Chamsa Family Workshop

Over the past few weeks, we studied the history of Babylonian Jews - the first Jewish community to establish itself outside of the Land of Israel, i.e. the first edah. Students wrote skits depicting major events and eras which we had studied, painted posters illustrating the events and eras, and baked menena pastries which Iraqi Jews include in their Purim baskets. Joel also taught us two songs - "Al Naharot Bavel" (from Psalm 137) and "Hallelu Avdei Adonai" (a spirited song, sung by Iraqi Jews on Simchat Torah as they march and dance with their Torah scrolls).

It all came together yesterday at our family Chamsa workshop.We began in Room 202 with the skits - five skits depicting (1) the siege and ultimate destruction of Jerusalem and King Solomon's Temple by Nebuchadnezzar's army in 586 B.C.E., (2) the arrival of the exiled elite of Judah to Babylon after a 500-mile march, (3) the birth of Judaism in Babylon, (4) a Rabbinic discussion in the Yesheeva (Talmudic Academy) of Pumbedita, which is recorded in the Babylonian Talmud, and (5) the Muslim origin story of the Chamsa.

We then all moved over to Room 201, where participants made copper foil Chamsas. Families were asked to discuss among themselves the Jewish middot (values) which had been presented during the skits, and then to create symbols for one or more of them to include on their Chamsas. Instructions were laid out on all the tables, as well as the tools and materials needed to shape and decorate the Chamsas. For about half an hour, families worked together to create these amulets of ancient origin.

We managed to fit everyone comfortably in Room 202. Parents sat on the chairs and students were relegated to "second-level" citizenship during the performances.

King Nebuchadnezzar ordering his general to break down the walls of Jerusalem

The Narrator describing the scene of destruction as Babylonian soldiers prepare to break through the walls

The Kohen Gadol (High Priest) of the Temple sharing with the Levite Temple Servant that there is no hope for saving Jerusalem or the Temple - "Adonai is punishing us for not having followed the Commandments."

Rabbis of the Yesheeva in Pumbedita discussing when to say the morning "Sh'ma" prayer

Pointing to the poster illustrating the era being covered in the skit

Recording history and oral stories of the People of Judah during the Babylonian Captivity,  in the form of the Torah scroll

Singing "Al Naharot Bavel" together

Students, parents, and grandparents in Room 201, making the Chamsas

The copper foil was VERY sharp, so we had to be careful when working with it...

...especially when cutting out the traced hand form

Decorating is completed - time to cut out the form

For added decoration, participants could choose to add bead chains to their Chamsas - you could punch one, two, or three holes at the bottom of the palm section of the hand...

There were lots of beads to choose from - big, small, glass, ceramic, and stone

String them on thin metal wire, then loop them into the holes you've punched

A few final touches...

...and you have a Chamsa that will protect you from the "Evil Eye" (what better weapon against evil than a smiling face - on the Chamsa and on its creator!)

There's no age limit to enjoying the creative process

At the end of the workshop, each family received a special gift from our "community Purim basket" - menena pastries which the students had prepared in class - Purim is just 3 weeks away!

As we were cleaning the room after the workshops, Josh found this Chamsa left on a table by an anonymous participant. It will hang in our Edot classroom to welcome all loving spirits.