This lesson is a culminating activity at the end of a unit, quarter, or semester. Students will have the opportunity to reflect on and articulate who inspired them personally, and ideals or actions they will incorporate into their own lives.

Students will:

• Identify heroic character traits that they admire and traits that inspire trust and result in service to others
• Reflect on their relationship to an individual who has exhibited heroic characteristics in their lives.
• Practice letter-writing skills through writing a letter to a former Refusenik or activist.

Pen and paper for every student

Biographies of Refuseniks

1. Think of a person from the movement for Soviet Jewry that inspired you. You can do your own research, or read biographies of Refuseniks here.

Who did you choose? Is it a:

• Refusenik that risked their lives for freedom?
• Student activist – living a comfortable life – that wanted to make sure that all people are free?
• A community leader who created an organization that made a difference?

2. After you choose a person, think of a sentence or an aphorism that would best express that person’s attitude toward the Refusenik movement.

Examples of aphorisms:

• Love conquers all.
• Hard work and no play makes Jack a dull boy.
• Life is a battle one cannot lose.

3. Then, do the same thing for yourself in relation to the personality that you chose.

4. Now write that person a letter. Use the sentences above to help you express how the person inspires you and what you will personally take from his/her story.

If the person is alive, let students know that we can send the letter. But, if the person is not alive, save the letters as a reminder of how the important things one does are remembered.

After the activity, choose a few students to share their letters.