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M A Z E L D A Y S C H O O L

April—Nissan 2011 ISSUE FIVE

It’s Passover Time! Gather around the se-

der table with your friends and family. Celebrate

this joyous occasion and cherish the times with

your loved ones.

As years go by, we sometimes forget to

stop and think about the reason we live in this

world. As most of you would agree, the main

reason for our existence is our family. That is why

we dedicated this issue of the Parent Page to

celebration ideas and things to do with your

children. Birthdays, parties, celebrations—our

lives are full of exciting and celebratory mo-

ments that we long to remember. And since our

diaries are filled with meetings and appoint-

ments, every free minute that we have we hope

to spend with our kids in a memorable way. The

attention we give them at such early age will

undoubtedly pay off when our kids get older

and learn to appreciate the foundation of their

early childhood education.

In this issue you will find birthday places

and extracurricular activities recommended by

Mazel parents. So read this issue and pick out

ideas that are close to your heart, and when

the summer comes, you will be fully equipped

with fun and exciting ideas.

Happy Passover! We wish you happi-

ness, health, peace and prosperity!

Editorial Team:

Anna Ashurov Irene Gabo

Chani Okonov Alla Vasserman

PAGE2: Help! How do I cultivate kind-

ness in my child? She seems completely

clueless when it comes to other peo-

ple’s feelings. What can I do?

PAGE6: Sharing Ideas Birthday

Places and Outside Classes

PAGE4: Irene’s April Picks Weekend Activities for the Family

PAGE9: Recipes Traditional Passover

Ideas

PAGE10: Teacher Interview This Month: Gabriella Levitis

Center Pull-out Section My Child, My Disciple

By: Rabbi Noach Orlowek

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PAGE14: Happy Passover! Tips to Create a Kid—Friendly Seder

PAGE12: Parent Interview This Month: Sharona Silva

APRIL CALENDAR

Thu, April 14—Wed, April 27

Spring / Pesach Break—

School is Closed

Fri, April 29— extended Fri-

day Schedule begins (3pm Closing)

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M O D E R N P A R E N T I N G by Chani Okonov

Chani: Kindness is one of the most fundamental char-

acter traits of ―Jewish‖ behavior described in the Torah.

In fact, when the great sage Hillel was asked by a man,

―Please tell me the entire Torah as I stand here on one

foot,‖ he quoted the Torah verse: ―Love your fellow as

you love yourself.‖ Kindness has been the glue that

has held together the Jewish community for genera-

tions, whereby Jews supported and cared for each

other in times of need.

That being said, for some people, especially children,

being kind can be one of the most challenging tasks.

After all, kindness is not just about being polite, or hav-

ing good manners, which can easily be trained

through consistent reinforcement. It’s about caring for

others and wanting to do something to make someone

else happy, not just caring for one’s self. By nature,

human beings are selfish creatures – so learning to be

un-selfish is no small task.

When a child is born, he is most selfish of all. The only

thing that matters is that his needs are met. Over time,

the child becomes aware of others and slowly learns

that other people have needs and feelings too. Still,

most young children do not develop the

ability to empathize until they are more ma-

ture. Therefore, when a child is young, it’s

best to differentiate between kind feelings

and kind acts. Even when a child has not

yet developed caring feelings, we can still

teach them how to act kindly. And as a

matter of fact, the more kind acts they do,

the more the feelings of caring and kindness

are cultivated in their hearts. In Judaism we

describe this by saying that ―from [doing

something] without the correct intention, it

leads to [doing it] with the correct intention.‖

It’s interesting to note that when the Torah states: ―Love

your fellow as you love yourself‖, it is teaching us that in

order for a person to be able to give lovingly to some-

one else, they need to first be able to love themselves,

feeling secure and confident of their own self-image.

How true! Selfishness is basically a sign of insecurity. For

this reason, if we expect our children to give freely to

others, we also need to work on building their security

in themselves.

In the Exodus story we find that the

Jewish people at first were one in-

secure bunch. This was under-

standable, of course, since they

had been slaves for over 200 years,

and the slave mentality permeated

their being. At the first possible sign

of a problem with their leaving of

Egypt, they immediately wanted to

give up. ―This isn’t for real. We are not really going to

be redeemed. We will be slaves forever.‖ They would

even rationalize: ―Maybe it’s better for us as slaves than

to be free.‖ You would think that after being shown

awesome miracles by the hand of G-d, they would re-

alize that He was serious, but it takes time to shift from a

―slave‖ mindset to that of a ―free-man‖.

If you think about it, for all the fantastic things Hashem

did to take the Jews out of Egypt, he could have much

more easily whisked them out with one mighty miracle.

Why the need for all of them? For the burning bush?

For Moshe’s staff turning to a snake? For the ten

plagues? For the splitting of the sea? One reason

given is that Hashem was taking the time to lovingly

build up the Jewish people’s self-image and confi-

dence. He understood that a rag-tangle group of He-

brew slaves cannot overnight become the elevated

―Chosen Nation‖ at Mt. Sinai. In this way, each miracle

of the Exodus story was Hashem’s way of giving the

Jewish people a hug of reassurance: ―You are my

People. I love you and I have not forsaken

you.‖ Only once this security was built,

could the Jews learn to be a ―Light unto the

Nations‖, a giving people.

In the same way, nurturing your child’s emo-

tional security is a building block for cultivat-

ing sensitivity to others. Communicate to

your child, as Hashem did: ―You are my

child. I love you and I will always take care

of you.‖ Say it, write notes, give small hugs,

a high five, or other small touches - which

each act as nurturing reassurances to your

child.

Begin by being a ―kindness‖ role model for your child.

Regularly do acts of kindness, especially when your

child is watching. Since kindness begins at home, this

means showing kindness to your spouse, your parents

and family members. The strongest message that your

child will ever get about doing nice things for others is

when they see how you act toward other people – es-

pecially when you don’t feel like it. So, for example,

Help! How do I cultivate kindness in my child?

