From JewishMontessori
Aleph and Water
Exploring Water, the Letter Alef, and Creation.
Bereishis-Genesis 1:7
“G-d made the firmament, and He separated between the waters which were beneath the firmament and the waters which were above the firmament.”
The Letter Aleph
The Hebrew letter Alef is formed by two Yuds, one to the upper right and the other to the lower left, joined by a diagonal vav. These represent the higher and lower waters and the firmament between them.
The Properties of Water
The two intrinsic properties of water are “wet” and “cold.” The higher water is “wet” with the feeling of oneness. While the lower water is “cold” with the feeling of separation.
The Torah’s Synthesis
The yud on top is the higher world while the yud on bottom is the lower world connected by the vav of Torah. Torah is what connects the upper and lower worlds, what connects us to G-d.
Studying Water
- How does it feel to touch the wetness of water, and the coldness of ice.
- What color is water? and what is it’s weight?
- Take the day to enjoy water outside. Think of fun exercises using water.
- Prepare trays from the practical life area for each child to experience working with water
The Alef and the Number One
- The Alef is the number one
- One counts something from nothing
- G-d is One. “the unity of G-d”
- Ideas in Breishis-Genesis
- The waters of Torah, flowing from G-d on high to us down here - yet just as a waterfall, always remaining the same pure water.
- Torah is the blue print of creation. what is a blue print?
- Study maps or blueprints. Divide into small groups for a scavenger hunt following a map.
- Observe the plans of a house prior to building - “the blue print”
- The importance of Torah, and its meaning
Arts and Crafts
Arts and crafts projects should always be simple.
- Have all the material set up in the art and crafts shelf. A stencil of an alef , two yuds and a vav. material for cutting the shape of the Torah, colored paper, scissors, glue, and extras for decoration.
- Present the project yourself, taking the things necessary from the shelve and putting them back - letting the child watch the procedure.
- Trace the alef, cut the alef, paste it to a color paper. trace both yuds and the vav, paste one yud on the far right side of the alef, the other yud on the bottom left side of the alef. place the vav in the middle.
- cut the Torah shape, paste it onto the middle of the alef, on the vav.
- It is very important that the child is free to do the project himself. The child can decorate as he wishes, with the materials in the arts and crafts shelve. This is how he is able to express his creative energy.
Note: The educator should observe when it is appropriate to simplify a project in order to allow the child to do the project themselves.
Summer Program
As we prepare ourselves for a very exciting year of Torah learning, our summer program will be focusing on connecting with the Torah in an inner way.
We will learn the inner meaning of the alef-beis and it’s corresponding numbers. Through hands on projects and arts and crafts, children will recognize the deeper meaning of the letters, this will bring recognition of the holiness of the Hebrew language and the importance of each letter in the Torah.
We will focus on creation, experiencing the days of creation by interacting with nature and the outside world.
It’s summer, this is the time to live creation letting the child take his time in absorbing and experiencing the world Hashem created.
please keep posted for projects and ideas for the summer program. I will be adding to the web site each week. please don’t hesitate to write with your comments and ideas.
