{"id":138,"date":"2013-04-29T01:35:02","date_gmt":"2013-04-29T01:35:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/hordinerconsulting.com\/?page_id=138"},"modified":"2016-03-22T21:25:03","modified_gmt":"2016-03-22T21:25:03","slug":"holidays","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/hordinerconsulting.com\/?page_id=138","title":{"rendered":"Jewish Calendar"},"content":{"rendered":"

For learning to be\u00a0meaningful and enduring it must involve a\u00a0synergy between\u00a0ideas and values on the one hand and a deep\u00a0understanding of children on the other. \u00a0As we are studying and considering the main points of a\u00a0holiday, therefore, we must also keep in mind the needs, interests, and questions of the individual children.\u00a0 This will guide us not only in selecting those ideas and values we ought\u00a0to focus upon but also in choosing how we will appropriately explore them inside the classroom.<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

The following is\u00a0an overview of the main ideas and values which emerge from the Jewish calendar and their practical applications\u00a0within the\u00a0classroom. \u00a0Each time period or holiday is divided into three\u00a0basic\u00a0sections (1) core educational principle (2) questions and investigations (3) pedagogical pointers. \u00a0All questions and investigations include age-appropriate indicators.\u00a0 Please keep in mind that\u00a0particular activities will\u00a0and should vary\u00a0depending on the individuals and classroom involved.\u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Shabbat<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Elul<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Rosh Hashanah & Yom Kippur<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Sukkot, Shemini Atzeret, & Simchat Torah<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Chanukah<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

TU B’SHEVAT<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n

Man is a Tree of the Field (Devarim 20:19)\u00a0<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

CORE EDUCATIONAL PRINCIPLE – Emotional Intelligence<\/p>\n

Tu B\u2019Shevat, The New Year of the Trees, and this verse from Parsha Shoftim, teach us that from trees we learn how\u00a0attentive we need to be to\u00a0the emotional life of\u00a0young children.<\/p>\n

How is a person a tree? \u00a0What makes a tree unique within\u00a0creation is that a tree always remains connected to its life source. \u00a0Similarly, human emotion is deeply rooted within the soul, like trees rooted in the earth. \u00a0And so while human emotions can be developed, they cannot fundamentally change in\u00a0nature. \u00a0This is why one’s personality, which is a composition of emotional traits, is so difficult to\u00a0change. \u00a0Yet\u00a0this is precisely what makes emotions so deserving of our focus, namely, that emotions are constantly connected to and openly express the inner soul. \u00a0If we can tap into the depth of the soul, then we can greatly influence our\u00a0behavior and growth.<\/p>\n

So if\u00a0we want to impact\u00a0young children (and ourselves), managing and refining our emotions necessarily becomes a top priority.<\/p>\n

QUESTIONS & INVESTIGATIONS<\/p>\n

Questions for Discussion<\/em><\/p>\n