It is the beginning of a new theme, שְׁמַע (Shema), children in שׁוֹרָשִׁים (Shorashim– ‘roots’ for nursery) and שְׁתִּילִים (Shteelim– ‘saplings’ for kindergarten) have jumped right in. First, we discovered the name of our theme through a scavenger hunt for the Hebrew letters that spell שְׁמַע (Shema). After we found the letters, we worked together to figure …
Tag Archive: Torah
Oct 28
We Have so Many Ideas About the Argument!
This week in שׁוֹרָשִׁים (Shorashim– ‘roots’ for nursery) and שְׁתִּילִים (Shteelim– ‘saplings’ for kindergarten), we have been doing a lot of thinking and building about Genesis chapter 13:7 (in our אַבְרָהָם וְלוֹט (Avraham V’Lot) theme), when an argument takes place between Avram’s and Lot’s herders. Some children thought that the argument was related to inequity between the …
Oct 14
Exciting Theme Beginnings!
In שׁוֹרָשִׁים (Shorashim– ‘roots’ for nursery) and שְׁתִּילִים (Shteelim– ‘saplings’ for kindergarten) we have started our first theme of the year! Children have been so excited to play about אַבְרָהָם וְלוֹט (Avraham V’Lot)! The first thing we did was read Genesis chapter 13. We heard that Avram is very rich, the land that Avram and Lot are …
Oct 13
Digging Deeper
We’re in the second week of our new theme, Avraham v’Lot (Abraham and Lot) and children of all ages are excitedly digging deeper into our text from Genesis 13. (Click here for 1st-5th grade version. Click here for nursery and kindergarten version). Children in Shteelim (“Saplings” for kindergarten) worked together to share ideas about why …
Oct 04
Exploring Torahs with Shalom Chaverim
The children of Shalom Chaverim (“Welcome Friends!” for ages 0 – 3 and their grown-ups) explored Torahs. They used magnifying glasses to examine a non-kosher Torah, noticing Hebrew letters on the yellowish parchment. Then they created their own page of Torah with Hebrew-letter stickers on yellowish paper. Families built an aron, an “ark” or special house, for …
Aug 27
Sh’mitah Camp
Camp is in full swing, we are getting to know each other, playing fun games together and this week we are learning about Sh’mitah. Sh’mitah can be found in the Torah in several places, including the book of Exodus, chapter 23, the book of Leviticus, chapter 25 and the book of Deuteronomy, chapter 15. These …
Oct 25
The Tree of Knowing Good and Bad
As we continue our exploration of our current theme Adam v’Adamah in Anafim v’Alonim (“Branches” for 2nd-4th grades and “Oak trees” for 5th grade), many children are captivated by the Tree of knowing good and bad. In Genesis 2, we encounter the tree of knowing good and bad. Here are the versus in Genesis 2 that …
Oct 04
Interpretation in yetzirah (art/creativity)
Today, a child was feeling stuck. He wanted to show Adonai Elohim (God) removing the rib bone from the adam (human) and building ishah (woman) in Genesis 2, but he wasn’t sure how to draw it. I posed the question to his peers, “How might Child A show this part?” and immediately we had a …
Sep 25
“How come this one is the same thing?”
We’re a few weeks into our Adam v’Adamah Torah theme, and Nitzanim first and second graders have been working hard on listening to their “inner voice” when we read and discuss text together at כיבוד (kibud–snack) Their inner voice is a reaction to the text that might come in the form of a question, feeling, …
Sep 19
Is Breshit (Genesis בְּרֵאשִׁית) Real or Pretend?
This week in Nitzanim (“Buds” for first and second graders נִצָּנִים), children heard a section from Breshit (Genesis בְּרֵאשִׁית) detailing the creation of animals and humans on Yom Shishi (sixth day יוֹם שִׁישִּׁי). While listening, the children asked insightful questions and engaged in a deep discussion about whether this was a real story or a …
