Torah Tots with a Twist
Torah Tots with a Twist offers an early introduction to Judaism in a one-hour interactive setting. Meet others and explore Shabbat, holidays, and Jewish values. Play, sing, dance, pray, and create art. Hear stories and have a snack. Build community and celebrate Judaism. Open to newborns through 3.5 year olds with a parent, other relative, or caregiver. Sign up through JUF Jbaby via this link: juf.org/torahtots. Contact Charlie Sherman csherman@amyisrael.org or 847-708-1805 with any questions.
Class Updates
Recently, we have been exploring Shabbat, Jewish symbols, Hebrew and Israel. We sang and danced, colored Shabbat placemats, and decorated a bookmark with stickers. We had a special visit with Rabbi Newman Kamin who told us a story.
-Written 5-13-19 by Ms. Debbie Kroopkin, dkroopkin@amyisrael.org
Recently, we have explored the sights and sounds of Purim and Passover. We colored and glued Purim stick puppets, and a paper seder plate. We sang holiday songs and heard short stories. We even hunted for hidden afikomen around the room. We had a lot of fun!
-Written 4-24-19 by Ms. Debbie Kroopkin, dkroopkin@amyisrael.org
Sunday mornings 9:30 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. – May 5, 12 and 19.
Camp Am Yisrael: Learn-By-Play
Several parents were interested in having a Sunday morning class introducing the kids to Shabbat, the holidays and with plenty of play. The Camp Am Yisrael initiative is held from 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. on Sunday mornings and focuses on kids ages 0-3. This is not a regular structured class, but rather a learn-by-play style class. A sample Sunday looks like this:
9:30 a.m. – 9:40 a.m. Families arrive, kids play freely
9:40 a.m. – 9:50 a.m. Story about Shabbat
9:50 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. Play pretend Shabbat dinner (using a Shabbat playset to do candles, wine, motzi, etc.)
10:00 a.m. – 10:10 a.m. Songs with the Cantor
10:10 a.m. – 10:20 a.m. Free play and snack
10:20 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. Tefillah (song-based as well)
The program runs 9 weeks, and focuses on one holiday for two weeks including an age-appropriate art project every other week. Kids will learn about Shabbat/Havdallah, Tu B’Shvat, Purim, and Passover. On the 9th week, the grandparents can come see what these kids have been up to.
With the help of some devoted Camp Am Yisrael parents, we are in the process of building this program. Pizza! Prayers! Pajamas! was born out of this process. In addition to joining us for our weekly Camp Am Yisrael sessions, we hope that you will join us on Fri Jan 11 from 5:00 p.m.-6:00 p.m. Here is a link to sign up and learn more about the program: https://www.amyisrael.org/pj
Written 12-13-18 by Mr. Charlie Sherman, csherman@amyisrael.org
Here is a link to the calendar for the year: https://www.amyisrael.org/sjs-calendar.html
Summary of the Camp Am Yisrael Program:
Camp Am Yisrael is a one-hour get together that takes place for our youngest synagogue participants. Our main goal is to make the synagogue feel like home for the children who attend. All Camp Am Yisrael kids need to have a caregiver; either a parent, grandparent, aunt, uncle, friend of the family or babysitter. A secondary goal is to help build community among the families who attend. Through arts and crafts, learning-through-play, stories, songs, prayer, playing with a plush Torah and a little nosh, we look forward to celebrating Judaism as a Camp Am Yisrael community in Room 2 from 9:30 a.m.-10:30 a.m. on Sundays. We meet every week that Am Yisrael’s School of Jewish Studies is in session.
This program is Free of Charge for Am Yisrael Members and families enrolled in Banner Pre-School
$18 for the entire school year for non-Am Yisrael members
Complimentary High Holiday Tickets for Tot Programming held at Doubletree in Skokie
For more information or to register, contact: Charlie Sherman, Head of School
Am Yisrael School of Jewish Studies: csherman@amyisrael.org
4 Happ Road, Northfield, IL Phone: 847-708-1805
Camp Am Yisrael is a one-hour get together that takes place for our youngest synagogue participants. Our main goal is to make the synagogue feel like home for the children who attend. All Camp Am Yisrael kids need to have a caregiver; either a parent, grandparent, aunt, uncle, friend of the family or babysitter. A secondary goal is to help build community amongst the families who attend. Through arts and crafts, learning-through-play, stories, songs, prayer, playing with a plush Torah and a little nosh, we look forward to celebrating Judaism as a Camp Am Yisrael community in Room 2 from 9:30 a.m.-10:30 a.m. on Sundays. We meet every week that Am Yisrael’s School of Jewish Studies is in session.
Written 11-5-18 by Mr. Charlie Sherman, csherman@amyisrael.org
Here is a link to the calendar for the year: https://www.amyisrael.org/sjs-calendar.html
This program is Free of Charge for Am Yisrael Members and families enrolled in Banner Pre-School
$18 for the entire school year for non-Am Yisrael members
Complimentary High Holiday Tickets for Tot Programming held at Doubletree in Skokie
For more information or to register, contact: Charlie Sherman, Head of School
Am Yisrael School of Jewish Studies: csherman@amyisrael.org
4 Happ Road, Northfield, IL Phone: 847-708-1805
We have enjoyed our first two sessions. Please note that our Camp Am Yisrael get together moves to 6:00 p.m. in the Sanctuary just for this week, as we will take out the Torahs and have plush Torahs for our youngest participants (aka Camp Am Yisrael students and their friends/family). We will hope to see you for this very family-friendly service.
Written 9-27-18 by Mr. Charlie Sherman, csherman@amyisrael.org
Here is a link to the calendar for the year: https://www.amyisrael.org/sjs-calendar.html
This program is Free of Charge for Am Yisrael Members and families enrolled in Banner Pre-School
$18 for the entire school year for non-Am Yisrael members
Complimentary High Holiday Tickets for Tot Programming held at Doubletree in Skokie
For more information or to register, contact: Charlie Sherman, Head of School
Am Yisrael School of Jewish Studies: csherman@amyisrael.org
4 Happ Road, Northfield, IL Phone: 847-708-1805
Camp Am Yisrael begins Sun Sep 16: 9:30 a.m.-10:30 a.m.
Here is a link to the calendar for the year: https://www.amyisrael.org/sjs-calendar.html
This program is Free of Charge for Am Yisrael Members and families enrolled in Banner Pre-School
$18 for the entire school year for non-Am Yisrael members
Complimentary High Holiday Tickets for Tot Programming held at Doubletree in Skokie
For more information or to register, contact: Charlie Sherman, Head of School
Am Yisrael School of Jewish Studies: csherman@amyisrael.org
4 Happ Road, Northfield, IL Phone: 847-708-1805
Mr. Sherman’s Blog 