In these lesssons, students will read an essay, "Learning and Teaching in Troubled Times," by Ariel Burger and uncover the significance of balancing moral ferocity with self-awareness. Ariel’s work as an author and educator focuses on the mechanics of moral change and education. He describes in his book, Witness: Lessons from Elie Wiesel’s Classroom, that moral education must entail more than just a “transactional exchange of information.” Moral education, he writes, “is the only way a student can become a witness.” Ariel’s essay encourages students to consider how to bear witness in our world amid the suffering and injustices taking place.

These lessons, available for elementary, middle, and high school classrooms (also available in Spanish), explore the impacts of curiosity on learning. Through various activities, students will consider ways to celebrate questions as well as develop empathy and moral courage in their lives. *Please note that elementary and middle school students will engage with specific quotes from the essay and high school students will read and engage with the full essay.

*Original illustration by Rabbi Dr. Ariel Burger from the Yiddish folktale “Sara Chana at the Tip of the Church Tower.”