Welcome to the first assignment of the Online Educator course!
We will spend more time discussing the assignment feature in a different lesson. The short explanation is that when you clicked on the link, Sefaria retained the original sheet as a template and generated a copy that's just for you. The sheet you are on now is yours to work on, and is automatically shared back with the course facilitator.
Before you begin, please click "Save" in the upper right hand corner.
You will be participating in a scavenger hunt of the Sefaria database. Below you will find information about the sources that you will be looking for. When you find the source:
- Click on the "+" underneath the clue.
- Click on "Comment".
- Type the source citation in the comment box. (For example: Genesis 1:1)
- Click "Add to sheet".
Let's get started!
This activity will take you through many different texts. If any are new to you or you would like to find out more about it, click on the title. Each is linked to the appropriate table of contents page on Sefaria, which contains a description of the book. This is also a great way to give your students some context when they explore new texts!
Open to Mishnah Avot 1:1 (also known as Pirkei Avot) in the Sefaria library.
Deuteronomy 10:17
and
Leviticus 18:30
1. Write the citation for the connected source in Devarim (Deuteronomy) in a comment below.
כִּ֚י יְהוָ֣ה אֱלֹֽהֵיכֶ֔ם ה֚וּא אֱלֹהֵ֣י הָֽאֱלֹהִ֔ים וַאֲדֹנֵ֖י הָאֲדֹנִ֑ים הָאֵ֨ל הַגָּדֹ֤ל הַגִּבֹּר֙ וְהַנּוֹרָ֔א אֲשֶׁר֙ לֹא־יִשָּׂ֣א פָנִ֔ים וְלֹ֥א יִקַּ֖ח שֹֽׁחַד׃
For the LORD your God is God supreme and Lord supreme, the great, the mighty, and the awesome God, who shows no favor and takes no bribe,
Not that you needed to add the entire text (the citation was good enough), but if you are going to add the text, you would probably want to add it as a "source" and not a comment so that the citation would show. This would also keep it connected to the library. Of course, we didn't teach you how to do this in lesson 1. But now that you have done lesson 2, you know how to do it. No need to go back. I just wanted to point it out.
--Rachel
2. The Deuteronomy source connects to a source in the Talmud, Masechet Berakhot. Write the citation of the source in a comment below.
דרש רב עוירא זמנין אמר לה משמיה דרבי אמי וזמנין אמר לה משמיה דרבי אסי אמרו מלאכי השרת לפני הקדוש ברוך הוא רבונו של עולם כתוב בתורתך אשר לא ישא פנים ולא יקח שחד והלא אתה נושא פנים לישראל דכתיב ישא ה׳ פניו אליך אמר להם וכי לא אשא פנים לישראל שכתבתי להם בתורה ואכלת ושבעת וברכת את ה׳ אלהיך והם מדקדקים [על] עצמם עד כזית ועד כביצה:
After citing the halakha that one who eats a quantity of food that does not satisfy his hunger is obligated by rabbinic law to recite Grace after Meals, the Gemara cites a related homiletic interpretation. Rav Avira taught, sometimes he said it in the name of Rabbi Ami, and sometimes he said it in the name of Rabbi Asi: The ministering angels said before the Holy One, Blessed be He: Master of the Universe, in Your Torah it is written: “The great, mighty and awesome God who favors no one and takes no bribe” (Deuteronomy 10:17), yet You, nevertheless, show favor to Israel, as it is written: “The Lord shall show favor to you and give you peace” (Numbers 6:26). He replied to them: And how can I not show favor to Israel, as I wrote for them in the Torah: “And you shall eat and be satisfied, and bless the Lord your God” (Deuteronomy 8:10), meaning that there is no obligation to bless the Lord until one is satiated; yet they are exacting with themselves to recite Grace after Meals even if they have eaten as much as an olive-bulk or an egg-bulk. Since they go beyond the requirements of the law, they are worthy of favor.
4. Masechet Berakhot connects to the midrash, Pesikta Rabbati. Write the citation of the source in a comment below.
...Another explanation. “Sing and rejoice, O daughter of Zion… And many nations shall join the Lord…” (Zechariah 2:14-15) R’ Chanina bar Papa said: this verse is only speaking of that hour when the Holy One judges the nations of the world in the time to come. In that hour the Holy One will bring all of the converts who converted in this world and judge the nations before them. He will say to them: why did you abandon Me and worship idols that have no substance. They will say before Him: Master of the World! If we had come to Your door You would not have accepted us. He will reply to them” let the converts who converted from amongst you and testify upon you. Immediately the Holy One will bring all the converts and they will judge them, saying before them: why did you abandon Him and worship idols that have no substance? Wasn’t Yitro an idolatrous priest? Since he came to the door of the Holy One, He received him. And were we not idol worshippers? Sinec we came to the door of the Holy One, He received us. Immediately all of the wicked will be ashamed due to the repentance of the converts. Judgement will be passed and they will pass from the world, as it says “But with one thing they are brutish and foolish, the vanities for which they will be punished are but wood.” (Jeremiah 10:8) Therefore it says ‘Sing and rejoice.’
5. Finally, the midrash in the clue above cites Mishlei (Proverbs). Write the citation of the source in a comment below.
What a rare find is a capable wife! Her worth is far beyond that of rubies.
Rubric
| Question/Task | 2 Points | 1 Point | 0 Points |
| Create a user profile | Complete | Partially complete | No profile |
| Question 1 | Correct Source | Source slightly incorrect | Incorrect or no source |
| Question 2 | Correct Source | Source slightly incorrect | Incorrect or no source |
| Question 3 | Correct Source | Source slightly incorrect | Incorrect or no source |
| Question 4 | Correct Source | Source slightly incorrect | Incorrect or no source |
Total points earned (out of 10):
Comments:
I love the extra additions!