Rosh HaShanah is a joyful time, a time of hope and new beginnings – that was my Rosh HaShanah message to my Hebrew School students. We drank grape juice, ate slices of round raisin challah, and apples and honey as we practiced the appropriate Brachot. We discussed Tikun Olam and how each of us could […]

Heroic actions; miraculous feats; a heart-stopping mix of joy and sorrow; an unfolding human drama of faith, endurance, and victory – The 2012 Olympics are alot like Torah. No doubt Rabbis around the world are preparing sermons which use the irresistable imagery of the Olympics to expound upon Jewish themes: God as the Ultimate Coach! […]

Bragging Alert! I’m about to use our granddaughters as an example to comment on the coming school year. Yes, they are the most beautiful, brilliant grandchildren in the world! Nu? From a Jewish grandmother you expected something else, maybe? Since they were babies, our granddaughters, ages 7 and 9, have been coming to visit and […]

I recently visited my 95 year old father who was hospitalized with heart problems and my mother who suffers from dementia. My home is 1000 miles away from the nursing facility where my parents live. As I’m a caregiver for my husband, travel is immensely difficult and visits to my parents are unfortunately brief and […]

Throughout the religious school year, as a Jewish educator, I’m propelled by curricular objectives, Holiday preparations, and synagogue-wide events in which my students participate. Then, one day in May, with a final “Shalom,” my students are off on their summer vacations. My classroom is off-limits for summer cleaning. Although I have numerous family responsibilities, I’m […]

At our last faculty meeting of the school year, we were invited to discuss concerns about our classes. One elementary grade teacher expressed the concern that her Sunday School students never quite felt comfortable in the classroom which they shared with a weekday Early Childhood Center class. The Sunday School students needed frequent reminders not […]

A few days ago, Kitah Gimel students officially “graduated” from Religious School/Hebrew School. They now move on to B’nai Mitzvah preparation, a post B’nai Mitzvah program, and Confirmation. Our last few school weeks exemplified the experiential approach to Jewish education which has shaped our learning this year. As intensively as possible, I provided authentic, hands-on […]

During a recent class, my Kitah Gimel students received a gift from the religious school, a gift that would have been unthinkable, even shocking, decades ago when I was in the 6th grade of a classical Reform “Sunday School.” Each Kitah Gimel student received a copy of the Journal Edition of the Reform siddur, Mishkan […]

Inspired by a Torah Aura Productions webinar* on experiential Jewish education, I prepared a “condensed” Seder** for Kitah Gimel. In our 60 minutes together, students blessed, told, sang, questioned, answered, dipped, and ate. Desks pushed end to end and covered with white cloths formed the Seder table – the children’s table , to be exact! […]

Here are more ideas for using your synagogue as a teaching tool and a learning opportunity:Point out photo displays of past Rabbis, Cantors, and lay leaders. If possible, invite one of the individuals pictured to speak to your class about his or her role in the life of the synagogue.Similarly, if there is a photo […]