December 09-January - Washtenaw Jewish News

Learning what is Jewish about a moose(and much more!)Cindy Saper, special to the WJNThe Jewish Educators Council of AnnArbor recently hosted Jewish NaturalistGabe Goldman as Scholar-in-Residence. Dr. Goldman is the Director ofExperiential and Environmental Educationat American Jewish University. He is wellknown for his unique teaching style thatblends his love of Jewish text with his knowledgeof nature and the environment. Duringhis visit to Ann Arbor, he led a workshop forarea teachers, and visited the Early ChildhoodCenter of the JCC, Hebrew Day School,Temple Beth Emeth Religious School, BethIsrael Religious School, Ann Arbor ReconstructionistHavurah Beit Sefer, and JewishCultural Society School. Rounding out hisvisit were two Shabbat family Nature Walks.Teachers and students alike had many “wow”moments as they engaged in hands on learningduring the workshops. Following are justa few comments:“I found a lamed in the bush!” JCS student.“I loved Gabe’s open, welcoming and encouragingteaching style.” BIRS teacher.Gabe Goldman with ECC students“Who knew that the moose is the world’slargest kosher animal?” TBE teacher.“Wow, ink from wasps?!” JCS parent.“What fascinated me the most was seeing,for the first time, a gall nut and learning howit is used to make the ink used for the writingof the Torah.” BIRS teacher.Gabe showing students how ancientheroes made fire“Gabe’s presentation was perfectly pitchedto my students. The next week students werestill talking about how exciting it was to holdthe moose antler.” Havurah teacher.“The middle school students were mesmerized!Gabe raised their curiosity and theywere very tuned in to his message that God’screation is to be explored and admired.”BIRS teacher.“My students who are studying Jewishheroes learned about survival skills neededback in biblical times. Learning how to makea fire with flint and stone, and how to maketea from sumac, gave them a whole new perspectiveto their classroom learning.” TBEteacher.As all these comments show, Gabe wasable to connect in a very unique way withthe entire community. Teachers were so impressedwith his ability to engage everyonein the study of nature from a Jewish perspective.From the relatively simple idea of havingstudents look up to find the shapes of theHebrew letters in the trees to the more complicatedhalachic discussions of why variousanimals are considered kosher, teachers wereinspired to continue exploring our Jewishconnection to nature with their students. TheJewish Educators Council’s annual Scholarin Residence program is made possible by agenerous grant from the Jewish Federationof Greater Ann Arbor. nJewish educators test the strength of rawhideWashtenaw Jewish News A December 2009/January 201021