Session 1: Discovering the Past - Where Did People Live?
How can we find out what it was like to live in ancient Israel? Through the use of multi-media, studen
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| Children's Lifestyles in Ancient Israel |
ts experience how archaeology enables us to uncover the past, and how some aspects of ancient life are still observable in modern Israel. They also examine Biblical sources to discover where they might have lived had they grown up in ancient Israel - comparing the semi-nomadic life of the Patriarchs, characterized by tent dwelling, with the construction of ancient houses and cities, and with a non-conventional alternative form of housing in ancient Israel - the cave.
Session 2: Come with Me to Jerusalem: Celebrating Holidays
While today Jewish holidays are observed in the home and the synagogue, in ancient Israel people left their homes for the three pilgrimage festivals (Pesach, Shavuot, and Succot) to celebrate at the Temple in Jerusalem. In this session, students learn about the importance of Jerusalem in the lives of all residents of Ancient Israel as they relive the holiday experience by retracing the steps of a young girl making a pilgrimage to Jerusalem with her mother. Along the way, they make virtual stops at a 2000 year old mikveh (ritual bath) and at the main street of Jerusalem at that time before arriving at the original steps leading up to the Temple.
Sesson 3: A Day in My Life
Unlike the daily life of a child today which is dominated by school, a child in ancient Israel spent much of his/her day working in the family fields, or taking care of chores such as bringing water from the local spring to the home. Students accompany a young girl as she attends to her chores, plays, and visits an amphitheater. Through interactive activities, students examine the development of written and spoken Hebrew, and the innovative initiation of public education.
Session 4: Hanging Out at the City Gate
The gate of the city was the meeting place for much of the activity in ancient cities, including court cases involving young people. Students meet at the city gate to learn about justice in ancient times by role playing ancient court cases. They not only compare Jewish law with other ancient legal systems, but also understand the responsibilities shouldered by youth in those days.
Session 5: Let's Grab a Bite!
What did people eat in ancient Israel? Students interactively help a young girl prepare for a feast by exploring the seven agricultural species for which the Land of Israel was famous in ancient times - and the ways in which they were processed - e.g. the making of pita bread and the pressing of olive oil.
אֶרֶץ חִטָּה וּשְׂעֹרָה, וְגֶפֶן וּתְאֵנָה וְרִמּוֹן; אֶרֶץ-זֵית שֶׁמֶן, וּדְבָשׁ