She seems completely clueless when it comes to

other people’s feelings, yet it’s important to me

that she learns to care for others. What can I do?

In order for a per-

son to be able to

give lovingly to

someone else,

they need to first

be able to love

themselves.

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when they hear you call a grandparent when they are

not feeling well, or bring something over to your

neighbor, they are seeing what kindness is truly all

about.

Most important of all, of course, is how you relate to

your spouse. ―Shalom Bayis‖ – Hebrew for ―peace in

the home‖ – has the strongest impact on your child’s

development and understanding of social relation-

ships. When a child grows up in an environment where

his/her parents’ relationship is based upon giving to

and thinking about ―another‖, he/she knows what kind-

ness is first-hand. When giving to your spouse or chil-

dren, get into the habit of saying things like: I’m happy

to give it to you. I enjoy doing this for you. I’ll do it with

pleasure.

Give them opportunities to be kind. There

was once a story told of a young woman

who sought advice by a rabbi as to how to

become a ―nicer person‖. The rabbi in-

structed her to make sure to serve some-

one lunch at her university cafeteria each

day. The idea is that once a person does

a small act of kindness for another, it will

encourage more ―nice‖ behavior. This is

what we mean when we say that even

when a child has not yet developed car-

ing feelings, we can still teach them how

to act kindly. As Ethics of our Fathers

writes: ―A Mitzvah (good deed) leads to a Mitzvah.‖

Here are examples of kind acts that you can give to

your child to do: Help them call a grandparent before

Shabbos to say: Good Shabbos! Invite a guest and

plan with your child how to be a good host and make

them feel comfortable. They can be the one to serve

food or bring a drink of water to the guest. I often use

siblings as an opportunity to teach kindness to my chil-

dren. I will ask them to help take care of a child who

was hurt, with a hug, bringing a band-aid or ice - even

if they were not the one who caused the hurt. I will

have them serve each other at mealtime and turn to

each other for help. Teach your children to ask each

other: How can I help you?

Another nice idea is to give your child their very own a

Tzedaka (charity) box into which they drop a coin

each morning. You can decide together where the

money should go to. If your child has an allowance,

you can agree that a portion of it will go into the

Tzedaka box. Take your child along for a visit to a

neighbor or a sick relative with a dish or cake. Ask your

child if there is a sick child in his/her class. Help them

call that friend to see how they are feeling, even if he/

she is not a close friend. Together with your child go

through old toys or clothing and select items in good

condition that can be donated to needy families.

Teach your child to write a warm letter or note to mail

to a relative as a nice surprise.

Again, through these actions and experiences you will

cultivate an appreciation for kind acts whether or not

your child has fully developed a sense of empathy yet

(which will of course, with time, emerge as a result of

repeated exposure to these opportunities).

Screen out any un-kind media or television influences.

Unfortunately, in today’s world, children are usually im-

mersed in the world of television and mov-

ies, which, even when rated G or PG, pro-

mote the opposite of kind behaviors and

attitudes. It is ―funny‖ when someone gets

bopped on the head with a hammer, and

we are meant to laugh when someone is

embarrassed. Without realizing it, parents

willingly allow their children to be edu-

cated by the entertainment industry’s

―morals and values‖. If it is your goal for

your child to develop the sensitivity of kind

behaviors, then it is important to screen

what types of shows or movies your child

watches. Especially when our children are

small, it is easy to control what channels

are ―okay for our family‖ and what are not. To raise

refined children today often requires that parents be

brave enough to choose to say ―no – not in our family.‖

Cultivate emotional sensitivity by talking about feelings

and how they impact us and others. To help your child

develop feelings of empathy, begin by discussing emo-

tions in general – even when children are young. Use a

range of emotional vocabulary (from frustrated to dis-

appointed to worried) to describe how you or your

child is feeling. Point out how others are feeling – and

most importantly – how you can tell. It may seem obvi-

ous to you that a person is feeling hurt, but kids are not

always aware of the body language and facial expres-

sions that reflect different feelings (unless it is very exag-

gerated and strong). Talk about how those feelings

affect us, though do not fall into the habit of using feel-

ings as an excuse for inappropriate behaviors, rather as

a way to understand ourselves and others. When your

child needs to apologize for something that they have

done, explain what it means to feel sorry, not just to say

………………………………………..CONTINUED ON PAGE 8

M O D E R N P A R E N T I N G by Chani Okonov

B‖H

The idea is that once

a person does a

small act of kindness

for another, it will en-

courage more

―nice‖ behavior. As

Ethics of our Fathers

writes: ―A Mitzvah

(good deed) leads

to a Mitzvah.‖

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Cost: Free with paid admission.

Families can create an embossed aluminum book

cover to beautify their haggadah - or other treas-

ured book. Using metal tooling techniques, partici-

pants create raised designs in the decorative re-

pousse style common in traditional silver Judaica to

create a finished product. Bring a book along for

measuring! A pre-workshop look at the exquisite sil-

ver items on display in the exhibition Zero to Ten: First

Decades/New Centuries provides inspiration. RSVP

by email or phone (ext. 8816).

Lefferts Historic House – Spring Cleaning

Daily 04/09/11 - 04/10/11

454 Flatbush Avenue, Brooklyn, NY, 718.789.2822

http://www.prospectpark.org

Ages: 10 & under, Time: 1pm-4pm, Cost: Free

Families can try using the tubs and washboards at

Lefferts Historic House to get the dirt out of 19th cen-

tury reproduction clothing, and learn how Brook-

lynites cleaned without electricity in the 19th cen-

tury.

