Bonfire with a lesson!

Lag BaOmer is the 33rd day of the omer, a minor festival falling between Passover and Shavuot. One of the reasons we celebrate is to commemorate the passing of Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai, author of the Zohar click here for more information.

A tent in our classroom became the cave which Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai learned Torah in, as he hid from the Romans (who did not allow Torah Study.)

Hashem performed two miracles for him and his son:

A tree grew and produced carob fruit and a river of fresh water streamed outside for them to drink!

 Alef beis activities inside the cave!

Science experiment while creating a 'river' in the sand box.

 Fire = Torah

We learned that Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai learned inside the cave for 13 years! While he was in there he discovered secrets of the Torah and wrote the holy Zohar (kabbalah)

Torah brings LIGHT into this world and on this special day a lot of light filled this world!

On Lag Baomer by his gravesite in Israel there is a huge bonfire each year with thousands of Jewish people from all over dancing around it!

We had our own bonfire!

Muka asked a great question, "Morah we learn Torah everyday, so why don't we have a bonfire each day?" :)

We are certain that our Torah Tots class is adding a lot of light to this world!

One by one each child had a chance to safely roast their marshmallow!

Thank you Morah Keren for bringing in the goodies!

YUM!

 

 Dancing people for their Lag Baomer project

Kindergarten readiness

The children who will be graduating from our class this year have been enjoying a fifteen minute session each day with Morah Elinor. They have been focusing on Hebrew letter recognition as well as fine motor and art skills.

Learning the letter Alef and the Hebrew word Aryeh- lion .The letter Bet- for 'Bayit' (house) and 'Buba' (doll).

Working hard getting the beads into the letter Beit.

 Dylan learning how to sweep by getting all the beads into the taped square box.

Blue team and Red team playing soft ball!

Our home, away from our home!

To start this important unit on our holy land, Eretz Yisoel (Israel) we looked inside the Torah. Using a chumash (printed 5 books of Moses) , we read to the children-   the verses in the torah, where Hashem is lovingly telling us the portion of this land was given to us as a gift!

Our big idea for this unit was for the children to feel that each of them is not only connected to the land, but belongs and owns a part of it.

We looked at a globe of the world to find Eretz Yisroel

Kotel - Western wall Center

The Holiest place in Eretz Yisroel is where the Beis Hamikdash (Temple, Hashems home)  once stood and where the third and final one will be!

The western wall was the outer wall of the Beis Hamikdash and the closest wall to the Holy of holies. It's a place that Jewish people from all over the world come and pray.

We placed small notes for children to ask or tell Hashem anything they wanted.

Sweet notes being placed on the wall. Pictures of the actual Kotel were placed to have the children have a real experience.

Menachem, rozie and Ava all asked about their younger siblings!

Dovi wanted us to write for him, "Please Hashem help me do more Mitzvas!" After placing his note on the wall he beautifully sang the Alef beis.

Blocks and leaves was a fun way for them to build their own Kotel wall.

Evan and Muka working on their Kotel projects.

Where is East?

Ever wonder why in shuls when people pray they are facing  a certain direction? We learned that we face east which is the direction of where the Beis Hamikdsash stood! Even from all the way in Camarillo we can join our fellow brothers and sisters at the kotel!
The children looked on a compass to locate East in our classroom.

Davening circle facing East!

Israel picture scenes around the classroom was a fun way to have the children get a glimpse of all the beautiful cities in our Holy land.

Gates of Jerusalem

The children were invited to look at different gates of the old city in Jerusalem.  Each one boasting different architectural design and historical background.

Some children had fun tracing 'bridge blocks' .

Science with the Dead sea!

The Dead Sea is quite unique. It has a salt content of 33% which causes you to float in the water! Menucha drew herself on top of the water floating! "Swimming with out floaters!"

This was a great opportunity for a science lesson.

Malka helped us create one measuring cup as the 'Dead Sea' by pouring a 1/3 of salt.

we then took pairs of different toys two beads, two shapes etc. and documented what happened.

In our 'Dead sea cup' it floated!

Max tried switching them to see what would happen!

Tsfat- Art

There are a lot of beautiful , inspiring art galleries in the holy city of Tzfat. We placed actual pictures of different paintings to inspire the children, in coming up with their own art.

Saige matching Hebrew magnet letters to a muffin tray!

Happy 5th birthday Devorah Leah!

Circle time at the Beach!

Matzah factory

This week we learned about how the Jewish people left Mitzrayim/Egypt in a rush before King Paroh changed his mind. They didn't have time to take their cooked foods for the road so they placed dough on their backs and it cooked from the hot sun into flat Matzah.

The children were invited to experience how Matzah is made in our Mini Matzah factory.

The children themselves made the Matzah dough using flour and water and kneading it fast!

Kosher Matzah needs to be made under 18 minutes from beginning to end.

Dovi carefully placing his dough into the oven. Max and Levi flattening their Matzah and poking holes so it doesn't rise in the oven. We placed timers to help create a real experience.

Circle time at the beach!

The children earned up to a special trip to the beach by finishing their 'Moshe in me' jar.                     ( Each time a child did a caring deed they got to place a gem into the jar.)

What better way to learn about the splitting of the sea than visiting an actual ocean!

We learned about how King Paroh changed his mind and together with his fellow Egyptians ran after the Jewish people.

Hashem split the sea and the Jewish people enjoyed a dry and miraculous walk!

At the beach we tried to imagine what it might have felt like for all the water to split before us.

We placed sticks representing the Egyptians .  Yisroel and Levi found a very big one

"This is King paroh".

The caring acts continue..

Yehudis noticed Mimi looked cold and wrapped a towel around her.

"We are splitting the Sea in the sand"

Each of the children got turns holding a Morah's hand and feeling the refreshing water.

Thank you Shari Gold and Tracy Kryger for volunteering on our trip!

Creating fun memories together.

Enjoying a yummy healthy snack.

Devorah Leah proudly showing her art of the splitting of the sea.