Hebrew School Elective

Hebrew School Elective in the Library:  Art and the Alef Bet

Recently I collaborated with Kitah Vav parent Marcy Kass on her really good idea to teach Art and the Alef Bet.  Here are some pictures.

Children from third through sixth grades used books with artistic examples of the Alef Bet, including lettering by Ben Shahn and historic Hebrew manuscripts, to get ideas for making their own Hebrew letters using various materials.  There were 8-11 students taking the 45 minute elective and they were absorbed in the process of creating letters.  One Hebrew school teaching assistant commented that he had never been in a quieter class.  Marcy had the idea to display student's Hebrew letters in a poster (above) to be sold at the December 13 Hanukkah party as a fundraiser for the Hebrew School.

Book Discussion

There Shall Be No Needy: Pursuing Social Justice Through Jewish Law and Tradition by Rabbi Jill Jacobs (2009). Chapter 7.  “I Will Remove Illness from Your Midst.  The Provision of Health Care” (available in the library). 

Sunday, December 20, 10:10-11:10

During Hebrew School in the Library

This discussion will be just two weeks after the Ohavi Zedek sponsored forum on Health Care Reform.   

You could purchase the book or read photocopies of the chapter available in the library during Hebrew School even on the morning of the discussion. This chapter is a follow-up to the first well-attended discussion on the Introduction to There Shall Be No Needy “The Search for Integrated Judaism.”

Book Discussion

Sunday 10/25 10:30-11:30 (during Hebrew School in the library)

There Shall Be No Needy: Pursuing Social Justice Through Jewish Law and Tradition by Rabbi Jill Jacobs (2009). Click the link to this book on the New Titles list.

Nancy Sugarman and Ellen Gittelsohn will be leading this library/adult ed. book discussion as part of a morning of intergenerational activities surounding the dedication of the new synagogue Tzedakah box and the rededication of the Sisterhood Thrift Barn as the "Shalom Shuk."

Good Reads

Click new titles for links to look at our new library acquisitions in Amazon.com with reviews.

Here's a quote on translations from the title: Songs for the Butcher's Daughter by Peter Manseau, First Press 2008.

p. 261 "The translator transforms the original work, yes, but were did the original come from? It is often and rightly said that translation is interpretation. But is a poem, too, any more than an interpretation of experience? If both original and translation are works of interpretation,k how does one know were the translation begins and the poem ends?"

p. 301 "Translating is not so different from carrying a tune, you know. It is nothing to envy anymore than we envy this teapot. I simply take words from the kettle and pour them in different cups. I didn't make them hot."

2009-2010 Library Programming

Book Discussions in the library:

 Here are some good ideas for next year discussed by the Hebrew School Committee during the last two meetings:  The Boy in the Striped Pajamas by John Boyne.  We could coordinate with the events committee to show the film and discuss the book and film in the library on a Sunday morning during Hebrew School.  Because of the holocaust theme, the movie showing would be for age 12+.  The Book of Jewish Food: An Odyssey from Samarkand to New York with more than 800 Ashkenasi and Sephardi Recipes by Claudia Roden.  This book is a history of Jewish cultures around the world that includes food and recipes.  For example, before the Ashkenazi recipes there are ten pages on The Development of an Ashkenazi Style of Cooking.  There was a lot of interest in coordinating this book discussion with a cooking class.  Book Talking:  Attendees of this Sunday morning discussion would bring in a favorite book with a Jewish theme and be ready to talk about the book.  Perhaps we could have a book exchange at the end.   Author visit:  I would like to explore the possibility of an author visit as a follow-up to a book discussion.

 More library programming ideas for next year:

 Mini classes connected to Hebrew School curriculum topics: For parents or anyone else who’s interested in Jewish education at OZ.

Hebrew School classes:  I look forward to classes using the library for book exchanges, story times and research.  Teachers can recommend library purchases or websites for student research topics.

The Blessing of a Skinned Knee

Using Jewish teachings to raise self-reliant children. The format for the second book discussion was to give each participant an opportunity to read their favorite quote. People in the group took a few minutes to comment on the quote giving the reader of the quote the last word. The discussion went very well except when it came time for me to read my quote I forgot to hold my comments until the end. The book inspired some good discussions about parenting and we got to know each other a little better in the process.  Group participants came up with the book idea, focusing on one chapter at a time and favorite quotes.  I look forward to hearing more suggestions for next years book discussions. I'm wondering if we could do the same thing with Hebrew School classes. One chapter of a book could be photocopied for every student to take home and read, pick a quote and come into the library for a discussion. Younger students could come in with a parent. We could also have film discussions...

Good Book Discussion on March 15

Eight of us spent 90 minutes having a good discussion based on the book Blessings of a Skinned Knee: Using Jewish Teachings to Raise Self-Reliant Children. Our focus was on chapter 1 of the book. Sunday March 29, 10:30-11:30, we are looking forward to discussing chapter 2. Each member of the group will pick a quote from the book to present.

Parent Book Discussion Group During Hebrew School

Parent Book Discussion Group During Hebrew School
Sundays, March 15 and 29, 10:30-11:30

(meeting in the OZ Library)

We will be discussing the first chapter of the book The Blessing of a Skinned Knee: Using Jewish Teachings to Raise Self-Reliant Children by Wendy Mogel, Ph.D. a parenting book enriched by teachings from the Torah and Talmud.

It's recommended (but not required) to enjoy reading the book, or just the first chapter of the book, before the discussion. Copies of the first chapter will be available in the library during Wednesday and Sunday Hebrew School or you could order the book from the Amazon link on the Ohavi Zedek Website.

Please contact me if you have any questions.
Ellen Gittelsohn
ellen.gittelsohn@gmail.com
657-3140

Hebrew School

This month we have had two successful storytimes in the library. Zooey Siegel Mathys read What Zeesy Saw on Delancy Street by Elsa Rael to Kitah Gimmel and Solomon and the Trees by Elsi Silverberg-Kiss to Kitah Dalet. Zooey did a wonderful job reading and the children enjoyed being in a Jewish library. Please reply to this post if you would like to bring your classes to the library for storytime, research, to watch a DVD or listen to a CD. I'm looking forward to hearing from you about how your Hebrew School classes can use the library.