May 15
In the right place at the right time. Rabbi Rebecca scored some beautiful branches of a blooming tree near Lab School. The Nitzanimers decorated them with ideas about Shavuot and Shteelim with ideas about the Torah. By the time the community was ready to celebrate, the עץ (ehtz- tree) was coved in insightful facts, Hebrew …
Apr 24
Children have been exploring the friendship of David (Dah-veed) and Yonatan. Yonatan is King Shaul’s son, and best friends with David. When King Shaul wants to kill David, Yonatan saves David’s life. Much, much later in the story (in a part we’re not reading), David becomes king. The story is from the book of First Samuel, …
Mar 15
This year, I thought Nitzanimers were ready to understand the plagues not as cutesy little props to throw during the seder for entertainment, but as part of what took place for the Israelites to go free. I started by reminding children that the plagues happened to ALL of the Egyptians, and asked children if they …
Mar 01
Shteelimers gathered around the Torah this week… Girl 1: Wow. It’s sparkling. Morah Miryam: What do you see? Boy 1: It’s like an army of letters. Morah Miryam: Oh, show us where you see an army. Boy 1. In all the lined up letters. Like Pharaoh’s army is some of the letters and the Hebrews …
Feb 15
Here are three versions of the story of Purim. Please share what your children think about the story! Megillat Esther – All the words from the Scroll of Esther (in the Bible!) in Hebrew and English Megillat Esther for 3-4 year olds - a really abridged and gentler version Megillat Esther for Ages 6 and …
Oct 24
It’s something we wrestle with: are the stories in the Torah true? What does “true” mean, anyway? “When was this story written?” “Is it true?” “I wonder if any of us were alive when this happened…” (After being asked by another Nitzanimer if the story is true:) “We talked about it last year and I …
Oct 18
Here are the two versions of the flood story we’re using at the Jewish Enrichment Center. What conversations are you having with your children about the flood story? Noah story for ages 5 and younger pdf Noah story for ages 6 – 8 pdf All translation is interpretation. So we make our own translations …
Oct 18
There’s a difference between what the words say and what’s in our heads. We tried to separate the details our imagination adds when we hear a story, to focus only on the details that the words give us. It’s tough (for grown-ups, too!). If I say, “The monkey ate a banana,” and you could …
May 17
Shavuot is coming! On Shavuot, we read the Book of Ruth. In Shorashim, we have been reading a Shorashim-appropriate version of the story, with a focus through the lens of Tzedakah vaChessed. For example: ”Ruth shows so much chessed when she picks up all the leftover barley for Naomi,” and, “Boaz does chessed when he asks …
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 …
