These and Those

Musings from Students of the Pardes Institute of Jewish Studies in Jerusalem

Turkey 2018: Day 4 — Preparing for Purim

Posted on February 25, 2018 by Sarah Palmer

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Today was an exciting day at the Ulus Jewish School. We davened Shacharit at Alef (the Jewish community center next to the school) and then had six classes full of games, laughter, and song. We met students in the 6th, 7th, and 11th grades who shared some of their upcoming plans for Purim. In the younger grades, we guided students through a set of Purim puzzles which each unlocked a mystery box. The boxes contained a piece of the Purim story and concluded with a lesson on the four mitzvot of Purim: Megilah, Matanot Le’evyonim, Mishloach Manot, and Seudah. The students did an amazing job solving each puzzle and celebrating with us afterward! We celebrated so much, that every time we passed students in the hallways, they all burst into a reprise of the song Mishe Nichnas Adar. It was also such a pleasure to collaborate with the Head of Jewish Studies at the school and the JDC fellows who are helping to develop the Jewish Studies curriculum at Ulus.

On a more personal note, it was so wonderful to work with kids again, after leaving my teaching post in Chicago to come to Israel and study at Pardes. Working alongside such talented friends from Pardes and with Rabbi Levi Cooper has really been an honor.

Shabbat Shalom to everyone back home!

Sarah Palmer