Back in February a friend and I jump-started a program where young kids would gather with their parents and a native Hebrew reader/activity leader, to be exposed to Hebrew through activities, movement, crafts, and listening to stories. It went really well and I wanted to post the flyer to help remind myself and others about the concept.
The flyer (opens in new window)
If you want the outlines for our 6 sessions including games, stories, crafts, and songs to be lead in Hebrew, please leave a comment and I will send you the information I created!
Sunday, July 28, 2013
Tuesday, July 16, 2013
Mothers with Young Kids on Tisha B'Av, the Jewish national day of mourning
After spending a few years with my toddler-now-three-year-old on the 9th of Av, and now with my 1 year old too, I've had a bit of time to gradually adapt to making the day spent with children meaningful- neither empty nor crazily full. Let's get right to the point- here are some recommendations I've gathered.
-Talk to your rabbi before the day to get instructions on fasting
-Print out coloring sheets, such as this Kotel and this Jerusalem
-Print out articles for yourself, order books & puzzles for the kids- please post in comments section if you have any good suggestions. I need some!
-Try to plan to attend a synagogue's video presentation, or locate some good online presentations.
-Prepare the kids' food and break-fast food the day before
-Make a picnic/activity/reading area to relax in before Chatzos when you are not sitting "high"
-Invite pre-bat mitzvah or pre-bar mitzvah aged kids over to play/hang out. They won't be fasting for most of the day and can help you out and keep you company
-Get out your building blocks. It's time to rebuilt the Bais HaMikdash. Talk about how we want Hashem to be pleased with this beautiful place where we will all come together to serve Hashem and celebrate. Talk about how Hashem took it away because our avoda (service of G-d) was devoid of the inner demension and the consideration of other people.
-Use felt boards or paper dolls (or real dolls) to share the conversational "game" about ahavas chinam- caring and love for others- "How does Mommy show you (and ___) that I love you and care about you?" "How do YOU (the child) show family and friends how they are loved and cared about?"
-www.chinuch.org has a section for 17th of Tammuz and 9th of Av. There are lots of projects, including a model Bais HaMikdash, non-leather "slippers," power point presentations, games, quizzes, stories, even songs!
-Decorate poster of "Ahavat Chinam"
-Learn about Jewish unity and ahavas Yisrael. Anyone have any good ideas for games to teach this?
-Consider the words of the Slonimer Rebbe (explained by R' Trugman in Seeds and Sparks- and on his website/FB): The 22 days of mourning in the summer are like the outline on the drawing, to be filled in and brought back to life with the 22 days of holidays and celebrating in Tishrei. The 22 days are also likened to the Hebrew alphabet, which has 22 letters, and represents a complete cycle. We have to get down to the hard stuff so that we can be compassionate people. We have to break open the past, and ourselves, so that we can fill ourselves up anew and make the present and future better than the past.
-Finally, view it as somewhat of a Shabbos. You have the opportunity to focus on your family and your people and are encouraged not to be involved with "work." This aids us in our own introspective process- thinking about why the Bais HaMikdash was taken away from us to begin with.
Just wrote this post before the end of the 9 Av. Please post suggestions/comments!
-Print out coloring sheets, such as this Kotel and this Jerusalem
-Print out articles for yourself, order books & puzzles for the kids- please post in comments section if you have any good suggestions. I need some!
-Try to plan to attend a synagogue's video presentation, or locate some good online presentations.
-Prepare the kids' food and break-fast food the day before
-Make a picnic/activity/reading area to relax in before Chatzos when you are not sitting "high"
-Invite pre-bat mitzvah or pre-bar mitzvah aged kids over to play/hang out. They won't be fasting for most of the day and can help you out and keep you company
-Get out your building blocks. It's time to rebuilt the Bais HaMikdash. Talk about how we want Hashem to be pleased with this beautiful place where we will all come together to serve Hashem and celebrate. Talk about how Hashem took it away because our avoda (service of G-d) was devoid of the inner demension and the consideration of other people.
-Use felt boards or paper dolls (or real dolls) to share the conversational "game" about ahavas chinam- caring and love for others- "How does Mommy show you (and ___) that I love you and care about you?" "How do YOU (the child) show family and friends how they are loved and cared about?"
-www.chinuch.org has a section for 17th of Tammuz and 9th of Av. There are lots of projects, including a model Bais HaMikdash, non-leather "slippers," power point presentations, games, quizzes, stories, even songs!
-Decorate poster of "Ahavat Chinam"
-Learn about Jewish unity and ahavas Yisrael. Anyone have any good ideas for games to teach this?
-Consider the words of the Slonimer Rebbe (explained by R' Trugman in Seeds and Sparks- and on his website/FB): The 22 days of mourning in the summer are like the outline on the drawing, to be filled in and brought back to life with the 22 days of holidays and celebrating in Tishrei. The 22 days are also likened to the Hebrew alphabet, which has 22 letters, and represents a complete cycle. We have to get down to the hard stuff so that we can be compassionate people. We have to break open the past, and ourselves, so that we can fill ourselves up anew and make the present and future better than the past.
-Finally, view it as somewhat of a Shabbos. You have the opportunity to focus on your family and your people and are encouraged not to be involved with "work." This aids us in our own introspective process- thinking about why the Bais HaMikdash was taken away from us to begin with.
Just wrote this post before the end of the 9 Av. Please post suggestions/comments!
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