Activities:
Pre-reading – reviewing vocabulary (20-30 min) from previous lesson and adding new terms, from the text itself. Sample words specifically from the story: train, engineer, tracks, station, drive, proud, whistle, treats, crowd, climb, feel bad, sorry, apologize (create flashcards with the kids or simply show pictures of the words).
Reading (45 min) the text (original text: Engineer Ari and the Rosh Hashanah Ride, by Deborah Bodin Cohen – we’ve created a shorter and simplified version for young Israeli students). When reading the stories with the students, Fellows should act out the story or use a “chorus” structure with the students (call and response with repetitive segments, like blowing the whistle). Exaggerate words or use hand gestures to help the students follow the story (for example, the THIRD station – emphasize the word “third” and hold up three fingers).
THE ROSH HASHANAH RIDE
Avi, the train driver (engineer), walked into the train station in Yafo. It was 1892 and the workers had finished putting in the train tracks (פסי רכבת) just in time for Rosh Hashanah.
“A new year with a new railroad,” thought Avi. He was proud that he had been chosen to drive the first train from Yafo to Jerusalem. He looked at his red train and said, “You and I are going to bring Rosh Hashanah treats (מתנות) to the children in Jerusalem.”
Avi’s friends, Tamar and Ron were sad because Avi got to drive the train instead of (במקומם) them. Avi was so excited that he didn’t see how his friends were feeling. He climbed into the train, pulled on the whistle – TOOT, TOOT! – and waved goodbye to all of the people in the crowd. He didn’t say goodbye to Tamar or Ron, though.
The train slowly rolled into the first station. A girl came to Avi with a big basket of green apples. She said, “Please bring these apples to Jerusalem for Rosh Hashanah.” The green color made Avi think of his friend Tamar because her train was the same green color. He felt bad that he hadn’t said goodbye to her. Avi pulled on the whistle – TOOT, TOOT! – and said, “Shanah Tovah – Happy New Year” to the girl as the train left the station.
The train slowly rolled into the second station. A boy came to Avi with a big box of jars filled with honey. He said, “Please bring this honey to Jerusalem for a sweet new year.” The yellow color made Avi think of his friend Ron because his train was the same yellow color. He felt bad that he hadn’t said goodbye to him. Avi pulled on the whistle – TOOT, TOOT! – and said, “Shanah Tovah – Happy New Year” to the boy as the train left the station.
The train slowly rolled into the third station. A woman and her son came to Avi with a big bag of round bread (challot). They said, “Please bring these challot to Jerusalem for the holiday.” Avi began to think of his friend Tamar again because she loved bread. He felt bad that he hadn’t been nicer to her at the train station. Avi pulled on the whistle – TOOT, TOOT! – and said, “Shanah Tovah – Happy New Year” to the woman and her son as the train left the station.
The train slowly rolled into the fourth station. A man and his daughter came to Avi with a big sack of ram’s horns (shofarot). They said, “Please bring these shofarot to Jerusalem so the children can blow them for the new year.” Avi began to think of his friend Ron again because he loved the sound of the shofar. He felt bad that he hadn’t been nicer to him at the train station. Avi pulled on the whistle – TOOT, TOOT! – and said, “Shanah Tovah – Happy New Year” to the man and his daughter as the train left the station.
Now the train was almost at the station in Jerusalem. Avi saw wheat fields and olive trees and he even saw the Jordan River. He wished his friends, Tamar and Ron, could be with him. When the train pulled into the station, the children of Jerusalem climbed up on the train and took out the Rosh Hashanah treats. They were very excited, but Avi was sad. He missed his friends and he wanted to say that he was sorry for not saying goodbye.
An important part of Rosh Hashanah is apologizing for mistakes (להתנצל על טעויות) we make (doing teshuvah), and Avi wanted to go back to Yafo to apologize to Tamar and Ron. Avi pulled on the whistle – TOOT, TOOT! – and said, “Shanah Tovah – Happy New Year” to all of the children as the train left the station. Avi smiled while thinking about his friends as he drove the train back home.
SHANAH TOVAH!
- Comprehension questions to check for understanding. (20-30 min)
Fill in the missing words. Use the word bank (for younger kids).
| Jerusalem, apples, ram’s horns, honey, Yafo, challot |
Avi starts his ride in _________________
At the 1st station, Avi gets _____________
At the 2nd station, Avi gets _____________
At the 3rd station, Avi gets _____________
At the 4th station, Avi gets _____________
At the 5th station, Avi gets _____________
Who are Tamar and Ron? ______________________________________
Who are the treats for? ________________________________________
Why is Avi sad on his ride to Jerusalem? __________________________
___________________________________________________________
What does Avi do with his friends at the end of the story? _____________
___________________________________________________________
- Post-reading activities (30-45 min): create visual items based on the text (comics, poster, holiday collage, mini book, etc.) or have the students act out the story