Spirituality

Fit And Jewish

Hillel students get a dose of Hadassah's fitness program.

Aidin Folbe, 11, of Huntington Woods and Connor Tukel, 11, of Franklin, in the foreground, during a special
fitness program

T

his year, Hillel Day School in
Farmington Hills was the recipi-
ent of a nutrition grant facilitated
through Yad Ezra, the kosher food pan-
try in Berkley. The grant is a two-prong
approach emphasizing healthy minds and
healthy bodies.
One component of the grant provided
for students in grades 5-6 to participate in
a unique educational seminar conducted
by Hadassah to address the nutritional
lifestyle needs of students this age. This
program also will be presented to students
in grades 3-4.
On Jan. 29, the fifth- and sixth-grad-
Madeline Stein of Sylvan Lake with Emily Levin and Rachel
ers participated in an interactive morning
Finkel, both 10 and of West Bloomfield
called "Girls/Boys Force." The program was
originally developed at Vanderbilt University
Medical School in Tennessee and was adapted by the
education teachers, certified aerobics/exercise instruc-
women of the Greater Detroit Chapter of Hadassah to
tors and rabbis.
meet the needs of girls. The Hillel physical education
Another facet of this grant provides for students
staff adapted the program to include a boys' component. to receive a variety of healthy snacks and fresh veg-
The program's intent was to nurture a healthier
etables each month.
generation of girls and boys through knowledge and
"It was a good way to learn how people can be
experiential learning in exercise, nutrition, body
healthy,' said student Gabby Lowenthal.
image and self-esteem. Hadassah has collaborated
"I thought the program was an excellent way to
with our local rabbis to effectively add a Jewish per-
teach our students about healthy eating, fitness, body
spective to the program.
image, and the Jewish perspective on taking care of
The facilitators for the sessions were educators,
our bodies;' said Margery Jablin, division head, grades
nurses, registered dieticians, social workers, physical
five and six. L17

/

Samuel Grand, 10, of Huntington Woods, center, and David
Gurevich, 12, of Waterford (in stripes) check out the fitness
balls.

Rachel Gluski and Miriam Saperstein, both 10 and of

Huntington Woods, learn some yoga.

February 12 • 2009

B1