Jewish Themed Games
Daniel "Cahwyguy" Faigin
United States
Northridge
California
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A good Jewish themed game should serve to reinforce that which one learns in religious school, be it Hebrew or Jewish thought. Yet there seem to be a dearth of such games (excluding those from the Holigame company, of which I have one).
I encourage additions to this list... but... don't just list a game because it has "Bible" in its name. The game needs to reference Jewish thought (and thus, should not be teaching New Testament), and note that there are some areas where Christian teaching on the "old testament" differs from Jewish teaching.
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Daniel "Cahwyguy" Faigin
United States
Northridge
California
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I picked this game up when our Temple's gift shop put it out. It's got some pretty good trivia question, and isn't too biased towards one movements thoughts vs. another. The company puts out about 3 more titles, but I don't have them.
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Daniel "Cahwyguy" Faigin
United States
Northridge
California
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We've had a Hebrew Scrabble in our collection for a long time. My wife picked it up to help teach her brother Hebrew. I'm not sure the letter distribution is right (for example, only one gimel), and I've heard reports that real Hebrew speakers wouldn't play it. If you do a search on Hebrew Scrabble, you'll see that there is another variation under a different name.
(Note: Click on the picture and you can actually see the Hebrew Scrabble board and some tiles. You can find the letter distribution at http://www.gtoal.com/wordgames/details/hebrew/ )
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Daniel "Cahwyguy" Faigin
United States
Northridge
California
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Actually, "Torah Slides and Ladders"
This game fits very well with the original Slides and Ladders intent (does the current secular version do that?). When you land on a good Jewish value, you go up. Hit a bad value, and down you go. I'll note that the values this game emphasizes are traditional (Orthodox) ones.
[As a side note, I'll note that the "Torah Slides and Ladders" picture was the first one for this game. Doesn't anyone have the secular version to add in a picture as well. Alas, my daughter trashed her copy when she was 4, and it is long gone.]
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Daniel "Cahwyguy" Faigin
United States
Northridge
California
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My daughter received this one as a gift, and we really haven't played it, because all the instructions are in Hebrew! It appears to be a bingo-like game, where what you have to do is match tiles that have traditional values on them.
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5.
Board Game: Chutzpah
[Average Rating:4.64 Unranked]
Daniel "Cahwyguy" Faigin
United States
Northridge
California
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Forgot this when I first made the list. Although Jewish themed, this teaches more Ashkenazi cultural values (Nu? Is that a bad thing?)
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Daniel "Cahwyguy" Faigin
United States
Northridge
California
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The following is a description of this game from www.the-underdogs.org: Getting Over the Hump in Learning Yiddish. A schmuck wouldn't play this game! Instead, a schmuck rides a camel, buys retail, is married to your sister, didn't take an offer to buy your house, orders corned beef with white bread and mayonnaise, and like a schlemiel, can also break his nose when he falls on his back. Everyone has known a schmuck, dealt with a schmuck, lived with a schmuck, married a schmuck, or would like to get to enjoy a schmuck's company. Ancient societies have used them, played with them, honored them and built temples to them. Nevertheless, only a small portion of our population knows this "Yiddish"term Look at the Schmuck on that Camel is a game of over 100 Yiddishisms with 400+ definitions, give or take a little (Bissel). Participants are asked to logically determine whether a Yiddish word is defined correctly (and you'll love these interpretations!) Although this game is not played for money, each player will be much richer when it's over. Add a new dimension to your vocabulary that can be used in business . . . as well as with the schmuck who cuts you off on the highway!
It appears this game teaches an element of Jewish culture (much like Chutzpah, our #5 game), but doesn't necessarily teach religion. Having not played the game, one wonders whether the focus is more on the humorous words that have entered the lexicon than the broader aspects of Yiddish culture, which are, sadly, being lost. For more information, visit http://www.yivo.org/ .
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Daniel "Cahwyguy" Faigin
United States
Northridge
California
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OK. I'll do a preemptive strike on this one. Yes, this is about the Middle East and Israel, and yes, we actual had copies of this in the Learning Center at Wilshire Blvd Temple. And, yes, there are numerous hex-grid war games about Israeli and Middle Eastern wars (such as Arab-Israeli Wars (ID: 3218 and 5359), Flashpoint: Golan (ID: 5042), Golan (ID 8748), and Israeli Defense Force (ID: 5041)), these games teach more about modern and recent (well, to me the 60s is recent) history and political situations, not religious values (or even cultural values).
