Jan 30
Here is the Torah text that children are exploring during week 4 of our Yosef (Joseph) theme: Nursery and Kindergarten version: Genesis 42 (בְּרֵאשִׁית מב) (Remember that there’s not enough food right now, because the land isn’t growing enough. People are hungry.) Ya’akov (Yosef’s father) heard that there was food in Egypt. So Ya’akov said …
May 30
Earlier this year during a Saturday special session, children in Anafim v’Alonim (“branches” for 4th grade and “oak trees” for 5th grade) built a Sukkat Shlomecha (shelter of peace) just for our kvutzah (group). We discussed what brings us peace as individuals and a community. To make our space cozy, children made pillows, added blankets, …
May 14
The last couple of weeks have been so generative and awesome! Last week Anafim v’Alonim (“Branches” and “Oak trees” for 4th and 5th grades) looked back at what the early Rabbis said about נוֹשֵׂא בְעֹל עִם חֲבֵרו (nosei v’ol im chaveiro–helping a friend carry a burden). We remembered that נוֹשֵׂא בְעֹל עִם חֲבֵרו (nosei v’ol …
May 02
This week in Anafim v’Alonim (“Branches” and “Oak trees” for 4th and 5th grades), we started exploring our NEW theme, נוֹשֵׂא בְעֹל עִם חֲבֵרוֹ (Nosei v’ol im chaveiro–Help a friend carry a burden). Children started by thinking of examples of what it might mean to carry a burden with a friend. Carrying papers for …
Apr 16
For the last few weeks, children in Anafim v’Alonim (“branches” and “oak trees” for 4th and 5th grades) have dug into a line from the Mishnah about how the Passover story should be told. The Mishnah says the story should be told: “beginning with disgrace and ending in praise.” Following that, children looked at an …
Apr 10
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 …
Apr 02
Yesterday was Anafim v’Alonim‘s (“Branches” and “Oak Trees” for 4th-5th grade children) first session back from break. We started the afternoon by going around the table sharing something from the previous week that we did or something we are looking forward to. After finishing the L’hitpalel (“To Pray”) theme, we explored Purim for a few …
Mar 14
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 …
Mar 08
It’s been a flurry of printing, editing, gluing, and chopping as we prepare to share children’s ideas about our winter quarter theme L’hitpalel (“To pray”). In this installation, children are wrestling with the role of Adonai (God) in prayer; the way a person might feel before, during, and after choosing to pray; and the many, …
Mar 07
Projects and artist statements are done! We are SO READY for Family Exploration and Celebration THIS Sunday. Soon we will celebrate the holiday, Purim! Yesterday Anafim v’Alonim (branches” and “oak trees” for 4th and 5th grades), prepared to write our very own Purim shpiel! Well folks, you heard it here. Anafim v’Alonim is …
