Vayeilech Poetry Slam
OUTLINE:
The Shabbat of Sept 27th is both Shabbat Shuvah (The Shabbat of Return/Repentance between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur) as well as the Torah portion Vayeilech. In the Torah portion God tells Moses (Deuteronomy 31:19)…
| Therefore, write down this poem and teach it to the people of Israel; put it in their mouths, in order that this poem may be My witness against the people of Israel. | וְעַתָּה כִּתְבוּ לָכֶם אֶת־הַשִּׁירָה הַזֹּאת וְלַמְּדָהּ אֶת־בְּנֵי־יִשְׂרָאֵל שִׂימָהּ בְּפִיהֶם לְמַעַן תִּהְיֶה־לִּי הַשִּׁירָה הַזֹּאת לְעֵד בִּבְנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל׃ |
This program combines pepentance, poetry, and a fun poetry slam all in one!
MATERIALS:
- Texts for repentance
- Paper/pens to write poems (or, to keep Shabbat, you can ask everyone to bring poems with them)
- Rules for slam
- Prize for winner
- Snacks/drinks/meal
PROGRAM OUTLINE (~90 minutes):
- Program begins with an overview explaining the line from the Torah portion, Shabbat Shuvah, and repentance. A short discussion on t’shuvah (repentance) will help people get in frame of mind.
- After discussion, people should be given rules for the slam, and 15-20 minutes to write their creative poem.
- Once poems are written, the slam begins. Every person (pair) has 3 minutes to read their poem.
- There should be cards with the name of the performer on a table, and everyone is given a sticker to vote on the best performer.
- Once votes are tabulated, a winner is crowned and snacking/meal can begin.
Rules for Slam:
- People can work individually or in pairs/groups
- Poems must be original
- Extra points for poems that encourage audience participation
- Eye contact, body language, being authentic make for a better slam
- Friendly competition
A Few Texts on Repentance:
[Who has reached] complete teshuvah? A person who confronts the same situation in which he sinned when he has the potential to commit [the sin again], and, nevertheless, abstains and does not commit it because of his teshuvah alone and not because of fear or a lack of strength.
Maimonides Hilchot Teshuvah Chapter 2:1
Teshuvah and Yom Kippur only atone for sins between man and God; for example, a person who ate a forbidden food or engaged in forbidden sexual relations, and the like. However, sins between man and man; for example, someone who injures a colleague, curses a colleague, steals from him, or the like will never be forgiven until he gives his colleague what he owes him and appeases him.
[It must be emphasized that] even if a person restores the money that he owes [the person he wronged], he must appease him and ask him to forgive him.
Even if a person only upset a colleague by saying [certain] things, he must appease him and approach him [repeatedly] until he forgives him.
If his colleague does not desire to forgive him, he should bring a group of three of his friends and approach him with them and request [forgiveness]. If [the wronged party] is not appeased, he should repeat the process a second and third time. If he [still] does not want [to forgive him], he may let him alone and need not pursue [the matter further]. On the contrary, the person who refuses to grant forgiveness is the one considered as the sinner.
[The above does not apply] if [the wronged party] was one’s teacher. [In that instance,] a person should continue seeking his forgiveness, even a thousand times, until he forgives him.
Maimonides Hilchot Teshuvah Chapter 2:9
…The gates of repentance are always open, and anyone who wishes to enter may enter…
Shemot Rabbah 19:4
……Prayer is likened to an immersion pool, but repentance is likened to the sea. Just as an immersion pool is at times open and at other times locked, so the gates of prayer are at times open and at other times locked. But the sea is always open, even as the gates of repentance are always open…
Eikhah Rabbah 3:15
For our Residents: Consider applying for Jewish Learning, Shabbat Enhancement, or Jewish Holiday and Culture funding to help cover materials for this program. You can also think about having a tangible prize for the winner (prizes can’t be gift cards if grant money is used).
