Travels with Abraham: entering the digital age

Our students have tracked Abraham's journeys, thanks to maps of the ancient world and Google Earth!  Our students will have a better understanding and appreciation of geography because of this wonderful program!

Parsha Puppets are here!

http://mrsbee.podbean.com/

Click on the above link and watch our "mini series" - Sedra Scenes' Va-Yera.

My camera work needs a little polish, but the kids had a great time performing and learning about this parsha!

Before our Parsha Puppets take to the stage, we should catch up on the Parsha itself. Abraham is visited by 3 men. Eager to welcome the strangers, Abraham offers them food and water.
Here is an artistic interpretation of this sedra scene:

When asked what we can learn from Abraham, the students gave the following answers:


" be hospitable"
"welcome guests"
"greet new people in your house,school or synagogue"
"be nicer"


One of the men tells Abraham that his wife Sarah will have a son in the coming year. As Abraham and Sarah are both advanced in years, this promise is rather hard to believe. Sarah, overhearing the conversation laughs at the thought of a 90 something woman becoming a brand new mom (all of us found this amazing - but if it's in the Torah....! ).

Sarah and Abraham do have a child who becomes the reason for their existence and the focus of their joy. The baby is named Isaac and is soon presented to the world. Again Abraham is faced with a life altering test. G-d commands Abraham to take Isaac "his favored one" and offer him as a sacrifice to G-d. Abraham obeys, but is stopped by angel of G-d who declares "I know you fear G-d since you have not withheld your son, your favored son from Me."

When discussing this very important part of Va-yera, the students asked many questions and offered meaningful insights:


"I don't G-d was going to let Abraham hurt his son, he just wanted to test his faith"


"Why didn't Abraham argue with Him, just as he did when G-d was going to destroy Sodom and Gomorrah? - I wouldn't have listened to that command!"


"I think G-d was showing Abraham it was wrong to kill people"


"Where was Sarah in all this? Why didn't she do anything?"



What knowledgeable observations! These questions have been asked and answered since antiquity. My students are all budding Torah scholars!


Stay tuned for the show!

Parsha Puppets coming soon!

My students and I(the team that brought you Sholom Radio) are getting ready for a very unique performance - The Parsha Puppets will be presenting a show based on the Torah portion Vayera. We willing be mixing dramatics with puppetry for this show. STAY TUNED!!!

Lech L'cha Unplugged

We spent time performing and of course studying this parsha!

In studying Lech L'cha we learn that G-d has told Abram and family to "go forth" to a new land. In return G-d promises to bless Abram and future generations.We discussed what Abram and Sarai would take on their journey. The students also discussed the important items they would take with them if they were told to "go out", never to return. What Jewish items? All agreed family was very important (some felt flat screen TVs would be impractical if they were taking a journey similar to Abram). Most included a Siddur and Kippah on their list. Jewish identity, I am happy to say, is important to this next generation!
We also discussed the covenant between G-d and Abram, now called Abraham. We all thought about the relationship between G-d and an individual. What would our personal agreement with G-d include?The students were asked to list 5 things they would ask of G-d and 5 things they would do in return, establishing their own "covenant". Students' requests included strength, power, and good health.  As for their part of the bargain, all stated they would continue to try to live by the 10 commandments and G-d's mitzvot(yup, they all know there are 613 of them!). 

Great things to include in the ultimate "contract"!

What would you include on your list?

Radio broadcast is complete

Sholom Radio is on the air!
You can now hear a wonderful "broadcast" of Lech L'cha from "Sedra Scenes"

just "tune" in : http://mrsbee.podbean.com/

Bereshit: Creation and in the Garden

We studied Bereshit and learned about the incredible 7 days of creation. We studied both creation stories: the world and mankind. My students illustrated their views of Adam, Eve and the Garden of Eden

A Peak into Eve's Journal:

Dear Diary,

It is really great to be alive. G-d created us on what is called “The Sixth Day”. People were the last things created. Everything else came first: sky, ground,comets,stars,clouds,squash,carrots, blueberries, peas, minnows, starfish, trout, sharks, sparrows, canaries, vultures, eagles, monkeys, moose, groundhogs, squirrels, chipmunks and even lions.

But G-d did something special for us. Every time G-d created something, G-d would see it and say, “Good”. When G-d finished creating people, out came the words “Very Good”.

Almost as soon as we opened our eyes and looked around, it began getting dark. Then sun went away and everything was black. I was very scared, and so was Adam. We held each other tight. I was afraid that creation was ending.

When the stars came out I felt better. When the moon came out I knew everything was going to be OK. G-d had created a good world. We said our prayers and fell asleep.
The next morning we had our chance to explore the world G-d had created. Let me tell you what we found, We saw beautiful flowers and trees. One of the trees had yummy looking fruit on it!
When it came time for the sun to set today, I wasn't scared at all. Adam even thought the sunset was beautiful. I think G-d did a good job.
Until next time-
Love, Eve