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(Original Author: Neima Novetsky)
 
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<h1>Wrestling with Angels - Making Music</h1>
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<h2 name="">Introduction: Music as Motivation<br/></h2>
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<h1>Motivators – Parashat Vayishlach</h1>
<p>After students have read the story of Yaakov's encounter with the "איש", but before they have delved into commentary, let them listen to the song "ונשגב ה' לבדו" available <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iWk0JAtoqAw">here</a>. Afterwards have them discuss (with a neighbor, as a class or in journals) the following questions:</p>
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<category>Art
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<p>Art is a great motivator to get less textually oriented students involved in class.  Have students compare three renditions of Yaakov and Esav's reunion as an entrée to Chapter 33 and the questions it raises.  For details, see <a href="Yaakov and Esav's Reunion in Art" data-aht="page">Yaakov and Esav's Reunion in Art</a>.</p>
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<category>Music
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<p>Introduce students to the story of Yaakov's wrestling with the "אִישׁ" in <a href="Bereshit32-23-33" data-aht="source">Chapter 32</a> by listening to Shlomo Carlebach's song, "וְנִשְׂגַּב ה' לְבַדּוֹ", available <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2vWjQTD_r1M&amp;index=1&amp;list=PL112CB444240B9FF5">here</a>. Afterwards, have them discuss (as a class, with a neighbor, or in journals) the following questions:</p>
 
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<li>What emotions did the song evoke? Why do they think the composer chose such a tune for this story? Does the tone of the tune match the tone of the event?</li>
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<li>What emotions does the song evoke? What might have motivated the composer to choose such a tune for this story? Does the tone of the tune match the tone of the event?</li>
 
<li>Note which words in the song are part of the text of this chapter and which are from elsewhere. What might have led the composer to connect the two verses?</li>
 
<li>Note which words in the song are part of the text of this chapter and which are from elsewhere. What might have led the composer to connect the two verses?</li>
<li>Tell the class to keep the tune in the back of their heads as they learn various approaches of the מפרשים to the story and to guess which approach they think the composer had in mind when writing the song.</li>
 
 
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<p>After students learn various approaches to the story (see <a href="Wrestling With Angels and Men" data-aht="page">Wrestling With Angels and Men</a> for sources and analysis), have them vote which approach they think the composer had in mind when writing the song.  As a follow-up activity, students can compose their own tune or attach the words to an already known song which they think captures the mood of the verse and present it to the class.</p>
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<h2 name="">Text and Commentary<br/></h2>
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<category>Room for Debate
<p>Look at a selection of commentaries on the story, showing how the struggle has alternately been read as:</p>
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<li>Was Esav a good, bad or neutral character? See <a href="A Portrait of Esav" data-aht="page">A Portrait of Esav</a> for details.</li>
<li>Encouragement to Yaakov in face of his upcoming encounter with Esav</li>
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<li>Were Shimon and Levi justified in killing Shekhem and the men of the city? See <a href="Sin and Slaughter of Shekhem" data-aht="page">Sin and Slaughter in Shekhem</a> for sources and discussion.</li>
<li>Foreshadowing of future struggles and victories of the Nation of Israel</li>
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<li>A punishment for Yaakov</li>
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<li>An attack on Yaakov by Esav's defenders.</li>
 
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&#160;For&#160;a selection of sources and analysis of each of these approaches see <a href="http://alhatorah.org/Wrestling_With_Angels_and_Men" data-aht="page">Wrestling with Angels and Men</a>. &#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;
 
  
<h2 name="">Closing: Making Music<br/></h2>
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<p style="text-align:center">These are some samples.<br/> Educators – please <a href="mailto:resources@alhatorah.org" class="mail">write in</a> and share your creativity with others!</p>
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<li>Divide the class into groups and have them pick some of the verses in the story and either compose a new tune or attach the words to an already known song which they think captures the mood of the approach they liked best.</li>
 
<li>Have each group presents their song and explain which reading of the story they are working off.&#160; They should be able to explain why they chose their particular tune and how it fits their chosen reading of the story.</li>
 
<li>Finally, go back to the original piece, "ונשגב ה' לבדו" and have the class vote which approach they think best matches that composition.</li>
 
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Latest revision as of 07:12, 20 January 2015

Motivators – Parashat Vayishlach

Art

Art is a great motivator to get less textually oriented students involved in class. Have students compare three renditions of Yaakov and Esav's reunion as an entrée to Chapter 33 and the questions it raises. For details, see Yaakov and Esav's Reunion in Art.

Music

Introduce students to the story of Yaakov's wrestling with the "אִישׁ" in Chapter 32 by listening to Shlomo Carlebach's song, "וְנִשְׂגַּב ה' לְבַדּוֹ", available here. Afterwards, have them discuss (as a class, with a neighbor, or in journals) the following questions:

  • What emotions does the song evoke? What might have motivated the composer to choose such a tune for this story? Does the tone of the tune match the tone of the event?
  • Note which words in the song are part of the text of this chapter and which are from elsewhere. What might have led the composer to connect the two verses?

After students learn various approaches to the story (see Wrestling With Angels and Men for sources and analysis), have them vote which approach they think the composer had in mind when writing the song. As a follow-up activity, students can compose their own tune or attach the words to an already known song which they think captures the mood of the verse and present it to the class.

Room for Debate

These are some samples.
Educators – please write in and share your creativity with others!