The Ner Tamid Emblem
for
Boy Scouts
in Grades Six-Eight
 

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 Ner Tamid Emblem

A Scout is Reverent

As a Scout you know that learning by doing is a basic principle of Scouting. Just as you keep yourself physically strong by camping, hiking, and other outdoor healthful activities, so also you build yourself spiritually and morally by practicing your religion. The Ner Tamid (Eternal Light) program will help you grow spiritually. It will aid you to practice duty to God, to be reverent, and to be faithful in your religious duties.

To help you in this phase of your Scouting experience, the National Jewish Committee on Scouting has developed the Ner Tamid program for boys in grades six through eight. The requirements found in this record book have been approved by the National Jewish Committee on Scouting. Similar programs have been developed by the Protestant and Catholic committees on Scouting. All Scouts are eligible to work in the distinctive religious programs of their faith, and every Scout will be proud to achieve this high honor.

As a Scout, you may work on the Ner Tamid program whether your unit is connected with your own synagogue, community center, school, or with some other organization. You carry on your Scout program in your troop while you fulfill the Ner Tamid requirements under the guidance of your rabbi or Ner Tamid counselor, If you live in a small or isolated Jewish community, contact for assistance.

Now read the description of the Ner Tamid emblem and then follow the steps in earning the Ner Tamid emblem beginning below. Good luck!

Description of the Ner Tamid Emblem

The Ner Tamid emblem is a pendant representing the Eternal Light that hangs in front of the Holy Ark in the synagogue. It is attached to a blue and white ribbon and a bronze bar pin that carries the inscription "Ner Tamid" in Hebrew letters and "Eternal Light" in English.

The Ner Tamid in the synagogue of our own day goes back to the seven-branched menorah described in the Bible (Exodus 27:20; Numbers 8:2). The center light, from which the other six were kindled, is the Ner Tamid. The lamp burned continually, symbolizing the Jewish people’s eternal devotion to God and His teachings.

The Boy Scouts of America has authorized the Ner Tamid emblem to be worn over the left breast pocket at the left of the Eagle badge or, when the Eagle badge is not worn, centered above the flap of the left breast pocket.

Steps in Earning the Ner Tamid Emblem
  1. Fill out the application in this pamphlet. Be sure you read carefully the instructions heading each section of the Ner Tamid requirements.
  2. Get in touch with your rabbi (or religious schoolteacher) and discuss the requirements. He or she will be glad to serve as your Ner Tamid counselor. If you do not live near a synagogue that has a rabbi, contact the National Jewish Committee on Scouting for assistance.
  3. Please keep a neat record of all your work in a notebook that you can review with your counselor. You will find a list of books in this pamphlet that will help you tackle the requirements. A good Jewish encyclopedia can also prove helpful. You can find most of these books in your synagogue library, or resources can be sent to you if you have no access to necessary materials.
  4. As you fulfill the requirements, put a circle around the number of each one you complete. From time to time, ask your counselor to check your knowledge of the requirements. He or she will initial each section as you complete it.
  5. When all requirements have been completed to the satisfaction of your counselor, take the record book to the Greater Cleveland Council service center for approval, then contact the Cleveland Jewish Committee on Scouting.
  6. The Cleveland Jewish Committee on Scouting will then order the Ner Tamid Emblem and certificate, and arrange for their presentation.. Your Ner Tamid emblem will be presented to you at some impressive occasion, such as Scout Sabbath in February, Chanukah, Bar Mitzvah, Confirmation, etc.

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.

Reference Books

You can usually find many of these books in your synagogue library. Consult your rabbi or counselor for additional help, or contact the National Jewish Committee on Scouting.

