Human Shabbat Power Point
Created by: Benjamin Bromberg Gaber,
Hagesher Communications Vice President 2010-2011, Communications IGB 2010
For the 1st Hagesher Midwinter Specialty Convention - February 2011
Why:
Often in USY, we (the leadership of USY) assume that everyone knows everything about USY from
the beginning. However, this is not usually the case. This program is designed for teaching (or
reminding more experienced USYers) about all of the different clubs available to them. This
program was designed to begin after Shabbat started (when convention starts just before Shabbat
and there is no time to show an actual Power Point), but feel free to adapt to your exact
specifications.
An overview:
A good Point Point has a cool opening/introduction, a few slides with information on them,
pictures/video, music, and a ending slide. In this “Power Point,” volunteers will read off of funny
scripts provided to them while learning and teaching others about the different special clubs. In
addition, another USYer will hold up “Slide” posters explaining the club during the skits.
What should be prepared before Shabbat:

Edit the following Master Script from Hagesher’s Midwinter Convention 2011 (for
those running the Power Point) to fit your needs. Feel free to change jokes as you
feel appropriate (remember that your target audience may not get inside jokes).

Edit the Volunteer Scripts to hand out to volunteers you will pick once the Power
Point begins. (It’s recommended to make enough copies of the volunteer scripts so
you can highlight each ones’ lines)

Prepare posters detailing the club (examples have been provided at the end of this
document)
Before/During the Power Point:

Have one to two people in charge of holding up the signs when it is the appropriate
time.

Have USY leaders/returning USYers act out the opening scene

Pick 9 volunteers to act out the scenes (pick new USYers)
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Relax, have fun, enjoy Shabbat/your convention!
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Human Shabbat Power Point
-----MASTER SCRIPT----President: Hi everybody! Welcome to the 1st ever Hagesher Midwinter Convention! USY has so
many great clubs. There’s the amazing Abraham Joshua Heschel honor society, the spectacular 613
Mitzvah club, and hoppin’ Chalutzim club! We’re going to have so many great programs and classes,
and food and fun too! So get ready for the first and best mid-winter ever!
Board member #1 (to Board member #2): Hi. I’m Julian. What’s your name?
Board Member #2: My name is Becca. Is this your first USY convention?
Board Member #1: Yes. I have been to a few chapter events, but I haven’t done anything in the
region before…
Board Member #2: Oh. Well that’s ok, it’s going to be a great weekend!
Board Member #1: Yeah, I’m really excited, but that girl keeps using gibberish….
Board Member #2: Who? Miriam? She’s our President. And yeah, I can totally understand. My first
convention, I was really confused what was going on too. There’s a lot of different words and clubs,
but you’ll see it will get easier…I wish they had a power point that explained everything to you…
Board Member #3: Well, I know how it was at MY first convention, so I actually made a power point
to explain it all…
Board Member #1: But it’s Shabbat isn’t it? I thought you can’t use computers…
Board Member #3: Unless....it was a human power point.
Board Member #2: A human power point? What’s that?
Board Member #3: You’ll see…We have a few informative skits and a special surprise…I’ll need a
few volunteers from the audience. Can I have 9 volunteers please? All you have to do is read English
from the paper I give you…
(Explain to all of the volunteers what they will do…)
Board Member #3: And now….the Human Shabbat Power point….
Hold up poster #1: Smiley Face Saying: “I heard you wanted to learn about all of the different USY
clubs. Are you ready? The first one is………”
Hold up Poster #2: “The Chalutzim Israel Advocacy Club”
Hold up Poster #3 during the following Skit: Membership includes: cool T-shirt, special
HeChalutzon newsletter – written by USYers, cool events, late night programs!
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Chalutzim Skit
Volunteer #1: Keereat Shmonah, Jerusalem, tzfat. No that’s not right. Jericho, Eilat, Tibereas. No
that’s not right either.
Volunteer #2: What are you doing?
