Religious school students engage in a variety of hands-on learning experiences during the course of each year.

~ Sukkot ~

Our yearly religious school Sukkot Celebration includes six stations, each appropriately tailored to the age group in attendance.

 

In the Edible Sukkah Building Station, children make edible Sukkot out of graham crackers, icing, pretzel sticks, dried fruit and other yummy decorative treats.

 

In the sukkah, kids decorate the Kehillah Sukkah with plastic fruit, paper chains and their own vegetable drawings. Also in the sukkah, they each learn about the etrog and lulav and have the opportunity to shake them in all directions.

In music, children learn Sukkot and Simchat Torah songs and Sukkot vocabulary for the various songs. Students also participate in Israeli folk dancing; in the spirit of the holiday, they dance to active, joyous music.

 

Students participate in desert games complete with fruit passing, an etrog/lulav chase and manna from heaven (Hershey’s Kisses).

 

Finally, with the Sukkot Sage, students discuss and hear stories about the many Sukkot symbols and traditions. They also talk about the meaning of the holiday and how these traditional celebrations bring meaning to our modern lives.

 

~ Purim ~

Purim is yet another engaging round-robin of events. Students participate in special Israeli dances tailored to the holiday; sing the music of the season; make hamantashen, masks, crowns, and groggers; and learn from the Purim Pundit, who teaches to each age level. The day wouldn't be complete without a Purim carnival filled with games and prizes as well as a costume parade.

 

~ Religious School Mitzvah Day ~

Each year, the Religious School hosts a Mitzvah Day during which each group of students learns and engages in a hands-on activity related to their mitzvah.

• Pre-K/K: alternate between Bikkur Cholim (Visiting the Sick) and Tzedakah (Doing Righteous Acts)

• 1st/2nd: alternate between Tsa'ar Ba'alei Chayim (Kindness to Animals) and Likboa Mezuzah (Affixing a Mezuzah)

• 3rd: Kashrut (Dietary Laws)

• 4th: Tikkun Olam (Repairing the World)

• 5th: Ba'al Tashchit (Prohibiting Destruction/Waste)

• 6th: Kibud Zekaynim (Honoring the Elderly)

• 7th: Talmud Torah (Studying Torah)