On Monday night, volunteers gathered at Temple Emanu-El in Helena to pack boxes with the educational lesson plan “Standing Up to Hate,” designed by the Montana Jewish Project. This lesson plan, aimed at addressing hate and bullying, includes a book about a 1993 incident in Billings when neo-Nazis attacked a Jewish family’s home during Hanukkah. The act of hate spurred community-wide solidarity, with residents displaying paper menorahs in their windows.
The curriculum, which spans 50 to 90 minutes, offers discussion questions, activities, and additional resources. Teachers independently request these lesson kits, and the Montana Jewish Project allocates 50 annually to meet the growing demand across Montana. “It’s really important to our mission to not only anchor and build Jewish community life, but to do education and outreach,” said Rebecca Stanfel, the executive director. “The curriculum is not about anti-semitism, specifically, it’s about not bullying.”
Organizers report a positive impact, with educators eager to implement the lesson, which also includes a Dreidel game kit. The adaptable curriculum caters to diverse age groups and educational settings. “It’s just really nice to see the sorts of curiosity in the comments from teachers that are requesting these boxes because they’re so excited about the opportunity,” said Kaelie Giffel, MJP’s event coordinator. “They’re writing these mini essays where they’re like, ‘I’m going to teach all of my students about these things.’”
The packing event also engaged volunteers beyond the Jewish community, such as Kathy Chambers from First Presbyterian Church in Helena. As a former school teacher, she emphasized the lesson’s value to educators, stating, “It’s invaluable. As a teacher, there’s so many things to do and if someone can make it easier for you, that’s great.”
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