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Swords Into Plowshares
The URJ's Campaign to
End Gun Violence
Last Updated May 31, 2000
Making Gun Control a Religious Issue
A Curriculum for Students, Adults, Families and Congregations
Goals
1. To see the issue of gun control not only as a political issue, but as a moral obligation 2. To provide teachers with Jewish resources to discuss the issue of gun control 3. To provide students and teachers with an understanding of the Reform movement's stance on gun control 4. To offer classroom activities to better understand the issue of gun control
Related Texts For Discussion
- Scripture encourages peaceful pursuit of our mutual welfare. Isaiah exhorts the people of the earth to "beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks" (Isaiah 2:4).
- Do not stand idly by the blood of our neighbors (Leviticus 19:16).
Background information from R. Yoffie's December 1999 Biennial Speech
What is our task as Reform Jews?
First and foremost, we need to see the control of guns not as a political problem but as a solemn religious obligation. Our gun-flooded society has turned weapons into idols, and the worship of idols must be recognized for what it is-blasphemy. The only appropriate religious response to idolatry is sustained moral outrage.
Our Jewish sages relate that God began the human race with a single being to teach us that when anyone takes a single human life, it is as if they had destroyed the entire world-and anyone who saves a single life, it is as if they had saved the entire world. How many lives must be lost, how many worlds destroyed, until we as a nation act on the regulation of guns?
Suggested activities
- For Intermediate Grades
- Talmudic process activity (Adapted from, Why Be Good, BJE of Greater Boston)
Have students, in small groups, look at the text, then circle every word that needs further explanation - what is idly? What is blood? What does it mean to stand by?
- Have students explicate their explanations in the box on the same page. Be sure they note which students asked and answers which questions.
- Have groups pass their sheets on to another group. Have groups discuss the law as further expanded and discuss how useful it is now. What real-life situations can they use this in?
- Share any situations from their own life when they have fulfilled this mitzvah, how did it feel? Was it difficult?
- Have students work in groups to design anti-gun ads on posterboard and post these around your campus
- Have students look for and bring in to discuss newspaper articles related to gun control. Reserve 10 minutes each day for a month to discuss what is happening in your community and nationally to address the issue of gun control.
- Have students use the text, "Do not stand idly by the blood of your neighbors," or "Beat you swords into plowshare," and write a d'var connecting to the issue of gun control or create a poster.
- Use the attached text study sheet for a discussion on the mitzvah, "Do not stand idly by the blood of your neighbor."
- For High School Students
- Read Rabbi Yoffie's Biennial Address
Ask students to list all of R. Yoffie's points against gun control
- Ask them to list and identify all the specific Jewish messages in his address
- Discuss the issue of idol worship - have students answer the question, "How is the use of guns in this country like idol worship."
- Do students know what the punishment for idol worship was? (Death)
- What should the punishment be for use of guns in this country if it is like idol worship?
- Do they have friends or friends parents who use guns?
- What is their parents' stance on guns?
- What do they think they can do to make a difference on this issue? Have students write letters or create petitions.
- Read and discuss the 1999 URJ resolution on "Ending Gun Violence" have them work in groups to create an action plan for each of the 4 points of the resolution. Are their more actions that they would advocate for? Put the groups in charge of seeing that the community carries out their action plans. Have weekly and monthly updates by the groups.
- Have students include their own address on the letters, every Senate or House office answers all mail sent to them. This will let students know that their voice is being heard.
- Ask students to locate their congressional leaders on-line and report on their stance/voting record on gun control - use this site:
- Have students look for and bring in to discuss newspaper articles related to gun control. Reserve 10 minutes each day for a month to discuss what is happening in your community and nationally to address the issue of gun control.
- Coordinate a high school trip to the L'taken seminars sponsored by the RAC.
- Join a petition drive for gun control legislation. Petition drives are simple, easy to organize, and can have an impact on elected officials' perceptions of public opinion. Currently, the American Jewish Congress is organizing a massive "Stop the Guns: Protect Our Kids" petition drive in favor of gun control legislation. Petitions are available by calling (212) 879-4500, or on the web. Sign on today.
- Use the attached text study sheet for a discussion on the mitzvah, "Do not stand idly by the blood of your neighbor."
- For Adults
- Urge registered voters to sign your petitions and to write to their elected officials.
- Create a committee to promote advocacy on this issues. Join a local anti-gun coalition
- Join the Million Mom March, which has recently developed into a nation-wide network of locally-based chapters to keep up the pressure on Congress even after the March on May 14th. View the Million Mom March web page for more information.
- Join a petition drive for gun control legislation. Petition drives are simple, easy to organize, and can have an impact on elected officials' perceptions of public opinion. Currently, the American Jewish Congress is organizing a massive "Stop the Guns: Protect Our Kids" petition drive in favor of gun control legislation. Petitions are available by calling (212) 879-4500, or on the web. Sign on today.
- Work with your elected officials. Invite your elected officials to your synagogue to explain their positions on gun-control issues. Make sure that officials have ample time to express their views and that congregants and guests have an opportunity to share their thoughts and experiences. Invite people from outside your congregation to make it a community event. Share your views with your elected officials. We must be on call to visit, write, phone, e-mail or fax our political representatives as issues arise. Personal stories and hand-written letters are the most effective tools in reaching your elected officials. To easily reach your Members of Congress by phone, call the Capitol Switchboard at (202) 224-3121. The White House can be reached at (202) 456-1414. In addition, you can use the RAC's online Legislative Action Center to identify and send e-mail messages to your congressional representatives. The RAC website also has protocols and suggestions for writing, calling, and visiting your Members of Congress.
- Join a local anti-violence coalition. Get involved in community or interfaith initiatives and learn from successful programs. For information on anti-violence programs in your area, contact the Partnerships Against Violence Network at or the National Crime Prevention Council,(202) 466-6272.
- For Families
- Discuss this issue at the dinner table. Have family members share their understanding of the issue and take time to answer children's questions.
- Draft a letter together as a family and send it to your elected officials. Include drawings of done by the youngest children in the family. Be sure to discuss the return response together.
- Make your home safe from guns. In addition to removing guns from your home, speak to your children about guns. Make sure they know that if they come across a gun, to assume that the gun is real and to get an adult. Ensure that your children play in a gun-free environment - including finding out if your children's friends have guns in their homes.
- As a Congregation
- Organize a gun turn-in/buy-back program with your local police station. As a religious school program, have young children turn in their toy guns for books and other non-violent playthings.
- Join the Million Mom March, which has recently developed into a nation-wide network of locally-based chapters to keep up the pressure on Congress even after the March on May 14th. View the Million Mom March web page for more information.
- Join a petition drive for gun control legislation. Petition drives are simple, easy to organize, and can have an impact on elected officials' perceptions of public opinion. Currently, the American Jewish Congress is organizing a massive "Stop the Guns: Protect Our Kids" petition drive in favor of gun control legislation. Petitions are available by calling (212) 879-4500, or on the web. Sign on today.
- Organize events. Public forums, hearings, protests, and press conferences increase awareness of the need for gun control legislation and energize others to become active on gun control.
Closure — discuss the text "It is not your responsibility to complete the task, but neither are you free to desist from it." (Pirke Avot 2:21)
*Prepared by
Deborah Niederman, RJE
NATE representative to the
Commission on Social Action
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