Kesher קשר

Splashing around, Summer at Kesher

On the first week of Macheneh, Kesher ’s summer program, we went on a trip Back in Time. We looked for the  traces that fossils leave for us and created our own story using Playdoh.  We dressed up as 19th century immigrants who came to America, and we made murals depicting our own history.
In week three, we made a special visit to Hanscom airport with our own pilot, Asaf Magen. The the kids got to sit in the pilot’s seat and learn about the controls in real airplanes!!
Splashing around at the pool was a frequent activity this summer, and on Fridays each week, we celebrated the coming of Shabbat by baking challah and  acting out the week’s Parasha- Torah portion.

Kesher Macheneh visits the airport, from inside!

Yesterday, we had a really amazing field trip led by our own resident pilot, Asaf Magen! We got to go into an actual control tower and watch and listen as people directed planes to land—which we then got to see land (and take off). Asaf then took us out to look at different models of planes, which we got to actually get inside and try out the controls! It was a great day and a great learning experience for all of the campers.

Erev Ivrit Groovin’

Z’man Chofshi at the end of the year

The kids were so sweet today at Zman Chofshi. Towards the end of the year there’s real feeling of confidence and calmness coming from the kids. They took out some board games and played so nicely together at Free Time.

Kesher Sprouts play with bubbles

At Kesher Sprouts, our toddler group, the kids and their parents or caregivers explore the world each week through a variety of fresh and fun activities.  Some of our recent get togethers have featured finding toys hiding in playdough, discovering what happens to ping-pong balls when they enter a tube,  painting with different colors, experimenting with light, building with sticky sand, making music and singing together.   We celebrate the coming Shabbat each week with a snack of challah.  Here (in the pictures bellow), you can see the group playing at the water table, delighting in their discoveries of bubbles. Read more about Kesher Sprouts program here

Talmud Torah

The Nitzanim have been experimenting with a little traditional pair-based text study (Chevruta) recently. They have been practicing the balance between listening to their partner and articulating their own ideas.

We are in the middle of our ‘Talmud Torah’ unit, in which we are exploring study itself as a Jewish value. The Nitzanim have been studying the ‘Ve’ahavta’ section of the Shema prayer (Deuteronomy 6), which pairs ideas about how and when to study Torah  (‘at home and in the street’,  ‘going to sleep and waking up’, placing them as ’signs on our hands’ and ‘between our eyes’).

The Nitzanim’s focus has been on comparing two different dimensions of Torah study’s impact a) on our actions (symbolized by our hands) and b) on our thought and perception (between our eyes).

Some kids chose to sit at the table, some on the carpet, but the level of concentration in the class could be felt in the air. We are very proud of our Nitzanim!

Fun preparing for Erev Ivrit

Today we were getting ready for Erev Ivrit! When the kids came in they found a soap making station with the letters of the Alef-Bet, some were making beautiful water colored pictures with Ivrit in them, others painted scenes from the life in Tel Aviv, cause we’re all getting ready for the night in which Kesher turns into mini-Israel, and everything is done in Ivrit. We also had lots of Zman Bachutz, time  outside (early release), playing and hanging out together, the kids really got some quality time together today, you can see how close they are in the pictures bellow.

Our Community Retreat at Camp Grossman

It was so wonderful to be with Kesher families together on this  past Sunday’s Retreat! I loved this relaxing day in the sun, where we could hang out and take part in the various activities together. Getting to know each others’ names around the parachute was lots of fun. I laughed so much when the name ABBA was shouted and then all the dad’s in the game started running around to find a new spot

We hung out at this beautiful Camp all day long, playing, making crafts, learning a bit about Lag Ba’Omer, exploring the beautiful Hale reservation, and making nice wax paper boats to sail on the lake. We even got the chance to munch on some kosher s’mors made on the grill!

It was a lovely day to spend together amongst the Kesher community.

Kesher Lag BaOmer Retreat at Camp Grossman

The Kesher retreat is coming this Sunday, May 2nd , from 10:30am to 4pm. This is a flexible day and you are welcome to join in to any activity at any time. Feel free to initiate your own activities and join loosely to the day’s plan; we will have art supplies, story books and games, and you can bring your own favorite lawn games, board games or outdoor hobbies.

Directions to Camp Grossman:
Take the Mass Pike to 128 and go South, From Rtes. 128 turn on 109 Westwood, (take exit 16B) follow 109 West to Dover Rd. Right on Dover Rd. about 1-1/2 miles to camp entrance on right. Follow the camp access road to the parking lot.

Here is the link to the google maps:
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=604+Dover+Rd,+Westwood,+MA+02090&sll=37.0625,-95.677068&sspn=53.564699,113.203125&ie=UTF8&ll=42.231091,-71.241531&spn=0.012361,0.027637&z=15&iwloc=addr

Notice that if you search Camp Grossman on google/GPS the correct address you’ll find it at is:

#604 Dover Road, Westwood MA 02090

Happy Yom HaAtzmaut

Celebrating Israel’s independence day at Kesher, we had a sweet ceremony celebrating the things that unite us as a community of Bnei Israel, the people of Israel.