May 03
This week in Nitzanim… (click above for a video of our work!) In preparation for our final huge Yetzirah project of the year, Nitzanim spent a few days revisiting this year’s themes – Sukkot, Breishit, and Shema. We revisited through the lens of Tzedakah VaChessed. Nitzanimers received play כסף (kesef-money) to spend on playing and …
Mar 24
In the שמע (Shema - Deuteronomy 6:4-9) we read: “And you should inscribe them on the doorposts of your houses and upon your gates.” As part of our שמע (Shema) exploration, Shorashim and Nitzanim children decorated the case of a מזוזה (mezuzah) and wrote the שמע (Shema) on a “parchment” that’s rolled inside. Here are some of the ins and …
Feb 28
This week, we FINALLY wrote our own שמע to go inside a mezuzah. We’ve worked so hard on recognizing and writing Hebrew letters. We’ve worked so hard on our שמע research (and it remains a favorite activity – one child asked today if we could go into the Chapel and do more research!). Today, we wrote the שמע. …
Jan 24
Today in Shorashim, we took turns pretending to be a mezuzah by making our bodies long and flat on top of a delet (door) outline taped on the floor of our classroom. We practiced saying, “Shalom, anee mezuzah!” (“Hello, I’m a mezuzah!”), to our classmates and teachers.
Jan 24
Here we are, looking for clues. Does our mystery page have the same שמע as in the Torah? And here are the results of our research, as recorded by a first grader and a kindergartener. Translation: Our first clue is that BOTH the Torah and our mystery page have a big ע at the end …
Jan 24
Today in Nitzanim we returned to our “Shema Research”. We took with us a piece of paper to write our notes and conclusions on; we also had copies of the Sh’ma as it appears in the klaf in the mezuzah. Each Nitzanimer had a turn to read along as we sang the Sh’ma, using a yad …
Jan 17
Last week, Shorashim began the process of making their own, personalized mezuzot by painting them with watercolors. Today, Shorashim finished decorating their mezuzot with sequins, feathers, leaves, and other adornments. They took great care in using glue to secure the decorations. Then, we filled each mezuzah with the klaf (scroll) featuring the word “Shema,” as …
Jan 15
Today the Nitzanimers made their very own mezuzot. Part of this process meant being introduced to the discussion that Rabbis long ago had about how a mezuzah should look on the door. Should it lie flat, slant towards the left, slant towards the right, or go straight up? The Nitzanimers then, in pairs, discussed what …
Jan 12
This week, as a central part of the Shorashim introduction to the Shema, the children have been learning about mezuzot. On Sunday, learners excitedly went on a mezuzah treasure hunt around the Rodfei Tzedek complex. They spotted mezuzot left and right, affixed to the doorpost of nearly every entryway we pass. At the conclusion of …
