Edah students becoming Israel experts!

from Edah Director of Education, Ariela Ronay-Jinich

We are excited to share with you the many incredible experiences we've had so far as we tour the different regions of Israel.  The past three weeks our songs, stations, and main activities have brought to life the regions of Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, and the Golan/Galil. Next week we will complete our journey through the Negev, leading us to Mt. Sinai just in time for Shavuot! 

Every day, Edah students get a stamp on their "darkon" (passport), go to Ulpan, receive a "postcard" in Hebrew from Israeli children their age, and get a rich feel for the different regions of Israel through songs, stations, and our main activities. 

In Jerusalem, we became experts in excavating the layers of ancient and modern history, building our own "Western Wall" of gold and lights, and celebrating Israel's ethnic diversity with a feast of different Jewish ethnic foods. Edah kids also created some impressive lego replicas of the First and Second Temple!

In Tel Aviv, we got a true taste of modern Israeli urban culture by re-mapping the city layout, and making our own stenciled street signs in Hebrew.  We set up a typical Tel Aviv Bet-Cafe with waiter and customers speaking only Hebrew!  Our week culminated with a day at "Chof ha Yam" (the beach at Live Oak Park!) making "glida" (ice cream) all in Hebrew and getting to play typical Tel Aviv beach games!

In the Golan/Galil, we've focused on the north's land and water resources through mapping and embodied Hebrew learning, created national parks brochures, and learned the science of bird migration through Israel.

A special highlight of the Israel curriculum has been modern/contemporary Israeli music that we've learned together, bringing Hebrew-learning to a different level, and more than anything, giving our students a real and richer taste of Israeli culture.  Songs you might hear your kids singing are: 

•  "Boee" (by Idan Raichel Project), "Hine Ani Ba" (by haDag Nachash)  "Kol haYeladim Koftzim Rokdim," (by Shotei haNevua) "Yerushalayim Shel Zahav"  and "Eretz Tropit Yafa" Big thanks to Danny for using music to bring Israel to life! 

Next week, we look forward to an even hotter week in the Negev, learning all about desert life, it's natural beauty, the people who live there, and some challenges for sustainability there.