The Jewish Light Experience *
An Interactive Multimedia
Musical & Educational Show
Inspiring Jewish Unity, Identity &
Appreciation for Israel
Designed by Rabbi Simcha
Sheldon, Ph.D.
|
*The Jewish Light
Experience, the program, music, and its accompanying educational materials,
are protected by copyright laws. Copyright © 2002-3 by Dr. Simcha Sheldon. All rights reserved. |
Jewish Education
With Integrity Soul & Heart to Learn Inspire
Give & Hope Together
Introduction:
The
Loving Heart Fellowship (a charitable tax-exempt 501C3
organization) creates innovative programs that address multiple issues and
needs, and provide creative, effective, and efficient solutions. The Jewish
Light Experience is a new program that The Loving Heart Fellowship is
developing, which meets many of the current needs of Jewish individuals,
families, and communities, In Israel and in the Diaspora.
The
Jewish Light Experience is a carefully
designed and implemented multimedia interactive educational experience, which
features a multi-ethnic Jewish band*, performing songs that teach Jewish
values. It is filled with fun, inspiration, celebration, and audience
participation. It fosters understanding and cooperation between different kinds
of Jews, young and old, secular and religious, Ashkenazi and Sepharadi, etc. Participants learn to appreciate, identify
with, and actualize Jewish traditions and values, while increasing tolerance,
mutual respect, and unity.
(*The
Jewish Light Experience can be presented as a one-person show.)
The Main Goals:
The
fulfillment of a 2000-year-old Jewish dream – simply stated –
1.
That Jews of different denominations, ethnic backgrounds,
origins, locations, beliefs, and customs - recognize, understand, appreciate,
respect, celebrate, identify with, and be committed to their Jewishness, each
other, and Israel – together.
2.
That Jews continue to learn about and live according to
Jewish Universal values, including truth, social responsibility, tolerance,
peace, love, justice, mutual respect, environmental responsibility,
appreciation of goodness, ethical behavior, and friendship.
3.
That all Jews understand that: Judaism embodies, represents,
and teaches positive Universal values; Judaism and Zionism do not equal racism:
Judaism is not exclusionary – there are no racial, ethnic, sexual, physical,
mental, or age related exclusions; there are no quotas; and that anyone who
wants to live according to Jewish values and traditions can be a part of the
Jewish People.
4.
That Jews understand the importance of
Participants:
Jewish
audiences in
Commitment:
The
Loving Heart Fellowship is committed to bringing Project Jewish Light to
as many communities as possible – both throughout Israel and throughout the
world. We hope to be a light unto
Partners – Organizational, Corporate, and Individual:
For
information about our partners in funding, production, and facilitation of the
Jewish
Light Experience, please click here.
Benefits
for the Jewish Individual, Jewish Community, and the Jewish People:
The
Jewish Light Experience is designed to serve the Jewish individual, the
Jewish family, the Jewish community, and the Jewish people, by providing the
many benefits listed below:
1. Increase understanding and
appreciation of Universal Jewish values, beliefs, traditions, and customs.
2. Increase positive identity
with and commitment to Judaism.
3. Inspire Jews to understand
and embrace their Jewish heritage and Jewish identity.
4. Help Jews living in
5. Help Jews living outside of
6. Facilitate positive
attitudes and feelings between ‘religious’ and ‘secular’ Jews.
7. Facilitate mutual
understanding, tolerance and appreciation of Jews from different streams of
Judaism.
8. Provide opportunities for
communities to have positive Jewish multi-ethnic and multi-denominational/
secular/religious experiences.
9. Increase Jewish unity and
cooperation among the diverse streams of local Jewish communities.
10. Help families be more
accepting of the religious differences within their families.
11. Reduce prejudice &
negative stereotyping towards Jews of different streams of Judaism.
12. Eliminate ethnic prejudice
within the Jewish world.
13.
Help Israelis and non-Israeli Jews living in the Diaspora to
identify positively with
14. Demonstrate that Judaism and
Zionism do not equal racism.
15. Give individuals and
communities the opportunity to learn about mitzvot
and Jewish traditions.
In addition to the Jewish Light Experience itself, the project
will:
a.
Create, produce, and distribute Compact Discs of music that
teaches Jewish values.
b.
Create, produce, and distribute educational materials and
activities that enhance and reinforce the experience.
c.
Create and offer leadership training on many of the above
topics, as described below.
