Our Yom Kippur Lesson:
The first circle time back after Rosh Hashanah everyone had lots to say. The children were so eager to tell their friends about their experiences, so we all enjoyed and listened!
Evi told us all about a very fast air plane ride to Florida!
Levi told us how his Tatty blew the Shofar so many times!
Muka played with Faiga at shul.
Devorah Leah heard the shofar with baby Menachem.
Chanie told us all about Shule and lolly pops!
Shua was just like his tatty and blew the shofar
Now it was time to move onto the next Holiday: Yom Kippur.
It very much flows with the theme we had begun learning for Rosh Hashanah.
On Rosh Hashana we established that we want a SWEET NEW YEAR, and that translates into all types of sweet things that the children do already! We also spoke about the fact that Hashem is like our parent who loves us so so much!
For Yom Kippur, we expounded on this idea, by explaining that Hashem loves us EVEN when we sometimes make a mistake! We just need to try really hard and fix it!
This is a very powerful lesson for them (and us!) especially for those starting school. When entering new routines, having to follow new rules and meet new expectations---it may be difficult for the child- and what might happen when they make a mistake?
The child might wonder, "Does my Morah still love me? Can I fix it?"
Yom Kippur Shule Center
Right next to our dramatic play kitchen we created a little shule which served as a springboard for lots of discussion about how Hashem wants to hear from us, and that's where we daven!
(Davening is when we are talking to Hashem!)
To create an authentic "Synagogue feel" we placed a Bima (where the Chazzan/Cantor davens)
An Aron Kodesh (where the Torah is kept)
Dressier clothes, Taleisim (Tallit), yarlmukas etc,
We also placed slippers as a reminder of the tradition we have to not wear leather shoes on Yom Kippur.
Shua loved being the Rabbi!
He even had some of his friends attend his 'sermons'
Devorah leah actually brought her babies and shushed them .
Muka joining in the ladies section.
Role playing the davening that they sing everyday and connecting to the concept of that's what we do also in a shul!
Elizabeth so sweetly was handing out the Torahs.
Our Rabbi couldn't part with his gear ;)
Forgiveness:
To give over the concept of forgiveness, through out the week we had puppet shows role-playing a typical scenario of a mistake between friends.
We talked about how they are still our friends and we just need to say sorry and help fix it.
Through the children relating to the puppet show stories, we were able to impart the message that Hashem will always forgive us for mistakes we might make. We also imbued this lesson into the relationship the children have with us- their Morah's. As they begin a new school year, with so many new expectations, we wanted them to know that their Morah's love them so much, and even if they make a mistake, they can always "fix it"- and we will forgive them.
Song we learned: TTTO Where is Thumbkin:
Lets be friends, lets be friends
Lets share and play, Lets share and play
I'll care for you, you care for me
everyday. everyday
(sometimes we need to add)
Oops i'm sorry, Oops im sorry
what did I do? What did I do?
I didn't mean to hurt you
I want to make it better
I made a mistake, I'll fix my mistake.
Our precious class is filled with friendships.
Evi and Elizabeth took turns reading books to one another
Max ran over to give Shua a big hug!
Aron and Levi coming to a compromise on their story they wanted to tell with all the animals. (Each had a different idea of how it should be told!)
Evi got a lot of race car stickers and gave them all away to his friends.
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