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Scott Russell
United States
Clarkston
Michigan
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seems to fit the list?
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Crypt Keeper
United States
Palmdale
California
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BGG description:
Settlers of Canaan takes place in the territory of Canaan off the coast of the Great Sea. Each Player represents a tribe of Israel as they seek to settle the land of Canaan. The time period of the game spans the time of Joshua's conquests of Canaan (Joshua), the turbulent years ruled by judges (Judges) through the choosing and crowning of King David (I & II Samuel).
The game uses the same basic mechanics as Settlers of Catan but adds some unique elements, similar to the Historical Scenarios. In the case of this game, players build the wall of Jerusalem by contributing bricks. The player who contributes the most bricks earns victory points and the right to use a special "rule-breaking" power of his/her choosing. This is contested in the same manner as "the longest road" from Settlers.
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Daniel "Cahwyguy" Faigin
United States
Northridge
California
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Daniel "Cahwyguy" Faigin
United States
Northridge
California
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Scott A. Reed
United States
Lawrence
Kansas
Yes, Scrofula, it sucks.
I just wasted 100 :gg: on this.
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Children's game by Jewish Educational Toys. Ride the Mt. Sinai Express or the Red Sea Treasure Hunt.
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Scott A. Reed
United States
Lawrence
Kansas
Yes, Scrofula, it sucks.
I just wasted 100 :gg: on this.
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From the description:
The board game of Jewish values where players learn to take every opportunity to use money to do chesed, give tzedakah, and perform mitzvos, while encouraging others to do the same.
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Justin Green
United States
Des Moines
Iowa
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Seems to be a Scattergories-like game with Jewish categories. Quick: Name a Parsha beginning with the letter "B"?
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Justin Green
United States
Des Moines
Iowa
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A good way to learn when alternate-side parking isn't in effect. (Sorry: that joke was only for New Yorkers)
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Justin Green
United States
Des Moines
Iowa
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Any game that encourages belting out "Fiddler on the Roof" tunes is o.k. in my book.
At three, I started Hebrew school. At ten, I learned a trade.
I hear they've picked a bride for me. I hope she's pretty.
The son, the son! Tradition!!!
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Justin Green
United States
Des Moines
Iowa
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Born from rabbis co-opting a gambling game.
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18.
Board Game: Aliyah
[Average Rating:0.00 Unranked]
Justin Green
United States
Des Moines
Iowa
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A children's memory game.
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Justin Green
United States
Des Moines
Iowa
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"Join the Young Maccabees and experience the thrills and miracles on their quest to liberate Jerusalem."
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Yehuda Berlinger
Israel
Raanana
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Guess I'll add this here, too.
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21.
Board Game: Jewish Fluxx
[Average Rating:5.81 Unranked]
[Average Rating:5.81 Unranked]
Richard S
Gibraltar
Reading
Berkshire
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A seven card expansion for the Fluxx card game. This one includes cards for Torah and Shabbat. Another card gives a bonus if you are wearing a Kippah, Magen David, Chai or other Judaica.
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Mike Ricotta
United States
Norfolk
Virginia
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Actually a fun little game, very close at the end, but alas, perhaps the only good game from the company. Lets beat up some Romans!
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Richard S
Gibraltar
Reading
Berkshire
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Found this one here on the geek. Don't know much about it.
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brian
United States
Cedar Lake
Indiana
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Marketed towards Christians but deals with the heros of the Old Testament. Five of the six characters are from the Pentateuch while the last character is King David (though depicted as the pre-royalty version).
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Los Alamos
New Mexico
Lawrence
Kansas
...Such a deal!
Oak Park
Illinois
Thinking about that, one solution might be any game that could be played in a car, such as geography. But that's not uniquely Jewish.
Daniel
But of course, one couldn't be DRIVING the car on Shabbat. Sitting in a car not going anywhere and playing a game seems a bit, well, boring.
Texas
I know that there are plenty of the standard board games available in Hebrew. Does anyone know where to find one of these?
Texas Jew Girl
Hod Hasharon
By "standard board games" do you mean things like settlers of catan etc.? I don't know if it helps you, but we have some of those in Israel...