Volunteer #1: I’m trying to remember the major Israeli cities but I keep getting mixed up.
Volunteer #3: Why don’t you try a mnemonic device. “Kiryat Shemona, Sfat, Tibereas, Nazereth,
Jenin, Ariel, Ramallah, Jericho, Jerusalem, Efrat, Bethlehem, Hevron, Dimona, Eilat”…..Like “Kings
should tell nasty jokes around relatives. Just Joshing! Even brothers hate making dirty
exclamations”
Volunteer #1: Cool!
Volunteer #2: That’s just the western half. There’s one for the east too. Haifa, Tel Aviv, Ashkelon,
Gaza City, Sderot, Be’er Sheva, Rafah. “He took a giant step backwards, right?”
Volunteer #1: Where did guys you learn those?
Volunteer #3: At a Chalutzim event, I even got this awesome shirt!
Volunteer #1: What is Chalutzim?
Volunteer #2: Chalutzim is Hebrew for Pioneers who originally settled Israel.
Volunteer #3: In USY Chalutzim is our Israel Advocacy club. If you’re in the club you get special
programs, late night activities at Convention, a newsletter written by other USYers and a cool shirt!
Volunteer #1: Double cool! Where can I sign up?
Volunteer #2: Talk to Sarah, the Israel Affairs VP, It costs $10 (which you can pay after Shabbat) but
it’s worth every penny!
Board Member #3: Is Israel not really your thing? Well, that’s not true. Israel is everybody’s thing.
But do you like to learn and explore your Judaism? Then the Abraham Joshua Heschel Honor
Society is for you….
Hold up Poster #4: Abraham Joshua Heschel Honor Society
Hold up Poster #5 during next skit: Membership Includes: Awesome late nights, Special Convention,
Chutzpah. Don’t forget, it’s FREE!
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Abraham Joshua Heschel Skit
Volunteer #1: Who is this Heschel dude?
Volunteer #2: What do you mean? You don’t know who Heschel is?
Volunteer #1: No. I’ve never heard of him. What can you tell me?
Volunteer #2: Umm… Well… He was this guy… Oh, I know! He was the rabbi who walked with Dr.
Martin Luther King in Washington while fighting for civil liberties!
Volunteer #1: Well that’s one thing. What else.
Volunteer #2: Honestly, I have no idea. I was hoping that you would be able to go from there…
Volunteer #1: We both need more information!
Volunteer #3: Hey guys, what are you talking about?
Volunteer #2: We were TRYING to figure out who this guy Heschel was but we didn’t get very far.
Volunteer #3: You came the right place. I am actually the wise sage, Abraham Joshua Heschel, in the
flesh.
(awkward pause)
Volunteer #3: Ok. Fine. I’m not in the FLESH but I’m the ghost at least.
Volunteer #2: Awesome. Well, who were you?
Volunteer #3: I was a Rabbi from Warsaw, Poland. After coming to America, I started teaching in
the Jewish Theological Seminary in New York City. I became one of the most influential Jewish
Leaders of my time!
Volunteer #1: Well that’s cool. I guess what my biggest question is: “Why would I want to become a
part of a society dedicated to you?
Volunteer #3: Well, as a member of this society, you will have the privilege to experience Judaism in
a totally different light while having lots of fun with your friends.
Volunteer #2: That sounds great. Where do I sign up?
Volunteer #3: Just talk to the Regional Religion Education Vice President, Dan Weitz! He has all the
information, plus enough paper to make a SATO really really mad! In addition, you get to go to
ANOTHER amazing USY convention, this time in March with USYers from all over. This way, you
don’t have to wait for spring convention to see all of your friends!
5
Board Member #3: Ok, so you already know how great USY is. But do you feel like it’s missing
something? It is! Do you love to help people and save the environment? Then the 613 Mitzvah Corps
is for you!
Hold up Poster #6: 613 Mitzvah Club
Hold up Poster #7 during the following song/skit: As the BEST USY club, being in the 613 Mitzvah
Corps means that you get to do a fun Social Action program every single month!
