Our amazing journey began at Har Shalom. This school is focused on building a vibrant Jewish community and it was a heartwarming experience, brimming with a strong sense of interconnectedness and shared values. The school’s emphasis on fostering a deep understanding of Jewish culture and traditions was beautifully intertwined with the Reggio Emilia philosophy, creating a nurturing environment that celebrated diversity, inclusivity, and a profound sense of belonging. Witnessing the children engage in meaningful explorations of Jewish history, customs, and values while embracing their individual creativity and expression was a testament to the power of education in fostering a strong, connected community rooted in shared experiences and a collective sense of identity.
We started with a meeting with Rabbi Rachel Simons. We had a meditation session, and we prayed for peace in these dark times for everybody.
We were invited to share the Havdalah ceremony with the children of 4 and 5 years. We experienced it with all our senses. We smelled the besamim, we saw the light and we heard the songs. It was such a great beginning of the week and our journey.
We were really surprised to see that there were two amazing dogs who were with the kids. It made us feel like home the fact that we made a Havdalah ceremony and we sang the songs together.
For the first time, we observed a STEAM room for preschool students. We had the opportunity to look at some of the other classrooms and we were really impressed to see that the two dogs are with the children every day- they are specially trained, and the kids are taking good care of them, and they have built their own rules about how to interact with the dogs.
We met the preschool principal, Beth, who told us about her mission – building the community. She also told us about activities that they have for children and parents such as yoga, shabbat dinners, special to me day and drop and stop parent coffee, which is an initiative we are taking to our preschool to give the parents the opportunity to communicate and connect with each other.
We felt this amazing feeling of belonging and being a part of a community in the Har Shalom sanctuary.
In the afternoon we had a wonderful session with Lyndall Miller, who put us in the wise words of Pirkei Avot. We discussed a text in small groups and in pairs.
We finished our learning day with a meaningful meeting with our mentor Alex Band, who is a constant support for us.
Beti, Nia and Alex – Gan Balagan, Sofia Bulgaria
