Apr 24
In our spring theme, Shavuot, we are taking a close look at how Judaism has changed through time – from the Torah, to the early Rabbis, to Jewish people today (which includes us!). Children have been excited to share what they already know (“Yosef is in the Torah!”) and to see how their ideas and …
Feb 06
Below are the final texts that children are exploring during our Yosef (Joseph) theme: Nursery and Kindergarten version: בְּרֵאשִׁית מ“ג Genesis 43 (Remember that there’s not enough food right now, because the land isn’t growing enough. The brothers went to Egypt and bought food from Yosef. They didn’t know he was their brother. Now the …
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 …
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 …
Jan 23
The children in Nitzanim v’Anafim (“Buds” for 1st-2nd grades and “Branches” for 3rd grade) always get excited about trying out new art materials, and that excitement was BURSTING out of them when we started using chalk pastels last week – so much so that we just had to continue with them this week! Children were …
Jan 23
Here are the Torah texts that children are exploring during week 3 of our Yosef (Joseph) theme. בְּרֵאשִׁית מ Genesis 40: Nursery and Kindergarten version א) וַיְהִי, אַחַר הַדְּבָרִים הָאֵלֶּה, חָטְאוּ מַשְׁקֵה מֶלֶךְ-מִצְרַיִם, וְהָאֹפֶה–לַאֲדֹנֵיהֶם, לְמֶלֶךְ מִצְרָיִםב) וַיִּקְצֹף פַּרְעֹה, עַל שְׁנֵי סָרִיסָיו–עַל שַׂר הַמַּשְׁקִים, וְעַל שַׂר הָאוֹפִיםג) וַיִּתֵּן אֹתָם בְּמִשְׁמַר, בֵּית שַׂר הַטַּבָּחִים–אֶל-בֵּית הַסֹּהַר: מְקוֹם, אֲשֶׁר …
Jan 19
Children in 1st through 5th grade were offered this text this week to provide them with some context before moving on to Genesis 40. 1st-3rd grade version: א) וְיוסֵף, הורד מִצְריְמָה; וַיִקנֵהו פוטִיפַר סְריס פַרעֹה שַר הַטַבָחִים, אִיש מִצְרי, מִיַד הַיִשְמְעֵאלִים, אֲשֶר הורדהו שָמָה 1) Yosef was brought down to Egypt. An Egyptian called Potiphar, …
Jan 17
Here is the Torah text that children are exploring during Week 2 of our Yosef (Joseph) theme. בְּרֵאשִׁית לז:יב–לו Genesis 37:12-36 יב) וַיֵּלְכוּ, אֶחָיו, לִרְעוֹת אֶת-צֹאן אֲבִיהֶם, בִּשְׁכֶם. יג) וַיֹּאמֶר יִשְׂרָאֵל אֶל-יוֹסֵף, הֲלוֹא אַחֶיךָ רֹעִים בִּשְׁכֶם–לְכָה, וְאֶשְׁלָחֲךָ אֲלֵיהֶם; וַיֹּאמֶר לוֹ, הִנֵּנִי. One day, Yosef’s brothers went to Sh’chem to take care of their father’s sheep. Ya’akov, whose …
Jan 10
This week at the Jewish Enrichment Center, we started our new theme: יוֹסֵף (Yosef)! After hearing the text (Genesis 37:1-11) for just the first time, the children in Nitzanim v’Anafim (“Buds” for 1st-2nd grades and “Branches” for 3rd grade) were absolutely bursting with questions and ideas. “This is Ya’akov and all his children. Everyone except …
Jan 10
Here is the Torah text that children are exploring during Week 1 of our Yosef (Joseph) theme. בְּרֵאשִׁית לז.א-יא Genesis 37:1-11 א) וַיֵּשֶׁב יַעֲקֹב בְּאֶרֶץ מְגוּרֵי אָבִיו–בְּאֶרֶץ כְּנָעַן Ya’akov lived in the land of Cana’an. This is the story of Ya’akov and all his family. ב) אֵלֶּה תֹּלְדוֹת יַעֲקֹב, יוֹסֵף בֶּן-שְׁבַע-עֶשְׂרֵה שָׁנָה הָיָה רֹעֶה אֶת-אֶחָיו …
