The Joy of Adar

Early Childhood at BZBI: January 2018

On the evening of February 15, we welcome the Jewish month of Adar, the month in our tradition when we are filled with an extra abundance of joy. As educators we are blessed to experience joy on a daily basis as we celebrate all of the miracles of learning and development with your children. Creating a joyful classroom is one of our core values. With the coming of Adar we are more focused on the concept of joy, relating it to the celebration of Purim and the many important events that occurred during the month of Adar that enabled the Jewish people to survive.

This month we are planning many joyful experiences with the children including special “crazy days” leading up to Purim. We will sing, dance, and celebrate the holiday with a special Purim Spiel that the teacher’s will perform for the children. We will be loud and boisterous as we blot out that lousy Haman, and we will eat hamentaschen, dress in costumes, and celebrate the strength of two strong women, Queen Vashti and Queen Esther. While this story is so relevant to our current state of affairs in the adult world, it also provides us with a wonderful opportunity to speak to children about the importance of standing up for what you believe in, for personal rights, religious freedom, and for caring about or friends and community. This is our opportunity to take everything that has been turned upside down and together make it right again. Hag Sameach Purim!

Save the Date for the Purim Carnival, Sunday, February 25 from 10:00 AM-12:00 PM!

Shabbat shalom,
Risa Young