EDUCATION

Discovering Judaism

A new hands-on museum makes learning about
Judaism fun for youngsters.

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Staff Writer

B

ridget Keslacy and
Josh Hirschland, both
3, can't wait for their
turn to play in the sandbox.
The tots watch enviously
as nursery school classmates
Molly Spalter and Blake Jef-
feries stand around the
sandbox, pushing their
hands into the sand and
pulling out Israeli coins, a
small menorah, a kiddish
cup and jewelry. Supervisor
Robin Herman must con-
stantly remind Bridget, Josh
and other students who have
gathered around the box
that only two children can
play in it at a time.
The sandbox is only one at-
traction in the new hands-on
museum, which recently
opened at the Maple-Drake
Jewish Community Center.
The Discovery Room of Jew-
ish Experiences offers five
exhibits designed to teach
children ages 3 to 7 about
Judaism.
While some explore the
sandbox, other children in
the Jewish Community
Center's nursery class are
busy making birthday cards
for Fleischman Hall
residents, playing with Bar-
bie and Ken in a wooden
synagogue or watching a
video about Israel in a large
model of an El-Al jet.
When they are tired of
those activities, the children
can learn about different
Jewish holidays. Placed near
an oversized Torah is a
tallit, for children to wear.
Children also can just sit
and listen as teachers read
books aloud.
The museum, which was in
the planning stages for
almost two years, is the only
one in the country at this
point, said program coor-
dinator Faith Tam. The Jew-
ish Community Center
Association of North
America developed the con-
cept through a grant from

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Max Laird wears a tallit while Zach Glazier holds a Ken doll dressed in his Shabbat best. Elissa Schneider spins
a dreidel in the holiday exhibit.

Amit Weitzer, Michael Feldman, Zach Glazier, Carly Serlin and Josh Hirshland play with a map of Israel.

the Avi Chai Foundation.
Similar museums are
planned for Cleveland, Los
Angeles and Allentown, Pa.
"Hopefully we will offer
something unique to the
Jewish community. We want
to expose families to some-
thing Jewish," said Beverly
Liss, co-chair of the youth,
family and special needs
committee which planned
the museum.
The museum officially
opens this fall, but children's
groups can tour the museum
throughout the summer if
they schedule an appoint-
ment. The museum has been
divided into five exhibits —
the Jewish Home, Our Car-
ing Community, Israel, the
Synagogue and Marching
Through the Holidays. Each
exhibit features different ac-
tivities.
For example, the Jewish
Home exhibit offers a kit-
chen where Jewish recipes
such as mandel bread can be
made. There is also a space
where children can read
books with Jewish themes.
Inside the Caring Com-
munity section are pictures
of Jewish communal service.
In a corner will be a chang-
ing exhibit of area Jewish
institutions. This summer
Fleischman Apartments is
featured. In addition, the
Jewish Welfare Federation
and Sinai Hospital have
signed up for future exhibits.
Museum exhibits will
change monthly.
"There was a need for
something like this," Tam
said. "It builds a Jewish
identity.
"If children want to ex-
plore they can," she said.
"It's experiential edu-
cation. There are all kinds of
opportunities to use that
room.
"The museum gives chil-
dren a chance to play and get
interested in Judaism at the
same time," Tam said. "I
hope children can bring
these Judaic experiences
into the home." ❑

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