  1. HOME OBSERVANCE
    bulletDonin, Hayim Halevy, To Be a Jew
    bulletGersh, Harry, When a Jew Celebrates
    bulletTrepp, Leo, The Complete Book of Jewish Observance
  2. SYNAGOGUE WORSHIP
    bulletDonin, Hayim Halevy, To Pray as a Jew
    bulletMilgram, Abraham E., Jewish Worship
    bulletRossel, Seymour, When a Jew Prays
  3. JEWISH STUDY
    bulletChiel, Arthur, Pathways Through the Torah
    bulletNoveck, Simon, ed., Creators of the Jewish Experience in Ancient and Medieval Times
    bulletTrepp, Leo, A History of the Jewish Experience
  4. THE AMERICAN JEWISH COMMUNITY
    bulletAmerican Jewish Committee, American Jewish Yearbook
    bulletKenvin, Helene S., This Land of Liberty: A History of America’s Jews
    bulletZwerin, Raymond, F., For One Another: Jewish Organizations That Help Us All
  5. WORLD JEWRY
    6. bulletAmerican Jewish Committee, American Jewish Yearbook
    bulletElon, Amos, Understanding Israel
    bulletSegal, Abraham, Israel Today (revised)

Requirements for the Ner Tamid Program
  1. HOME OBSERVANCE Living the Jewish Life at Home

    Do the first requirement and choose one of the other three.

    1.  
      1. Tell how the Sabbath should be observed and the meaning of this observance.
      2. Tell how the following High Holy Days and festivals are celebrated and the meaning of these observances to you: Rosh Hashana, Yom Kippur, Sukkot, Pesach, Shavuot, Chanukah, Purim, and Tishah b’Av.
    2.  
      1. Study a Hebrew calendar (luach) and tell how it differs from the general calendar.
      2. Give the names of the Hebrew months.
      3. Give the Hebrew dates of the High Holy Days and festivals.
    3.  
      1. Give the titles of at least five Jewish books that every Jewish home should have. Include books for study, prayer, and reading.
      2. Read a book of Jewish interest approved by your rabbi or counselor and write a book report of at least 200 words.
    4.  
      1. Read and explain the following verses in the Bible, which contain some of the sources for the observance of kashrut: Leviticus 11; Deuteronomy 12:16, 23; Genesis 32:33; Exodus 23:19, 34:26; and Deuteronomy 14:21.
      2. What reason does the Torah give for the observance of kashrut?
      3. Tell how you could observe kashrut while camping.

      Section A Completed:

      Date______________

      Rabbi or Counselor______________________________________

  2. SYNAGOGUE WORSHIP Living the Jewish Life in the Synagogue

    Do the first requirement and complete one of the other three.

    1.  
      1. Attend synagogue Sabbath services regularly.
      2. Describe and explain the use of some of the sacred ceremonial objects such as Ner Tamid, Sefer Torah, Aron Kodesh, etrog and lulav, shofar, and Megilah.
      3. What Jewish activities, other than worship, are sponsored by or conducted in your synagogue?
    2.  
      1. Give the important ideas contained in the kiddush, Shema, Amidah, Alenu, En Kelohenu, Yigdal, and two other prayers.
      2. Write a brief composition (about 200 words) on the subject "How the Ner Tamid program helps a Scout put into practice a Scout is reverent."
    3.  
      1. Show evidence that you are Bar Mitzvah or that you will be Bar Mitzvah.
      2. Chant or read the blessings on being called to the Torah for an aliyah.
      3. Explain the meaning and contents of the tefilin and learn how and when they are used.
      4. Write a brief composition (about 200 words) on the subject "How the Ner Tamid program helps a Scout put into practice a Scout is reverent."
    4.  
      1. Show evidence that you are Bar Mitzvah or are preparing for Bar Mitzvah or Confirmation.
      2. Read the blessings on being called to the Torah and the blessings of the Haftarah.
      3. Write a brief composition (about 200 words) on the subject "How the Ner Tamid program helps a Scout put into practice a Scout is reverent."

    3. Section B Completed:

    Date______________

    Rabbi or Counselor______________________________________

  3. JEWISH STUDY Holy Scriptures and Sacred Literature

    Do the first requirement and complete either requirement 2 or 3.

    1. Give evidence of being a pupil at a Jewish school for at least three years. Obtain a statement from the teacher that your work has been satisfactory. (Scouts who find it impossible to attend formal classes may substitute an equivalent course of private study under the supervision of the rabbi or counselor.)
    2.  
      1. Name the books of the Holy Scriptures (Bible) that make up the Torah, the Prophets, and the Writings.
      2. What do Sedra (parasha) and Haftarah mean?
      3. What is the Talmud? Select five sayings that you like from "Ethics of the Fathers" (Pirke Avot), which is one of the books of Talmud.
    3. Select five names from each group of great Jewish personalities and tell what made each of them famous.
      I
      Abraham Deborah
      Moses David
      Samuel Elijah
      Esther Isaiah
      Sarah Judah Maccabee
      II
      Hillel Saadyah Gaon
      Yochanan Ben Zakkai Rashi
      Akiba Judah Halevi
      Judah Hanasi Maimonides
      Rav Joseph Karo
      III
      Ba’al Shem Tov Chayim Nachman Bialik
      Gaon of Vilna Samson R. Hirsch
      Moses Mendelssohn Albert Einstein
      Moses Montefiore Sigmund Freud
      Zacharias Frankel Alfred Dreyfus