Manhattan Children's Theatre – Works of Brothers

Grimm

Each Sat, Sun 04/23/11 - 05/30/11

52 White Street, New York, NY, 212.352.3101;

ww.mctny.org

Ages: 4-10,Time: 12n & 2pm

Cost: $20; Priority seating $50

Sleeping Beauty! Tom Thumb! Snow White! Cinder-

ella! All on one stage...in the same show! MTC pre-

sents a show with with more fairy tales for your buck -

hundreds of stories told by only four actors...and in

less than an hour! Order tickets in advance.

Jewish Children’s Museum Brooklyn;

www.jcm.museum Matzah Factory. Children har-

vest the wheat, draw the water and mix, roll & bake

their own Matzas at the museum.

New York City Fire museum

http://www.nycfiremuseum.org/education/

index.htm

Adults $7, Seniors, Students and Children $5

The program consists of two components – class-

room training and a simulated fire event in a mock-

up home environment. After the first one is com-

pleted, the children are given a historical tour of the

Museum’s first floor, ―The Evolution of Firefighting,‖ by

a retired New York City firefighter.

NY Auto Show

Its back! The annual extravaganza of newest and bad-

dest cars and trucks all under one roof will be here from

April 22-May 1, 2011 at the Javitz Center. This year they

plan even more sneak peeks, more brand new '11 &

'12 production models and more concept vehicles

than ever before. Enough said!

Gardening Classes at Brooklyn Botanical Garden

The Discovery Garden offers year-round workshops for

families, free with garden admission. Children and their

caregivers learn about the natural world through fun

activities, plantings, and open-ended exploration.

These workshops are on a drop-in basis—join us at any

point during the afternoon for a quick nature fix! Work-

shops are appropriate for a broad range of ages. Dur-

ing spring break, commemorate Earth Day with a na-

tive plant celebration in the Discovery Garden! Kids will

learn about our wild Brooklyn plants through hands-on

explorations, create a take-home project, and dis-

cover a world of wildflowers throughout the Garden.

April 19, 20, 21, 26 | Drop in 1–3 p.m. Must be super-

vised by an adult. Call 718-623-7342 for more informa-

tion.

Queens County Farm

April 9, 10 and 16, 17CHILDREN'S CARNIVAL, 11:00 am-

6:00pm. Saturday and Sunday. Join us for a carnival in

the apple orchard! Carnival rides, midway games

food, hayrides, and a Magic Show (show times: 2,3,4 &

5 in the barn).

ADMISSION: $10.00 per person all ages to enter the

farm grounds (carnival rides included at no additional

charge).

Celebrate Earth!

April 16–26; 09:30, for All ages

Celebrate the planet we call home! This Spring Break,

learn about the amazing plants, animals, and people

that live here. Participate in activities to keep yourself

and the planet healthy and strong. Go on line and

check age appropriate events on the topic at the mu-

seum. Among them: Creatures of the Sea; Cherry Blos-

som Painting; Live Animal Encounter; Dirt Detectives;

Salt Marsh; Eco Art

Yeshiva University Museum – Passover Activities

Sunday, 04/10/11

15 W. 16th Street, New York, NY, 212.294.8330

http://www.yumuseum.org

Ages: 6 & up, Time: 2pm-4pm

I R E N E ’ S W E E K E N D P I C K S Irene Gabo & Alla Vasserman

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I R E N E ’ S W E E K E N D P I C K S

Happy Feet 4-D Experience, playing daily at the NY

Aquarium! Featured in digital 3-D and brought to life

with 4-D multi-sensory effects, this is an immersive ex-

perience for the whole family to enjoy. Running time

is approximately 19 minutes.

American Museum of Natural History The Largest

Dinosaurs Ever

Daily 04/16/11 - 01/02/12

Central Park West at 79th Street, New York, NY,

212.769.5200

http://www.amnh.org

Ages: All Ages, Time: During museum hours.

Cost: Adults $24; Seniors & Students $18; Children $14

AMNH has always been into dinos in a big way, but

The World's Largest Dinosaurs exhibit takes an even

larger view, offering a glimpse beyond the bones

and into the amazing anatomy of a uniquely super-

sized group of dinosaurs who thrived for 140 million

years: the long-necked and long-tailed sauropods.

Innovative interactive exhibits - including the center-

piece, a life-sized, detailed model of a 60-foot Ma-

menchisaurus - take visitors inside these giants' bod-

ies, shedding light on how heart rate, respiration, me-

tabolism, and reproduction are linked to size.

NYPL Stephen A. Schwarzman Building - Main Branch

– Original Pooh Toys

Daily

5th Avenue and 42nd Street, New York, NY,

212.621.0208 http://www.nypl.org

Ages: All Ages, Time: During regular library hours,

Cost: Free

Families are invited to see the original Winnie-the-

Pooh and four of his best friends - Eeyore, Piglet,

Kanga, and Tigger - now on display at the Children's

Center at 42nd Street. Further information about this

ongoing exhibition, recently moved from its previous

home at the currently shuttered Donnell Library Cen-

ter to grand new quarters in the Stephen A. Schwarz-

man Building, is available online.

Children Museum of Art, NYC

http://cmany.org/intro.php?pn=home

Spring Break arts day camp for young artists ages 6-

12. Full days packed with fun, skills-building classes.

10am-4pm (supervised playtime 9-10am and 4-5pm)

Tuition: $595; $535 for Friend & Community Builder

members

Note: For dates, check with location for exceptions

The Jewish Museum – Maria Kalman, Various Illumina-

tions Daily except Wed 03/11/11 - 07/31/11

1109 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY, 212.423.3337

http://www.thejewishmuseum.org

Ages: 4 & up, Time: During regular Museum hours

Cost: Free with paid admission

The Jewish Museum presents Maira Kalman: Various

Illuminations (of a Crazy World), the first major museum

survey of the work of illustrator, author, and designer

Maira Kalman. A selection spanning thirty years of 100

original paintings, drawings, and sketches are shown

along with the many ways Kalman's whimsical yet

probing imagery has entered contemporary culture? in

books and magazines, and on commercial products

from clothing to watches. Less widely seen works in

photography, embroidery, textiles, and performance

are also included.

