Explore Judaism through taste, touch, smell, sight, and sound. Delight in the Jewish holidays and Shabbat through experiential activities that awaken the senses. Engage with Jewish customs and traditions, and connect with your children through meaning making.
5 Senses of Judaism programs take place at Congregation Beth Hatikvah, 36 Chatham Road, Summit, NJ, 9:45 am – 11:00 am. These programs are open to the community and free of charge. Join us for one or all.
2022-2023 dates:
Nov 5 - Five Senses of Shabbat
Dec 17 - Five Senses of Hanukkah
Feb 4 - Five Senses of Tu B’Shevat
March 4 - Five Senses of Purim
March 25 - Five Senses of Passover
Interested in joining us? Please register here!
We are excited to have three events for children and families this High Holiday season. If you are planning on coming to any of them, please fill out the survey below.
The Bible Players in Apples & Funny! - A Rosh Hashanah Family Comedy Show: Tuesday, Sept. 7, 1:30 PM (In-person, outdoors, rain date is Wed, Sept. 8th at 1:30)
You won’t want to miss this very special High Holiday family event in the park! The Bible Players infuse comedy and laughs into tales from the Torah and beyond. In Apples & Funny! - A Rosh Hashanah Comedy Show, the Players will help us connect to the simcha/joy in our lives through gratitude and prayer. Kids will love the interactive improv, and we’ll all be reminded of the joy of gathering together. Open to all and best for kids ages 5 – 12. Bring a picnic blanket or low chairs to sit on. Stay afterwards to hang out!
Location: Loantaka Brook Reservation at Kitchell Road, Morristown (use 115...
Shabbat Young Family Park Program
Sat, July 10th 10 – 11:30am at Mabie Memorial Playground in Summit
**find us on a grassy area right near the playground**
Bring a blanket to sit on and join us for casual and uplifting Shabbat songs with guitar playing, prayers, and a special treasure hunt. We’ll have plenty of time for playground playing. Leave with a challah and grape juice!
Please wear a mask if you are not vaccinated.
Best for 8 year olds and under, however older children are absolutely welcome!
FREE and open to the community – Bring your friends!
Please email Leemor Ellman, Education Director at Congregation Beth Hatikvah to let us know you will be joining us at [email protected] Or feel free to reach out to Leemor at 917-674-2845 if you have any questions!
Songs | Prayer | Shabbat Meaning | Friends
Leemor Ellman
Education Director
Congregation Beth Hatikvah
36 Chatham Road
Summit, NJ 07901
...
This week’s lesson was all about mitzvot, or commandments, found out in the Torah. If you were to count them all, there would be 613 in total. In our two groups,
Younger students:
Older Students:
--==Dungeons and Dreidels==--
Dear heroes and heroic 4th grade parents,
Today we explored the next chapter of the Purim story, with our own creative and theatrical twist. Mordecai discovered the plot of two rotten guards to overthrow the king – but the corrupt cronies caught Mordecai listening in, and he ended up in some hot water! After some madcap antics and a poolside chase, our newly appointed royal heroes got Mordecai out of his jam and brought the news to the...
Our Religious School program in the CBH Parking Lot this week was an absolute blast! The students continued working on their Mt. Sinai re-enactment, to take place on May 15th. Within the two groups,
Our 1st, 2nd, and 3rd graders:
Discussed the meaning of Shehecheyanu and how it relates to our own experiences and firsts
Reviewed the Israelite perspective as Moses climbed Mt. Sinai
Sanctified Shabbat with wild movement and songs (as shown in below image)
Climbed our own Mt. Sinai (aka the playground) to retrieve mitzvot and discuss them
Our 4th, 5th, 6th, and 7th graders:
Wrote the words “DO FIRST, UNDERSTAND LATER” and discussed when studying or action should come first
Ranked a list of mitzvot important to Judaism (as shown in below image)
Finished with meditation, much to the students’ enjoyment
--==Dungeons and Dreidels==--
As our trusty Game Master Aaron Cooper has summarized
“Dear rockstars and rockin’ 4th grade parents,
...
Today’s class in the CBH Parking lot was split into 2 groups (1st - 3rd graders & 4th - 7th graders). Here are the highlights from each
1st, 2nd, & 3rd graders:
Practiced the 4 questions, incorporating movement, song, props, and food
Used a chalked obstacle course on the pavement to learn the story of exodus
4th, 5th, 6th, & 7th graders:
Created a giant seder plate of our school
Talked about the foods the represent our emotions over the past year
Reviewed parts of exodus through illustrations and storyboarding
Had an extensive discussion about the story Exodus
Designed obstacle courses on the pavement relating to the story of Exodus
Wrote various names for God on the bricks of the CBH building
Going forward, please note the following:
There will be no classes for the next 2 weeks (March 27 & April 3) due to Spring Break. We will return to classes in the parking lot after that until May 8, when we will have the Lag B’Omer...
Today’s class consisted of a discussion of what defines God in reconstructionist Judaism and determined that
(See images for more detail)
Next Saturday, March 13th 10-11:15am we have a Passover Drive-In at the CBH Parking Lot in place of Hebrew School
Shabbat Shalom!
In place of Religious School on Zoom, this Saturday we celebrated Purim in the CBH Parking Lot. The festivities followed the Four Mitzvot of Purim (Gifts for the poor/Matanot l’evyonim, a festive meal, reading the Megillah, and Mishloach Manot) The families that participated:
In class, we
There will be a Parent Meeting Tuesday, February 23rd from 7:30-8:15 pm (No need to RSVP)
There will also be a Purim Family Drive In at the CBH parking lot on Saturday, February 27th from 10:00-11:15 am
Shabbat Shalom and Happy Purim!
During today’s Religious School class, we:
It was a splendid day, full of music and fun. See you next week for Zoom Shabbat school.
Shabbat Shalom!