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Training
(workshops, lectures, classes, in-service training), both for individuals and
groups (e.g. organizational staff, educators), will be made available in the
following areas:
1. Teaching Values through
Music
2. Jewish Inter-ethnic
Relationships and Cooperation
3. Creating Unity in the Jewish
Community
4. The Elimination of Prejudice
and Negative Stereotyping (in the classroom, organization, community)
5. Increasing Positive Jewish
Identity
6. Teaching the Positive Values
of Zionism
7. Building Community
8. Building Bridges between
People in
The Jewish Light Experience includes
the following components:
1. A multimedia stage show
including musicians, singers, songs and narration that teach Jewish values* **
2. Audience participation –
(including opportunities to perform in the show)
3. Facilitator led Q&A (question
and answers) and discussion with the performers and audience
A
Musical CD (Compact Disc) of the Jewish Light Experience (Standard Edition)
A
CD will be produced of the songs of the Jewish Light Experience featuring the
original professional cast of musicians, singers, and performers.
A
CD will be produced from the Live Performance of the Jewish Light Experience,
as performed with local talent (from school, organization, etc.) participating
in the music, singing, and dialogue.
Educational
materials and activities will be created for and made available to teachers and
other educators. These materials are designed to be used:
1. Before the show - to prepare
the participant with a knowledge of the values being taught, as well as
familiarity with the songs, so that they may join in during the performance.
2. After the show - to
reinforce the positive experiences of the show and to implement the values
presented.
The Jewish Light Experience is designed to have a positive and
lasting impact on the audience. We have made it possible for individuals from
the audience to participate as co-stars in the show – in the singing of the
songs and reciting brief dialogue that give continuity to the show. The
guest-stars’ teacher, youth leader, choir director, etc. help in the
preparation of the performance using a CD, or cassette, with the show’s music,
and printed sheets with the song’s lyrics and dialogue, which we provide.
* Due to the educational goals of particular schools
and organizations, the Jewish Light Experience can be customized to emphasize
or focus on particular Jewish values, such as, Unity, Zionism, Jewish Identity
& Continuity, Prayer, Teaching Values in the Classroom, etc.
* * Due to financial considerations and other needs
and goals of specific audiences there are options available for the stage presentation
(the Jewish Light Experience Show).
These include:
· Number
of musicians, singers, and performers
The Jewish Light Experience can be presented as a one-person show.
· Length
of performance
· Kind
of sound system
· Lighting
· Compact
Disc options
· Audience
participation preparation and guidance
Implementation
of The Jewish Light Experience in Your Community
The
Loving Heart Fellowship helps communities present the Jewish Light
Experience
We
provide:
1. Consultation with community
leaders in the logistics of offering the Jewish Light Experience.
2. Training and materials used
to market the program for Community Centers, Schools, Synagogues, etc.
3. Training and materials used
to advertise the program (press releases, announcements, etc.)
4. Training for Educators and
community/organization leaders how to prepare participants to be part of the
show.
5. Educational guides and
materials for teachers – to teach in the classroom the Jewish Values presented
in the Jewish Light Experience
6. Coordinator of Custom CD
(compact disc) production (if this option is chosen)
7. Record keeping materials to
help keep track of participants for future follow-up activities.
8. Evaluation tools to
ascertain the success of various aspects of the program.
9. Certificates of Appreciation
for community volunteers.
Fees for The
Jewish Light Experience:
The
fee to bring the Jewish Light Experience, (including: the multimedia
show, sound system, educational materials, travel expenses, etc.) is dependent
on the location and the size of the community, as well as which modules of the
Jewish Light Experience are chosen. Please contact us for more information.
Finding the Funds To Bring the Jewish Light
Experience to Your Community or
Organization:
Funding
usually comes from a combination of sources, including:
1. Community grants
(Federation, J.C.C., etc.)
2. Participating schools,
synagogues, and organizations have budgets for community education.
3. Ticket sales
4. Compact Disc Sales – we
provide CD’s at distributor cost of $7.50, which can be sold for $15-$18
Sponsorship:
If
you would like to participate in the great mitzvah and chessed of sponsoring
Project Jewish Light in a particular community, please contact us.
Our Dream
We
would like to see Project Jewish Light implemented throughout
We
need generous support from communities, foundations, and individuals to make
this dream come true –
A
dream that has been dreamt for 2000 years…now is the time to make it come true.
Special Pilot Program
Proposal
Beth Hatefutsoth -The Nachum Goldmann Museum of the
Jewish Diaspora
Approximately 10,000
children will be inspired over the next five years!
