CHAPTER 1 - Preparing for Children

C: Educational Activities

30. Hannah's Heartbreak
Text sources, role play, review. (One to one and a half hours)

The aim of this activity is to give an opportunity to explore issues of children in Judaism through examining the question of barrenness in Judaism and some of the emotions associated with it. The primary vehicle here is the story of Hannah, the mother of Samuel, in the First Book of Samuel.

• Begin by asking the group whether they can think of any women who had problems conceiving in the Tanach. If they cannot think of any, prompt their memory by asking, for example about Sarah. Mention the women mentioned in the body of the text, namely Sarah, Rebecca, Rachel, the mother of Samson and Hannah. Perhaps look at one or two of the examples. Ask what it means when there is such an emphasis in the tradition on infertility and the problems that accompany it.
• Now look in detail at the Hannah text. Go through the text. Emphasize that before she makes the vow, Hannah weeps much and prays. (Verse 10). Emphasize the character of her prayer as mentioned in verses twelve to fourteen.
• Ask each person in the group to go away and attempt to write the sort of prayer that Hannah might have prayed in the circumstances described. It might be good to do this in a room with soft lighting and music, conducive to the writing that you want the participants to create.
• The participants should share their compositions and explain what they feel was going on in Hannah's mind.
• Finally, explain to the participants that Hannah's prayer is seen as the model for spontaneous prayer in Judaism. Ask why this might be and what it says about the question of fertility in Judaism.
• As an alternative to a part of the activity it is possible to dramatize the scene between Eli and Hannah, and perhaps to put some of the prayers that the group write into her mouth.