The Aleph Emblem
for
Cub Scouts
and Webelos Scouts
in Grades Three-Five

 

NOTE: This version is specifically for use in the Greater Cleveland Council, BSA, because it lists the local Jewish Committee Awards Chairman as the contact.  Others should use the version at the National Jewish Committee on Scouting's web site.

Information About the Aleph Emblem

What Is the Aleph Emblem?

The National Jewish Committee on Scouting developed the Aleph emblem to help you, a Cub Scout or Webelos Scout who is Jewish, learn more about Judaism. Just as Aleph is the first letter of the Hebrew alphabet, the activities you are about to start working on are among your first steps as a Scout that will lead you to understanding more about your religion. Working on the Aleph emblem also will help you get to know better your rabbi or religious school teacher. One of them will be your counselor and will help you along the way.

When May I Start Working on It?

If you are working on your Bear badge, you are still eligible to earn the Maccabee Award, if you have not yet earned it. (See the Macabee Emblem for Tiger Cubs and Cub Scouts.) If you do not want to work on the Maccabee Award, you can start on the Aleph immediately.

If you are working on your Webelos badge, you can begin work on the Aleph Award immediately.

What Does the Aleph Emblem Look Like and Where Do I Wear It?

The Aleph emblem is a medal worn over the left pocket of your Cub Scout uniform. It has a Torah and a Ner Tamid on it, to remind you that once you have earned it, others will depend upon you to teach them.

How Do I Start Working on It?

Follow these simple steps.

  1. Along with your mom and dad, talk to your rabbi or religious school teacher about being your counselor. If you do not belong to a synagogue, or know a rabbi, contact the Cleveland Jewish Committee on Scouting for assistance.
  2. Start working on the activities (which are listed below) and keep a neat record of your work in a notebook.
  3. As you finish each activity, discuss what you have done with your mom or dad or counselor.
  4. When you have finished all the activities, have your mom or dad and counselor sign the page called "Certification" and have one of them contact the Cleveland Jewish Committee on Scouting to advise them of your achievement.
  5. You will soon receive your emblem at a Scout Sabbath service or at another important ceremony.

Selecting a Counselor

You will need to select an adult who is familiar with your Jewish community to help you complete the requirements for this award. The counselor should have a working knowledge of Jewish traditions and culture and be available to provide guidance. A rabbi, Jewish school teacher, Jewish Community Center executive, or Jewish youth group advisor might make suitable counselors. The Cleveland Jewish Committee on Scouting or the National Jewish Committee on Scouting will assist you in locating and selecting a counselor if necessary.

Meet with your counselor to review the requirements and to determine how often you should both meet. If your counselor has any questions about the requirements, contact the Cleveland Jewish Committee on Scouting. If you and your counselor decide that you are unable to complete a requirement because the resources necessary are not available in your community, you can contact the National Jewish Committee on Scouting for a substitute or alternative activity.

Keep a notebook of all the information you collect while completing the requirements for this award. You and your counselor will want to review it, and you might need it to complete the last requirement.

Activities for Earning the
Aleph Emblem

My Name ______________________________________

  1. THE TORAH
    2.
    1. Name the five books of the Torah.
    2. Which of the Ten Commandments do you know best? Name five of the commandments.
    3. In your notebook, tell what these five commandments mean.
    4. In your notebook, try to copy one verse of the Torah as it is found in a Torah scroll, or write the meaning of the English verse in your own words.

    Mom or Dad sign here ______________________________

    Date _____________________________

  2. PRAYER
    3.
    1. Recite the "Shema" in Hebrew.
    2. In your notebook, tell what the words of the "Shema" mean to you.
    3. Learn the Hebrew blessings over bread, wine, and fruit.

    Mom or Dad sign here ______________________________

    Date _____________________________

  3. RELIGIOUS HOLIDAYS
    4.
    1. Give the Hebrew names of six Jewish holidays observed during the year.
    2. Describe how these six holidays are observed.
    3. In your notebook, tell which of the Jewish holidays you like the most, and why.
    4. On which holidays are the following objects used?
      bulletShofar
      bulletSpice box
      bulletMenorah
      bulletCup of Elijah
      bulletHaggadah
      bulletMegillah
      bulletLulav (palm branch)
    5. Draw or paint two of these objects or make them out of cardboard, wood, or metal.

