- INTRODUCING OURSELVES
Objective:
- To learn about family customs through sharing the origins of each woman’s name
- To begin to understand the influence of our different cultural backgrounds
- To explain how storytelling is key to building empathy and understanding
Introduction:
Our families and cultural background play a large role in the way we define ourselves, as well as the way we are perceived by others. Through exploring the origins of our names, participants can share part of their family legacy. Sharing personal stories is key to establishing each woman’s equal voice, since everyone has a story, regardless of her knowledge about her religion.
Materials:
- Chat
- Shared Screen
Roles:
- Facilitator
- Shares the objectives and introduction.
- Posts the questions below on either the chat or the shared screen on for easy reference.
- Timekeeper
- Ask one sister to keep track of time. She will let the speaker know when she has spoken for five minutes, or however much time is available, given the size of your group.
Time required:
One hour, divided equally among sisters
Process:
- Make sure you log in with your own full name.
- Ask each sister to tell the story of her name. Each sister will have 5 minutes to speak, more or less, depending on the size of the group.
- Here are some questions she can consider:
- How do you pronounce your name?
- What does your name mean?
- How did you get your name?
- What influenced that name choice?
- Do you prefer to go by any other name? Why?
- What is the story of your last name? Where does it come from and what does it mean? Is it different from other family members’ last names?
- If your group is not too large, you can leave time for one question after each person.
- You can designate one sister to ask the next question beforehand.
- SHARING RELIGIOUS BELIEFS AND PRACTICES – Option One
Objectives:
- To develop a basic understanding of each woman’s “lived” religion
- To begin to see one another as individuals rather than just as “Muslims” or “Jews”
- To begin the process of breaking down stereotypes
Introduction:
Through sharing the meaning of an important religious object and role it plays in your life, sisters will develop an understanding about the ways individuals practice their religion. This learning is not just about the “other” religion, but also highlights the rich diversity within our own religious communities. Sharing personal stories is key to establishing each woman’s equal voice, since everyone has a story to share, regardless of her knowledge about her religion. Great activity that allows us to include items that are not transportable!
Materials:
- PowerPoint
- Photo of Religious Object
Time required:
One hour, divided equally among sisters
Roles
- Facilitator
- Prior to the session, ask participants to email the facilitator a photograph of one item that symbolizes their religion. The facilitator will make a PowerPoint presentation of the photographs.
- Posts the questions in the chat.
- Time keeper.
- Ask one sister to keep track of time. She will let the speaker know when she has spoken for five minutes, or however much time is available, given the size of your group.
Process:
- Ask one sister to start the sharing by presenting her religious item. Suggested questions to explore:
- How do you use this object (e.g. daily, weekly, special holidays)?
- How does this item capture the meaning of your religion to you?
- Does the object have special meaning from your childhood?
Note:
You may be tempted to skip the PowerPoint and just hold the objects up in front of you on the screen. Resist this temptation. Remember that some sisters will be watching this on a tablet or a phone, on which even your face may be barely visible. Take the best photograph you can in the best light available.
On the positive side, doing this activity on Zoom enables you to use objects that might be too large or too fragile to bring to an in-person meeting.
- SHARING RELIGIOUS BELIEFS AND PRACTICES – Option Two
Objectives:
- To develop a basic understanding of each woman’s “lived” religion
- To begin to see one another as individuals rather than just as “Muslims” or “Jews”
- To begin the process of breaking down stereotypes
Introduction:
These objectives are the same as the previous one, but the activity uses different questions to prompt sharing some of the ways each sister practices her religion.
Materials:
You may want to post the questions on the chat or shared screen for easy reference.
Roles
- Facilitator
- Explain the objectives of the activity.
- Timekeeper
- Ask one sister to keep track of time. She will let the speaker know when she has spoken for five minutes, or however much time is available, given the size of your group.
Time required:
One hour, divided equally among sisters
Process:
- Ask one sister to begin, describing in detail one or more religious practices or rituals that are important to her.
- What meaning does it/they have in your life?
- What do you most enjoy about the practice?
- Do you find anything difficult or challenging about the practice?
- Was the practice part of your life growing up or has it changed over time?
