COUNT ME IN
Jewish Wisdom in Action
By Gila Gevirtz

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Awaken your students to the valuable connection between their personal lives and Judaism. Invite your students to explore Jewish values by focusing on their everyday relationships and decision-making. How can the precepts of Judaism help them decide, for example, when to help a friend and when to care for themselves, what to do if they feel jealous of a sibling or classmate, and how to make sound judgments in difficult situations? Count Me In provides a rich array of traditional stories, source material from sacred texts, and critical-thinking activities to help you introduce students to Judaism's ethical underpinnings. It also includes many practical ideas to teach students how to apply what they learn. Through over 100 vivid photos and graphic images, Count Me In reflects the diversity of your students' interests, backgrounds, and experiences. Its broad mix of activities engages students of diverse strengths by providing opportunities for reflection, creative writing, drawing, interpretation of sacred text, and hands-on social action projects. As they study universal values such as peace, persistence, and free will within the rubric of Judaic thought and tradition, students develop a personal connection and understanding of how to integrate Jewish values into their lives. Contents Wisdom and Action The Value of Life The Value of Free Will The Value of Persistence The Value of Study The Value of Community The Value of Judging The Value of Possessions The Value of Argument The Value of Peace The Matter of Balance Special features include: Opening Story—Stories from biblical and Talmudic texts, Jewish folklore, and modern literature introduce each chapter's value. Bible Bio—A biblical character illustrates each chapter's value. For example, Chapter Nine, "The Value of Argument," presents the story of Abraham arguing with God about the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah. The Extraordinary Acts of Ordinary People—The spotlight is on modern Jews who exemplify specific Jewish values, including philanthropist Jacob Henry Schiff, political and social activist Bella Abzug, and workers' rights organizer Clara Lemlich. Learn It & Live It—Closing activities help students reflect on what they have learned and take actions based on it. Teaching Guide Samples of the Teacher's Guide: Intro (PDF) Chapter 1 (PDF) Chapter 2 (PDF) Chapter 3 (PDF) Title-at-a-Glance Count Me In Grades 5-7 144 pages 8" x 10 5/8" Full color 105 images (photos and illustrations) Includes activities