    Mom or Dad sign here ______________________________

    Date _____________________________

  4. BIBLE HERO
    5.
    1. Tell the story of two of these Bible heroes: Noah, Abraham, Sarah, Isaac, Rebekah, Jacob, Rachel, Joseph, Moses, Samuel, David, Solomon, Deborah, or Elijah.
    2. In your notebook, tell why you chose these two heroes.

    Mom or Dad sign here ______________________________

    Date _____________________________

  5. FAMOUS AMERICAN JEWS

    In your notebook, write a brief report on two great American Jews. Here are a few examples: Asher Levy, Haym Salomon, Francis Salvador, Judah Touro, Uriah P. Levy, Emma Lazarus, Jacob H. Schiff, Louis D. Brandeis, Albert Einstein, Henrietta Szold, and Rebecca Gratz.

    6.

    Mom or Dad sign here ______________________________

    Date _____________________________

  6. THE SYNAGOGUE
    7.
    1. Attend sabbath services at least twice a month for three months and report on one Torah reading for each month.
    2. In your notebook, draw pictures of the Ark and the Ner Tamid in your synagogue and describe what they mean to the Jewish people.

    Mom or Dad sign here ______________________________

    Date _____________________________

  7. THE JEWISH HOME
    8.
    1. Which object on the outside of a house or an apartment tells us that Jews live there?
    2. Draw this object or make it out of wood, plastic, cardboard, or metal.

    Mom or Dad sign here ______________________________

    Date _____________________________

  8. THE LAND OF ISRAEL
    9.
    1. Read a book, magazine article, or news item about Israel and write a report on it in your notebook.
    2. Tell what you know about two cities or places in Israel. Examples are: Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, the Negev, Haifa, the Kotel (Western Wall), Masada, Beersheva, and the Galilee.
    3. Draw the flag of Israel or make it out of construction paper or cloth, and write a paragraph describing its meaning to Jews the world over.

    Mom or Dad sign here ______________________________

    Date _____________________________

A Parent of the Cub Scout or Webelos Scout is to fill out the following application:

Application - Certification

This is to certify that

Name: ____________________________________________________

Address: __________________________________________________

City: _______________________________ State _______ Zip ______

a member of Pack number ____________ , which is chartered to:

Name of organization:  _____________________________________

Address:  _________________________________________________

City: ______________________________ State _______ Zip ______

and located in the Greater Cleveland Council, has completed the Aleph emblem requirements.  We recommend that he be approved for this honor.

Parent name: _____________________________________________

Signature: ________________________________________________

Counselor name: __________________________________________

Signature: ________________________________________________

Synagogue or school: ______________________________________

Date: ____________________

Cleveland Jewish Committee on Scouting

_____________________________________________________

Certification by the Greater Cleveland Council

_____________________________________________________

In the Greater Cleveland Council, all Aleph Emblem applications are handled by the Cleveland Jewish Committee on Scouting, which covers the cost of the emblem and certificate. Once your son has completed all the activities and You, his Unit Leader, and rabbi or counselor have signed the certification, send the completed application and your son's notebook (which will be returned) for final verification to:

Stuart L. Woldman, Awards Chairman
Cleveland Jewish Committee on Scouting
4070 Eastway Road
South Euclid, OH 44121
(216) 381-3668

The Committee will obtain the Council's certification, and order the award.  You and your son's Cub Scout or Webelos Scout Leader, together with the Jewish Committee on Scouting, should then determine an appropriate occasion during which to present the emblem, such as at a Scout Shabbat service, or Court of Honor.

Please provide the following information so we can contact you:

Parent’s Name _________________________________________

Daytime Telephone  ( ____ ) __________________

Evening Telephone  ( ____ ) __________________

Click Here to download a Word97 Format copy of the application suitable for printing.

Click Here to download a PDF Format copy of the application suitable for printing.

Based on BSA Publication #33185 - 1997 Printing

Page revised on May 02, 2001