Volume 26 Issue 31 03 Nov 2017 14 Heshvan 5778

The Shabbat Project at Emanuel

Daphna Levin-Kahn – Jewish Studies Co-ordinator High School

The Many Senses of Shabbat – The Shabbat Project at Emanuel School

Emanuel School celebrated the Shabbat Project with a series of EXTRAordinary activities for our students. These peulot (experiential learning sessions) highlighted the many senses and sensibilities of Shabbat and Havdalah, enabling students to see, feel and understand the beauty of Shabbat more deeply and take some of that home with them in the Shabbat items they had made and in their new thinking about Shabbat.

Primary and High School students experienced a range of Shabbat sensory activities during Jewish Studies classes. These included: Shabbat beeswax candle-making combined with a consideration of the special flame we each possess that can help bring Light into the world; discussion of the multitude of ways Shabbat can and is celebrated in our community and across the world, symbolised by the students then designing their own mosaic-tiled candle holders; and understanding the concept of Hiddur Mitzvah (enhancing the mitzvah) and the power of blessings, with learning how to fold unique table serviettes to beautify their Shabbat tables and composing a Birkat Mishpachah (Family Blessing) to bring home for Shabbat. The deeper ideas behind the Havdalah rituals helped students explore ‘Reawakening (the Senses)’ and how we can use the rejuvenating power of Havdalah to prepare us with a different perspective regarding the pace and stress of the week ahead, culminating in making Havdalah candles and besamim (smelling spice) bags.

The week culminated in a whole-school Kabbalat Shabbat, from Year K – 12, enhancing the feeling of community and the closeness of family in preparation for the special Shabbat ahead.

Shabbat Shalom