The document proposes an educational program that combines Bible studies with hands-on science experiments. It aims to make learning more engaging for students by connecting different subjects through storytelling and practical activities. Some key points: - The program uses stories from the Bible and Jewish texts as a starting point for lessons that then incorporate related scientific experiments. - Students are guided through structured thinking exercises to find logical solutions to problems presented in the stories and apply them to their own lives. - Experiments illustrate the solutions and allow students to produce tangible outcomes at the end of each lesson. - The goal is to develop students' curiosity, creativity, and ability to discover connections between different fields of knowledge.

1. – Experience is Worth a Thousand Pictures
Let Our Children Go... back to their roots and values
Introduction:
When it comes to education in Israel, there is a consensus that a real change
of concepts and of conducting the schools – is essential.
I've analyzed this issue according to the Theory of Constraints (-TOC) 1 and
found that the fundamental problem is: lack of challenges – which leads to boredom
and loss of interest.
The bored students do not usually see any connection between the learning
material taught to them and the life-skills they need, and so they act accordingly.
One area that suffers the most from this situation is Bible studies and the
Jewish Heritage.
The program suggested hereby, is a challenging one that combines these
areas with active experiences and experiments in Science.
Background:
Today, every learning subject/class is taught separately. The subjects are not
linked or connected in school. This way of conduct leads to preoccupation with
useless unnecessary details.
The conclusion I've come to – with the help of the book "Noise"2 – is that we
must "combine like terms", and "house" different subjects "under a single roof", as we
say in Hebrew. Thus, we minimize the noise made by insipid details.
To this many supporting references can be found. For instance:
In Humanities and related fields of knowledge, it is customary to gather details
into a story in order to raise and maintain interest in a topic.
The best way to ignite interest, curiosity and then creativity is to actively take
part in experiencing that thing.
Actively taking part in experiencing something results in fascination in it, and
is the core of Chemistry, Physics, Biology and the related subjects.
It was not for no reason that the people of Israel, standing in Mount Sinai said
“na’aseh v’nishma” (= we will do and then understand).
The program's principles:
The program is based on the following principals:
1
The Theory of Constraints (TOC) is a management philosophy developed by Dr. Eliyahu M. Goldratt, author of
"The Goal", "It's Not Luck", "Critical Chain" and more. In recent years TOC is very popular in the high-tech and
business worlds.
2
Jacob Burak’s book Noise: The Profile of a Cultural Disorder deals with social behaviours.
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2. – Experience is Worth a Thousand Pictures
a) Approaching the topic by telling a captivating story/riddle/dilemma3. This
is done by using modern language the children could relate to, and by
addressing deep familiar feelings4 – fears, doubts, insecurities, etc. – when
presenting the protagonist's problem. Each lesson's original story from the
Bible /Gemara /other-ancient-source is attached for frequent references to
be made during the lesson.
b) Structured guidance is given to students as to using TOC thinking tools so
that the find logical practical solutions to the problem, which they can then
inflict onto their own day-to-day lives.
c) Experiments and practical activities illustrate the logical solution, so at the
end of a lesson – the concrete outcome is an actual product.
d) The activities and experiments are very clear, structured and easy to
understand, so that any student/teacher/parent/grandparent can do them
with children, using tools and materials found in every household.
e) The program will be activated by direct instructive guidance, using
specially-suited kits and tools (-CDs, websites, etc.) to implement the
information.
f) The program will be activated in several versions: as an annual/semestrial
program according to age groups and different topics and subjects in the
Bible and in Jewish tradition; and as special days according to Jewish holy
days.
The program's concept
The combination of science and Bible studies makes a unique program that
merges, for the first time, humane aspects such as storytelling and theatrical acting
along side scientific experiments.
The program empathizes developing various thinking styles such logical,
critical and creative thinking.
Practical experimenting allows a heterogenic group of students to pleasurably
engage in scientific issues that are usually perceived as complicated and hard to
understand.
Many of the program's topics fit the formal education's curriculum, and can
enrich it with much-needed active, practical, fun experiences, that are currently absent
form science classes.
The program can be annual or semestrial.
The program's goal
1. Exposing the students to the connections and links between different
disciplinary fields of knowledge.
2. Developing and nurturing the children's curiosity, creativity and the drive
to discover.
3
" 'The only way to understand the world', Magnus would say, 'is to tell a story. Science,' said Magnus,
'only leads to knowledge of how things function. Stories lead to understanding.' " – from Marcel
Möring's novel, In Babylon.
4
As claimed in Bruno Bettelheim's book The Uses of Enchantment, published in 1976 .
