Our Spring theme has begun, שְׁמִיטָה (Sh’mitah), with a focus on the agricultural sabbatical year, a concept that come up in the torah a number of times like in the book of Exodus, chapter 23 verses 10-13. In שׁוֹרָשִׁים (Shorashim– ‘roots’ for nursery) and שְׁתִּילִים (Shteelim– ‘saplings’ for kindergarten, this meant that we started with playing on …
Tag: farming
May 14
Shteelim Explore the Idea of הפקר (Hefker – Ownerless)
This week in Shteelim, we were able to explore two of our areas of focus – the concept of הפקר (hefker – ownerless) and counting בעברית (b’Ivrit – in Hebrew) – at the same time! In our farming play area, we set out with the new challenge of taking only as much as we need from others’ …
May 07
Tackling Big Questions Through Play
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 …
Apr 29
Shorashim Prepares the Land for שמיטה (Sh’mitah)
This week, some Shorashimers got to leave the Jewish Enrichment Center to take a field trip to a real garden in Chicago that is observing שמיטה (Sh’mitah-release). We saw some of the Perennial plants they had in their garden and heard about why they decided to and how they observe שמיטה (Sh’mitah-release). This was such a special time …