On Thursday, Judaic Studies Teacher Lianne Gross Philipps' Grade 7 students became Rabbis of the high court in Yavneh led by Rabban Gamliel. A case was brought to them regarding a successful businessman named Avraham who was robbed on his way to a neighboring village. Upon arrival, he asked for food to eat and money to purchase new provisions. As it was time to leave, the villagers found out that Avraham indeed had funds in his hometown and asked to be reimbursed. Should Avraham pay back the people of the village who gave him tzedakah?

 

In addition to Rabban Gamliel, students assumed the rabbinical roles of Rabbi Yehoshua, Rabbi Eliezer, Rabbi Akiva, Reish Lakish, Rabbi Yochanan, Rabbi Meir, and Rabbi Tarfon to debate this controversial topic. They pondered several questions, including what constitutes tzedakah and what are the expectations of one who gives tzedakah? What is the responsibility of a person to disclose their monetary status? One group ruled that Avraham must return the money, while the other group tied and reached no conclusion. After taking the inconclusive arguments into account, Rabban Gamliel gave his final decision that Avraham does not need to return the money. Kol hakavod to Grade 7 students for embracing the challenge and stepping into their roles to better understand this unit of learning.