will identify and explain patternsin the development and diffusion and syncretismof world religions and philosophies, including Judaism,Hinduism,Greek philosophy, Confucianism, Buddhism, Christianity, and Islam.
Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills: Social Studies [See Full Text]
TX SS 113.18.c.13
The student understands the similarities and differences within and among cultures in various world societies
TX SS 113.43.d.17.b
describe central ideas and spatial distribution of major religious traditions, including Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Islam, Judaism, and Sikhism
2017 Tennessee Social Studies Standards [See Full Text]
TN SS CI.22
Explain multiculturalism, and analyze trends in acculturation and assimilation.
TN SS P.43
Define culture and diversity.
TN SS P.44
Examine cultural change, including variations within and across nations, and consider the following factors using psychological research: gender, race, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, and societal norms.
TN SS S.07
Describe components of culture (e.g., nonmaterial culture, norms and values, material culture, subcultures).
TN SS S.08
Explain how the various components of culture form a whole culture.
TN SS WG.20
Define the concept of culture and its components (e.g., culture hearth, culture traits, material and nonmaterial culture).
TN SS WG.28
Analyze how cultural characteristics (e.g., ethnicity, gender roles, identity, language, religion) link and/or divide regions or societies.
2018 Nevada Academic Content Standards for Social Studies [See Full Text]
NV SS.6-8.EWC.14.
Describe the factors that shape identity- including institutions, religion, language, social class, geography, culture, and society in ancient civilizations.
NV SS.6-8.EWC.16.
Investigate cultural developments within and across human societies with attention to belief systems, philosophies, ideologies, and the arts.
NV SS.6-8.WGGS.14.
Describe factors that shape identity- including institutions, religion, language, social class, geography, culture, and society.
NV SS.6-8.WGGS.16.
Investigate cultural developments within and across human societies with attention to belief systems, philosophies, ideologies, and the arts.
NV SS.9-12.WH.16.
Describe the factors that shape group, national, or individual identity, including but not limited to: institutions, relgion, language, social class, geography, culture, and society.
NV SS.9-12.WH.20.
Investigate the evolutions of belief systems, religions, philosophies, and ideologies across human societies.
NV SS.9-12.WH.23.
Analyze the complex relationship between dominant cultures and minority groups throughout world history, including but not limited to: causes of (race, ethnicity, gender, nationality, class and/or religion), reactions to, and long-term effects of oppression.
NV SS.9-12.WH.26.
Explore the positive and negative consequences of cultural interaction and diffusion.
2019 Nebraska Social Studies Standards [See Full Text]
NE SS 6.3.4
Interpret and summarize patterns of culture around the world.
NE SS 7.3.4
Interpret and summarize patterns of culture around the world.
NE SS HS.3.2.b
Examine the importance of places and regions to individual and social identity and how identities change over space and time.
NE SS HS.3.3
Explain components of Earth's physical systems and evaluate the impact of natural processes on human environments.
NE SS HS.3.4
Compare and contrast patterns of human populations and culture over space and time on a local, national, and global scale.
2006 K-12 Social Studies New Hampshire Curriculum Framework [See Full Text]
NH SS:GE:6:4.1
Recognize the demographic structure of a population and its underlying causes, e.g., birth rate, ethnic composition, or distribution of wealth.
NH SS:GE:6:4.2
Know the types of historical patterns of human migration, e.g., ethnic cleansing, overcoming physical barriers, or famine.
NH SS:GE:6:4.3
Understand the effects of movement on the characteristics of places, e.g., acculturation, assimilation, or movement.
NH SS:WH:6:3.1
Differentiate the spread of world religions, e.g., Judaism, Christianity, or Islam.
NH SS:WH:12:5.3
Analyze struggles for cultural continuity by Diaspora communities, e.g., ethnic Chinese, Jews, or Roma (gypsies).
