The Death of Osama bin Laden

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The following is a Response Lesson that can be used with learners to better understand the Jewish response to the death of Osama bin Laden.  Ideally it would be used over a 2-hour time frame, but please feel free to modify it for your needs.   Additionally, due to the immediacy and time limit, the Hebrew texts are not included.  I encourage educators to have learners use a TaNaKh to explore these texts further.

Supplies: Internet connection, projector and screen, computer, sound amplification, 11×17 paper, markers, copies of texts.

JewishGPS Osama bin Laden Response Lesson 05012011

Comments

3 responses to “The Death of Osama bin Laden”

  1. The Notorious R.A.V. Avatar
    The Notorious R.A.V.

    Great work in turning around a meaningful lesson in a very quick time. A few suggestions on the text side:

    In the midrash, it is the angels that God stops from singing when the Egpytians drown in sea, not the people Israel. Could it be that:
    People are allowed to rejoiced when enemies are killed, but angels are held to a higher standard?
    People, who have emotions, are allowed to express those emotions (even if not totally appropriate), whereas angels in Jewish thought, do not display emotions?
    People weren’t so much rejoicing over the drowning of the Egyptians as singing praise to God for his deliverance?

    These events certainly are an opportunity to compare the “ideal” Jewish response to our own individual responses to a major historical event.

    Reply
  2. Dena Stein Avatar
    Dena Stein

    Thank you for posting this resource! This will be incredibly useful for educators who address this issue in their classrooms. I’ll share this educators I know.

    Reply
  3. Linda Kulp Avatar
    Linda Kulp

    Sent on to our community principals and some rabbis and am told they found this VERY helpful and was the basis even of some sermons that Shabbat. Thanks for sharing this.

    Reply

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