Matzo Ball Soup

Drawing the Torah

A year long project…ready…set…go…

This post is inspired by my good friend Natasha, whom last year has taken on herself to tell her son the stories of the Torah in the most creative way. she got 2 rolling pins from Target's dollar bin, a roll of paper from Michaels'.

while She was pulling down her paints and brushes and a whole lot of resources from the shelves, her son was rolling out a long stretch of the paper, ready to start with a year long project of drawing the Torah stories. She was telling the stories and her son was painting, scribing, and asking questions, unveiling the Torah, one story at a time.

This project has just ended with the celebration of Simchat Torah, while OUR project is about to begin.

^{story of creation (by Josh)}

^{Cain and Abel (by Josh)}




Noah's Ark (by Josh)
 
How to:

Pick a DAY:
The first thing we did after committing to do this project was to schedule a regular day. We have decided on Friday afternoon.

Get your SUPPLIES:
Unfortunately I will not be able to stop by and get supplies at Michaels’, but I will pull out a roll of trace paper left over from my architecture days, I still need to get rolling pins, paints and brushes are no problem.

• A roll of paper could be trace (semi translucent) or white paper can easily be found at arts and crafts stores.
• Assortment of drawing tools
• 2 rolling pins or wooden dowels. Glue one end of the paper to the rolling pin to create a scroll.

Get your RESOURCES:
Telling the stories should probably be a mixed of reading from the Torah, reading stories of  the Torah written by different authors, poetry, and Midrashim which are stories that have been developed by rabbis throughout history to answer the often puzzling questions raised by the Bible in a form of a folktale.
Many times I read the stories to my self and later tell the girls the stories from my head, adding some hand gesture and a change of my tone of voice to emphasize and create drama.

I have had long discussions with Natasha about resources. Reading straight from the bible seems like not such a great idea for kids. We both felt that it is hard to find well written stories of the bible both in English and in Hebrew.

I have compiled a list of books that was recommended by Natasha and some I found my self in my MATZO SOUP AMAZON BOOK STORE.

If you have any other books to suggest, I will be very happy to hear about them.

Here are some websites that post a weekly parsha for kids you may find helpful:
www.akhlah.com (English)
www.mibereshit.org (Hebrew and English)
www.myim.co.il  (Hebrew)
www.aish.com (English)

One last thought before you let me go:
There is something very poetic and old fashioned about parents telling the stories of the Torah to their kids. Drawing in response to stories is a great way to have kids engage with the story while practicing their drawing skills (I wrote more about this in growing up creative). And spending time together as a family is a great Jewish value.

We are now ready to dive in. I invite you to join us on this adventure.

Thank you Natasha for helping and coming up with this great activity.
I am sure she is reading this, so if you have any questions for her or myself feel free to ask.


tali

Too much stuff

We have moved a while ago, and only this week we have finally received our shipping container. Now, all I can see is lots and lots of boxes, containing lots and lots of stuff; half of which I don’t even remember we had. The funny thing is that my family and I have been living without our belongings for a while and did just fine (although some friends may say different…).

Don’t get me wrong, I am thrilled to sleep on my bed and not on a leaking air mattress; the girls are more than exited to hug their long lost bears. The joy of lounging on my favorite vintage sofa (which almost everyone else hates) with buttons pushing down my back, sipping tea from my favorite mug is with no doubt priceless. Every box we open feels like its Xmass Hanukkah.

This week is a week of new beginnings, a new home, a new year, and a new kitten. 

Inspired by Rabbi Joshua Levine Grater article and The Story of Stuff (a movie), this year I hope to buy less and make more with what I already have. shop for closets (which I have non, quite pathetic for someone with stuff…) at the flea market, visit my local library before I log into Amazon, go back to sewing some of my own clothes now that I am reunited with my long lost sewing machines. I will also start posting Eco Kids Craft tutorials as part of my other blog - growing up creative.

This is going to be a great year.

What are your hopes for next year?

Shana Tova
tali