Hollywood Idol

Includes: 1 Teacher’s manual, Marketing materials, PowerPoints, Lesson videos.

LESSON 1: A STAR IS BORN
In this lesson, students will examine the allure of the glitz and glamour of Hollywood fame, and identify its drawbacks. After understanding the negative side of pursuing fame, students will discover Judaism’s view: that we are defined by something much deeper than external recognition.

LESSON 2: HAPPILY EVER AFTER?
Romantic love is one of Hollywood’s most prominent themes. We are all familiar with the dreamy, head-over-heels, love-at-first-sight, obsessive, passionate love stories that, despite their being clichés, keep moviegoers, tissues in hand, coming back time and again. In this lesson, students will discover the Torah’s prescription for true love to develop and thrive.

LESSON 3: GETTING HIGH… ON LIFE!
In this lesson, students will analyze how movies, even ones that are directed at very young audiences, often endorse alcohol as an acceptable way to counter the trials and tribulations of life’s challenges. Students will compare and contrast the idea of using alcohol, or other substances, with the Torah’s approach, which encourages us to meet challenges head-on.

LESSON 4: FRIENDS FOREVER
“Nature has no love for solitude and always leans, as it were, on some support; and the sweetest support is found in the most intimate friendship.” A good friend is one of the few things that is universally acclaimed. For teens, parental and other familial relationships can fade into the background, while peer relationships become increasingly important. In this lesson, students will come to a deeper understanding and appreciation of their own friendships and gain insight into the qualities and decisions that lead to the gift of true friendship.

LESSON 5: FORTUNE OR MISFORTUNE?
In this lesson, students will examine the Torah’s view of the relationship between an individual and his wealth. Whether rich or poor, the question is not how much one has, but what one does with it. There is no sin in becoming a wealthy businessman, musician, athlete, actor, or winning the lottery; it indicates that G-d has entrusted you with wealth and the power that comes along with it, to accomplish great things for humankind.

LESSON 6: REBEL WITH A CAUSE
This lesson will focus on the intense energy of youth. The idealism, enthusiasm, and vitality of youth have been described as the “engine of the world”. Yet, this energy, which has the potential to transform and revolutionize, is often unproductively, and even destructively, wasted. Like fire, or any other powerful, untamed force, adolescent vigor can be channeled and directed into a constructive, creative, laser-like force, which promotes the positive change that our world desperately needs.