Shared Illuminations: Dramatized Jewish Wisdom Stories: I. Wisdom from Within

Shared Illuminations: Dramatized Jewish Wisdom Stories: I. Wisdom from Within

This is a unique collection of 403 short, wisdom-based stories, drawn from universally relevant Jewish sources, rewritten as brief plays. The book contains two parts, Book I: Wisdom from Within, illuminations related to how we think and feel, and Book II: Wisdom with Others, illuminations related to dealing with others. Each play takes 1-5 minutes to read aloud, preferably within a small group of family, friends, or students sitting around a table, followed by conversations relating the story theme to their own lives. Although participatory, the book also can be read enjoyably on one’s own. Some stories are classics, but most will be new, even to Jewish story mavens because they’re drawn from a wider range of sources (over 120) and include a wider range of genres (from Talmudic teachings to contemporary jokes) than any other collection. All the stories have embedded wisdom teachings and clever plot twists—and all are thought-provoking, inspiring, and conversation-evoking. Combined, they provide a portrait of Jewish values and customs, yet they don't require a Jewish background or beliefs. The stories are organized by theme—allowing easy selection for a particular occasion, context, or topic. The writing style is straightforward and vivid, suitable for acting out by readers from youth to mature adults. Shared Illuminations comes with detailed instructions for use of the material with groups in varied settings, a method "field-tested" successfully in religious and secular settings, in public programs (with multiple small groups reading the microplays simultaneously) and in private family gatherings.