2020 New Jersey Student Learning Standards: Social Studies [See Full Text]
NJ SS 6.2.8.HistoryUP.3.c
Compare and contrast the tenets of various world religions that developed in or around this time period (i.e., Buddhism, Christianity, Confucianism, Hinduism, Islam, Judaism, Sikhism, and Taoism), their patterns of expansion, and their responses to the current challenges of globalization.
2022 New Mexico Social Studies Standards [See Full Text]
NM SS 6.19.
Identify how differences and similarities between diverse groups impact perspectives.
NM SS 6.41.
Identify and compare the movement of key religions and philosophies over time.
NM SS 6.43.
Explain how religion and philosophy shaped European, Asian, and African societies during the post-classical period.
NM SS 6.52.
Examine and explain how the perspectives and encounters between Christians, Muslims, and Jews impacted individuals and society.
NM SS 9-12.Geo.19.
Evaluate the process of place-making and the development of place-based identity.
NM SS 9-12.Geo.22.
Evaluate the causes, characteristics, and impact of diffusion: the spread of ideas, religion, beliefs, cultural practices and traits, language, artifacts, methods, technologies, and diseases over time.
NM SS 9-12.Geo.24.
Analyze and predict how location, place, and region impact the evolution of human perspectives and identities.
NM SS 9-12.WH.16.
Identity, evaluate, and explain the causes, characteristics, and impact of diffusion: the spread of ideas, beliefs, religions, cultural practices and traits, language, artifacts, methods, technologies, and diseases across space and over time.
NM SS 9-12.ECI.15.
Identify and explore how current traditions, rites, and norms of identity groups have changed or are changing over time.
2016 New York Social Studies Framework [See Full Text]
NY SS 6.7
Interactions Across the Eastern Hemisphere (ca. 600 C.E.- ca. 1450): Trade networks promoted the exchange and diffusion of language, belief systems, tools, intellectual ideas, inventions, and diseases.
NY SS9.6
Social and Cultural Growth and Conflict: During the postclassical era, the growth of transregional empires and the use of trade networks influenced religions and spread disease. These cross-cultural interactions also led to conflict and affected demographic development.
2019 North Dakota Social Studies Content Standards [See Full Text]
ND SS G.6_12.2
Analyze the movement of people, goods, ideas, technology, etc. throughout the world.
ND SS WH.6_12.2
Explain historical changes related to religions and ideologies.
ND SS SOC.6_12.1-2.D2.1
Define and provide examples of culture.
ND SS SOC.6_12.1-2.D2.2
Explain the relationship between culture and society.
2018 Ohio's Learning Standards Social Studies [See Full Text]
OH SS 6.GS.8.
Diffusion of agricultural practies and products, technology, cultural praties and major world religions (Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Islam, and Judaism) impacted the Eastern Hemisphere.
OH SS 7GH.14.
Trade routes connecting Africa, Europe and Asia helped foster the spread of ideas, technology, goods and major world religions (Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Islam and Judaism) that impated the Eastern Hemisphere.
2019 Oklahoma Academic Standards Social Studies [See Full Text]
OK SS 6.3.2.
Analyze how the characteristics of culture impact people and places.
OK SS 6.3.3.
Define cultural diffusion and describe how cultural characteristics spread and impact contemporary regions (e.g., entertainment, fast foods, social media's rapid spread of ideas, wide use of the smartphone).
OK SS 7.5.2.
Define and describe the legacy of the world's major cultural hearths on a region's ethnic heritage and history.
OK SS 7.5.3.
Examine major religions of the world, including their belief systems and influence on contemporary societies.
OK SS MWH.1.2.
Analyze the influence of religious, political, and philosophical ideas on society.
OK SS WG.3.1.
Copmare the world's major cultural landscapes to analyze cultural differences, cultural identity, social mores, and sets of beliefs which determine a sense of place.
OK SS WG.3.4.
Explain the processes of cultural diffusion and interdependence, analyzing their impact on defining a region.
OK SS AWH.5.6.
