Cambridge early release day

Kesher kids had some extra Z’man Chofshi (free time) on the Cambridge early release day this week, so we took the opportunity to introduce a good Israeli dish: Couscous with soup – with some added Ivrit for seasoning. Well, actually couscous comes from Tunisia , but that’s just the way food is in Israel- it comes with people from all over the world.

Created in God’s image, בצלם אלוהים

Kesher kids try to express some element of God’s ‘image’ in abstract or symbolic self portraits.

After this work, kids turned their attention to one another’s work. How do we look for the Divine in one another? How are our self-portraits different, similar? Where do we look for the Divine? In our similarities? In our differences? In both?

Nitzanim B’tzelem Elohim (in God’s image)

The Nitzanim played with mirrors this week, exploring the text: “and God created the human in His/Her own image.” They were searching for the meaning of this; while confused with the fact that we don’t all look the same from the outside and yet we are all made in this same image of God. In Yahadut kids suggested that though we do differ in gender (man and woman) and appearance we share the same organs inside, one group appealed to the possibility of a heart transplant as proof. The kids also came up with a less physical suggestion, noting that we also have the same feelings because each and everyone of us can get hurt.

Here are some photos with mirrors

B’Tzelem Elohim Unit Begins in Yahadut Classrooms

This week, kids in the Yesodi (K-5) program began the ‘B’tzelem Elohin’ (In God’s Image) unit of their curriculum. The focus this week has been allowing the kids to explore possible meanings of the idea of being in God’s image. We feel that allowing the kids to spend time experimenting with texts is a crucial part of the learning process, and of empowering them to participate actively in the process of making meaning out of the Jewish tradition. In the weeks to come we will be exploring some of the Mitzvot that emerge from the sense of seeing one another as divine creatures of infinite value and fundamental equality, for example the injunction to love ones fellow as oneself(Veahavta L’reacha Kamokha), to protect human life (Pikuach Nefesh), and to use language to uphold and not denigrate human dignity (Shmirat Lashon)

Overheard

I just overheard four Anafim kids during Zman Chofshi (free time) debating a translation up on their classroom wall. The text uses both male and female pronouns to refer to God. Some of the kids think it makes more sense that way, some think less.  I just love that Kesher kids will take a minute to chat about this stuff amongst themselves. And then move on to a conversation about soccer without skipping a beat.

- Rafi

Kesher kids celebrate Sukkot, Simchat Torah, and their classroom Britot (covenants).

Wednesday and Thursday, we held a special event to celebrate Sukkot and Simchat Torah. Kids created Ushpizin (honored guests) to invite into our Sukkah and so connecting with the ideal of Hachnasat Orachim (hospitality) as well as the ancient tradition of inviting our ancestors to celebrate with us in our temporary dwellings. They revisited the story of the creation  of humanity (traditionally read this coming Sunday for Simchat Torah) by helping a pair of angels (Asaf and Einat) draft some blueprints – physical and spiritual – of a creature in God’s image. They explored the leafy Lulav and Etrog through movement, and because everything goes better with food, they also made edible sukkot!

Kids explore the Lulav and Etrog through movement on the lawn

Nitzanim present their Brit - one copy of the text was preserved, whilst a second was incorporated into a papier mache sculpture

Ushpizin or 'Honored Guests' within the Sukkah

We also used this celebration as an opportunity for the various groups to present their classroom Britot (covenants) – a kind of classroom contract that the kids have been working on. This is an appropriate time in terms of the school year, but also ties in with our Sukkot themes of building community, and with the ancient covenant-renewal ceremony of Hakhel http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hakhel !

The Anafim’s physical Brit was a little too large to present – you may have seen it taking the form of a mini Sukkah in their classroom. Photo’s of the structure, together with the text that it houses will make up the ongoing presence of their document in the classroom!

About the Yesodi Curriculum night (K-5)

At the Yesodi (K-5) Curriculum night, Kesher parents came together to learn about what their children study here, and to be introduced to their children’s teachers. Starting with a little communal text study, together, we went through an overview of this year’s Yahadut (Judaics) curriculum  and it’s 9 units; – the curriculum document itself runs to around 80 pages and is designed and refined here in Kesher Cambridge and shared by our sister sites in Newton and  NYC.

At Kesher, we visit and revisit the topics embedded in our curriculum over the course of a three year cycle. Each year of the cycle focuses on a different aspect of Jewish tradition and culture. This year our focus is on Values and Ethics. All groups at Kesher are engaged  in the same material at the same time, at a level appropriate to their age. At the Curriculum Night Rafi talked about how the Shorashim might study the same text as the Nitzanim and Anafim, but at a different level of abstraction.

Chemda then introduced Kesher’s proficiency approach based Ivrit (Hebrew) curriculum and ended the evening with a short Ivrit lesson in which the parents experienced a taste of the proficiency approach.

You can pick up an overview of this year’s Values and Ethics curriculum from your family’s folder.

Storytelling in the Sukkah

Last Sunday a lovely group came together to hear stories, shake the Lulav and Etrog, nosh, and play together in our Sukkah. Sukkot is all about re-learning to appreciate the simplest things in life!

Parents shmoozed while kids played

Storytelling in the Sukkah with Ilil Matiash

This Sunday at 4pm we will be celebrating the second day of Sukkot with storytelling in the Sukkah (and a little nosh).

On Wednesday, Ilil Matiash came to introduce us to her friend Pol the dinosaur who will be helping with the storytelling on Sunday. They were both a big hit… Sunday will be a blast.

Benayim Write Sukkot Haiku

Three walls surround me

Eating with my family

Sharing tradition

- by a Benayim student

The Benayim, exploring the relationship between structure and creativity, contemplated the simple structure of the Sukkah, and wrote about it using the simple structure of the Haiku. Their Haikus will decorate the walls of our Kesher Sukkah!