Oct 10
This Sukkot, we focused on using natural and recycled materials. Instead of a construction paper chain, we made a natural and recycled materials chain that represented slavery and freedom. Each chain has seven links, representing the Torah’s command to “live in sukkot seven days (Lev. 23:42).” “Mine is a freedom chain… because the rice are ants …
Oct 10
Shteelim children (Pre-K and K) were very interested in the Sukkot custom of inviting guests into our sukkot. Children played in the small-size sukkah in Beit Shteelim, preparing food for their guests and inviting friends inside. In Yetzirah, children made tissue paper guests. “My guest is smiling… Because they’re happy to be here.” My guest’s …
Oct 03
As the Shteelimers (PreK – K) think about how the Israelites felt wondering through bamidbar, they paint their interpretation of the desert and all its wonderful colors: “sandy colors like yellow and white and tan… Hot colors like red and orange…” The Nitzanimers (1st – 2nd) continue The Sukkah Challenge and their explorations of which …
Oct 01
We do a lot of imagining and sharing ideas while we work. Today, while we challenged ourselves to build a sukkah that would be lightweight and portable (e.g., able to be carried by Israelites במדבר bamidbar – in the wilderness), children expressed several ideas worth revisiting: “That’s strange. Why do we have Sukkot before Pesach? We …
Oct 01
You are a slave in Egypt. It’s awful! You have to work SO hard! You dream about being free: free to play games with your friends, free to have Shabbat dinner you’re your family. Suddenly Pharaoh says you can go. Hurry! You’ve got to leave quickly before Pharaoh changes his mind! You can’t take everything …
May 31
Both Shorashim and Nitzanim have been working on panels for their group quilts. These quilts have not only been a review of the main themes they have learned this year (Sukkot, Breishit, Shema, Pesach, and Tzedakah VaChessed), but a culminating project to be displayed in a public space over the summer. Shorashim children have been …
May 10
For our Sukkot Reflection this week, we made Sukkot patches in Yetzirah. After we finished, we used Popsicle sticks and tape to make our own sukkot (an individual shelter is called a sukkah; plural, is sukkot). The only prompt the children were given for this exercise was: “Build your own sukkah!” You may have seen …
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 …
Oct 31
By creating “lanterns” in the style of Morocco, we brought the Moroccan Jewish community to Hyde Park. We saw that Morocco is at the northern tip of Africa. We also looked at pictures of how sukkahs look in Morocco, and learned that at the end of Sukkot the children in Morocco are allowed to burn …
Oct 12
This week, Nitzanim figured out what a sukkah needs in order to be a sukkah. We made careful observations of sukkot: Then we drew our sukkot and built replicas: We were able to figure out what the rabbis long ago said we need in order to build a …
