Tools for Change: Teaching RHR-NA’s Anti-Torture Curriculum

Rabbis for Human Rights-North AmericaConference on Judaism and Human Rights, December 2010

Sara Shapiro-Plevan, Rimonim Consulting

Three Whys…

Why are you here?

Why this curriculum?

Why now?

________________Our conversation is not an attempt to solve a problem, but instead an attempt to help us to understand the underlying causes for the issues and questions which bring us here.

Based on the 5 Whys for Inquiry Protocol from the National School Reform Faculty nsrfharmony.org

Three Whys…Our Questions

Before we begin, what do we need to know?

Joseph Schwab’s Four Commonplaces

LearnerTeacherSubject MatterMillieu

How do we understand each of these in isolation?

What is the interaction between them?

What is their impact on one another?

Making it Work: Using the Curriculum

Planning Scanning the environment Understanding the needs and potential impact of the 4 Commonplaces Considering what success might look like

Design Designing powerful learning and learner outcomes Engaging the whole learner

Implementation Making the learning experience a success

Assessment Understanding how we’ve succeeded Determining what needs refinement and adjustment Planning for what’s next

Making it Work: Using the Curriculum

Planning

DesignImplementation

Assessment

Frameworks for Adaptation: Text

Emphasis on the study of texts (Biblical, rabbinic, classical, modern, contemporary)

Pirkei Avot 1:14

וו, ווו ווו ווו

וו. וו

וו וו

וו, ו

וו וווו

ווו

וו. וווו

וו ו

וו, ו

וו ו

ווו וו

וו ו

וMיואMם KלאעכשFיואCימתיו MילעצמMימהאנ QכשFאנ ילMיו MימMילM אMםאCיןאנ

Genesis 1:27

ם א Kת ברא Vקבה Qנ ו זכר KתוK א ברא אXKלהMים בצלYם KמוVבצל ם האד אYת אXKלהMים ויבVרא

Frameworks for Adaptation: Mitzvah

Emphasis on mitzvot or value concepts

B’tzelem Elokim

Being created in the image of G0d: What does this mean?

Responsibility

Do our obligations to others change if we view each person as created in the image of God? What does b'tzelem elokim mean for the responsibility of Jews toward other Jews? Toward non Jews?

Frameworks for Adaptation: Challenge

Emphasis on Challenging and Difficult Language

Focus on classical texts Consider primary/current sources carefully Use of protocols to create structured framework for

conversation Make room for divergent opinions and respectful

debate: agree to disagree

Reflection

• something new that you learned.

• something you would like to learn more about.

• something that you need help with.

• something that surprised you.

• something that you would like to learn more about.

• who you'll share this learning with upon your return

• one next step you're considering.