      Section C Completed:

      Date______________

      Rabbi or Counselor______________________________________

  4. THE AMERICAN JEWISH COMMUNITY - Living in the Land of Freedom

    Do the first requirement and complete either requirement 2 or 3.

    1. Select from the list of service projects on the back of this pamphlet at least three projects of service to the synagogue, Scout unit, and community to be fulfilled for a period of one year. (A Scout may receive credit for service projects fulfilled before he enrolled in the Ner Tamid program from the time he became a Tenderfoot Scout.)
    2.  
      1. List at least five national Jewish organizations in your home city and describe what they do. If your community does not have as many as five, name all the Jewish organizations in your city and describe what they do.
      2. List the ten largest cities in the United States, showing the total population and the Jewish population in each. Give the approximate Jewish and general population of your city.
    3. Select seven of the following great American Jews and describe their contribution to the building of America and the American Jewish community.
       Judah Touro Jacob H. Schiff
      Hyam Solomon Louis D. Brandeis
      Emma Lazarus Stephen S. Wise
      Isaac M. Wise Bernard Revel
      Oscar Strauss Solomon Schechter

      4. Section D Completed:

      Date______________

      Rabbi or Counselor______________________________________

  5. WORLD JEWRY - "We Are All Brothers"

    Do requirement 1 and complete either requirement 2 or 3.

    1.  
      1. On a map of Israel, locate
        bulletThe regions of the country
        bulletMajor rivers and lakes
        bulletThree sacred historical sites
      2. Tell what each of the following did for the rebirth of the State of Israel: Theodor Herzl, Chaim Weizmann, Abba Hillel Silver, David Ben Gurion, Abraham Kook, Henrietta Szold, and Golda Meir.
      3. Tell briefly what three of the following are doing or have done in the rebuilding of Israel: Jewish National Fund, United Jewish Appeal, Hadassah, Hebrew University, Histadrut, Agudath Israel, Jewish Agency.
    2.  
      1. List the national synagogue organizations and the major seminaries and rabbinical groups of the Orthodox, Conservative, Reconstructionist, and Reform branches of Judaism.
      2. List three national Jewish organizations serving Jewish youth in America.
      3. Describe the work of one organization from (a) and one from (b).
    3.  
      1. Make a scrapbook of Jewish current events containing news items, pictures, cartoons, stories, articles, etc.
      2. List the Jewish and general population in ten important countries.

      4. Section E Completed:

      Date______________

      Rabbi or Counselor______________________________________

    Application

    The Scout is to fill out the following application:

    Name (Print)______________________________________________________

    Street __________________________________________________________

    City _____________________________________ State _______ Zip ______

    Age _________________ Rank _____________________________________

    Unit No. ______ Meeting place _____________________________________

    Council Name __________Greater Cleveland _____________ No. __440__

    Headquarters City _______Cleveland______ State __OH___ Zip _44115_

    Rabbi or counselor ________________________________________________

    Name of Organization _____________________________________________

    Street___________________________________________________________

    City _____________________________________ State _______ Zip ______

    Certification

    This is to certify that

    Name (Print)________________________________________________________________

    has fulfilled the requirements of the Ner Tamid program. He is worthy of the emblem.

    Date _________________

    Unit Leader ______________________________________________________

    Parent or Guardian________________________________________________

    Rabbi or Counselor________________________________________________

    Cleveland Jewish Committee on Scouting

    _____________________________________________________________

    Certification by the Greater Cleveland Council

    _____________________________________________________________

    In the Greater Cleveland Council, all Ner Tamid 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 Tiger Cub or Cub 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 Tiger Cub Graduation, Scout Shabbat service, or Pack Meeting

    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.

    Page revised on May 02, 2001