Feb 01
As we approach the end of the texts for our Yosef (Joseph) theme, the children in Nitzanim v’Anafim (“Buds” for 1st-2nd grades and “Branches” for 3rd grade) are coming up against some big, real life questions. They are thinking deeply about what causes someone to do something like throw their brother in a pit or …
Oct 27
The children in Nitzanim v’Anafim (“Buds” for 1st-2nd grades and “Branches” for 3rd grade) are such curious learners! As we’ve been exploring our fall theme, תְּשׁוּבָה (teshuva), they have asked so many big and important questions that don’t have easy answers. Here are some of their questions: How much תְּשׁוּבָה (teshuva) do you have to …
Apr 21
Last week in Nitzanim (“Buds,” for 1st grade children), we explored a text from the Talmud that said that when someone visits a sick person, they take away 1/60th of their suffering. To help us understand this idea, we looked at a picture of a pie with one tiny little slice taken out of it. …
Oct 25
This week, Nitzanim children heard Genesis 3:1-10 for the first time, and wow were they ready to dive right in! All of the work we’ve been doing over the last few weeks to listen to our inner voices (see post here) has prepared children to notice details in the text and ask big questions. In …
Nov 09
Oh, beautiful middle schoolers! For years, you’ve dedicated yourselves to grappling with Torah text, to listening deeply to yourself and to each other, and now…this week…what a privilege to introduce you to that moment when Abraham takes the fire, and the knife, and walks off with his son. And your reactions! “Maybe the test is that Avraham is supposed to say, …
Nov 11
What if we asked our children, “What do you want to know more about in Judaism?” and let their questions drive their learning? It was so fast. I asked, children went off to write by themselves, and within a few minutes, every single sixth grader was back by my side, ready to talk through what …
May 07
This week in Shteelim we’ve had a chance to continuing exploring in the agricultural play space, where Shteelim have acted out their preparation for the שמיטה (Sh’mitah – Release) year, as well as what they would do during the year itself. One of the big ideas that I can see has defined Shteelim’s understandings of Sh’mitah is …
