Make for yourself a teacher, acquire for yourself a friend. — Pirkei Avot 1:6. Objectives: By the end of the session, participants will be able to: Identify the messages that media, society, and Judaism send about male friendships. Describe characteristics of healthy and supportive friendships. Describe the role of a friend and why it is important…
Overview: This session engages teens in a discussion around the concept of masculinity. Teens explore multiple messages that they have received about “being a man”—both the positive messages about manhood that they may have received from family, peers, popular media, and elsewhere as well as the messages about being a man that are negative, confusing, or reductive.…
My God, guard my tongue from evil. Facilitator’s Tip: This session, and all Shevet sessions, look at the impact of societal messages on “boyhood” and “masculinity” for individual youth. We recognize that these messages do not just impact boys and male-identifying youth, they also impact nonbinary youth and those who have been raised around male…
Who is rich? The one who is happy with their portion. — Pirkei Avot. Facilitator’s Tip: This session, and all Shevet sessions, looks at the impact of societal messages on “boyhood” and “masculinity” for individual youth. We recognize that these messages do not just impact boys and male-identifying youth. They also impact nonbinary youth and…
Background/Overview: Most teen boys engage in multiple forms of competition. Not only the obvious competitions: sports, popularity, academic challenges, and gaming, but the more obscure—they compete to see who can gross each other out in the cafeteria and who can do the most daring physical stunt. Ask them about the most ridiculous contest they have…
Make for yourself a teacher, acquire for yourself a friend. —Pirkei Avot 1:6. Overview: This session explores the many messages boys get about male friendships, and helps them define the importance of having friends, and what healthy friendships look like.
Background/Overview: Facilitator’s Tip: This session, and all Shevet sessions, look at the impact of societal messages on “boyhood” and “masculinity” for individual youth. We recognize that these messages do not just impact boys and male-identifying youth, they also impact nonbinary youth and those who have been raised around male gender norms. We encourage you to…
Make for yourself a teacher, acquire for yourself a friend. — Pirkei Avot 1:6. Objectives: By the end of the session, participants will be able to: Identify the messages that media, society, and Judaism send about male friendships; Describe characteristics of healthy and supportive friendships; Describe the role of a friend and why it is important…
In a place where there are no men, try to be a man —Pirkei Avot Overview This opening session of Shevet engages teens in critical discussion around the concept of masculinity. It will help them think through questions like: What messages does society send me that are unrealistic, simplistic, or confining? What does it mean to be…
Introduction Objectives Discuss sexual consent and the gendered messages that boys receive about consent Explore Jewish ethics and personal behavior surrounding sexuality and consent Give participants an opportunity to reflect on their own personal sexual decision-making
