Focus on what Shabbat is as opposed to what it isn't! These activities and discussion will help teens think about how they feel about Shabbat, what they enjoy about Shabbat, and what are the benefits of keeping Shabbat.
The Torah sources referenced in this discussion were cut and pasted from Shabbos: Unplug to Recharge.
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The goal of this activity is to shift the conversation from focusing on what Shabbat is as opposed to what it isn't. In the Beit Midrash session included later in the Shabbaton, teens will see that keeping Shabbat has lots of positive effects on the world, the community, themselves. But first we want to examine what Shabbat is meant to be, and then tomorrow, we will think about why keeping Shabbat in the way we do, allows that to happen.
Part 1: Where Do You Stand? (10 minutes)
An icebreaker to get the teens moving. This activity will help you find out what your group thinks about Shabbos, coming into the session. Pay attention, and try to refer back to these trends in your group discussions later.
Read the following statements out loud, and ask teens to stand along a line (spectrum) based on how strongly they agree or disagree with each of the following statements.
- I am usually stressed out on Shabbat.
- I love disconnecting for Shabbat.
- My non-Jewish friends understand Shabbat.
- I want to understand Shabbat better.
- If I could, I would add more restrictions to Shabbat.
- If I could, I would remove restrictions from Shabbat.
- Shabbat is ALL about the food.
- I want my kids to keep Shabbat in some way.
- My parents want me to keep Shabbat in some way.
Wrap Up:
Over the course of the Shabbaton, you’ll get a chance to explore what the goal of Shabbat is, how the guidelines and rules of Shabbat fit within the goal, and why keeping Shabbat is important to ourselves, our families, and the whole world.
Part 2 (for younger teens): Ad Agency/Source Discussion (30 minutes)
Split each group into 2 teams.
Your team has been hired by an ad agency to create an advertising campaign to increase people’s shabbos observance. Each team must develop a slogan/catch phrase, as well as a 2-minute commercial spot promoting your product: Shabbat. The ad campaign must teach the audience the following: What do you get out of Shabbat?
Team should first read the sources together, and try to understand.
Must Include:
- The word “gift” or “sign”
- At least one specific Jewish food
- The type of rest that Shabbat is all about
Present your ad to the other half of the group & Wrap Up (10 minutes)
Part 2 (for older teens): A Sign and a Gift (35 minutes)
If you have a large group - split it in half for this part.
Ask the teens: What does it mean that Shabbos is a sign and a gift?
Run the activity “Road Signs” and ask: "Which sign represents how you see Shabbat?" Go around the circle and have everyone pick a sign that aligns with how they see Shabbat and explain why.
Wrap Up: Bring everyone back together and address the original question:
- Shabbat is a “gift” in that it is something important enough to be considered a gift.
- Shabbat is a “sign” in that it tells us who we are and what’s important to us, or what should be.
Then discuss the Torah sources about Shabbat:
We want to frame a discussion around what the message of Shabbat is. We keep Shabbat because G-d told us to, but He also told us a lot about Shabbat - namely that it’s a sign, gift, and that He rested - which can all inform how we keep it. As a group - read sources and facilitate a discussion
- Sign/Gift goes with the last activity
- Locusts - use discussion Qs
- Rest - about recognizing G-d is ultimately in charge
- Creation of Rest: feeling successful! Completing work