by Robyn Reiser, Keshet Transition & Sunday School Teacher
Have you ever had a song stuck in your head for days? Well, it’s been a week and I can’t stop humming The Sanctuary Song, and here’s why.
Last Shabbat, I attended a meditative Parsha class led by my Rabbi, Ari Hart of Skokie Valley Agudath Jacob Synagogue. We began by singing a verse from Parsha Terumah, the weekly Torah portion, which was the focus of the class:
“וְעָ֥שׂוּ לִ֖י מִקְדָּ֑שׁ וְשָׁכַנְתִּ֖י בְּתוֹכָֽם”
“And let them make Me a Mikdash that I may dwell within them” (Exodus 25:8)
During the class, I was inspired by the idea that each of us carries a “Sanctuary” within ourselves, a space where all feelings and thoughts are welcome. This concept immediately sparked ideas for my own teaching at Keshet.
Immediately following that Shabbat, I took to my computer to create a new Sunday School lesson for Beit Midrash, the weekly Torah class I teach for adults at Keshet. Typically, when Parsha Terumah comes around, I focus on the physical construction of the Temple through an art or cooking project. This year, I wanted my students to experience the same reflection I had during the class. I adapted the lesson to include visual resources, hands-on activities and choices in how students responded, so that every student could explore the idea of an inner Sanctuary in a way that was meaningful and accessible to them.
Even though the lesson looked a little different for my students than it did in the Parsha class, the feeling we all experienced remained the same. The connection between The Sanctuary Song and the Parsha verse felt palpable in the room, reaching each participant in their own unique way. I realized this lesson could also be meaningful for my Transition program students. While they all come from their own unique backgrounds, they were able to connect with the idea of an inner Sanctuary and engage in a safe, reflective space.
Teaching this lesson reminded me that, as teachers, what we learn and reflect on in our own lives can become a bridge to help students explore their own feelings and ideas in the classroom. I loved seeing how my students could each discover the sacred space inside them, ready to be honored, explored and celebrated.
Below is the full step-by-step lesson I created for my students, so you can bring this reflection into your own classroom, program or home!
Keshet Parsha Terumah Lesson
1. Introduce the weekly Torah portion, Parsha Terumah through this video: Parshat Terumah: The Weekly Parsha Story Illustrated by AI
2. Lead a short mindfulness exercise using this video called: The Body Scanner!
3. Review the Visual Options below to create your body sanctuary
4. Cut and paste the pictures which you connect with onto your own body outline. While doing this activity, we listened to Sanctuary Song by Randy Scruggs and John Thompson!
5. Invite students to share their projects with the class! Below are examples of what my students created when I did this lesson.