Museum at Eldridge Street – Passover Detective

Each Sun 04/03/11 - 04/24/11

12 Eldridge Street, New York, NY, 212.219.0302

contact@eldridgestreet.orghttp://

www.eldridgestreet.org

Ages: 5-10, Time: 1pm, Cost: $15/family

Families can discover why so many immigrants came

to America by embarking on a fun-filled family scaven-

ger hunt throughout the 1887 Eldridge Street Syna-

gogue, which is filled with clues that lead to a special

Passover Freedom party - complete with holiday food,

music, and art making.

Puppetworks – Alice in Wonderland

Each Sat, Sun 01/15/11 - 04/17/11

338 Sixth Avenue, Brooklyn, NY, 718.965.3391

puppetworks@verizon.nethttp://www.puppetworks.org

Ages: 3 & up, Time: 12:30pm & 2:30pm

Cost: Adults $8; Children $7; Groups (20+) $5/person

Lewis Carroll's classic tale is reimagined for marionettes,

with an original song score. Check for additional per-

formances during Presidents Week. Reservations are

suggested.

New York Aquarium – Happy feet 4d experience

Daily 03/05/11 - 05/28/11

Surf Avenue and West 8th Street, Brooklyn, NY,

718.265.FISH http://www.nyaquarium.com

Ages: 3 & up, Time: Daily, visit website or phone for

show times

Cost: $6/person with General Admission; Included with

Total Experience Ticket; WCS Members, free

Put on your dancing shoes and boogie with Mumble in

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B I R T H D A Y P L A C E S & O U T S I D E C L A S S E S

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BIRTHDAY PLACES Irene Gabo

THE PAINTED POT (two locations)

Carroll Gardens, 339 Smith Street, Bklyn, (718) 222-0334

Bay Ridge, 8009 Third Avenue, Bklyn, (718) 491-6411

Voted #1 party location by Nickelodeon, this is a place for

your child and their guests to create wonderful projects

which will be preserved for many years to cherish. Some of

the party ideas implemented are: painting pottery, creating

a mosaic plaque, picture or mirror, pirate painting party

(painting a treasure box, sword, etc), princess painting party

(girls are welcome to arrive in princess attire and paint prin-

cess tiaras and wands), build a buddy party where the chil-

dren create a plush buddy of their choice and many more.

The birthday child receives a plate that the Painted Pot will

decorate with his or her name and will be signed by all the

guests, creating a wonderful keepsake! All pottery is glazed

and put in the oven and can be picked up in about 1 week.

Birthday child and all guests receive a discount coupon for

their next visit to The PaintedPot. The place will provide one

juice box and one slice of pizza for each painter. The aver-

age charge is about $32 per child with pizza or $30 without.

You are free to bring your own cake. I have been to the Bay

Ridge location several times and during the summer they

have a garden in the back where kids work instead of being

inside, which is a wonderful alternative. In addition, while

the kids are entertained the parents are free to bring their

own food (they can offer menus for various restaurants

nearby) and drinks (wine too) and relax in another room.

They can even create their own pottery masterpiece. I

really liked the place because it was very organized but at

the same time very spirited. The kids were laughing and en-

joying every minute, beginning with the time they needed

to pick their piece of pottery to the cake and balloons at

the end. The staff was super helpful and friendly and since

we booked a later time, even closed their store for our party

letting us roam and explore.

QUEENS COUNTY FARM

For reservations please call 718-347-3276, ext 301; or

e-mail info@queensfarm.org.

Escape from the ordinary party gym and let the kids explore

this unique farm. Children's birthday parties are offered from

April to October for children ages 1 to 12. This place is very

busy and I suggest you make your reservation at least two

months in advance and visit the site to see the accommo-

dations. The farm’s staff will take care of all your party

preparations and guide all party activities described below.

The package includes the following party services: invita-

tions, two party hostesses, pizza and juice, soda or bottled

water, personalized cake, •paper goods, a favor for each

child, a gift of the birthday child, tractor-drawn hayride, ani-

mal feeding, farmyard tour and exclusive use of party

space for two-and-a-half hours (the Education Building or

Pavilion based on availability and number of guests). Their

price at $450 for up to 20 children; $20 per additional child

(20 person minimum).

KLUB 4 KIDZ

159 North 4th St, Brooklyn, NY ww.klub4kidz.com

Klub 4 Kidz is an amazing new Brooklyn play space that has

everything from rock climbing to a toddler area and a spa-

cious playground. Kids 3 and up can freely climb the 18-

foot high wall with a day pass (one kid is $12 and two kids

are $20). There is also a playground and rock climbing

combo pass for $20 per kid/per day or a toddler area pass

(kids under 3). Klub 4 Kidz also offers birthday parties, art

classes, and features fun events like free airbrush tattoos or

family brunch. Their Basic Party Package is $425 for up to 12

kids (+Birthday Kid FREE) and the kids will enjoy 1 full hour in

new 4-level indoor playground complete with crawl tubes,

slides, tunnels, and web bridges. Thereafter the kids join the

guest of honor in a fun, private party room. Enjoy 30 min-

utes of music, dancing and games along with delicious

food and dessert! And the best part is each guest received

one FREE pass to return and use their indoor playground!

What sets this place apart from the rest of the party gyms is

that its really brand spanking new, very clean and very

state of art.

Lana Shalumov

AVIATOR

Floyd Bennett Field, 3159 Flatbush Ave| 718-758-7500

The place offers an array of great fun-filled activities for

children of elementary-school age: gymnastics, ice-

skating, basketball, hockey, rock-climbing, sky jump, soccer

and more. For preschool age children they have a sepa-

rate party room filled with climbing and sliding activities.

They offer various party packages oriented for children with

various interests, i.e. ice-skating theme, or gymnastics

theme. Kosher menu is available upon request.

