TEVA (טבע) TRAVELERS
Earth-based, Justice-driven, Nourishing Jewish Education
for the whole family
Kindergarten through B’ Mitzvah
For children age 5-12 and their families
Come check out our joyful approach to Jewish education!
Email joanie@sukkatshalomcolumbus.org for more information.
Philosophy:
Teva Travelers provides Jewish education for children of our membership and the adults who care for them. Experiences are designed to help students learn to connect their knowledge about Judaism with:
– their daily lives
– their family and community
– the natural world
– and world history
Instruction is provided with each student’s developmental needs in mind.
To foster community and Jewish identity, we consider Kehilat Sukkat Shalom holiday celebrations part of our curriculum.
Curriculum:
Our curriculum is organized around the Jewish holidays, Torah study, and Hebrew language learning.
We emphasize storytelling and singing, values and ethics, Jewish approaches to mindfulness, and Jewish peoplehood.
Mitzvah Projects:
Participants learn and engage with the Jewish concept of tikkun olam (mending the world) throughout the year. Families are invited to organize projects supporting older members of our own kehilah and undertaking service learning in our community. Past projects have taken place with Seeds of Caring, Friends of the Lower Olentangy Watershed (FLOW), Local Matters, Wexner Heritage Village, and the Clintonville CRC. Our children have also lent their voices to gatherings including our own High Holiday observances, Ohio March for Our Lives and Columbus Holocaust Remembrance Day.
Teachers:
Parents have played a primary role in our family education programming since our founding. They plan lessons and activities following a schedule we provide, using shared resources and new materials they want to share. Their interests and skills play a key role in determining the programming we offer.
No Jewish background is necessary, though we are grateful for those who have that expertise to share.
Local Jewish and music educator Joanie Calem has created musical experiences for Jewish families, pre-school programs, and adult audiences since 1983, both in the US and in Israel. Fluent in Hebrew and English, Joanie lived in Israel for 23 years. She joins our Teva Travelers once a month to lead traditional and original songs in Hebrew, Ladino, Yiddish, and English, woven together with stories, dances and games from the international Jewish family, incorporating movement, puppets, rhythm instruments and other surprises.
Learn more about Joanie at http://www.joaniecalem.com.
Project Shutafut – Educational Bridge:
For many years, Teva Travelers students have participated in an ongoing friendship with students at Rachel HaM’shoreret Elementary School in Kfar Saba, Israel. We meet once a month on a Sunday morning on Zoom for games, conversation, and getting-to-know-you opportunities.
Tuition and Fees:
Tuition for Teva Travelers students is included in Kehilat Sukkat Shalom family membership dues.
There is a materials fee of $36 per student.
Registration:
Sign up for Teva Travelers HERE.
A portion of our students’ Teva Travelers tuition is provided by an allocation from Jewish Columbus.
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