Oct 04
At this time of the year, the Jewish Enrichment Center is celebrating Sukkot together! In Anafim v’Alonim (“Branches and Oak Trees” for children in 3rd-5th grades), we’re working on building our own sukkah — a sukkat shalom (shelter of peace). Over the last few weeks, we’ve been discussing: What is a shelter of peace? What …
Jan 29
WHAT a week in Anafim v’Alonim! Children have been deepening their ideas about l’hitpalel through a variety of modalities, including painting, building, and poetry. They have worked independently and with peers in partnerships and small groups. This has not only fostered their social skills and communication skills, but has opened up more opportunities to interact …
Dec 18
How to make a Chanukah puppet show by Nitzanim (“Buds” for first grade). Step 1:Make a list of all the characters in the Chanukah* story. Then, make puppets, props, and backdrops. It helps to work with a buddy. Nitzanim children decided that we needed puppets to represent Jewish people, Syrian Greeks, King Antiochus, and Judah …
Oct 19
We have been SO busy in Beit Anafim v’Alonim (“branches” for 4th grade and “oak trees” for 5th and 6th grades)! Between launching our Sukkat Shlomecha community project, exploring a new perek in our Ya’akov v’Esav theme, and developing our skills as learning partners for studying ivrit and biblical text, the children in Anafim v’Alonim …
Apr 23
I often end up blogging about moments of connection in Beit Nitzanim. We care so much about collaboration, and we deliberately spend time growing the skills for being part of a community. And while I may sound like a broken record, I would be remiss if I didn’t mention the beautiful partnerships I’ve seen in …
Feb 26
Backgrounds painted. Check. Costumes selected. Check. Props made. Check. Script edited. Check. That can only mean one thing… It’s time for Nitzanim to take center stage! We can’t wait to show off all of our hard work and incredible ideas at Family Exploration and Celebration. See you on Sunday, March 11!
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 …
Sep 07
Did you know that Shteelim (“Saplings” for kindergarten) and Nitzanim (“Buds” for 1st grade) are researchers? They make observations: “Look, round challah.” They ask research questions: “What does a תפוח (tapuach–apple) smell like?” “Like cantaloupe.” “What צבעים (tseva’im–colors) are on a תפוח (tapuach–apple)?” They test hypotheses: “Look what happens when I add מים (mayim–water) to my …
Oct 20
During the first few days of סוכות (the festival of Sukkot), we in ענפים (Anafim, “Branches” for 3rd-4th grade) began our Sukkah City project by figuring out the Early Rabbis’ rules of what a סוכה (sukkah) needs in order to count as a סוכה (sukkah). We looked at pictures of סוכות (sukkot) and discussed what …
Oct 16
Today, in Beit Nitzanim, I asked children to journey into imagination with me. We imagined that we were slaves to Par’oh in מצרים (Mitzrayim—Egypt). After a series of plagues and the hardening of Par’oh’s heart, we were finally free! We had to hurry to get out of Egypt before Par’oh changed his mind. But what …