(Later to be also presented
in JCC’s, Communities, and Schools throughout
Together, we can make a difference.
or to Bring
Project Jewish Light to Your Community:
Please feel free
to call the Loving Heart Fellowship or E-mail us at:
Email: jewishlight@lovingheart.org
Telephone: In the
In
(For security reasons, our address is
not listed here)
----------------------------
The
Jewish Light Experience - Project
Background:
The Problems to be Addressed and Solved: The fragmentation of the Jewish people
is happening as you read this. Project Jewish Light addresses the negative ways
that Jews relate to fellow Jews, to Judaism, and to
The Internal Problem Includes:
The fragmentation of the Jewish people in
and out of
The divisiveness and antagonism between
Israeli and non-Israeli ‘religious’ and
‘secular’ Jews is increasing.
Alienation, distrust, and malice have
entered into the relationships between Jews of differing beliefs and practices.
Worldwide Jewish assimilation is
increasing, reducing the worldwide Jewish population.
Many Jews are less committed to
The Cause:
Jews and Jewish communities are not
provided with enough of the right kind of Jewish experiences, education, and
relationships. The tremendous amount of misinformation about Judaism,
The Need:
· Jews need to know and appreciate the
value of Judaism, and the benefits of Jewish commitment.
· Jews need to increase Jewish identity and
pride.
· Jews need to increase mutual
understanding, respect, appreciation, and cooperation.
· Jews need to see Judaism as being a
loving and embracing path of life, filled with positive values.
What Motivates The
Loving Heart Fellowship To Pursue This Project:
The Loving Heart Fellowship focuses on
increasing unity among Jews. Studies show that informal education and music as
an educational tool are more effective teaching tools than didactic learning
experiences. Research shows that music is an excellent, effective, and
efficient vehicle for teaching students of all ages. The music experience tends
to be more enjoyable than most methods of teaching. Music is a more holistic
experience, integrating cognitive, emotional, and sensory experience and
learning. Music facilitates improved memory of the content being learned and
gives the learning positive associations.
Jews need cognitive, emotional, and
spiritual experiences that demonstrate the value of Judaism, the value of the
Jewish People, and the importance of
The Jewish Light Experience will give
participants knowledge, inspiration, and personal experience of many essential
Jewish values. This will help to build the identity and commitment of the
Jewish individual, strengthen and unify the Jewish community, and improve the
relationship between the Jewish people and
Hope that you will participate in this project
and
Help us to bring Jewish Light into the lives
of our fellow Jews, and into the world.
With Blessings,
Director, The Loving Heart
Fellowship
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Jewish
Values Taught by the Jewish Light Experience Shows Include
· Personal values (behavioral,
cognitive, emotional, spiritual)
· Family values
(relationships, marriage, parenting, children)
· Social & Community
values (responsibility, care, respect, cooperation)
· National Values (Zionism,
unity, history, identity, continuity)
Self-esteem
Being Joyful & Hopeful
A Loving Heart
Self-Confidence
Vision & Commitment
Moral & Ethical Behavior
Inner Peace
Good reasons to be proud about being Jewish
Judaism teaches healthy, life positive, Universal
values
Finding one’s place in history
Finding one’s place in the Jewish community
What it means to be a Jew in the world
Jewish opportunities, rights, obligations,
responsibilities
Appreciation:
Recognizing and showing appreciation for the good in
life
Appreciating the gifts that God gives us
Appreciating each other
The existence of a Jewish state is important for the
Jewish people
The state of
It is important to feel and be a part of
It is valuable to take part in the building of
Experiencing
Friendship
Tolerance, Mutual Respect, Appreciating Differences,
Cooperation
Unity
Mutual Responsibility
Relating with God
Prayer
Fixing and improving the world – Tikun Olam
Be responsible for one’s own well being (health,
safety, etc.)
Social Responsibility
Environmental responsibility
Being a good person
The Heart (its importance in
Judaism):
Having an open heart
Relating from the heart
Loving God
Loving Oneself
Loving one’s fellow Jew
Loving God’s creations
Loving Eretz Yisrael
Doing Mitzvot with a full heart
Love and responsibility
Honoring parents (teachers, elders)
Marriage
Children
Furtherance of life and the Jewish People
Learning Torah – Jewish traditions
Speaking properly without slander, etc.
Behaving ethically
Giving (tzedakah)
Sanctifying life – time, space, place, oneself,
things
Acts of kindness and righteousness
You
can make the world a better place in which to live!
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To learn about our project proposal …….
Proposal
The Jewish
Light Experience
A Multimedia
Musical Show & Workshop for Teens, Adults & Families
Promoting
Jewish Identity & Commitment In
To Be
Integrated With
Beth
Hatefutsoth -The
Special
Educational Program
(Later to be also presented
in JCC’s, Communities, and Schools)
A
cooperative effort of the The Loving Heart
Fellowship, Diaspora Museum, JCC’s of Israel
please click here:
www.lovingheart.org/jle-dm-proposal.htm