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Malkhuyot, Zichronot, Shofrot: the special service of Rosh Hashana

1The Rosh Hashanna service has entirely unique components: 3 differentTorah readings, filled with symbolism. In this unit, students explore not only these Torah readings, but also how the Talmud puts forwardthis information, and how the Rabbis of the Talmud understood it's symbolism. Through hevruta study, close analysis of Torah and Talmud texts, and a creative art project, students engage the Rosh HashannaTorah readings - Malkuyot, Zichronot, and Shofrot with an eye for meaning and symbolism.

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Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur – Reflecting on Identity

Identity and High Holidays are interrelated. It is during the High Holidays that we closely examine who we are: our actions, our choices, our beliefs, our ideas of right and wrong, and how we have lived up to these expectations. Our identities encompass how we identify with our religious teachings; those we embody, those for which we strive, and those which present conflicts for us. This program helps in understanding the way in which some of the central motifs of these holidays (making amends, self reflection, vowing to be better people, and striving to move closer to the person we want to be) encourage us to examine our identities as Jews.

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The Heart and Mind of Teaching and Celebrating Torah in Early Childhood

The Jewish People has a favorite book which never gets shelved. The Torah has been read over and over, starting again the moment we finish, dozens of times in each Jew’s lifetime, thousands of times in the life of our People. Yet there is mystery, enough hidden between the black letters and the white spaces to keep us entranced for countless generations. Simchat Torah, the holiday where we finish reading the Torah and begin again, literally translates as “Joy of the Torah,” and is the ideal time to begin to engage children in Torah. The author offers to accompany us on this delicious and “sweet” adventure.

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You’re the Expert on Chagei Tishrei: Rosh Hashanah

This exciting program is individualized for and equally useful to classrooms and camps, schools and centers! It is similar to the method that many scouting groups use to promote experience and award merit badges. Here, children will select and accomplish a certain number of activities and, through their efforts, acquire increasingly higher levels of expertise.

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Rosh Hashanah/ Yom Kippur: Exploring Themes of Teshuvah

How does Teshuvah make us better people? What do the calls of the Shofar say to us? What do we wish to throw away with our Tashlich crumbs, and what should we keep?
This project will take participants through a series of encounters, culminating with a family program, which will explore Teshuvah through creative dramatics, learning the meaning of the various shofar calls and their relation to the chagim, art, poetry, and finally an interactive family activity with a meaningful "air tashlich" ceremony.
The activities may be run as a unit in sequence, or individually as desired.

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Sukkot: On Convergences and Contrasts


In the progression of any calendar there are specific moments at which time would seem to condense, taking on volume and density. This transformed dimension, this condensed state of time, can gradually establish itself to various degrees and on various levels, producing a multitude of vectors of meaning that sometimes follow parallel paths and at other times are interwoven and strengthened. If we look at our calendar, we can see that the festivals are signs that invite us to participate in sacred moments, moments that are different and separate from our daily routine. Sukkot, among all our celebrations, is one of those moments of convergent density. But what does this really mean? What are the origins and the scope of such assertions? In the next paragraphs we will attempt to find the answers.
By Joshua Kullock

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Zman Simchateinu: A Game to Celebrate our Season of Joy

This large format board game allows play in any environment – from the floor to a lawn to desktops.

Using paper or Styrofoam plates and colorful graphics (which are provided in the game materials), this game offers an opportunity to review holiday-related content while students consider information in a new and creative context. The emphasis is on conveying information – not asking for it – and allowing students to consider what they know in new and creative ways. There are no wrong answers… just an opportunity to reinforce knowledge and enjoy the experience!

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