Dubow Preschool

DUBOW PRESCHOOL JEWISH INFLUENCERS: MORAH RACHEL, MORAH MIRIAM AND MORAH KAREN

By Liat Walker, DuBow Preschool

Early childhood education is the gateway to Jewish life.

The children at the DuBow Preschool enjoy Jewish traditions, rituals, and holidays through song, dance, stories and experiential learning. The children learn about Israel, Hebrew words, Torah stories, prayers, holiday customs and Jewish values with Morah Rachel (Robin Morris) and Morah Miriam (Michelle Margol). Each week the children also experience the week’s Torah portion. It started with Breisheet by pantomiming the days of creation, making a recycled rainbow for Parashat Noah, as well as learning about hospitality by visiting Avraham and Sarah’s tent.

A weekly Shoobee Doobee Shabbat enhances our love for Shabbat where our “Ema and Abba” lead us in the blessings over candles, grape juice, and challah. Hazzan Holzer adds music and humor to the weekly celebration.

In the garden with Morah Karen (Karen Morse), Torah & nature are combined to better understand our connection to the earth and respect for all living things.

The holidays of Tu B’Shevat (the New Year for the Trees), Hanukkah, Passover, and Yom Ha’Atzmaut are celebrated in the garden through hands-on experiences. During Hanukkah students help decorate the garden and "light" a life-size Hanukkiah using potted plants as candles. On Tu B'shevat students prepare the raised beds for spring planting. And on Passover we "travel" to Egypt, make "pyramids” out of Legos, search for frogs, cross the Red Sea, and enter the promised land. Yom HaAtzmaut is a favorite as we "fl y" to Israel, pass through customs, get our passports stamped, shop at the shuk, visit a kibbutz, milk a cow, and visit the Kotel where prayers are left.

Whether it’s Shabbat, a Torah story or holiday, DuBow students are excited to learn in their special Jewish Studies classroom & the garden!