Board Member #3: Now we have something very special for y’all. We have a wonderful song
penned by your lovely Social Action/Tikkun Olam Vice President. So, WE all know how beautiful
her voice is, but she seems to think it’s awful, so let’s call up some other board members to assist.
Board Member #4: Oh thank you. But unfortunately, Shabbas prevents us from playing music on the
computer, so we’re going to need some help. How many of you know the song “We Didn’t Start the
Fire” by Mr. Billy Joel?
(everyone raises hand)
Board Member #4: Awesome. So we’re going to need you guys to hum along so we have a tune to
follow. Y’all ready?
What Can You Buy For SA/TO? (To the tune of “We Didn’t Start the Fire” by Billy Joel)
2 shampoo bottles, 5 soap bars,
3 boxes of band-aids
Baby food – 5 jars,
1 beanie baby, no trades
4 notebooks, 2 challot,
6 toothbrushes, and look,
6 tuna cans
You still get 4 coloring books
4 loaves of bread would keep a person fed,
2 bottles for a baby
For only $6.13, you could be the man
Or even maybe
You could buy for some guy 6 pasta boxes to
cook
(musical interlude)
Chorus:
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What can you buy for SA/TO?
You should not be greedy,
You have nothing to fear
Give it to the needy.
For I have, right here
What can we buy for SA/TO?
Millions of sign-up sheets
613 takes action
That you can fill out.
Gives you satisfaction
Chorus:
For 6 dollars, 13 cents,
What can you buy for SA/TO?
Which is not a great expense,
If you have some money
24 toilet paper rolls
Give it to somebody
What can you buy for SA/TO?
Cartons of milk – 4,
For a real low price
And for the baby drawer
You can be real nice
20 packs of diapers
Tzedakah’s good for the soul
What can you buy for SA/TO?
You should not be greedy,
If you’re sitting in your chair
Give it to the needy.
Feeling such despair
What can we buy for SA/TO?
You want to join 613
613 takes action
But you don’t know how
Gives you satisfaction
613 Skit
Volunteer #1: OH MY GOD THAT WAS THE MOST BEAUTIFUL SONG I’VE EVER HEARD IN MY
ENTIRE LIFE.
Volunteer #2: Oh I know! I can’t believe we have someone as smart and talented as Becca in USY!
Volunteer #1: I know, right? So what were all those things they just said?
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Volunteer #3: Couldn’t you tell? Those were all of the things that someone could buy with just
$6.13. Imagine if you didn’t have much money. $6.13 could buy you 6 cans of tuna or 4 loaves of
bread, even 4 notebooks for school!
Volunteer #2: Yeah, yeah, we all heard the song. But where would they get $6.13?
Volunteer #3: That’s the best part. The 613 Mitzvah Corps costs only $6.13! And it all goes to USY’s
TO fund, which then goes to different charities and organizations around the world.
Volunteer #1: Holy. Cow. That sounds… Amazing. And inspiring. You know what? All of the sudden,
I have this incredibly strong urge to give all of my money to charity.
Volunteer #2: Well just hold on a second. I was told to bring money to this convention, so I don’t
want to give it all to SA/TO if there’s going to be some cool things I can buy.
Volunteer #3: That money is supposed to go to SA/TO! At every convention, there’s a cool program
planned by the most beautiful girl in the room, Becca Richman. It doesn’t even say that in the script,
that’s just what I think.
Volunteer #2: So for this convention, when should I spend my money?
Volunteer #3: Well, make sure you have at least $6.13 to sign up for the club, but all your other
money should go to the programs tomorrow night and Sunday morning.
Volunteer #1: What else does 613 Mitzvah Corps do?
Volunteer #2: Oh I know this one, because I read every single e-mail that comes over the listserv.
Every month, the members of the 613 Mitzvah Corps do these really cool social action projects. Like
on Martin Luther King JR. Day, they went to an old church and helped clean up the youth center and
chip paint. I heard it was SO MUCH FUN.
