Tarbuton - Hebrew - Israel - Culture - Community

The owner of this site contacted me this week, and I thought it was great idea.  http://www.hebrewplay.org/ 

The notion is to provide a space for people who are interested in play for little ones (seems to be centered on infant to age 3) and to share resources and ideas around playgroups, classes, Hebrew Immersion and books, CDs, etc. 

I am thrilled to see this.   The more that is built world wide around helping people connect through Hebrew Language, to Israel and to each other the better. 

They’ve done a good job of using social networking tools to make sure when you connect you can blog, post videos, pictures, etc. and add to a collective set of resources they are building.  While right now at its infancy it seems to be primarily people located in the Boston area that may change over time.

 

 

For the VOSJCC’s other venture, the Summer Ulpan Camp, the JCC is working with the Jewish Federation of Greater Phoenix’s TIPS (Tucson, Israel, Phoenix, Seattle) Program to bring over four Israelis to run the camp. Bernstein said the federation is still searching for volunteers to house the Israelis.

Mornings at ulpan camp, according to Bernstein, will be held at the Jess Schwartz Jewish Community Day School lower and middle school campus, next to the JCC, and campers will be completely immersed in Hebrew - no English will be spoken.

"The kids will be doing regular kid activities, but they’ll be doing them in Hebrew," said Bernstein. "They may play on the playground in Hebrew, they may go on their field trips in Hebrew or go swimming in Hebrew."

Bernstein said the camp was initially suggested by Nammie Ichilov, head of the Jess Schwartz lower and middle school, after a number of Israeli parents voiced their concern that while living in America, their children were losing touch with the Hebrew language.

After a morning of Hebrew-only programming, the campers will join the Shemesh Day Camp in the afternoon.

"We didn’t want (ulpan camp) to be so intense that it didn’t feel like a fun summer for (the campers)," said Bernstein.

Summer Ulpan Camp runs July 6-30 and is $210 per week for VOSJCC members, $265 for nonmembers. Half-days are available. Campers must sign up for all four weeks.

To sign up for Ruach Masa, Summer Ulpan Camp or any other VOSJCC camp, call 480-634-4949 or visit vosjcc.org.

 

 

Also posted on 28 Days, 28 Ideas - 28 Ideas to Transform the Jewish Future -

http://28days28ideas.com/2010/03/93/open-up-j-ed-consorts-resources-to-alternative-programs/

 

Existing centers for dialogue about Jewish education should invite local innovative programs to participate in their forums, in their newsletters, in their meetings.

A novel concept. Open the doors of existing Jewish organizations like JESNA, PEJE, other official organizations for Day Schools, Synagogues, etc. to alternative programs in your city.

Often times new innovative programs cannot get support from the local Jewish institutional framework. Either because the philanthropists there don’t support alternatives, the educators are afraid or disturbed by the existence of other options or they simply don’t hear or see anything that is not in standard form.

Alternative options should be embraced, invited into the conversations and supported. If the majority of the Jews are not involved; any new innovative program that brings them in should be wrapped into the goals and objectives of the Jewish educators in the city – they could be feeder programs in the end for those who taste something Jewish and want more.

Agencies that require you to to be a specific kind of institution (conservative shul, or day school, or congregational school) by definition lock out alternatives and lock out dialogue and opportunities to share resoruces and network. Its a shame to build these walls at a time when we desparately need to work together to bring more Jews into active involvement.

We will have 3-4 groups of adults this Fall 2009 learning Hebrew in an Ivrit b’Ivrit format in San Diego through the Tarbuton.  Parents with children learning Hebrew in their own classrooms at the same hour, will be learning in an Israeli ulpan program through the Tarbuton the same hour.  Other adults will join them to round out the classes. 

Our goal is to offer a cultural, Israel centric and ivrit b’ivrit format.  The intent is for the program to provide both a community to engage with that is working towards developing their language skills and supplement the course work with the social programs where they can use them too.

http://www.tarbuton.org for more information.

 

This book looks at the Hebrew language and how it was resurrected to become the State of Israel’s native tongue. Written by this Amherst College professor it covers the history dating back to Eliyezer Ben Yehuda to modern day.  Enjoy.

http://www.tabletmag.com/bookseries/resurrecting-hebrew/

 

Ran across this site today and think its an interesting choice.  They have some free podcasts for download too.  I had to laugh - they teach the way I talk -  The 1/2 in English, 1/2 in Hebrew.  I love this though because for me - it shows me the way to conjugate the verb - you hear it, then they reinforce it.  For some it might be too distracting to hear the english though.

http://www.learnhebrewpod.com/ is their web site.

This camp is offered through Neveh Shalom Congregation but open to the entire Portland Community.  Hebrew Immersion summer camp.

http://www.nevehshalom.org/learning/youth_education/kochavim

This camp is called Israeli Camp and is located at Camp Shomria in Ontario.  Its run in partnership with Kochav Lavan and Israeli Scouts and the local UJF.  More on the camp here:

http://www.kachol-lavan.com/images/stories/campenglish.jpg

 

 

This program offers both solid Hebrew language instruction during the year for children but also a summer camp that focuses on Hebrew language as well. 

Read more about the program herE: 

http://www.kesherweb.org/camp.php

This site works like Netflix, letting you browse the library and make a list of books you’d like them to send you.  They send you a book, you read it, then send it back.  When they receive it, you’ll receive the next book on your list.

The company is in Canada. But, they offer their services for all of North America.  Pricing initially is $14.95.  

http://www.theflyinglibrary.com

CAMP NITZAN Hebrew immersion in an informal setting combined with activities that children (ages 4-7) love.(this is from their Ad)

"The nine-day smart start at Camp Nitzan will enrich the Hebrew program your child attends throughout the school year. A day at Camp Nitzan is an integrated Hebrew learning environment using sports, crafts, music, cooking, games and dancing."

http://northernnj.ujcweb.org/page.aspx?id=115273

 

This store is located on Arjons.

http://hatikva.com/