by Editor, Feb 17, 2015, Jurgis Pabrėža Preparatory Gymnasium of Kretinga
In February of this year the seniors of the Jurgis Pabrėža Preparatory Gymnasium of Kretinga had two open non-traditional integrated Lithuanian-language, history and English-language lessons about Jewish culture. During studies on the topic of Jewish literature, it was noted the students had little knowledge of this, so the decision was made to expand their horizons with supplementary material including facts from the religion, history and life of the Jewish people and a characterization of Jewish identity. Izaak Kutzi, a citizen of Israel who has lived in Lithuania for some time but speaks English, was invited to help with the lesson. The lesson was prepared beforehand: tasks were assigned students, the course of the lesson and the role of its leaders were discussed, a test was prepared to assess the acquisition of information, and Kutzi even made traditional Jewish food-dishes. Further participants in the lesson included teachers from the gymnasium and the local district, members of the Kretinga Jewish Community and students from Klaipėda University.
At the beginning of the lesson impressive video images from Jewish life were shown. Senior Lina Liebutė presented the results of a survey conducted, called “How Much do Lithuanians Know about Jewish Culture?” (with an informant-pool of about 200 students) and it turned out knowledge about this is poor. So we began to increase our knowledge beginning with history. History teacher Dalia Zibalienė spoke imaginatively and interestingly about Jewish religion, presented interesting facts from the history of this people and presented the current political situation, even accenting the activities of the Jewish community in Kretinga. She enjoyed the students’ rapt attention.
Senior student Jovita Kniežaitė, with consultation from the teacher Audronė Dūdienė, introduced Jewish writers and analyzed Icchokas Meras’s novel “Lygiosios trunka akimirką” [translated into English as “Stalemate”].
Seniors Justė Stonkutė and Deimantė Japertaitė, with help from the teacher Janina Šidlauskienė, spoke interestingly of the Jewish character, and illustrated the typical features of the Jewish people through jokes. Justė Stonkutė also revealed exotic Jewish traditions and customs.
Gymnasium assistant principal Asta Motužienė invited Kutzi to come and speak, and instructed the students to listen, to try to understand the story told in English and to answer the test questions correctly.
The citizen of Israel greeted the students with the word “Shalom.” This Hebrew word means “peace.” He spoke about Jewish religious customs and showed students the Jewish cap, or yarmulke, and the prayer shawl, or tallis, and explained how they are used. Some students (Gabrielė Kalniškytė, Emilija Korsakaitė ir Mantas Stuokus) even recited the hymn “Shema Yisrael Adonai eloheinu” in Hebrew and Lithuanian, and sang the fun Jewish song “Hevenu Shalom Alechem.” The guest from Israel charmed the class, walking around the class and singing, conducting and connecting with the audience. Kutzi invited students to try some matzo bread from Israel as a symbol of unity. During the passing out of the matzo, senior Gabrielė Ūbaitė read a passage from the Lithuanian poet Justinas Marcinkevičius:
Dalykimės stebuklu su visais
Ir niekad jo vienam neatiduokim.
[Let’s share the miracle with everyone
And never give it to just one.]
Izaak Kutzi invited those gathered to try traditional Jewish dishes, and they were very different in terms of appearance, taste and method of preparation. The students listened to stories from the history of the Jewish people, including from the Holocaust, and about holidays, traditions and customs, from the lips of a real Jew.
The students understood the stories and answered the 30 questions on the test. At the end of the lesson the students had another opportunity to view scenes from Israel and to ponder whether we are so different after all, or whether all nations are different in their own right, and whether Jews aren’t really the same as Lithuanians, in terms of intellect, eloquence, humility, sincerity, openness, generosity and similar features…
The lesson was apparently interesting to both students and observers. The goal of the lesson was achieved, according to the test results. Impressions of the charismatic Izaak Kutzi will likely remain with the students and others for a long time.
By Audronė Dūdienė and Janina Šidlauskienė, teachers and methodologists from the Jurgis Pabrėža Preparatory Gymnasium of Kretinga
The Lithuanian Jewish Community approves of such initiatives and hopes this successful lesson will inspire other Lithuanian teachers and schools to learn more about their fellow Jewish citizens and their culture and traditions.