As Passover approaches, this engaging activity invites students to explore the holiday through the lens of Gematria, the ancient system of assigning numerical values to Hebrew letters. Using a custom worksheet, students will practice decoding Hebrew words, review key Passover vocabulary, and uncover a meaningful holiday blessing. This lesson blends language skills, Jewish tradition, and critical thinking in a fun and accessible way.
Objectives:
By the end of this lesson, students will:
- Understand the concept of Gematria.
- Be able to match Hebrew letters with their numerical values.
- Apply additional skills to decode Hebrew words.
- Identify and understand key Passover vocabulary.
- Reflect on the meaning of some Haggadah quotes.
Materials Needed:
- Passover Gematria Worksheet
- Aleph-Bet chart with numerical values (optional for reference)
- Pencils or pens
- Whiteboard or digital display (for introducing Gematria)
Lesson Procedure:
1. Introduction (5–10 minutes)
- Briefly explain Gematria and its use in Jewish tradition.
- Ask students if they’ve ever heard of it or seen it used in texts.
- Introduce the idea of decoding Hebrew words to discover hidden messages.
2. Review Aleph-Bet and Numbers (5–10 minutes)
- Provide or display a Hebrew Aleph-Bet chart with numerical values.
- Do a few practice examples together (e.g., spell out the value of פסח).
3. Worksheet Activity (15–20 minutes)
- Distribute the Passover Gematria Worksheet.
- Students work independently or in pairs to:
- Match each Hebrew letter to its numerical value.
- Add up the values of words and phrases.
- Use the values to solve a hidden message puzzle.
4. Discussion and Reflection (5–10 minutes)
- Go over the sayings as a group.
- Discuss: What does it mean to see ourselves as freed slaves?
- Ask students: What surprised you about this activity? Why might people have created hidden meanings in Hebrew words?
Extension Ideas:
- Challenge advanced students to create their own Gematria puzzles.
- Use this activity as a lead-in to writing short Hebrew messages using Gematria.
- Connect to other holidays or texts that involve numbers (e.g., 10 plagues, 4 questions).