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3. – Experience is Worth a Thousand Pictures
Suggested topics5
1. Tohu va-Vohu – "…the earth was unformed and void" – the science of
Chaos – uncertainty as to what's to come – no control of time – building a
time-pendulum.
2. Ha-Mabul – "The Flood" – global warming – greenhouse affect –
ecological holocaust.
3. Moshe Ba-Teiva – "Moses in the bulrushes ark" – building Moses' ark –
floating on water – water proof materials and the surface tension of water.
4. Ha-Sneh Ha-Bo'er – The "burning bush"– low temperatures burnable
resins (– inflammable materials).
5. Mayim Min Ha-Sela – "water out of the rock" – identifying plants that
testify to the existence of ground water – water percolation – wellsprings,
siphons and wells.
6. Homot Yeriho Noflot – "and the wall fell down flat" – uses of energy of
sound – frequencies that crash rocks – ultra sound.
7. David and Goliath – the cumbersome physique of a giant; why smooth
round stones – the motion-energies of a sling.
8. Akeidas Yitzhak –Sacrificing Yitzhak – as sacrificing infants was
common, Abraham's greatness is to rebel against this.
9. Yosef Be-Mitzrayim – Joseph in Egypt – agricultural economy – how to
educate the people to properly keep and store their crops – making matzas.
10. Lag Ba'Omer – ridding of all inflammable things before the time of
summer heat-waves.
11. Hanukkah – using pure clear olive oil because it contains a lot of water
that decrease burning.
12. Esh Min Ha-Shamayim – "Fire from heaven" – lighting fire without
human touch.
13. Yaacov lays down on stones – right division of body weight.
14. Ha-Keshet Be'Anan – "And the bow shall be in the cloud" – features of
light: blue sky, red sunset.
15. Israelites and Philistines – technological society: processing metals, using
wheels, navigation and trade Vs. agricultural society.
16. David and Saul – different sounds affecting different moods: battle-cries to
lullabies.
17. Damning water – presence of parasites and germs in water – removal of
them with plant extracts, etc.
18. Producing wine, liquor, bread and cheese – the birth of technology.
19. Burning incense – repelling flying insects – ridding of lice with lavender
oil and rosemary oil.
20. Roll the stone from the well's mouth – protecting water's quality against
animals.
5
The Biblical quotes are taken from the Mechon-Mamre translation of the Bible on the internet.
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4. – Experience is Worth a Thousand Pictures
Workshops according to the Jewish holy days
- Rosh ha-Shana and Sukkot
1. Honey-dipped apples – preparing sweets with seasonal fruits.
2. Mathematics and Sukkah decorations – preparing unique decorations: Mobius
rings, spirals and more.
3. Hag ha-Asif – Time of Harvest – picking olives, oil retention, preserving
olives.
4. Come the rain and the bow in the cloud – the rainbow – mixing and separating
colors, white light and the colors of the rainbow.
- Channuka
1. Dreidels and optical illusions: making special dreidels with different spinnig
illusions, 2/3 dimentional, movement and color illusions.
2. Kaleidoscope: flexible morrors duplicate the candle light numerous times;
creating a kaleidoscope with a triple prism, to get a new colorful look on the
world.
3. Candles: why pure olive oil? – making colorful candles.
4. Shadows and colors: Do different light sources effect shadows? – building a
peeping box, and experimenting with different objects and sources of different
colors.
5. Glowing in the dark: activity in an invisible "ultra-violet" light with light-
emitting materials and phosphoric-color materials.
- Tu bi-Shvat and Family day
1. Spices and medicinal plants: etheric oils in plants – reviewing ways to
extract smells from plants and experiencing dissolving oil in different
solvents. At the end – preparing spicy fragrant oil in a little bottle.
2. Chemical garden: a spectacular garden of crystals in liquid. We will
demonstrate dissolvability of different materials in different solutions, follow
the differences between them, and each student will create his/her own
chemical garden.
3. Tastes and smells: how many tastes are there really? Four or four-hundred?
By making different favored drinks: a blue lemon drink; green strawberry
drink, etc.
4. Gel bracelets: using an amazing matter that absorbs water rapidly, turning it
into soft gel particals. At the end we make a spectacular gel bracelet.
5. Pattern and models: between art and science – students make their own
palm-pattern with special matter which solidifies in one minute. Pour calcium
sulfate into it – and get a palm model of their hand.
- Purim
- Lag ba'Omer / Yom ha'Atzma'ut(=independence day)
- Shavu'ot
-
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