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A Happy Birthday
To The Whole World
Akiva youngsters learn about
Rosh Hashanah in a fun lesson.
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May the coming year be filled
with health, happiness and prosperity
for all our family and friends.
Steven, Merle and Michael Band
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Yeshivat Akiva preschoolers Ari Schon, 3, of West Bloomfield, teacher Sarah
Shaw, Micah Adler, 3, of Southfield and Eitan Isaacs, 3, of Oak Park gather
around their class' Rosh Hashanah cake.
Shelli Liebman Dorfman
Senior Writer
A
t Yeshivat Akiva in
Southfield, the youngest
students learned about the
holiday of Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish
New Year, by associating the celebra-
tion with a familiar favorite: birthdays.
"Rosh Hashanah means, literally,
`Head of the Year' or 'First of the Year;"
said Lisa Parshan, director of Alciva's
early childhood department. "It's hard
for young children to really under-
stand 'new year' because they are real-
ly not ready yet to understand time.
However, a birthday is something
even a 3-year-old can wrap their head
around. It happens once a year; there
is a celebration, often including cake
and feasting. It seems to be an easy
parallel for kids to understand."
So, each of the 2-, 3- and 4-year-old
nursery classes held a party.
"With birthday cake shaped like
Earth, balloons and a celebratory
atmosphere, the students are learn-
ing that Rosh Hashanah is the world's
birthday," Parshan said.
The lessons of the celebration talk
about Rosh Hashanah and birthdays
using concepts Parshan said are
loosely connected to those described
in the book Happy Birthday, World: A
Rosh Hashanah Celebration by Latifa
Berry Kropf.
"On birthdays, you eat sweet and
delicious cake; on this birthday, we eat
apples and dip them in sweet honey:'
Parshan said. "On most birthdays,
you light candles, just like on Rosh
Hashanah — but we don't blow them
out. At birthday parties, we toot noisy
horns, so, too, on Rosh Hashanah.
"On your birthday, we thank our
friends for the presents we have
received; on Rosh Hashanah, we go to
shul to thank HaShem for his presents,
too:' she said.
Parshan said holding Jewish holiday
celebrations in school allows children
who miss out holiday dinners and
gatherings at home because they take
place after bedtime, to participate.
Parshan said that many holidays begin
after the kids go to bed.
"On a very basic level, for children
who come from families who are not
observant, or are beginning an obser-
vant lifestyle, this is a way to have the
children bring home some traditions
and customs that families may not yet
have she said.
"For the most part, teaching chil-
dren about the holidays using their
senses, experiencing and engaging
in activities is a way to enrich their
connection to Judaism. It is a way to
internalize and draw personal meaning
to the holidays to build a strong foun-
dation as they get older. Making them
fun and entertaining connects posi-
tive experiences with Jewish rituals.
Pleasant memories will last forever."
May the New Year bring to all
our friends and family health, joy,
prosperity and everything good in life.
May the New Year bring to all
our friends and family health, joy,
prosperity and everything good in life.
The Schneiders
Judi, Joe & Brandon
Brett, Caidey & Zack
Arryn, Bryan, Ethan & Avery
Molly, Brad, D.J. & Anna
September 17 2009
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