J6: Codes

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Ice Breakers - What is a Code?

- Choose a few words and signs for your audience to give meaning to, for example a red traffic light, putting your index finger on your lips to signal quiet or asking them to define an object like a table. Introduce the idea that all of language is a code.

- You can also play a quick round of charades, especially using abstract words like spirit, good or evil. Again point out that codes are very much what we read in to them.

- Chinese whispers is another game that shows how people add their own perceptions to words and ideas.

- Alternatively you can ask your audience if they have heard about Michael Drosnin's book The Bible Code and why they think people are so fascinated by the idea of a hidden code.

A War Story

Not much is known about Rabbi Weissmandel but you can tell the few interesting facts that you know about his life or act it out. Consider how many other talented and brilliant Jews did not escape the Holocaust and what the world has lost as a result, but do not dwell on this too much as the discussion might be side-tracked.

What is ELS?

- If you are not doing a 'hands-on' example as in the example above, you will perhaps need to explain to your audience how codes are worked out. Use plenty of examples as illustration.

- Get your audience to write a short poem beginning each line with the letters of their names. They can then be asked to write a sentence where each fifth word is a letter of their name. Do the sentences make any sense ? Are they difficult to write?

Decoding Genesis

- Why do people look for codes ? Brainstorm a few ideas. Your audience might tell you it is out of curiosity, sensation-seeking, or that the searcher is looking for meaning beyond mortal existence, trying to conquer and master time. . . you might be lucky to get a few philosophical or poetic answers here that could be the basis of a discussion or debate.

- Dramatically introduce the concept by quoting from Shakespeare's Hamlet: "There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio, than are dreamt of in your philosophy." What did Hamlet mean ? Are code-searchers looking for something beyond the ordinary ? Why are the X-files so popular ? Can you have "proof" of codes in the Bible and still not believe that it is a G-dly document?

- The Manchester Bet Din (Jewish Religious Court) banned observant Jews from buying Drosnin's book because Drosnin still declares that he does not believe in the existence of G-d. Is that a good reason to ban the book?

Michael Drosnin's Book

You are probably aware that your audience's interest in codes have been fuelled by the publication of this rather sensationalist book. People have many questions and also fears about the predictions of future wars and terrible events.

- Use this material to explain to your audience that one could not possibly make predictions about the future using codes.

- Point out the "best-seller" type language and sensation seeking nature of the book - also that Professor Rips, whose codes Drosnin used, publicly denounced the use of the codes to predict the future. Millennium fever, however, will ensure that the book sells very well all over the world.

- There is certainly quite a bit of truth and value in the Bible codes, but discuss with your audience the dangers of someone basing their entire faith on the codes, or people who live their lives in strict accordance to, for example, astrology or fortune-telling.

Find your Own Code

* If you feel confident enough to use the textual examples included on the sheet, you could make copies for everyone. You could also try to copy it onto a transparency if you have access to an overhead projector but be careful to use heat-resistant transparencies !!!

* If you think your audience can work out a code for themselves, this might be a good way to start your session - remember to work it out for yourself first, so that you can confidently lead the session.

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