Since the beginning of this school year, it has been so exciting to witness the magic unfold in our Early Childhood Judaic Atelier! The Judaic Atelier is a space where a constructivist approach to teaching Jewish studies and Hebrew invites both art and play, deepening a connection to the students' Jewish Identity through the multiple languages.

This studio type of learning space blends Jewish education through an artistic and playful approach. Throughout my teaching experience, I have seen the power of art as a vehicle for communication and self-expression and how it can elevate ways of learning, especially with our youngest learners. The Judaic Atelier is a room where our early childhood students come to explore, create, and investigate Jewish values, themes, rituals, holidays, Hebrew and so much more! This unique workspace invites our students to immerse themselves deeper into their learning and understanding of the common Jewish values, while also offering various hands-on learning experiences that focus on Jewish themes.

Our students visit the atelier daily with awe, wonder and curiosity as to how they’ll prepare for Shabbat by “baking” challah with clay, setting the table with authentic Judaica, transforming themselves into the vibrant neirot (candles) in the light studio or practicing the pour or fill of grape juice into a kiddush cup through purple water play. They also explore how to embrace the separation from Shabbat and the new week. They create new and colorful havdalah candles with wax materials, mixing and sifting b’samim spices and tinkering with colors and light to bring in the special presence of the havdalah candle.

This magical space becomes filled with investigative movement and love for being joyfully Jewish!