Alla Vasserman

AVE Z PARTY GYM

Avenue Z and East 12th Street| 1-8 yrs

Since 1992, Party Gym has been setting the standard for

children's ―Private Parties.‖ The Company claims its goal is

to afford its customers a safe, clean and family-friendly en-

vironment to have a child’s ―Private Party.‖

The first 40 minutes kids spend playing by themselves. The

place includes the following activities: vertical labyrinth, a

maze, a play area for very small kids, a climbing wall and

more— fun for everyone. During the next 20 minutes two

party hosts come to help children with the stickers and a

ball game. The next hour children spend in a dining area,

where they have pizza (kosher is available), apple juice,

and a Carvel Ice-cream. After the pizza, a party host

dresses up in your choice of character & plays with the kids.

The party is concluded with a bubble show.

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Chani Okonov

FACE PAINTER TO HIRE FOR PARTIES:

http://www.facebook.com/#!/PninaHanoka

Her work is beautiful and she has a great way with children!

Anna Rakhlis

CARMELO THE SCIENCE FELLOW AT COSMIC COVE

300 Atlantic Avenue| 718.722.0000.

A great birthday party place for kids from 4 yrs and above.

During the first 20 minutes the kids spend time with animals

like the blue tongued skink, the corn snakes, gerbils, turtles,

bearded dragons, and more. Kids have a chance to touch

the animals and experience them firsthand. Carmelo uses

fun stories and sense of humor to engage the kids and build

confidence so they can participate. The kids then proceed

into the hands-on experiment part of the party where they

utilize many materials and make some really cool science

projects, like fake snow, glow in the dark putty and more,

which they bring home with them. Food can be ordered in

or provided by the parents.

Nika Khodorkovsky

BROOKLYN CHILDREN’S MUSEUM

http://www.brooklynkids.org/index.php/kidsandfamily/

birthdayparties

The Brooklyn Children's Museum hosts Birthday Parties for

children ages 2-12. There are various seasonal themes that

you can choose from. The packages include the following:

Two-hour experience in the Museum including a one-

hour educational program based on your choice of

theme and an hour in a private Party Room for food,

fun, cake, song, and presents

Themed activities led by our Party Hosts

Food and beverage for 20 people (minimum of 5

adults), plus five additional adult guests FREE!

10‖ birthday cake (larger cake available for an addi-

tional fee)

Party favor for each child

Museum admission for all party attendees

The Museum offers a Kosher option as well, which is pizza,

juice and cake or bagels, juice and cake if it an early morn-

ing party. The firs hour, depending on your choice of theme

is spent in different areas of the museum with certain sec-

tions being closed off just for your party, which is nice. We

celebrated Emy's 4th Birthday at the museum and he par-

ticularly likes the grocery store. During the party all our

guests got exclusive time in the store. The party hosts are

energetic but I would have liked to see them engage the

children more, ask questions, tell them stories about particu-

lar exhibits that they are visiting at that moment. Overall, it is

fun and educational and I would recommend it.

OUTSIDE CLASSES AND ACTIVITIES

Irene Gabo

Camp Olympia| John Jay High School |7th Avenue in Park

Slope | www.campolympiany.com.

Camp Olympia has a very warm swimming pool, which is

great for a young swimmer starting from as early as 6mo

The classes are offered for different skill levels and different

age groups, from 6 months to adult. The lessons are given

once a week for 8 wk period, with evaluation of skill taking

place during 7th week. Camp Olympia offers various swim-

ming schedules throughout the week and on weekends

and you will have approximately one instructor per 4 kids.

They also do birthday parties and hold family swim time on

weekends where the charge is just $5 per person for a 50

minute swim. Women’s lockers and men’s lockers, showers,

bathroom facilities are all available free of charge.

An’s Tae Kwon Do | Kings Highway & W6th| 718-339-5425

This school has existed for over 25 years with two locations

in Brooklyn. They offer introductory classes at $20 for two

weeks, with three 45 minute classes per week. During the

summer the offer is extended to 6 weeks for $100. If the

child likes the classes and family wishes to continue the

cost is $145 per month (10% discount for each additional

child) and the contract is signed for one year. The classes

are offered throughout the week and on Saturday with

most of them scheduled between 4 and 8 p.m. Classes are

for children from 4 years of age to adult and every 2

months, provided the child excels in each of the four cate-

gories tested, he will be given a chance to participate in a

promotion test supervised by Tae Kwon Do Federation to

receive another color belt. The classes are very rigorous

and each of the three days offers a chance to learn either

form, kicking skills or self defense.

Modern School of Soccer – various locations and schedules

throughout Brooklyln. www.themodernschoolofsoccer.com

The school is founded and taught by professional soccer

players and coaches who strive to give your child personal-

ized attention. The classes range from 3-6 children depend-

ing on the location and the weather. During the winter the

school rents gyms inside various schools. The classes are

approximately 45 minutes; instructors try to teach children

how to kick properly, be a goalie and be a team player,

even at a very young age. Bay Ridge location in Owls

Head Park is great, since if you have other kids who are not

participating in the class, there are numerous playgrounds,

basketball courts and skateboard facility nearby.

CONTINUED ON THE NEXT PAGE

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B I R T H D A Y P L A C E S & O U T S I D E C L A S S E S

8

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B I R T H D A Y P L A C E S & O U T S I D E C L A S S E S

Alla Vasserman

Shorefront Y Lenny Swimming School| 347-689-1846

Cost: $18 per 25 mins paid monthly; Private lessons are avail-

able for $50 per 30 mins. The school is structured by compe-

tence levels. The groups are small, and if you go during the

week, you have a chance of getting personalized attention

for a group price. The place is clean and friendly. To place

your child in a group you should schedule a test that will

take about 10 minutes.

