Oct 21
The children in the School-Day Program at the Jewish Enrichment Center built an indoor sukkah out of PVC pipes, fabric, twine and branches. One child commented that he did not want to be transported back to ancient times while in the sukkah, and the concept of a sukkah time machine was born! The children individually made paper chains, then attached …
Oct 08
We are exploring the festive Jewish holiday of Sukkot this week in the School-Day Program at the Jewish Enrichment Center! The children constructed an indoor sukkah out of PVC pipes. One child commented that he did not want to be transported back to ancient times while in the sukkah, and the concept of a sukkah …
Oct 08
We are nearing the end of the holiday of סוכות (Sukkot)! This week, groups of nursery aged children got to celebrate together virtually. If we had met in person, each child would have had the opportunity to shake the לולב (lulav) and אתרוג (etrog). This did not stop anyone from participating in experiencing the לולב (lulav) …
Oct 07
“Imagine that there’s no COVID and all of Anafim (“Branches” for 2nd-3rd grades) is huddled in a sukkah, and we’re cozy in our sleeping bags, and maybe Morah Sara and Morah Maisie snuck you a s’more. What would you want it to feel like in the sukkah?” Sounds like a dream, right? Well, Anafim thought …
Oct 18
We’ve been so busy preparing for our Sukkot Harvest Party. Making treats to share. Shaking the lulav and etrog. And playing some new Sukkot Ivrit (Hebrew) games. We can’t wait to celebrate the season’s bounty with you. See you Sunday at 9:15!
Sep 28
The beginning of a new school year is a time of transition. In Shorashim (‘roots’ for nursery) and Shteelim (‘saplings’ kindergarten), we are setting routines for our day, welcoming new children, and trying to figure out what it means to be part of our classroom community. This is a perfect time for us to be …
Oct 14
For the past month, our sixth and seventh graders have been planning a Sukkot celebration for the entire Jewish Enrichment Center. Finally, our big day arrived! What a scramble to get everything ready! After all of our prep work was done, our language for giving instructions to younger children rehearsed, we took some time to …
Oct 10
Over the past two weeks, Shorashim has been learning about the holiday of Sukkot. Sukkot is a fall harvest holiday that is traditionally celebrated in a hut outside called a סוכה (sukkah – a hut/tent). In order to better understand how a sukkah is made (and how much fun it can be inside one), we …
Oct 10
One quick review of what the Early Rabbis thought a סוכה (sukkah) needed to include, drawing on several years of research and experience, Lots of long, straight sticks for the structure (expertly scavenged and stripped), and leafy branches to go on top, A ball of twine, good lashing skills, and a few extra pairs of hands …
Oct 09
I believe that our children can do anything. They are creative and capable, and they amaze me everyday. But sometimes I ask them to do something that’s a little tricky, and it feels hard or frustrating. Last week, after children figured out the ancient early rabbis’ “rules” for building a סכה (sukkah—booth), they got to …