Explain the expulsion/dispersion of the Jews to other lands (Diaspora) after the destruction of the second temple in Jerusalem in AD 70 and the renaming of the region by the Romans.
OK SS S.2.1.
Describe culture and the components of culture, including norms and values, material and non-material culture, and explain the ways culture influences individuals.
OK SS S.3.1.
Describe the process of socialization, examining how social groups are composed of why individuals become members of or associate wite different social groups.
2024 Oregon Social Studies Standards [See Full Text]
OR SS 6/7.G.HI.5
Identify and explain the consequences of cultural conflict, interaction, exchange, and/or fusion.
OR SS 6/7.H.CC.5
Use primary and secondary sources to identify and analyze the interactions and exchanges of cultures and civilizations after 600 CE.
2003 Pennsylvania Academic Standards for History [See Full Text]
PA SS 8.4.6.
Identify and explain how individuals and groups made significant political and cultural contributions to world history.
PA SS 8.4.9.
Analyze the significance of individuals and groups who made major political and cultural contributions to world history before 1500.
PA SS 8.4.12.
Evaluate the significance of individuals and groups who made major political and cultural contributions to world history since 1450.
2022 Rhode Island Social Studies Standards [See Full Text]
RI SS6.1.2
Analyze the sources scholars use to study the past
RI SS6.6.1
argue the impacts of the five major world religions on the development of societies and cultures through time
RI SS7.3.1
Argue the influences of religious transformations in the early modern period on society and culture
RI SSHS.WHI.3.6
Argue the Roman Empire's influence on the spread of Judaism and the development of the Christian Religion
RI SSHS.WHII.1.2
Argue how the expansion of the Ottoman Empire contributed to cultural diffusion to Medieval Europe
2019 South Carolina Social Studies College and Career Ready Standards [See Full Text]
SC SS 6.1.CX
Contextualize the origins and spread of major world religions and their enduring influence.
SC SS HG.12.PR
Explain the cultural, economic, environmental, and political conditions and connections that contribute to human migration patterns.
SC SS HG.3.1.HS
Identify the characteristics vof popular and folk culture, and explain the factors that influence the location and spatial distribution of these types of culture at the local and global scales using maps and geographic models of representation.
SC SS HG.3.2.HS
Identify and analyze the spatial distribution, patterns, and diffusion of ethnic, linguistic, and religious cultural characteristics using maps and other geographic representations.
2023 South Dakota Social Studies Standards [See Full Text]
SD 6.SS.2.E
The student can identify elements that make up a person’s culture, including political culture.
SD SS 9-12.WG.3.B
The student can identify elements that make up a person’s culture, including political culture.
2021 Montana Content Standards for Social Studies for K-12 [See Full Text]
MT SS.G.6-8.2
Identify the location of places and regions in the world and understand their physial, political, and cultural characteristics
MT SS.G.6-8.5
Explain the role and impact of spatial patterns of settlement and movement in shaping societies and cultures, including Indigenous cultures
MT SS.G.9-12.4
Analyze relationships and interactions within and betwen human and physical systems to explain reciprocal influences that occur among them, including American Indians
2016 Missouri Priority Standards for Leveraging Learning in Social Studies [See Full Text]
MO SS 6-8.GEO.1.G.B.
Analyze how the physical and human characteristics of current world regions connect to changing identity and culture.
MO SS 6-8.GEO.1.PC.A
Analyze material culture to explain a people's perspective and use of place.
MO SS 6-8.GEO.1.PC.B
Explain how the physical and human characteristics of places and regions connect to human identities and cultures.
MO SS 6-8.WH1.PC.A
Using a world history lens, describe how peoples' perspectives shaped the sources/artifacts they created.
MO SS 9-12.WH.1.G.B
Analyze how the physical and human characteristics of current world regions post c. 1450 connect to changing identity and culture.
MO SS 9-12.WH.1.PC.A
Using a world history lens, describe how peoples' perspectives shaped the sources/artifacts they created.
