Tetzaveh

Big Ideas:

• How we perceive people is often affected by their appearance.
• Certain peoples' behavior may honor or dishonor the group they belong to.

Important Questions:

• How do you decide when to wear certain clothes?
• When you see someone 'dressed up' what do you think?
• Why do you think people wear uniforms?
• What responsibilities do public figures have to their 'public'?

Learning Activities:

• Watch this video about the uniforms worn at the Olympics in Vancouver - 
•  G-dcast posted a video last year about this parasha that explained the uniform of the High Priest in an interesting way
• Aish.com has an article which explains why, when, and which head coverings are traditionally worn by Jews 

Assessment:

• Do you think a person wearing a certain uniform has an obligation to behave in a particular way?  Explain why or why not.
• In what way do the actions of a person dressed in a way that identifies him or her as a member of a certain group (e.g. Catholic priest, soldier in uniform, Jew wearing a kippah) reflect on the group?  Is this fair?  Explain why or why not.
• Public figures often behave in ways that bring criticism not only on themselves but on the institutions and individuals they represent (e.g. politicians, athletes, religious leaders).  Choose two people you believe fall in this category and recommend what you think they should do.

NOTE:  Take a look at the other post that refers to Tetzaveh by clicking on that label in the list of labels 

Clothes Make the Man?

A blogpost at the Lede Blog, at the NY Times, is entitled "An 'Israeli Remix' of a Palestinian Scarf".  It is the story of the creation and marketing of a keffiyeh, traditionally worn by Arab men, with Jewish and Israeli motifs.  It started me thinking about the role of clothing in expression of identity.

Big Idea:

• People choose their clothing for many different reasons
• First impressions of others are often based on appearance

Questions You Will Want to Ask

• How do you decide what to wear?
• What is your response when you see someone wearing a keffiyeh?  Why?
• What message do you expect your appearance to convey?
• How does  your Jewish identity influence what you wear?

Learning Activities:

•  The Kohen Gadol wore very elaborate clothing as a symbol of his status and role in the community.  You can read about this clothing here in a commentary on Parshat Tetzaveh
• An interesting article about Jewish clothing in the Middle Ages can be found here at My Jewish Learning
• At Aish.com you can read a history of the kippah, including an explanation of the term 'yarmulke' that may be new to you.
• Some Jewish clothing is really bizarre - 5 pages of Jewish dog clothes?
• There is a holiday coming up on which costumes play a big part. 

Assessment:

• Keep a log in which you describe how what you choose to wear each day for a week expresses your identity
• Keep a log in which you describe how something you choose to wear each day for a week expresses your Jewish identity.  How did it make you feel to do this?
• Create a display of traditional Jewish clothing from different times and places in history
• Make a video in which you explain items of Jewish ritual clothing (kippah, tzitzit, tallit or other) to someone unfamiliar with them
• Design a Purim costume for yourself that expresses an aspect of your Jewish identity (you don't have to wear it, just design it!  In the U.S. it is common to wear costumes on Purim that reference Jewish heroes.  Not necessarily so in Israel.)
• Describe your reaction to the blogpost on the 'Jewish' keffiyah. 
• What do you think about it? 
• Would you wear it? 
• Do you think it is problematic to adopt another group's dress?
• What is your thought about the reaction of others to this?