Shabbat has ended and it is time to start a new and exciting week. Friday morning started perfectly – we’ve met with Naama – a symbol of strength and perseverance – you see something you know it is good, do it no matter what. She said – don’t try to change the exterior, ask the questions: why do you need something? who are you? what is your vision? what is your message? is your message transmitted in the right way to everybody else? In 2 hours she gave us basic info of how to view Early Childhood Education from Reggio Emilia perspective.
Theory is great but practice is amazing – after the meeting we got to see a kindergarten that puts in practice for 10 years all of these principles. and let me tell you it was something different, totally. Can I replicate what I saw? no. Do I want to copy paste this? no, but I want to have the same feeling, atmosphere back home – the respect for the child and its capabilities, the ongoing dialogue between kids, staff and parents.
And after all that I came home – where our host prepared an oneg Shabbat like home – we lit the candles with the kids, said the brachot, ate delicious home cooked meal and just enjoyed a relaxed and warm Shabbat.
Shabbat ended and havdala was done surrounded by kids and parents – and in all that organized chaos it was clear – they were a community, and they cared for the Jewish education of their kids – PJ library looked at Hanuka from different perspectives with the help of books – who would have thought that making a kaleidoscope is something for Hanuka, but as I read to one of the kids there, a constellation is the Hanukia that God is lighting in the sky!
On that note I am looking forward to be enlightened all through next week!