2022 Mississippi Standards for the Social Studies [See Full Text]
MS SS 6.6
Describe the characteristics and causes of human population changes and migration.
MS SS 6.7
Describe the patterns of human settlement and the factors that contribute to their formation.
MS SS AWG.6
Examine the characteristics and factors that contribute to the development of culture.
MS SS SOC.10
Analyze the impact of social change on society.
2019 Michigan K-12 Standards: Social Studies [See Full Text]
MI SS G2.2.1
Describe the human characteristics of the region under study, including languages, religions, economic system, governmetnal system, cultural traditions.
MI SS G4.1.1
Define culture and describe examples of cultural change through diffusion, including what has diffused, why and where it has spread, and positive and negative consequences of the change.
MI SS G4.3.2
Describe patterns of settlement and explain why people settle where they do and how they make their livings.
MI SS G4.3.3
Explain the patterns, causes, and consequences of major human migrations.
MI SS W3.2.2
Locate the geographical center of major religions and map the spread through 1500 CE.
MI SS G4.3.2
Describe patterns of settlement and explain why people settled where they did.
MI SS G4.3.3
Explain the patterns, causes, and consequences of major human migrations.
MI SS WHG4.1.1
Growth and Interactions of World Religions- analyze the significance of the growth of and interactions between world religions.
MI SS WHG5.1.2
Diffusion of World Religions- evaluate the impact of the diffusion of world religions and belief systems on social, political, cultural, and economic systems.
2018 Massachusetts History and Social Science Framework [See Full Text]
MA SS WHI.T1.1.
Explain different ways in which societies interact across regions (e.g., trade; cultural, religious, linguistic, and technological exchange and diffusion; migration; exploration; diplomatic alliances; colonization and conquests).
MA SS WHI.T5.1.
Describe the expulsion of Jews and Muslims from the Iberian Peninsula after the Treaty of Granada (1492), the rise of Spanish and Portuguese Kingdoms, the Spanish Inquisition, and the Spanish expeditions to conquer and Christianize the Americas and the Philippines, and Portugues conflicts with Muslim states.
2019 Maine Social Studies Standards [See Full Text]
ME SS 6-8.G2.F1
Students understanding geographic aspects of unity and diversity in Maine, the United States, and the world, including Maine Native Amerivcan communities by analyzing geographic features that have impacted unity and diversity in the United States and other nations.
2024 Alaska Social Studies Standards [See Full Text]
AK SS.7.1.16.2
Investigate how cultural diffusion occurs and causes complex societies t
AK SS.7.2.18.2
Construct and use mental maps and infographics to represent and analyze the cultural, religious, and environmental characteristics that make places both similar to and different from each other.
AK SS.9-12.16.5
Assess how human-imposed and natural borders have influenced cultural identity, resource management, and economic and political decision-making over time and across local-to-global scales.
2024 Alabama Course of Study: Social Studies [See Full Text]
AL SS 4
Identify the characteristics, diffusion, distribution, and complexity of Earth's cultural mosaics.
AL SS 4c
Explain how music, dance, fashion, and art provide avenues for understanding the cultures from which they originate, both past and present.
AL SS 5
Explain how the cultural landscape of a region reflects cultural traits, economic status, and preferencves of its inhabitants.
AL SS 7
Describe the ways religion influences cultures, citing examples from around the world.
2018 Arizona History and Social Science Standards [See Full Text]
AZ SS 6.G.3.1
Analyze how cultural and environmental characteristics affect the distribution and movemenet of people, goods, and ideas.
AZ SS 6.H1.1
Compare the development and characteristics of historical cultures and civilizations from different global regions within designated time periods.
AZ SS 7.G2.1
Explain how cultural demographic patterns, economic decisions, and human adaptations shape the identity of nearby and distant places.
AZ SS 7.H1.1
Analyze the rise and decline, interactions between, and blending of cultures and societies.
