was tragically killed in the Oxford High School shooting. The program is part of Hillel’s fifth grade project-based learning unit on heroes. Students study the qualities of everyday heroes in their Tanach class through a close analysis of Exodus 2. In the biblical text, students learn about the heroic qualities of the midwives who defied Pharaoh’s order to kill all firstborn boys and kept the children alive. They then learn about the daughter of Pharaoh and her willingness to go against her father’s decree and save baby Moses. As the year progresses, students write formal pieces in their Language Arts class about their own heroes. The learning unit culminates in the spring when the students’ heroes are invited into the school for a celebratory reading of the students’ writing. The panel was a huge hit, with many of the fifth-grade students feeling inspired. “I think you can really achieve anything you want to — it’s what you put into it,” said student Eli Panza. “Do better in the world and make it a better place.” Student Reemone Chudnow said, “I found out
people I could walk by every day, people I could walk by on the street are heroes.” “The main takeaway is we’re really surrounded by heroes, and sometimes you just have to look close enough to see them,” said student Esther Matthies. Clara Gaba, longtime Jewish Studies teacher who launched this learning unit many years ago, said, “It started with our Bible studies, and teaching the kids that heroes are not necessarily born but can grow up to be heroes.” Gaba said one student last year told her that all they want to do is to grow up and have a lot of money. When Gaba asked them why, they said they wanted to be like Bill Farber and be able to give it back to the community. “That’s a lesson by itself,” Gaba said. Added Renee Liberman, Hillel language arts and social studies teacher, “It’s all about taking that time to look at humanity and all the moments we can rise to the occasion and really support each other. And that’s what we look to instill in our students, that value of community and supporting anyone who may need it in any way that you can.” Hillel faculty member Nicole Miller, a close relative of Tate Myre, a student who was tragically killed in the Oxford High School shooting.
Jewish Disability Awareness Event JCC’s Opening the Doors welcomes award-winning guest speakers. DANNY SCHWARTZ STAFF WRITER
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Opening the Doors strives to n celebration of Jewish do; by providing Jewish educaDisability Awareness, tion classroom experiences for Acceptance, & Inclusion children of all abilities. Month, JCC’s Opening the “When (Dodge) creates a Doors is holding an inspirplay or musical, she ing virtual event, really doesn’t want to “Changing The replicate what’s already Norm: Celebrating been done,” Maiseloff the Beauty of said. “She likes to Different Abilities,” rebrand and reimagine, on Feb. 28 at 7 p.m. and when she does that, The event she really looks to find a features Tony Marcia Milgrom way to be inclusive of all Award-nominated Dodge races, ethnicities, body director and choshapes and abilities in reographer Marcia her casting.” Milgrom Dodge Maiseloff says Dodge and award-winning believes any child dancer and actor should be able to come Evan Ruggerio. to the theater, look at Dodge will discuss the actors and believe creating her own Evan Ruggiero they might play any authentic producrole, even if they have tions, celebrating different abilities. inclusivity in all forms, includDodge, who grew up in ing in her recent take on Olney Southfield, won a Tony Award Theatre Center’s Disney’s nomination for Best Director Beauty and the Beast. Ruggiero, of a Musical for her revival of who portrayed “Beast” in her Ragtime in 2010. production, will highlight his “I was thrilled and honored triumphs on the stage when that she would share with us returning to dancing and perwhat she’s done in the world forming after losing his leg, and how our world’s go togethwhich was amputated above er in recognizing, including, the knee after he was diagcelebrating and helping peonosed with osteosarcoma, a ple with different abilities to type of bone cancer, at age 19. Ellen Maiseloff, senior direc- belong,” Maiseloff said. “I would like people to tor of Opening the Doors, has known Dodge for years. When recognize there shouldn’t be barriers for people with difMaiseloff spoke with Dodge fering abilities to be included, about her take and casting and that they can do anything,” on Disney’s “Beauty and the Maiseloff said. Beast,” she was impressed with the choices she made and her To register, visit https://jlive.app/ philosophy, and also how it events/1520. The fee is $5. mirrored so much of what
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