Lifecycle art...and getting ready for Purim with Hebrew Through Movement!

Shalom,
Without further ado-- here is a sampling of the beautiful lifecycle art that Omanut is making! We are almost done and we will have the pieces ready for presentation at the Omanut Art Show at the end of April, and then you can happily use them in your homes.

Hebrew Through Movement is more fun than ever, as we learn about Purim! Our Omanut class wore some masks and crowns as well as took turns leading the class through different commands.

We are going to have CRAZY HAIR DAY *this* SUNDAY, MARCH 2nd!! Come to Religious School with your hair silly, colorful and crazy! You won't want to miss this, as all of the teachers will have crazy hair, too!!!
Until next time, friends--
Heather

Synagogue and Lifecycle art

Shalom, everyone!

Omanut continues to be busy, busy, busy! After completing our art projects that coincided with studying the passages in Genesis, and celebrating Tu B'Shevat, we have started to learn about both Synagogue and Lifecycle art. We have had some lively discussions about what Synagogue art is, and how it has changed but still remained within the same spheres of what any Jewish person would recognize around the world. 
Next week we will be having a visit from our own Rabbi Graetz during our Tuesday and Wednesday classes (Feb. 25th and 26th) to tell us about Synagogue art around the world! Exciting stuff!  Lifecycle art is an easy hand-in-hand connection to Synagogue art because our students have often grown up with many of the items that we talk about in their own homes : Seder plates, special candlestick holders for Shabbat, mezuzahs, stained glass Judaic items, kiddush cups, challah covers, etc. 

Shortly we will start work on the Omanut bimah cover for the BK and the students have come up with many creative suggestions about what materials to use, what we should paint on the fabric, and how we can use what we learned from our guest artist, Nechama Shaina, during the Family Program. The Family ketubot that the students did are just spectacular-- I cannot wait until you see them framed! 

Without further ado, here are some classroom pictures. The year is going by so fast, thank you for giving me the opportunity to teach your children! They keep me on my toes in the best possible ways and we have a great time learning from one another. :)
Until next time... 
Kol tuv,
Heather


A few examples from our multi dimensional paintings, using non typical materials (sand, rocks, sea glass, moss) with acrylics to illustrate favorite passages from Genesis:

Ivrit! Actions shots from Hebrew Through Movement, with Yardena:

Tu B'Shevat : New Year of the Trees-- we did "Our Life in Tree Rings" with oil pastels, water color paint and markers. There are additional colorful examples outside the Omanut classroom on our bulletin board.

We had an incredible turn out for our Family Program! Thank you so much for joining us, and listening to our guest, Nechama Shaina, a gifted scribe and ketubah artist, tell us about the history of ketubah and give us some ideas for our own family ketubah. Some families also had Nechama write their family name or different words on their ketubah with the very special quill and ink used specifically for scribing in the Torah. 

Our students are amazing and came up with wonderful designs with deep meaning for their  family ketubah. I cannot wait until you see the framed final product!

Finally, a scene from Music with Joel!! We are so happy that Joel is back and feeling better!