AZ SS 7.H4.1
Evaluate how the diversity of a society impacts its social and political norms.
AZ SS HS.G2.3
Evaluate the impact of human settlement on the environment and culture of specific places nad regions.
AZ SS HS.H1.3
Evaluate the consequences that resulted from civilizational and cultural interactions.
2022 Arkansas Social Studies Standards [See Full Text]
AR SS SS.2.SOC.6
Analyze how culture influences individuals using sources from multiple perspectives.
AR SS SS.2.SOC.7
Examine the role social institutions such as socio-economic status, education, belief systems, social patterns, and family play in society.
AR SS.2.SOC.8
Analyze key components of culture.
AR SS SS.2.SOC.9
Compare how cultures change and resist change.
AR SS.2.SOC.13
Analyze the social construction of groups and the interactions between groups and individuals in society
2016 California History Social Science Framework [See Full Text]
CA SS 6.3.5
Discuss how Judaism survived and developed despite the continuing dispersion of much of the Jewish population from Jerusalem and the rest of Israel after the destruction of the second Temple in A.D. 70.
CA SS 7.9.7
Describe the Golden Age of cooperation between Jews and Muslims in medieval Spain that promoted creativity in art, literature, and science, including how that cooperation was terminated by the religious persecution of individuals and groups (e.g., the Spanish Inquisition and the expulsion of Jews and Muslims from Spain in 1492).
2022 Colorado Academic Standards: Social Studies [See Full Text]
CO SS.HS.2.2
Analyze, interpret, and predict the influences of migration and the distribution of human populations based on reciprocal patterns. For example: Historical events, the spatial diffusion of ideas, technologies, and cultural practices.
2023 Connecticut Elementary and Secondary Social Studies Standards [See Full Text]
CT SS 7.Geo.10.a.
Analyze how cultural characteristics vary among regions and shape diversity of local communities (e.g., cultural centers, diasporas, cultural universals, taboos, linguistics).
2018 Delaware History Standards: K-12 [See Full Text]
DE SS HAS1 6-8a
Students will examine historical materials relating to a particular region, society, or theme; analyze change over time, and make logical inferences concerning cause and effect.
DE SS HAS1 9-12a
Students will analyze historical materials to trace the development of an idea or trend across space over a prolongued period of time in order to explain patterns of historical continuity and change.
DE SS HA2 6-8b
Students will examine historical documents, artifacts, and other materials, and analyze them in terms of credibility, as well as the purpose, perspective, or point of view for which they were constructed.
DE SS HAS2 9-12b
Students will examine and analyze primary and secondary sources in order to differentiate between historical facts and historical interpretations.
2023 Florida's State Academic Standards: Social Studies [See Full Text]
FL SS.912.G.4.2
Use geographic terms and tools to analyze the push/pull factors contributing to human migration within and among places.
FL SS.912.G.4.6
Use geographic terms and tools to predict the effect of a change in a specific characteristic of a place on the human population of that place.
FL SS.912.S.2.4
Give examples of subcultures and describe what makes them unique.
FL SS.912.S.2.5
Compare social norms among various subcultures.
Hawai'i Core Standards for Social Studies [See Full Text]
HI SS.6.5.15.2
Explain how the transfer of goods and ideas along trade routes affected ideas and cultures of different people in post-classical societies
2024 Idaho Content Standards K-12 Social Studies [See Full Text]
ID SS 6-9.WG.2.10
Compare and contrast cultural patterns in regions throughout the world, such as language, religion, and ethnicity.
ID SS 6-9.WH.2.2
Identify the main reasons for major migrations of people.
2022 Illinois Learning Standards for Social Science [See Full Text]
IL SS.9-12.G.13.
Describe and explain the characteristics that constitute culture.
IL SS.9-12.ANTH.1
Analyze the elements of culture and explain the factors that shape these elements differently around the world.
IL SS.9-12.REL.2.
