Is Barbie Jewish? “The Tribe” (video)

This assignment is for the first week of class. It uses the short video, “The Tribe” (available online), to get students to think about what it means to identify as Jewish. Barbie becomes the object lesson both in the film and in the question. Is she Jewish? Or not? Students need to make a case and there are no wrong answers. Having shown the film in class when I taught in person, this assignment allowed me to get to know each student and respond to them (class of 27 students) in a no pressure and playful manner. It was an ice-breaker from afar.

Link to Resource