CU4-24


 * 4:24 **  **Beginning of Rabbinic Judaism **
 * Goal ** Students will learn about the origins of the synagogue and the rise of rabbinic Judaism following the destruction of the Second Temple.
 *  1. **** Gain the attention of the learner ** Prepare and show students a model of the Second Temple in Jerusalem.
 *  2. **** Relevant past learning ** Recall that Jews were dispersed outside of Palestine, with especially important centers in Babylon and Alexandria. Recall Jeremiah’s notion following the destruction of the First Temple, that YHWH could be worshiped in exile.
 *  3. **** Present new material ** The destruction of the Second Temple put the priests out of business. In their place, learned sages led Jews in the study of Jewish law. The first of these new centers was established in Jabneh, but because they did not dependant on a fixed location, these assemblies moved and multiplied, coalescing around charismatic intellectuals who could guide Torah study. As prayer replaced Temple sacrifice and learned rabbis replaced priests as the chief religious authorities, synagogues (“places of assembly”), which had served as all purpose community halls during the Babylonian Exile, became both places of study and of worship for both Palestinian and diaspora Jews.
 *  4. **** Provide for guided practice ** The work of the sages in the study of Jewish law was initially handed down orally. Make up a rule governing class behavior and pass it along from student to student in the manner of “Whisper Down the Lane.” See what the rule sounds like when it reaches the last student. Discuss strategies for preventing distortions from occurring and test these strategies.
 * <span style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial"> 5. ****<span style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'"> Provide for independent practice **<span style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'"> For religious Jews, the Torah is the absolute authority on proper behavior and the function of rabbis has been in part to lead the study of these rules. Ask each student to list how he or she learns right and wrong.
 * <span style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA"> 6. Close the lesson **<span style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA"> Come together and share the students’ thoughts about how we learn morality.