The School Kids Are Sad to End

Thousands of Hebrew School kids all over the world celebrated their Hebrew School graduations, culminating a memorable year of hands-on learning. 

“I’m not sure about the other adults in the room, but this Hebrew School experience is NOTHING like what I had growing up!” opened Emily Howland, whose two children attend Chabad Hebrew School in S. Clemente California. “I was dragged, sometimes actually kicking and screaming, to Sunday school every week.”

Emily is one of the thousands of grateful parents at Chabad Hebrew Schools across the world, where graduations are being celebrated to mark the end of a successful year of Jewish education.

The CKids graduation events at Chabad Hebrew Schools were “a way to make Eretz Yisroel personal for each child,” says Rabbi Mendy Kotlarsky, executive director of Merkos 302. These exciting celebrations were a perfect way to culminate this year’s Israel Quest and Super Jew curriculum. 

The graduation event featured a child-led art gallery where Israel themes and the Jewish heroes covered in the curriculum were exhibited with mixed media art displays. The kids also performed in a beautiful choir medley expressing their love for Israel and especially Jerusalem. The theme song by Chabad music sensation Yossi Rodal culminated with each kid sharing why they value Israel and how much Israel means to them.

Using the innovative CKids Israel Quest curriculum, Chabad Hebrew Schools worldwide offered a Hebrew School experience this year full of hands-on learning and cutting-edge fun. “We took kids on a journey through Jewish history, says CKids co-director and curriculum director Mushky Loewenthal. “We didn’t have them sitting at desks for more than ten minutes,” adds Chaya Zirkind, CKids Hebrew School director. Together, Mushky and Chaya are the creative masterminds behind CKids’ unique classes. 

“Whether it’s a virtual reality tour of the Beit Hamikdash or a live version of Subway Surfer, all the learning is centered around fun,” says Rabbi Zalmy Loewenthal, director of CKids.

Of course, the fun activities are just a clever way to package deep Jewish concepts such as: How can any Jewish child be a shliach of the Rebbe? What makes the Beit Hamikdash a home for Hashem? What tools does Judaism need to survive without a Beit Hamikdash?

“My kids feel the exact opposite of how I did,” Emily continues in her speech to address other parents at her town’s graduation event. “They are so upset and disappointed when they ever, G-d forbid, have to miss a day of Hebrew School! And after I pick them up, they will list all the things they are looking forward to the following week…the Hamantaschen baking! Moving up a level in Aleph Champ! The snacks!”

“My daughter summed it up perfectly when I asked her recently what she likes best about Hebrew School,” Emily said to end her graduation address. “After it a moment’s thought, she said, ‘It makes me feel closer to Hashem.’”

Special thanks to the talented Shluchim and Shluchos of the CKids Graduation Committee:

Mrs. Gillie Shanowitz – New York, NY

Mrs. Chana Gansburg – Toronto, Canada 

Mrs. Chavie Ash – Gilbert, AZ

Mrs. Sara Bluming – Potomac, MD

Rabbi Raleigh and Fruma Resnick – Tri-Valley, CA

Rabbi Dovid Weinbaum – Dix Hills, NY

Rabbi Mendy Cohen – Philadelphia, PA