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Lech L’cha - Starting the Journey

  • Zion Ozeri
  • Apr 14
  • 2 min read

Lesson Plan by Zion Ozeri and Josh Feinberg


    Shepherd, Kfar Zetim, Israel, 1984                                                                              © Zion Ozeri
    Shepherd, Kfar Zetim, Israel, 1984                                                                              © Zion Ozeri

Look closely at this image.  Discuss: 

  • What do you see in this photograph?  Who or what are the subjects?  How would you describe the setting?

  • How does the picture create a sense of movement, in spite of it being a still photograph? 

  • What does a shepherd do?  What makes a shepherd successful?

  • What role or roles is the shepherd in this photograph playing? 

  • Why does a herd need a shepherd?  Why would a herd follow a shepherd?

  • Would you want to be a shepherd?  Why or why not?



Now read the following texts:



בראשית י״ב:א׳-ב׳

וַיֹּ֤אמֶר יְהֹוָה֙ אֶל־אַבְרָ֔ם לֶךְ־לְךָ֛ מֵאַרְצְךָ֥ וּמִמּֽוֹלַדְתְּךָ֖ וּמִבֵּ֣ית אָבִ֑יךָ אֶל־הָאָ֖רֶץ אֲשֶׁ֥ר אַרְאֶֽךָּ׃ וְאֶֽעֶשְׂךָ֙ לְג֣וֹי גָּד֔וֹל וַאֲבָ֣רֶכְךָ֔ וַאֲגַדְּלָ֖ה שְׁמֶ֑ךָ וֶהְיֵ֖ה בְּרָכָֽה׃


Genesis 12:1-2

God said to Abram, “Go forth from your native land and from your father’s house to the land that I will show you. I will make of you a great nation,And I will bless you;I will make your name great,And you shall be a blessing.”





Discuss the texts:

  • What do you think makes a journey worthwhile?

  • Why do you think Abraham made this journey, despite the uncertainty of not knowing where exactly he would be going? 

  • Have you ever set out on an uncertain journey?  How did it feel?  How did it turn out?

  • Why might it be important to know that the  story of the Jewish people began with a person who went on a journey into the unknown? 

  • Why do you think Abram couldn’t fulfill his mission in his birthplace?

  • What do you think God means when he says, “you shall be a blessing”?  Is it different from saying “I will bless you”?

  • Is anyone in this story playing the role of a shepherd?  If so, who?  Why do you say that?


Follow-up activities: 

  • Take a photograph of a person you know who has the qualities of a shepherd.  Write a paragraph explaining why you think this person has the qualities of a shepherd. 

  • Write a story about a journey into the unknown.  It could be a true story that happened to you or a made-up story.  Take photographs to illustrate your story.


 
 
 

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