Praying with Lior
7:00-7:15 HAVDALLAH
7:15-8:45- Watch Praying with Lior
Describe the movie (in your own words)
Synopsis: An engrossing, wrenching and tender documentary film, PRAYING WITH LIOR introduces Lior Liebling, also called "the little rebbe." Lior has Down syndrome, and has spent his entire life praying with utter abandon. Is he a "spiritual genius" as many around him say? Or simply the vessel that contains everyone's unfulfilled wishes and expectations? Lior - whose name means "my light" - lost his mother at age six, and her words and spirit hover over the film. While everyone agrees Lior is closer to God, he's also a burden, a best friend, an inspiration, and an embarrassment, depending on which family member is speaking. As Lior approaches Bar Mitzvah, the Jewish coming-of-age ceremony different characters provides a window into life spent "praying with Lior." The movie poses difficult questions such as what is "disability" and who really talks to God? Told with intimacy and humor, PRAYING WITH LIOR is a family story, a triumph story, a grief story, a divinely-inspired story.
Let everyone know that this can get uncomfortable at times, and it’s totally normal to feel that way.
8:45-9:45 guest speaker
Debbie Engle (mother of Down syndrome child)
Carly will introduce her
9:45-10:10 Discussion
Jake and Sam will lead a discussion with the following questions:
1. If people come in all shapes and sizes and abilities and colors, and all are created in the “image of G-d,” what does that say about our understanding of G-d?
2. What elements in Lior’s life helped him to succeed?
3. What could inclusion look like in a family? In a school? In a professional setting? In a social setting?
4. How was Lior’s Bar Mitzvah like or unlike the B’nai Mitzvah of “typical” children?
5. Why do you think Lior loves to daven so much?
6. One of the boys in Lior’s class says that Lior’s Down syndrome is a “test,” both for Lior, and for his classmates. What does that mean? How would someone pass or fail this test? How about a community?
EXTRA(if we have time): How does it feel to have a disability?
What does it feel like to have a learning disability?
Directions:
· One person reads “The Friembly Bog” aloud.
· Observe and note behaviors and comments of reader and listeners
Discussion Questions:
· How did you feel when you saw the story?
· How did you feel having to read it aloud?
· How did you feel as you listened to someone else reading it?
· How would you feel if all of your schoolwork looked this way?
· What were specific problems in reading? (Letter reversals?) Learning disability, adhd, dyslexia, etc
Read the ‘translation’ at the end.
What does it feel like to have impairment (example is speech)?
Directions:
· One person reads ‘About Me’ aloud.
o S/he must keep tongue pressed on the behind bottom teeth.
o The group members must listened and guess what s/he are saying. If no one understands, s/he must say it again (until they are understood).
· Observe and note behaviors and comments of reader and listeners
Discussion Questions:
· How did you feel as the speaker?
· How did you feel as the listener?
· Was it easier for the speaker or the listener?
o People with cerebral palsy, mental retardation, or expressive language disorders speak slowly and with great difficulty.
· How would one of these individuals feel when speaking to a group (every day)?
Afterwards, point out that the paragraph is spaced and each sentence is cued. It’s a type of accommodation. Is it helpful for a person with a speech or learning disability?
HE FRIEMBLY BOG
Once ubom a tmie there was a friembl dobl. His name saw Jake. Jake belombeb to Bavig and Bhte. Davib and Beth aar tins. They ar nime yrse dol.
On e tome Jak went dow to the cellra. H was a ducket of soab. The tins wer doing to wsah the car. He liked some saop buddles out fo the ducket. When he darked, dig dubbles ca me out of hi s muth!
Last sum mre Jak founb a frenb. His frien sqw a tac named Freb. They blayde all bay. They nar aroumb and aroumbb tye yarb. Jake chased the tac ub te tre. Freb climded up easily. Jake trieb t and trieb dut ehe slib back bown!
THE FRIENDLY DOG (TRANSLATION)
Once upon a time there was a friendly dog. His name was Jake. Jake belonged to David and Beth. David and Beth are twins. They are nine years old.
One time Jake went down to the cellar. He saw a bucket of soap. The twins were going to wash the car. He licked some soap bubbles out of the bucket. When he barked, big bubbles came out of his mouth!
Last summer Jake found a friend. His friend was a cat named Fred. They played all day. They ran around and around the yard. Jake chased the cat up the tree. Fred climbed up easily. Jake tried and tried but he slid back down.
A letter from Mom
I would want you to know that our sons and daughters have many gifts despite their disabilities. Many of our children spent years trying to develop basic skills that the typical teens have easily achieved as a result of their typical development. Many of our teens lead very lonely lives and don’t have opportunities to go out with friends. Socially awkward behavior is in part related to limited opportunities to interact with peers as well as developmental challenges. Like you, our teens want to feel part of a group.
About Me
Eventhough I'm reallysmart, I often do things that annoy or surprise other people. It’s hard for me to remember instructions with too many steps, and I get anxious or upset if something unexpected happens. I really like Facebook and computer games. I interrupt a lot and have trouble keeping up with conversations sometimes, which is frustrating for everyone. I wish I had better control over my emotions and didn'toften do things that are considered weird by other people