Metzora . Middah/ Jewish Value Activity Early Years & Foundation Stage 0 - 5 The Torah tells us not to speak Lashon Hara - saying mean and nasty things about someone to other people - Being careful what we say We all know that saying nasty things and listening to nasty things is wrong. First establish what 'nice' and 'not nice' things to say might be. Ask the children, using examples: Your house is dirty You've got a pretty garden Now play this game with them. The leader makes a statement. If it's 'not nice' the children cover an ear with one hand and their mouth with another, to reinforce not listening to or speaking Lashon Hara. (If this is too hard just ask them to cover their ears. If the statement is 'nice' the children can clap their hands. Key Stage 1 5 - 8 The parashah tells us more about 'Tzara'at' - a special kind of skin disease that we can't identify today - which was the punishment for speaking Lashon Hara - Being careful how we talk Last week, for Parashat Tazria, we played Chinese Whispers' to show how the details of things we tell each other can be changed, distorted or even end up as complete fabrications. This week we will talk about the ways that Lashon Hara may be spread. Ask the children: How else, apart from speaking, might Lashon Hara be spread? Some ideas for the Leader: Through writing Through an expression on someone's face Through giving hints Through drawing attention to someone's faults Key Stage 2 8 - 11 Last week in Tazria we learned about 'Tzara'at', the punishment the Bnei Yisrael got for speaking Lashon Hara. Amazingly Tzara'at first affected people's homes, then clothing and then their bodies. These stages in the appearance of the Tzara'at were warning signs - Being aware of warning signs and taking appropriate action Think of examples from everyday life where heeding the warning signs will make you do something, stop doing something or change something. Examples Road signs Reverse warning signal in car· Someone begins to look embarrassed during a conversation Discuss these and other examples that you have thought of.