Educating students about Purim

The Temple Am David Louis and Goldie Chester Religious School teachers love to teach our students the history, traditions, morals and values of being Jewish. We embrace the opportunity to educate them and encourage them to be caring, productive, and well respected people in our community.

Each teacher, as part of a team, creates a hands-on approach to every holiday that we celebrate. For Purim, each one of us will create a lesson that helps our students be able to love being a part of the Jewish community.

As the Holidays, Bible and Holocaust teacher, my Purim lesson for the lower grades always includes making Mishloah Manot baskets to deliver to family and friends, Jewish and non-Jewish, for the custom of sending gifts that include at least two edible items.

For my older students in the Holocaust class, my Purim lesson will focus on how the Jews continued to perform mitzvot and Jewish traditions despite the antisemitic conditions in which they were living during the Holocaust. Their desire as Jews to perform mitzvot with true dedication, regardless of the danger, is inspiring. From reading the Megillah in concentration camps to sharing small amounts of precious foods as “portions” to each other, their will to not only live but to continue observing Purim is inspiring.

Barbara Dwares, our Israel and Life Cycle teacher also has an interesting approach to Purim. As our “resident” Mitzvah Leader, her lesson revolves around another Purim observance called Matanot L’evyonim, the giving of money to the poor. While her classes donate food and items throughout the year, on Purim it is another time for us to share our possessions with the needy. This school year our students have participated in a toys and clothing drive for West End Community Center (preschool/daycare) in Providence. They have participated in several “Max’s Lunch Bunch Peanut Butter and Jelly Sandwich” sessions for Crossroads R.I., a homeless shelter in Providence. This Purim they are collecting snacks (raisins, crackers, granola bars, fruit roll ups, etc.) and childrens’ socks and gloves, small toiletries, adult gloves and socks, chapsticks and a variety of other items to be assembled into packages and donated to Crossroads. Mrs. Dwares’ classroom goal is to help others through mitzvah projects and to learn that doing these mitzvah projects is not difficult to do if everyone works as a team.

Susan Sugerman, Religious School Assistant Director and Hebrew Teacher, is the “brain” behind our wonderful Megillah reading shpiels. During the Megillah service, she has created fantastic Purim shpiels to keep the students excited and enjoying a positive, fun-filled temple experience. Most of our shpiels are based on television game shows like “Wheel of Fortune,” “Deal or no Deal,” “Match Game” and “Are You Smarter Than a Temple Am David Student?” Each game highlights excerpts from the Megillah and students use their knowledge of Purim and other holidays to answer questions and play the game. Last year the students performed dance routines and played musical instruments in our talent show. This show took the place of The King’s Beauty Pageant. Each student is involved to the degree they want to be. This provides a wonderful interaction between the students, families and congregants, while having a fun time on Purim.

Chag Purim Sameach from all of us at Temple Am David Louis and Goldie Chester Religious School.

DORI ADLER (doriadler@verizon.net) has been a religious educator for nearly 20 years. She lives in War-wick with her husband and two children.