Lesson Plan

Grade Eight Boys

Mussar

Rabbi U. Kestenbaum

Objectives:
The students will learn the 18 th Perek of Mesilas Yeshorim, and be able to identify the
difference between real piety, and the popular, misconceived definition of piety.
Anticipatory Set/Hook
The teacher plays a game of word association. The teacher says a word, and the students
write down the first thing that comes to their mind on an index card. The teacher can play
three rounds, the first two rounds being random words. The last round should be the word
piety.
The teacher should go around collecting and compiling the different descriptions that the
students wrote down.
Input:
The teacher reads through the 18 th Perek of Mesilas Yeshorim, translating the words while
asking students to write in their sefer the translation of any words that they find difficult.
The teacher should highlight current world perceptions of chareidi Jewry, and how those
perceptions do or do not fit into the Mesilas Yeshorims description of true piety. The
teacher should also compare the difference between Catholicisms view of self-abnegation
and piety to Judaisms incorporation of all pleasures of life as a means towards piety.
Modeling:
The teacher shows a slideshow of different Jews from different sects of Jewry. In each of
the pictures, the teacher explains how each Jew, no matter what profession or background,
can achieve true piety.
Guided Practice:
The teacher hands out a true-or-false style sheet with the words pious/not pious instead of
true/false. Examples from the Mesilas Yeshorim should be included in the handout (i.e.
crying out loud during davening, going to a freezing cold mikvah, fasting from eating, etc.)
Check for Understanding:
The teacher refers back to the original index cards that were handed out for the word
association game. The students are instructed to either alter their original descriptions of
piety or to put a check mark next to their description, indicating their continued belief in
their description. The teacher can then collect the index cards.
Independent Practice:
The students are asked to review the text of the Mesilas Yeshorim with a study partner.