Brooklyn Gymnastics on Bath Ave| 718-232-6444

Max capacity of a class is 8 people. The teachers are very

attentive and professional to each child, given the time and

number of students. Some teachers speak Russian. There is

a professional, clean, and relatively new equipment. A les-

son starts with a warm up and continues to various activities

that may or may not vary depending on the lesson or the

teacher. It is structured in the way that when one student

performs, others are involved in less strenuous activities that

require minimum supervision. Children try hard and enjoy

their time in class.

Anna Ashurov

Kings Bay Y Dancing and Swimming| 718-648-7703

Kings Bay Y, located on Nostrand Ave and Ave U, offers a

great variety of classes for kids. My child attended swim-

ming and dance lessons. Y’s Academy of Dance is taught

by Oleg Trebunski, a world-renowned dance master with

over 30 years of experience and the coach and father of

2nd place winner of Dancing With the Stars, Oleg is great

with kids and makes it fun and exciting. Beginner classes

involve parent participation, while older kids dance profes-

sional ballroom dance and perform at local and national

competitions. Oleg teaches all ages, from kids to elderly.

Swimming lessons are taught by various instructors in differ-

ent forms—group or personalized lessons for all ages. Tod-

dler lessons include introduction to breathing patterns and

control, submersion in the water, comfort on the back, kick-

ing, reaching, grabbing, and arm movement, while older

kids learn how to flutter kick in proper streamline position,

freestyle swim, backstroke and breaststroke , butterfly swim,

& more. More details can be found at www.kingsbayy.org.

Irina Rakhlis

Aviator Sports| Ice Skating | 718-758-7514

Aviator Sports and Events Center offers a great ice skating

experience in New York City. The Aviator Ice Academy is

affiliated with U.S. Figure Skating and offers classes for skat-

ers of all ages and abilities. There are classes for tots, youth,

adults, teens, beginning hockey, and skaters starting their

competitive careers. Aviator Sports and Recreation provides

group lesson and private lessons . Coaches range from

Learn To Skate Specialists through Olympic level coaches.

My children attend private lessons. Cost of private lessons is

$45 per 30mins. The instructor my kids skate with is Michael

Shmerkin (Phone: 540-520-8160; Email:

MShmerkin@gmail.com ). He is an excellent instructor and

has a great way with children.

―I’m sorry.‖ If at first your child does not seem to

pay attention – don’t be discouraged. The em-

pathy will come with time.

Train them to be kind to their parents. Children

can show kindness to their parents by greeting

them when they come home, saying thank you

for food that you prepare, asking you about your

day, helping you carry your packages, bringing

you something to eat/drink, holding the door

open for you and so on.

Even though you may feel that it is not so impor-

tant to you personally if your children do these

things for you, it is part of the overall way in

which you train your child to think about others.

The best way to do this is for each parent to

teach their child to behave in this way to the

other parent. This way, you aren’t asking your

child to be kind to you - which can feel cheesy -

but rather to your spouse (which will further en-

hance the ―Shalom Bayis‖, peace in the home).

I would point out that it is okay to make your chil-

dren aware of your needs and feelings - but do

not expect them to care about them so much

that they will give up those things that they feel

strongly about themselves. For example, it is

good for them to be told things like ―I’m feeling

tired. Can you play quietly while I rest?‖, but I

find that trying to evoke their sympathy as a way

to get them to stop misbehavior can sometimes

be ineffective.

Kindness is in our genes. Judaism describes

that our forefather Avraham had three unique

qualities which were so ingrained in his per-

sona that he passed these traits along to his

children as spiritual DNA. Therefore, the rabbis

of the Talmud considered Jews to be distin-

guished by these three characteristics: mod-

esty, compassion and doers of kindness. So,

though being kind can sometimes feel like it is

―going against our nature‖, the ability to care

for others is actually innate by each of us and

by our children. Our role is only to bring that

quality to the surface.

M O D E R N P A R E N T I N G C o n t i n u e d

9

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P A S S O V E R F A V O R I T E S Compiled by Anna Ashurov

Matzo Balls Soup

For many years, matzo ball soup has been

joked about with such aliases as "Jewish

chicken soup" or "Jewish penicillin". Matzo ball

soup has been part of Jewish culture for centu-

ries whose history is unclear yet, as a culture,

Jews cannot imagine Passover without it.

Ingredients

3 eggs, separated

3 Tbsp. olive oil

2 Tbsp. seltzer water

1½ cups Kosher for Pesach

matzoh meal

1 Tbsp. fresh dill, chopped

1 Tbsp. fresh parsley, chopped

1 Tbsp. fresh thyme leaves

1 scallion, minced

½ tsp. salt

⅛ tsp. ground black pepper

9 cups canned chicken stock

2 cloves garlic, cut and pressed

1 carrot, peeled and shredded

2 stalks celery, thinly sliced

1 large onion, studded with three cloves

1 bay leaf

a bit of oil and water

In a blender, combine egg yolks, olive oil, and

seltzer water. In a separate bowl, beat the egg

whites until stiff. Slowly pour in egg yolk mixture.

Add the matzoh meal, dill, parsley, thyme, scal-

lion, salt, and pepper. Refrigerate mixture for 45

minutes, or longer if time allows. Meanwhile, in

a large saucepan, combine chicken stock,

garlic, carrot, celery, onion with cloves, and

bay leaf, then bring to a rapid boil. Reduce

heat; cover and simmer.

Wet hands with a bit of oil or water and form

small balls out of the matzoh mixture. (Do not

make them too large, since they expand

greatly in cooking.) If the mixture seems too

wet, add more matzoh meal. Gently lower

balls into the simmering stock. Cover and sim-

mer once again, this time for 30–45 minutes. Do

not uncover the pot while cooking. Remove

bay leaf and clove-studded onion, and serve

hot.

