Mar 15
At the beginning of the week we visited the social hall in pairs to close our Kedushah (Holiness) theme. Children took turns telling their parter about their work. Then, they spoke more generally about what was hard, easy, and super fun about this final project. Afterward, we gathered together under the table (it’s so fun …
Mar 01
It’s all installation all the time as we put the final preparations on our Kedushah (Holiness) Family Exploration and Celebration! We look forward to seeing you this Sunday, March 5th at 9:00 AM. Here’s just a few pictures of Enrichment Center educators and staff hard at work designing an installation to honor children’s incredible work and …
Feb 23
This week, we spent time outside exploring קדושה (kedushah, holiness) outside. What a perfect week to spend time outside! At our special session on Shabbat, we walked to the lake and observed the day turning from Shabbat back into a normal day as the sun went down. We noticed the changes in the colors of the sky …
Feb 23
“Hey, look!” “I didn’t just want to do sight-reading, so I made a game. You put this gem here, in the clip, and then it fires it out onto the words. You read whatever word it lands on, then take it off and put a new word on from the pile.” “Can we play now? …
Feb 22
Shorashim (“roots” for nursery) and Shteelim (“saplings” for Kindergarten) have been playing how you might choose to treat the Torah in a special way. We are making a חושן (choshen– breastplate) that could be used to decorate the front of a torah. Here children are making bells for the חושן (choshen– breastplate). “Maybe it has …
Feb 21
“It’s kind of my first time sharing,” announced a first grader at the end of our כיבוד (kibud–snack) conversation. This first grader only joined our community in October. “Yeah usually she just sits there like this looking,” said a second grader. He was noticing that his friend often listens closely to our conversations, but hasn’t been …
Feb 16
Yup! It’s happened… ענפים (Anafim, “branches” for 3rd-4th grade) have shifted gears. They’ve taken their own ideas about קדושה (kedushah, holiness); deepened, sharpened, or expanded them in conversation with each other and the Jewish texts we’ve explored; and now they’re starting to channel these ideas through their unique creative visions. The classroom has bustled with activity this week as …
Feb 16
This week in אלונים (Alonim, “Oak Trees,” for 5th and 6th grades), we had special visitors from a Chicago-area Chevra Kadisha (Jewish Burial Society). Our two guests, Rabbi Larry and Dr. Larry, spoke with us about Jewish rituals surrounding burial. Rabbi and Dr. Larry shared with us their perspective that every person is קדוש (kadosh, holy). …
Feb 15
We did something so special today. First and second grade Nitzanimers had כיבוד (kibud–snack) with fifth and sixth grade Alonimers. We’re in the sixth week of thinking about קדושה (kedushah– holiness) and our super special pairing was an opportunity for children of different ages to connect and share ideas. Like in this pair, where a second grader shared with …
Feb 15
In Beit Shorashim vShteelim (nursery and kindergarten) this week we are exploring the Torah in many different ways this week. We practiced writing special Torah otiot (letters) with special pens We explored the ארון קודש (Aron Kodesh), where the Torah is kept, through feel and drawing. Making our own Torah cover with a special guest. …
