Freddi Konefsky
Author's posts
Apr 10
Examining Pesach with Early Rabbis
It’s been a busy week for Anafim v’Alonim (“branches” and “oak trees” for 4th and 5th grades)! We launched our Pesach unit with a review of שְׁמוׄת א-טו (Exodus 1-15) and had a ton of fun building the story during a Special Saturday Session. Then, we read a line in the Mishnah that says we …
Mar 14
Installation Inspiration
Last weekend was Family Exploration and Celebration at the Jewish Enrichment Center. Projects and artist statements were beautifully displayed, explorations were opened up, and joy shone out of faces everywhere. In Anafim v’Alonim (“Branches” and “Oak Trees” for 4th-5th grade children), we are celebrating the moments of family connection where parents and children deeply engaged …
Feb 27
It’s the final countdown…!
Step into our learning space any day this week, and you’ll feel the palpable excitement in the air. With only a few sessions remaining until our Family Exploration and Celebration, the children in Anafim v’Alonim have been immersed in their final l’hitpalel (“to pray”) projects. Each child is pursuing an inquiry area that is most …
Jan 29
Diving Deep
WHAT a week in Anafim v’Alonim! Children have been deepening their ideas about l’hitpalel through a variety of modalities, including painting, building, and poetry. They have worked independently and with peers in partnerships and small groups. This has not only fostered their social skills and communication skills, but has opened up more opportunities to interact …
Jan 15
Building Curiosity in Anafim v’Alonim
This week in Anafim v’Alonim (“branches” and “oak trees” for 4th and 5th grades) we started unpacking our new theme: L’hitpalel! Children began by privately brainstorming about the related concept of praying. They then worked in small groups to share and categorize those ideas. These became our launchpad for wondering about l’hitpalel. This week we’ll …
Dec 21
Concluding Chanukah with Creativity
This week in Anafim v’Alonim (“Branches” for 4th and “Oak Trees” for 5th grade), children have been putting the finishing touches on their Chanukah projects. These exemplify the range of ideas and learning styles that make our kevutzah (learning community) so wonderfully complex! Some children created a diorama, some made their own memes; others composed music, produced a …
Dec 07
Chanukkah Is Here!
What a week it has been for Anafim v’Alonim (“Branches” for 4th grade and “Oak Trees” for 5th)! The final touches were put on children’s Ya’akov v’Esav (Jacob and Esau) projects and we quickly launched our Chanukkah celebration. Children are already full of ideas about their projects! After a few focused sessions, many children mastered …
Nov 01
Yetzirah in Ya’akov v’Esav!
This week in Anafim v’Alonim (“Branches” for 4th grade and “Oak trees” for 5th and 6th grades), we’ve been expanding our ideas about Ya’akov v’Esav (Jacob and Esau) while further exploring our collage and building modalities. With their chavrutah (text study partner), children have studied Bereishit (Genesis) 32 & 33, and as we move closer to synthesizing the texts, …
Oct 19
Art and Exploration in Anafim v’Alonim!
We have been SO busy in Beit Anafim v’Alonim (“branches” for 4th grade and “oak trees” for 5th and 6th grades)! Between launching our Sukkat Shlomecha community project, exploring a new perek in our Ya’akov v’Esav theme, and developing our skills as learning partners for studying ivrit and biblical text, the children in Anafim v’Alonim …