Yield: 6 servings

Classic Gefilte Fish

At the time of the Mishna (200 CE), rabbis

deemed it meritorious to eat fish on the Sab-

bath and Jews became accustomed to eating

fish at festive meals. Due to the plethora of riv-

ers in Europe, Ashkenazi Jews tended to cook

with freshwater fish. Eastern European Jews

would make a mixture of chopped fish, stuff it

back into the skin of the fish, and boil it. The

word gefilte means stuffed in Yiddish.

Ingredients:

FISH BALLS

2 pounds of fish fillets (mix of carp, whitefish,

haddock, yellow pike and/or cod)

2 carrots

1 onion

2 eggs, well-beaten

1/2 cup matzo meal

1-2 tablespoon sugar

1 tablespoon salt

1/2 teaspoon pepper

cold water may be added if needed to get

the mixture to stick together

FISH STOCK

8 cups of water

4 carrots

2 onions

2 tablespoons sugar

2 tablespoons salt

2 teaspoons pepper

fish bones and heads

1. Mince fish in a food processor. Grind car-

rots and onion in food processor.

2. In a bowl, combine ground fish and vege-

tables with the eggs. In a separate bowl,

mix matzo meal, sugar, salt and pepper.

Combine the two mixes and beat until

light. Cover and chill for one hour.

3. Boil a large pot of fish stock.

4. With wet hands, take 3 tablespoons of the

fish mixture at a time and roll into ovals.

5. Gently add gefilte fish to the boiling fish

stock. Make sure the stock covers the fish

balls. Simmer, uncovered, for two hours.

Water should be added if needed to keep

the fish balls covered.

6. Remove the fish balls, carrots and onions

from the fish stock. Cool. Refrigerate.

10

By Alla Vasserman

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Interview with Gabriella Levitis

First Grade Teacher (General Studies)

Morah Gaby has been teaching 1st grade in public

and private schools for the past four years. She is an

energetic, enthusiastic and innovative educator who

is committed to reaching out to children and making

an impact. She is dedicated to seeking out new ways

to improve instruction, link learning with fun, and

equip children with the resources and knowledge

necessary to exceed individual goals. She also pos-

sesses strong interpersonal and communication skills,

and is able to build relationships with diverse popula-

tions of students, parents and colleagues.

Tell us a little bit about yourself:

My name is Morah Gaby and I’m the 1st grade gen-

eral studies teacher. I have been teaching 1st grade

in public and private schools for the past four years. I

received my Bachelor’s degree in Marketing

Management and Master’s degree in Early Childhood

Education from Long Island University.

Why did you decide to go into teaching?

I had an amazing experience throughout my elemen-

tary education. I loved going to school each day. I

became a teacher because it is my goal to create an

environment that makes my students feel the same

way. I hope that my students will feel empowered to

learn and have confidence to move forward to learn

great things. I would like my students to develop a

deep love of learning and not be shy to ask questions.

I also hope to teach them how to be open-minded

and understand that knowledge comes from every-

where.

Do you have a favorite school memory?

My favorite memory from my own educational experi-

ence is from fourth grade. I had a teacher who was so

enthusiastic it was infectious. She always had a smile

on her face. Most importantly she was approachable

and understanding. Every day at school was a new

surprise!

What made you decide to work at Mazel?

After meeting with Chani and hearing her vision for

the school and seeing the pas-

sion of the other teachers, I be-

came convinced that this was

the place where I could grow

as a teacher and make the

biggest impact.

Which do you think are the

school’s strongest sides and

why do you think Mazel is a

good elementary school?

Small class sizes, caring teach-

ers, incredibly strong

support from school leadership. I worked in both

public and private schools and I have never wit-

nessed such commitment from school leaders to the

children and their needs. The school is always look-

ing at new

programs to improve education in the classrooms

and ways to enrich their lives.

How we, as parents, can prepare our kids for the

transition from Kindergarten to first grade?

Practice reading, writing sentences and most impor-

tantly talk to your children. Explain to them that they

are getting bigger and first grade will be very excit-

ing. They will learn new and interesting things and will

have lots of fun. They will be going into a new room,

in a different building with new teachers, but they

should be excited and their new teachers will make

sure that they will be happy.

What subjects are offered during the first grade? How

much time do you spend on each?

Reading workshop – Daily

Writing workshop – 3 times per week

Math – Daily

Science – 1 to 2 times per week

Social Studies – Once per week

Work period (i.e. Phonics, spelling, poetry and

grammar)

What do you do to help a pupil who is constantly be-

hind in class?

I work with the child one on one to help them with

their areas of weakness. I also make sure that the

parents are involved from the start. We modify the

T E A C H E R I N T E R V I E W

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T E A C H E R I N T E R V I E W by Alla Vassernan

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work for the child who needs help.

How we, parents, may boost at home what our kids

learn with you at school? Would you recommend any

special books for the home study? What is our role at

homework preparation?

Review with them when they do their homework. Ask

them what they learned at school. Please remember

that homework assignments are to reinforce what

your child learned that day. The parent should be

there to offer guidance during homework. Don’t pres-

sure the child instead encourage them.

What do you think is the most fascinating and the

most difficult for kids at this age?

At this age children are very curious and open to new

ideas. We must always remember that even though

they are no longer kindergarteners, they are still small

and get tired and lose focus much faster than older

children.

What do you value most about Mazel?

I value the positive working atmosphere and the

balanced outlook on education; I think there is a

healthy blend of traditional and progressive styles. The

curriculum is current, and is constantly monitored and

reevaluated for relevancy. There is also a low student-

teacher ratio which really allows the teacher to dis-

cern individual learning styles and cater to their

needs.

What communication dynamics between parents and

teachers will assure that the both sides keep track of a

child’s success and obstacles?

Parent teacher communication is very important. To

ensure this, all of the teachers have an email address

which they monitor on a regular basis. All of the

teachers will reply as soon as they are able to. You

can also send a note with your children, set-up an

appointment to discuss any concerns which you may

have. I am a parent as well, and understand the con-

cerns which you may have.

