Rabbis For Human Rights - North America

Curricula

“Beloved is all humankind for they were made b’tzelem Elohim (in the image of God). Doubly beloved are they for they were told that they were made in the image of God. As it says: 'In the image of God was humankind made.' (Genesis 9:6)" (Mishnah, Pirkei Avot 3:14)

Curricula

• Learning about the Universal Declaration of Human Rights

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  • Universal Declaration of Human Rights
  • Masekhet Zechuyot HaAdam: The Universal Declaration of Human Rights with Jewish texts
  • Text Study on Masekhet Zechuyot HaAdam
  • Background: What is the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and Why Do We Celebrate It
  
  
• Masekhet Ha'Atzmaut: A Talmudic-style Commentary on Israel's Declaration of Independence was created by Rabbis for Human Rights in 2008 in honor of Israel's 60th anniversary.  Each of the eight tractates contains excerpts from Israeli founding documents, historical and contemporary commentaries related to the excerpt, and study questions.
  • Can Israel Be Jewish and Democratic
  • Democracy
  • Development
  • Equality
  • Holy Places
  • Homeland
  • Israeli Arabs
  • Justice

• Speaking about Human Rights from Your Pulpit, Rabbi Joshua Gutoff


• Manifesting K'vod Habriot in Your Community, Rabbi Gilah Langner


• Fair Trade and Human Rights, Ilana Schatz


• "You Be the Judge:" A Jewish Obligation to Act in Solidarity with Muslims, Rabbi Michael Ross

• Teaching Children about Human Rights: A Curriculum from the Jewish Campaign Against Torture : Prepared for Human Rights Shabbat 2009 by Rabbi Margaret Holub.

 

• Curriculum on Human Dignity, Self-Defense, and Judicial Process: Curriculum on Human Dignity, Self-Defense, and Judicial Process: The following 3-part curriculum was written by Rabbi Ed Feld. It looks at 3 aspects the intersection of Jewish texts and human rights and includes an introduction for educators:  The importance of human dignity (k'vod habriot), the limits of self-defense, and the role of the judicial process.

 

• Jewish Values and Torture Curriculum: This curriculum, written by Rabbi Rebecca Rosenthal, includes interactive lessons that are appropriate for high school, college, and adult education settings, and can be used in a sequence or as stand alone lessons. The curriculum also includes an introductory lesson on the Jewish obligation to speak out for others. The experiential nature of these lessons is meant to go beyond traditional text studies to allow participants to engage with key moral questions and wrestle with what steps we are willing as Jews and Americans to be taken in our name in order to stay safe.  

 

• A Text Study by Rabbi Gordon Tucker, The Dignity of Work and the Indignity of Slavery: Texts with Questions: Rabbi Gordon Tucker's text sheet from his session at the 2008 Conference on Judaism and Human Rights, “The Dignity of Work and the Indignity of Slavery,” along with discussion questions. Read a transcript of the session. For just the texts, click here.

 

• Children's Book Suggestion and Discussion Questions for Human Rights Shabbat 2010.

 

• Trafficking and Prostitution in Jewish Sources: A Text Sheet and a Study Guide: A 2009 text study and teacher's guide by Naomi Graetz, looking at the issue of prostitution in classic Jewish sources. She asks important questions about Jewish attitudes to prostitution depending on whether or not the prostitute is Jewish and inspires us to take action.

 

• Trafficking and Prostitution: Lessons from Jewish Sources: A Jewish response throughout history about trafficking and prostitution by Naomi Graetz and Julie Cwikel from 2006.

 

• Hanukah and Human Rights: A Children's Program by Rabbi Rebecca Rosenthal.

 

• Films about Modern Slavery, a list of suggested films about the problem of modern slavery, prepared for Rabbis for Human Rights-North America by the organization Free the Slaves. Please be sure to preview any film in advance of showing it.

 

• An Interactive Lesson Plan on Modern Slavery that incorporates both traditional text study and improvisational acting.

 

• Human Rights Shabbat 2010: Children's Program: This program and game prepared by Rabbi Rebecca Rosenthal is intended for children of various ages to use the Universal Declaration of Human Rights to discuss Jewish values about being created in the image of God.