Posted on 12/06/2004 10:17:19 PM PST by alogonquin
The joy of Jewishness
New kids museum stresses laughing, learning
The matzoh balls print recipes. A giant tree talks about good deeds. A kosher refrigerator tells jokes and shofars don't just blow, they explain about Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year. Welcome to the $30 million Jewish Children's Museum in Crown Heights, which opens to the public Dec. 23.
The museum is a seven-story, high-tech, interactive playland designed to teach elementary school kids of all backgrounds about Jewish holidays, history and family life.
"We want all children to feel totally free here," said Devorah Halberstam, who helped raise funds for the facility.
The museum is dedicated to the memory of Halberstam's son Ari, who was slain in 1994 at the age of 16 while he was riding in a van on the Brooklyn Bridge. The Justice Department ruled the killing "the crime of a terrorist."
"Ari died at such a young age, before he really had a chance to live," Halberstam said. "But really, his life was about what you find here - innocence, enjoying life, living day-to-day and enjoying your traditions.
"There are so many messages here at this museum," Halberstam continued, "but above all, it is about joy."
The fun and learning begin with an interactive biblical account of the creation. Detailed etchings overhead tell the tale. On the appropriate days, real fish swim, animated birds fly and an elephant grunts "hello."
After the creation of Adam and Eve comes the day of rest. To prepare for it, kids shop in a kosher supermarket with working checkout scanners, and cook in a model kitchen where a refrigerator offers one-liners.
There's a room-sized, interactive Sabbath dinner table that has computers inside giant matzoh balls. The computers display what Jewish families around the world eat on the Sabbath and print out recipes for the dishes.
Next come the holidays, starting with talking shofars to herald Rosh Hashanah, and ending with Shavuot, the giving of the law, which includes the Ten Commandments.
To help visualize that day, kids enter a room where clouds part above Mt. Sinai, tablets with the commandments come down and flowers bloom.
For Chanukah, there's a newsstand spreading the word about the Miracle of the Lights, along with a modern-day television studio where kids can be reporters and get a CD of their on-camera work.
Since families remove all yeast products from their homes in preparation for Passover, there's an electronic game where children must find bread hidden in a cupboard.
In the World of Good, children learn about universal, ethical principles shared by people of all faiths, said Rabbi Nissen Brenenson, director of education at the museum.
Youngsters are encouraged to visit the sick, honor their parents and teachers, take care of pets and give to charity.
Finally, to show off how much they've learned during their visit, kids can play the museum's versions of Wheel of Fortune and Jeopardy. Brenenson said each child will also participate in a crafts project to take home.
To celebrate the start of Chanukah Tuesday night, elected officials and community leaders will gather in front of the museum on Eastern Parkway at Kingston Ave. to light a giant menorah.
[Museum admission is $10, starting Dec. 23. Tickets must be purchased in advance, online at www.jcm.museum/tickets, beginning Dec. 7.]
I think anonymous charity is considered to be the ideal (second to giving them a loan, job or helping them be self-sufficient) when it's between individuals. When you give to an institution, though, there's no risk of anyone being embarrassed, and by publicizing the names of those who contributed, it encourages others to do the same.
>>> am quite impressed by this, if the museum lives up to its description. The Christian evangelistic theme parks should do as well.
It will succeed because there is a lot of hands on, colorful stuff for kids to learn from. Judaism isn't an abstract religion - the main thing is the deed. There's a lot of study and philosophy, to be sure, but the focus has always been on fulfilling the mitzvot in concrete form. And of course kids are primarily concrete learners. That's why we've been so successful in transmitting our tradition from generation to generation. We focus on the young.
They had to think up something short. Being a snag means "not having to say you're sorry".... :)
Snags... presumably you mean religious Jews who don't buy your particular theological quirks
The kumbaya-ness of this "ethical principles shared by all religions" lends an unrealistic element. It's like putting Splenda in your milk and honey.
Some people get all warm and fuzzy when they hear that phrase, while others are realistic or skeptical enough to see through it. It's a tradeoff, and I guess they had to decide who they wanted to appeal to more.
I would think that many of the religious, if they are in the know, would themselves cringe at the claim. The WTC bombing was in their back yard, for heaven's sake. Kumbaya to Islam will only get you killed in the long run. Even Kumbaya to Unitarians is dangerous because it will fill your society with new age rot.
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