Volunteer #1: How come I never heard about it?
Volunteer #2: The Mitzvah Corps is so elite that only members can actually find out about the
project beforehand. That’s why everyone should join.
Volunteer #1: Oh wow. Well I know I’m joining the second Shabbas is over.
Volunteer #2: TOTALLY me too.
Volunteer #3: Same. I would NEVER want to miss out on anything that has to do with SA/TO!
Board Member #3: So those are the 3 Special clubs in USY! I hope you learned something, lets give
all of our board members and Volunteers a round of applause!
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Chalutzim Skit
-----Volunteer Script----Volunteer #1: Keereat Shmonah, Jerusalem, tzfat. No that’s not right. Jericho, Eilat, Tibereas. No
that’s not right either.
Volunteer #2: What are you doing?
Volunteer #1: I’m trying to remember the major Israeli cities but I keep getting mixed up.
Volunteer #3: Why don’t you try a mnemonic device. “Kiryat Shemona, Sfat, Tibereas, Nazereth,
Jenin, Ariel, Ramallah, Jericho, Jerusalem, Efrat, Bethlehem, Hevron, Dimona, Eilat”…..Like “Kings
should tell nasty jokes around relatives. Just Joshing! Even brothers hate making dirty
exclamations”
Volunteer #1: Cool!
Volunteer #2: That’s just the western half. There’s one for the east too. Haifa, Tel Aviv, Ashkelon,
Gaza City, Sderot, Be’er Sheva, Rafah. “He took a giant step backwards, right?”
Volunteer #1: Where did guys you learn those?
Volunteer #3: At a Chalutzim event, I even got this awesome shirt!
Volunteer #1: What is Chalutzim?
Volunteer #2: Chalutzim is Hebrew for Pioneers who originally settled Israel.
Volunteer #3: In USY Chalutzim is our Israel Advocacy club. If you’re in the club you get special
programs, late night activities at Convention, a newsletter written by other USYers and a cool shirt!
Volunteer #1: Double cool! Where can I sign up?
Volunteer #2: Talk to Sarah, the Israel Affairs VP, It costs $10 (which you can pay after Shabbat) but
it’s worth every penny!
9
Abraham Joshua Heschel Skit
-----Volunteer Script----Volunteer #1: Who is this Heschel dude?
Volunteer #2: What do you mean? You don’t know who Heschel is?
Volunteer #1: No. I’ve never heard of him. What can you tell me?
Volunteer #2: Umm… Well… He was this guy… Oh, I know! He was the rabbi who walked with Dr.
Martin Luther King in Washington while fighting for civil liberties!
Volunteer #1: Well that’s one thing. What else.
Volunteer #2: Honestly, I have no idea. I was hoping that you would be able to go from there…
Volunteer #1: We both need more information!
Volunteer #3: Hey guys, what are you talking about?
Volunteer #2: We were TRYING to figure out who this guy Heschel was but we didn’t get very far.
Volunteer #3: You came the right place. I am actually the wise sage, Abraham Joshua Heschel, in the
flesh.
(awkward pause)
Volunteer #3: Ok. Fine. I’m not in the FLESH but I’m the ghost at least.
Volunteer #2: Awesome. Well, who were you?
Volunteer #3: I was a Rabbi from Warsaw, Poland. After coming to America, I started teaching in
the Jewish Theological Seminary in New York City. I became one of the most influential Jewish
Leaders of my time!
Volunteer #1: Well that’s cool. I guess what my biggest question is: “Why would I want to become a
part of a society dedicated to you?
Volunteer #3: Well, as a member of this society, you will have the privilege to experience Judaism in
a totally different light while having lots of fun with your friends.
Volunteer #2: That sounds great. Where do I sign up?
