No one knows exactly how long COVID-19 will be with us. One thing is clear though, its impact on our lives is here to stay, at least for the foreseeable future.
Learning from the Essential Questions of the Haggadah
This Pesach, it will not be difficult to answer the question: “How will our s’darim this year be different from all other years?” My guess is they will be smaller, possibly shorter, requiring more distance between participants.
Helping Your Children (and Yourself) Cope with Crisis
Stress is a normal part of daily life; however, the entire world is now going through a period that cannot be viewed by anyone as normal.
Rabbi Joseph Soloveitchik’s Question
In 1969, Rabbi Joseph Soloveitchik (also known as “The Rav”) began a lecture on Purim, and asked the audience to ponder the “basic discrepancy between Purim and Hanukkah,” two holidays that share a similar status or recognition…
Chodesh Adar: Does Humor Work in the Classroom?
If you’ve ever been in a class where the teacher makes you laugh or where the teacher is willing to laugh at herself or himself, you’ve probably found that the learning becomes lighter and easier.
Doing Something New with What We Know
Recently, the daughter of one of my relatives showed me her exam on the laws of mezuzah. The test showed she could cite the relevant sources in the Torah, Talmud, and Codes competently. She definitely “knew her stuff.”
Is the Menorah Still in Rome (and Does it Matter)?
A few years ago on Chanukah, I heard a Jewish day school educator mention in a speech at an event that the menorah of the Temple “we believe is somewhere in Rome right now.”
Do You See Trash Bins in Your Future?
How do we help our students gain mastery in Hebrew language so that they feel a sense of mastery in oral and written language skills? There is no single answer especially given cultural factors that work against Hebrew language acquisition (e.g. English on the streets...
Preparing for the First Day of School
What does the first day of school look like for your students? Does it involve reviewing the rules, reading a syllabus, and filling out some forms?
How to Get Students to Read Our Essay Comments
Summer is a good time to reflect on what worked this past academic year and what didn’t and what changes we can make to ensure greater success in the fall.