Posted by Evan K

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Helpful Resources:

• Evan_Kline-_The_Eternal_Jew_FULL_Program_Writeup.pdf
• Evan_Kline-_The_Eternal_Jew_EDITABLE_Script.doc
• Evan_Kline-_Group_Leaders_Handout_EDITABLE_Version.doc

Program Summary:

The lights turned OFF and the program setting unexpectedly changed to 1942, a time when Jews had to hide their identity to survive. This inspiring program includes connecting to Judaism in new ways by creating a new Jewish holiday and food dish.

Full Description:

PROGRAM DETAILS:

Promotion: Promote this event as a "Dating" Program (even give it a catchy name if you want!)  Make sure everyone in both chapters knows about the "dating program!"  This fun, attracting theme will bring many people, and they will not regret attending after the REAL program is over! Make flyers, send e-mails, and make a Facebook event.    

Where:  Try to have this program at a large house.  There is a lot of moving around, and depending on the chapter sizes, the kitchen will need ample space.

Supplies needed:  Note cards (to be filled out in the beginning and for the holiday and food dish explanations), bowl to put notecards in, Havdallah candle, 4 knives, 8 plates, fruits and condiments (listed in detailed outline below), snacks, drinks, freshly baked cookies (for winning group), 8 sheets to hand out to group leaders (attached)

Getting everyone quiet: With so many people in attendance, we knew we would need something to get everyone quiet.  We used a whistle to get everyone quiet and to notify a shift in Mingle and Speed Dating.  

OUTLINE OF PROGRAM:

00:00-00:15—Because so many people attended this program, we allowed 15 minutes for everyone arrive, eat pizza and snacks, and just hang out.  

        When people arrived, they wrote their “dating” profile information on a card (this card is later incorporated in the script).  Also, the cards replaced the need for attendance!

00:15-01:00—Evan and Happie pretended the theme of the program was “Dating Through the Ages,, so everyone started playing Bar/Bat Mitzvah games.  We played Mingle and Speed Dating (include other games if applicable, including Coke/Pepsi, Improv games, etc.)

     Mingle- Everyone gets a partner and is told to touch a body part with that person.  The whistle was blown and another body part was yelled.  After each new body part is yelled, the participants got a new partner and touched that body part.  (Body parts to touch- knee, ear, arm, elbow, foot, butt, nose, hand, cheek, etc.)

     Speed Dating- The guys get in a circle facing outward.  The girls then get in a circle facing the guys.  After each question, we blew the whistle and the girls rotated.  We asked questions such as:  If you could live anywhere in the would, where would it be and why?  If you had only one day left on Earth, what would you do?  Where do you feel the most at home?  Have you ever visited Israel (Yes, explain your experience.  No, explain how you feel about Israel)?  MAKE YOUR OWN QUESTIONS!

01:00-01:15—Evan and Happie UNEXPECTEDLY turned off the lights while participants engaged in speed dating.  Evan and Happie went to the center of the speed dating circle, as the room was pitch black and the only visible light was from a candle held by Happie.  Evan and Happie read the current situation (script) and askED everyone to join in Havdallah, but with a twist.  Because in the current situation it is unsafe to be Jewish, the Havdallah service was whispered. (The service included the 4 main prayers along the Lai, Lai tune)

01:15-01:30—Evan and Happie led everyone to the staircase (you can stay in the same room if you like, but we wanted to get people moving around AND if people stand on the staircase the message from the script relates better).  Evan and Happie read the next part of the script about Jewish strife and making Judaism your own.  This is also the part of the script where the “dating” profile cards were related to Judaism.

01:30-01:40—Evan and Happie chose group leaders before the program started (We chose experienced seniors/juniors and inspired sophomores) .  While everyone was on the staircase, we asked the 8 group leaders to come down next to us.  We divided the number of program participants by eight and divided people into groups as they walked down the stairs in a very organized fashion (worked out VERY well).  Group leaders were given explanation sheets about their group tasks (making a new Jewish food dish and new holiday).  

        Group people as you wish!

        The first 4 groups were sent back upstairs. The other 4 groups went to the kitchen.

01:40-01:45—Allow for groups to mingle and go to their location.

01:45-02:00—Half of the groups go back to the main room, the other half went to the kitchen to create their holiday or food dish. (SEE DIRECTLY BELOW)

02:00-02:05—Groups switch places (From kitchen, go to the main room.  From main room, go to kitchen)

02:05-02:20— Group now works on other activity  

MAKING A NEW JEWISH HOLIDAY:
Happie moderated this activity.  Groups were given ONE notecard and sat in a circle. On the note card given, they were told to explain the details of the holiday their group created.  We asked for them to include the following information: meaning behind holiday, customs of holiday, season of year and why, who celebrates it (American Jews, Israel, all Jews, etc.).

Example Holiday (was actually made by a group):
Jewish American Appreciation Day- This holiday was to celebrate the over 6 million Jews currently living in the United States.  Many of these Jewish Americans have made significant contributions to the arts, media, culture, politics, Hollywood, medicine, and society in general.  On this holiday, it is a custom to watch a Jewish movie with friends/family.  If this holiday were real, the group said they would promote studio production companies to film movies about Jews/Jewish Americans and release them on this day.  This holiday is December 1 because the winter is a joyous time of year.  

MAKING A JEWISH FOOD DISH:
Evan moderated this activity.  Groups were given ONE note card and got to choose 3 fruits and 2 toppings.  Before the program, Evan and Happie bought bananas, kiwis, apples, peaches, strawberries, blueberries, oranges, chocolate chips, mini marshmallows, honey, chocolate syrup, peanut butter, and coconut shavings (Total cost was less than $40).  Evan and Happie cleaned the fruits and divided the toppings into small bowls.

Each group was given a knife, a plate, 3 fruits, and 2 toppings to create a NEW Jewish food dish.  Each ingredient added to the dish needed to have a relation/significance to Judaism.

Groups told they were being judged on:
      -Presentation of dish
      -Meaning behind each ingredient (to be written on note card
      -Quality of taste  

02:20-02:45—Everyone meets back in the main room.  Evan and Happie were reviewing the holidays and food dishes as the groups were creating them.  Evan and Happie chose the best holidays/food dishes to be presented by three people from that group.  Evan and Happie tasted many of the food dishes (some were great, others DISGUSTING), and chose a winner!  The winning group won a batch of freshly baked cookies to share.  To close the program, Evan and Happie spoke about how Judaism is all about making your own pathway and the importance of constantly searching for your own niche in Judaism, whether it is strictly observing Shabbat or connecting through Jewish foods and holidays!

Submitter's Suggestions:

-Get to the program VERY early to organize the foods and locations.

-Get acquainted with the program location, so groups can rotate smoothly!

-Change up the script and add your own quotes/ideas!

-Add more ice-breaking “dating” games.

-Promote the program is about dating with another chapter: it really brings people to the program!

-Make each group clean up their area of the kitchen.

-Add another part or get rid of any part! Try to make this program your own!

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