Oct 25
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
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
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
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 …
Sep 11
All year we work to build community in our kevutzot (groups). A foundation of trust, respect, and safety allows children at the Jewish Enrichment Center to wrestle deeply with text, ask profound questions, and create a Judaism that is personally meaningful and connects them to the ancient and ongoing Jewish conversation through the centuries. Even …
Sep 06
We started our VERY FIRST theme of the year on the VERY FIRST day of Nitzanim with a trip to visit the Torah! And guess what else?!? Our text is the VERY FIRST words of the whole Torah! Wow, that’s a lot of firsts! Nitzanim first and second graders were ready with their keen skills …
Jun 06
This week, the educators of the Jewish Enrichment Center have been very busy getting ready for our Shavuot End of Year Torah Celebration, taking place this Sunday, starting at 9 AM! We are looking forward to sharing all of the Torah we have explored at the Jewish Enrichment Center through the years! See you on …
Nov 08
Lately, a lot of Anafimers have been arriving with the same question on their brain — “When can we hear the next part of the text?!” As we settle into kibud (“snack”), the anticipation of hearing what happens next in the lives of Ya’akov and Esav is palpable. As we’ve been nearing the end of the …
Oct 21
For the past two weeks, the zero-three year olds and their grown-ups in Shalom Chaverim have been investigating a special Jewish book– the Torah! We unrolled a Torah together, and peered inside. We discovered lots of Hebrew letters written on soft parchment! We cared for our own (toddler-friendly!) Torah by building it an aron hakodesh …
Oct 04
This week, the יצירה (Yetzirah–Art/Creativity) studio was abuzz with energy as Nitzanim children shared interpretations from our Ya’akov v’Esav (Jacob and Esau) theme. Creative expression offers many children a way to reflect on their ideas and questions, test out interpretations, or show an idea that couldn’t be explained with words alone. When children do יצירה (yetzirah–art/creativity) in …