Describe and analyze examples of how religions are internally diverse at both macro levels (sects and divisions within traditions) and micro levels (differencves within specific religious communities).
IL SS.9-12.REL.3.
Describe and analyze examples of how religions evolve and change over time in response to differing social, historical, and political contexts.
2023 Indiana Academic Standards for Social Studies [See Full Text]
IN SS GHW.2.1
Map the development over time of world religions from their points of origin, and identify those that exhibit a high degree of local and/or international concentration.
IN SS GHW.3.3
Analyze the changes in population characteristics and physical and human environments that resulted from the migration o peoples within, between, and among world regions.
Iowa Social Studies Standards [See Full Text]
IA SS.6.13.
Identify what makes up a culture and examine how people acquire their cultural beliefs and value systems.
IA SS.6.14.
Explain how groups form in our society, and how groups, as well as the individuals within those groups, can influence each other.
IA SS.6.17.
Analyze and explain the cultural, physical, and environmental characteristics of places and regions and how this affects the life of the people who live there.
IA SS.7.21.
Evaluate the push and pull factors involved in human population movement and patterns.
IA SS.8.18.
Explain how the phyical and human characteristics of places and regions influence culture.
IA SS-Soc.9-12.14.
Identify characteristics of groups, and the influences that groups and individuals have on each other.
IA SS-WH.9-12.19.
Explain the influence of human migrations on patterns of settlement and culture.
2022 Kentucky Academic Standards: Social Studies [See Full Text]
KY SS 7.G.HI.2
Examine ways in which one culture can both positively and negatively influence another through cultural diffusion, trade relationships, expansion and exploration.
2022 K-12 Louisiana Student Standards for Social Studies [See Full Text]
LA SS WH.7
Analyze causes and effects of events and developments in world history from 1300 to 2010, including fourteenth-century trade networks in Africa and Eurasia, Renaissance and Enlightenment in Europe, political revolutions, industrialization, imperialism, global conflicts of the twentieth century, decolonization, and globalization.
LA SS WG.8
Analyze how people have modified or adapted to the environment locally, nationally, regionally, and globally.
Length: 60-120 minutes | Grades: 6-12 | Themes: Jewish diversity
Lesson Overview
Every community contains a wide range of experiences and identities, even when its members share common traditions, texts, and histories. The Jewish people are no exception. As a global community that has lived across continents for centuries, Jews represent a wide spectrum of cultures, languages, ethnicities, races, and religious practices. This diversity is the result of both movement and exchange. Living in diaspora has meant adapting, blending, and preserving traditions in new ways. Jewish identity, like all identities, is not fixed. It is shaped by debate, creativity, and cultural interaction. That richness can be seen in the varied ways Jewish people celebrate holidays, observe rituals, speak, eat, and express themselves.
In this lesson, students will explore the idea of cultural expression. Acting as museum curators, they will closely examine artifacts and examples of Jewish life that reflect the community’s diversity. Through this process, students will practice observing details, thinking critically, and reflecting on their own intersecting and evolving identities. The lesson emphasizes both understanding difference and recognizing the shared human experience of building community across time and place.
Enduring Understanding
All forms of collective identity are diverse and evolving.
Jewish people have shared customs and rituals with distinctive forms of expression that continue to change across time and place.
The complexity of collective identities is reflected in various forms of material culture, art, and cuisine.
Essential Questions
Why are collective identities complex and multifaceted?
What does Jewish diversity look like?
How has Jewish identity evolved?
Learning Objectives
Students will be able to describe the various ways in which all forms of collective identity are diverse and dynamic.
Students will be able to make observations about the ways Jewish identity is diverse.
Students will be able to articulate an understanding of their classroom’s diversity by assuming the role and responsibilities of a museum curator.
Toolkit
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We Belong at the Table lesson plan
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We Belong at the Table slide deck
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We Belong at the Table videos
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Showcasing Jewish Diversity handout
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Showcasing Our Diversity handout
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Our Holiday Tables handout