Volunteer #3: Just talk to the Regional Religion Education Vice President, Dan Weitz! He has all the
information, plus enough paper to make a SATO really really mad! In addition, you get to go to
ANOTHER amazing USY convention, this time in March with USYers from all over. This way, you
don’t have to wait for spring convention to see all of your friends!
10
What Can You Buy For SA/TO? (To the tune of “We Didn’t Start the Fire” by Billy Joel)
-----Volunteer Script-----
2 shampoo bottles, 5 soap bars,
Baby food – 5 jars,
4 notebooks, 2 challot,
6 tuna cans
Cartons of milk – 4,
And for the baby drawer
20 packs of diapers
Tzedakah’s good for the soul
4 loaves of bread would keep a person fed,
For only $6.13, you could be the man
If you’re sitting in your chair
Feeling such despair
You want to join 613
But you don’t know how
(musical interlude)
3 boxes of band-aids
1 beanie baby, no trades
6 toothbrushes, and look,
You still get 4 coloring books
You have nothing to fear
For I have, right here
Millions of sign-up sheets
That you can fill out.
2 bottles for a baby
Or even maybe
You could buy for some guy 6 pasta boxes to
cook
Chorus:
What can you buy for SA/TO?
If you have some money
Give it to somebody
What can you buy for SA/TO?
For a real low price
You can be real nice
Chorus:
What can you buy for SA/TO?
You should not be greedy,
Give it to the needy.
What can we buy for SA/TO?
613 takes action
Gives you satisfaction
What can you buy for SA/TO?
You should not be greedy,
Give it to the needy.
What can we buy for SA/TO?
613 takes action
Gives you satisfaction
For 6 dollars, 13 cents,
Which is not a great expense,
24 toilet paper rolls
11
613 Skit
-----Volunteer Script----Volunteer #1: OH MY GOD THAT WAS THE MOST BEAUTIFUL SONG I’VE EVER HEARD IN MY
ENTIRE LIFE.
Volunteer #2: Oh I know! I can’t believe we have someone as smart and talented as Becca in USY!
Volunteer #1: I know, right? So what were all those things they just said?
Volunteer #3: Couldn’t you tell? Those were all of the things that someone could buy with just
$6.13. Imagine if you didn’t have much money. $6.13 could buy you 6 cans of tuna or 4 loaves of
bread, even 4 notebooks for school!
Volunteer #2: Yeah, yeah, we all heard the song. But where would they get $6.13?
Volunteer #3: That’s the best part. The 613 Mitzvah Corps costs only $6.13! And it all goes to USY’s
TO fund, which then goes to different charities and organizations around the world.
Volunteer #1: Holy. Cow. That sounds… Amazing. And inspiring. You know what? All of the sudden,
I have this incredibly strong urge to give all of my money to charity.
Volunteer #2: Well just hold on a second. I was told to bring money to this convention, so I don’t
want to give it all to SA/TO if there’s going to be some cool things I can buy.
Volunteer #3: That money is supposed to go to SA/TO! At every convention, there’s a cool program
planned by the most beautiful girl in the room, Becca Richman. It doesn’t even say that in the script,
that’s just what I think.
Volunteer #2: So for this convention, when should I spend my money?
Volunteer #3: Well, make sure you have at least $6.13 to sign up for the club, but all your other
money should go to the programs tomorrow night and Sunday morning.
Volunteer #1: What else does 613 Mitzvah Corps do?
Volunteer #2: Oh I know this one, because I read every single e-mail that comes over the listserv.
Every month, the members of the 613 Mitzvah Corps do these really cool social action projects.
Volunteer #1: How come I never heard about it?
Volunteer #2: The Mitzvah Corps is so elite that only members can actually find out about the
project beforehand. That’s why everyone should join.
Volunteer #1: Oh wow. Well I know I’m joining the second Shabbas is over.
Volunteer #2: TOTALLY me too.
12
Volunteer #3: Same. I would NEVER want to miss out on anything that has to do with SA/TO!
Examples of Posters from Hagesher Midwinter 2011:
(Use darker markers unlike these…)
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