This week was very exciting! All of the children had the opportunity to explore one of the ways that some Jewish people might prepare for פֶּסַח (Pesach-Passover). At the Jewish Enrichment Center, we clean up and put away all of the chametz (foods that rise, like bread, crackers and “o” shaped cereal), that we might …
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Feb 24
אֲדָר (Adar) Is Here!
The children in שׁוֹרָשִׁים (Shorashim– ‘roots’ for nursery) and שְׁתִּילִים (Shteelim– ‘saplings’ for kindergarten) welcomed the new month אֲדָר (Adar– the 6th month on the Jewish Calendar)! חָג פּוּרִים (The Purim Holiday) is just around the corner, on the 14th of אֲדָר (Adar)! This year Purim begins at sundown on Sunday, March 6th! There are special songs …
Dec 15
Chanukah Celebrations!
This week, the children of the Jewish Enrichment Center got to join together for early chanukah celebrations. For these kinds of holiday celebrations, we have יְדִידִים (yedidim-buddies) from other age groups. These children really know how to take care of each other! These children have just completed their task to assemble all of the נֵרוֹת …
Dec 07
The Teshuvah Specialists are READY!
The children in Nitzanim v’Anafim (“Buds” for 1st-2nd grades and “Branches” for 3rd grade) are getting ready for this Sunday’s Family Exploration and Celebration. They have asked big questions, carefully considered different situations that could require Teshuvah, thought deeply, and had extremely rich conversations with each other. Now, they are Teshuvah Specialists, and they are …
Dec 02
Chanukah is in the air
This week the children in שׁוֹרָשִׁים (Shorashim– ‘roots’ for nursery) and שְׁתִּילִים (Shteelim– ‘saplings’ for kindergarten) have started getting ready for חֲנֻכָּה (chanukah)! The first thing we did was read some חֲנֻכָּה (chanukah) story books, which sparked a lot of memories of eating latkes (potato pancakes), lighting חֲנֻכִּיָוֹת (Chanukiyot– Chanukah Menorot (plural form of menorah), and playing …
Feb 17
Thinking About Final Projects!
Children in Anafim v’Alonim (“Branches” for 3rd-4th grades and “Oak Trees” for 5th grade) are just brimming with ideas about the שְׁמַע Shema! We began the week reflecting on the what we’ve explored: stories from the Early Rabbis about the Bedtime שְׁמַע Shema, שְׁמַע Shema Stories, the history of שְׁמַע Shema, and more. We used …
Feb 02
שְׁמַע Feelings
We are solidly in our שְׁמַע (shema) theme, and Nitzanim v’Anafim (“Buds” for 1st-2nd grade and “Branches” for 3rd grade) has been unmatched in their gathering of שְׁמַע feeling words. A couple of weeks ago, we started collecting words on a big list on the wall. From watching and listening to שְׁמַע stories from people …
Sep 30
Doing the Work of Becoming a Community
The beginning of the school year is always a very busy time, being in שׁוֹרָשִׁים (Shorashim– ‘roots’ for nursery) and שְׁתִּילִים (Shteelim– ‘saplings’ for kindergarten) is no exception. In addition to the Jewish content that we are learning at the beginning of the year, we are doing things like learning new routines, learning each other’s Shemot (Hebrew …
Jun 09
Name that Space
The Jewish Enrichment Center staff and volunteers have been hard at work. We are moving furniture and redecorating our spaces to prepare to welcome children back onsite in the fall. Do you recognize these spaces? What looks familiar? What is new to you? The process took several days, and is still progressing. In order to …
Mar 12
Reflecting on Shehecheyanu
Shabbat Shalom! We are just a few hours away from the beginning of shabbat and I hope you all are able to soak up some sun this weekend. Just two weeks ago we celebrated the fabulous ideas and projects children worked on during the שֶׁהֶחֱיָנוּ (Shehecheyanu) theme. Below are three different vases children made and …