High School Highlights
Here is a small selection of our activities. Click on each heading to read more about the activities and their educational value.
Iron Chef Latkes: The American Latke Experience
On Dec 11, 2011, our guest Chef Dottie Hubbard Deitch taught us about the cultural history and culinary artistry of the latke. Students split into groups and invented flavor combinations for latkes and sauces that reflected their own American Jewish cultural mix.
Women Should be Seen AND Heard
Dec 2011: We discussed and joined the campaign to fight the marginalization of women in Israeli society.
Illuminated Manuscripts
Each person chose a word or phrase from the Shema / V’ahavta prayer and created a gorgeous work of art, decorating the Hebrew letters using all kinds of interesting materials of different colors, designs and textures. In preparation for this project, we examined closely a Hebrew text that we all knew at the surface level. We learned the Jewish art of delving deeply into texts, asking the questions that reveal the complexity below the surface. Then we tried our hand at the very Jewish project of making text into art.
Making mezuzah cases with resin artist Emily Levine
Our study of the Shema /V’ahavta portion in Deuteronomy (see Illuminated Manuscripts) led to a discussion of the mezuzah that we nail to our doorway. Under the direction of resin clay artist Emily Levine, we made mezuzah cases and learned how to hang them.
Iron Chef Charoset!
Under the guidance of rabbinical student and iron chef Erica Steelman, each group created a charoset masterpiece out of a vast variety of ingredients. The final products were judged - by the whole group - on the criteria of taste, presentation, and the group's explanation of the symbolism behind their recipe. In preparation, we studied traditional and contemporary sources on the symbolism of charoset on the seder plate. We discussed cultural differences between Ashkenazi, Sephardi, and Mizrachi Jews, and how these are reflected in everything from their cuisine to their religious thought.
Purim
We made masks, put on skits, and had a party. (What really happened: Our Purim activities spanned two sessions and were filled with rich study as well as celebration. The more serious aspects of our learning included a discussion of the role of "bad guys" in the Jewish story, like Haman, Pharaoh, and Amalek, and an investigation of Jewish ideas about how God acts in the world.)
Regular activities throughout the year
MT High School Band -- Hebrew Songs -- Modern Hebrew -- "Hosting" -- Discussion Topics -- Prayer and Meditation
Opening Session: Finding out the interests of the group
We had a short meeting in mid-September to get to know one another and to give the teachers a chance to learn about the interests of the group.
Comments
#1 Purim
That Purim party was AMAZING
ALMONDS!
#2 Purim is on Sunday again this year!
Yeah, it really was fun, wasn't it?