Do you have a list of books that you suggest for the

current K students to read during the summer?

I can suggest a list of Authors whose books I find to be

very interesting for children:

Kevin Henkes

Mem Fox

Tomie DePaola

Laura Joffe Numeroff

Jan Brett

What would you like to say to the parents of your fu-

ture students?

I am very excited to meet you and your children. I

will always be available and my goal is to make sure

that your children get a positive and fun educational

experience. Their success is my main goal. Teaching

is a passion for me; it is something I embrace whole-

heartedly.

FIRST GRADE CLASS IN ACTON

FIRST G

RA

DE G

ETS

A N

EW

CLA

SS P

ET: H

ER

MIT C

RA

BS

AT THE

MODEL

MATZAH

BAKERY

12

By Alla Vasserman

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Dear Parents,

This month we are featuring an inter-

view with Sharona Silva, Daniella’s

mom (Nursery), makeup artist and

creator of high-end skincare prod-

ucts.

Please tell us a little bit about yourself.

I live in the Manhattan Beach area,

with my husband Max, and daugh-

ters, Danielle (Dani-3 years old) & Abi-

gail (Abby-14 months old). I work part-

time for NY State, and I’m also a freelance Makeup Artist. I

mostly do airbrush makeup, and specialize in bridal

makeup, for brides, and bridal parties. I also write weekly

columns for The Jewish Press on beauty tips.

About Mazel—why did you choose the school?

Our friends spoke highly of the school, and it was so close

to home it just made sense.

What do you like most about Mazel?

There are so many aspects of the school that we like. First

of all, Dani loves to go to school, and is sad if she has to

miss school for whatever reason. I love the fact that the

school has a warm and inviting environment. I love the

idea that we have PTA, and although they’ve been

around for only two years, I feel that they are really impor-

tant and have accomplished a lot. The meetings help us

see our children in a different light. We each have a part

in molding characters of our children. I feel that if we in-

corporate the things that children learn in the classroom

and at home we will become partners in making the chil-

dren’s learning experience the best possible.

About your calling. You are a makeup artist and run your

own business. Please tell us how and why you chose your

profession?

I became interested in the makeup field when I was get-

ting married almost 6 years ago. I remember going to a

makeup artist to buy some makeup, and she showed me

some techniques as to how to apply colors. Since then I

would buy eye shadows, lip colors etc., and play around

with different looks. It was something I saw myself capable

of doing. Makeup is fun, and I like working with people. So

I’ve decided to take makeup courses and pursue my pas-

sion more seriously.

You designed your own cosmetics line. You have

successfully taken a road that other very famous Jewish

women and men did. I am talking about Helena Rubin-

stein, Estée Lauder (née Mentzer), Charles Revson

(founder of Revlon). Please introduce your products. Why

did you want to create a cosmetics line? What do you like

about your products? What does it mean to create your

own line?

As of right now I have my own skincare line. I like that my

products have mostly natural ingredients, and that I carry

products for all types of skin—oily, dry, normal and sensi-

tive . One thing people often ask me is how I came up

with my own skincare line. I work with a lab. I tell them

what I’m looking for for each skin type and what I want

the products to achieve. I also tell them if I want any

special scents or extracts in the product, such as green

tea, honey, avocado oil or even lavender.

I do plan on having a full line of makeup products in the

very near future that will include custom color founda-

tion, eye shadows, lip colors, blushes. All my products are

only highest quality and are more affordable for the av-

erage woman, or a bride to be than the leading brands

such as MAC, Estée Lauder etc. I like to help clients to

buy products and colors that will enhance their features.

After all I always stress that makeup is to enhance your

best features and not to ―makeup‖ for what you don’t

have. I’ve decided to carry my own skincare line mainly

because of my clientele, which happens to be mostly

brides.

An average Mazel mom is a working, with three small

kids, Jewish parent. How would you persuade her to put

some makeup daily? And if you did, but she only has one

minute for this ritual, what steps is she supposed to take

for best results? What products do you recommend?

Mornings are pretty hectic; the last thing you want to

think about is makeup. In my recent article in The Jewish

Press called ―The 10 Minute Face‖ I described a basic

makeup application which included applying founda-

tion, concealer, blush, eyeliner, mascara, lipstick or lip

gloss. Or buy a travel size makeup bag with mentioned

above basics and apply it later on during the day. My

must have product is mascara which is known to com-

plete the ―look‖. I also love to carry in my bag a tinted

moisturizer. It hydrates, adds a light coat of foundation,

and can be applied on the face with your hands just like

any cream or lotion. I use one made by Laura Mercier.

For a one minute makeup I recommend to apply a tinted

moisturizer, eyeliner, curl the lashes and apply mascara.

Now our woman has to update her look from a casual to

a more sophisticated one to surprise her husband over

the dinner. Please walk us through the steps of this transi-

tion.

To get ready for a dinner date with hubby, right after

work, the additional steps would now be to apply:

Blush on the apples of the cheek and some bronzer

right below the cheek bone. To find where to apply

the bronzer, suck in the cheeks and apply a touch of

bronzer in the hollows of the cheek, just below the

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blush.

Apply some eye shadow at least two colors (can be

same color just one should be a little darker then the

fist, to create dimension to the eye). Don’t be afraid

to use darker shades – two shades darker than what

you would wear during the day so they are visible in

the dim lights.

Line your lips with lip liner and apply lip color of the

same color or close to it. Don’t have too high of a

contrast, it can make the lips appear smaller, rather

than fuller. Add a touch of lip gloss to the center of

the lips.

Now we can turn to a young beautiful khala who is getting

ready for her wedding day. It is well known that behind a

perfect makeup is a perfect canvas – her healthy skin.

How and how long in advance our khala should start to

prepare her skin for the big day?

Let’s face it, when young most of us don’t think about the

skin unless we see visible issues such as acne. Only then

we start caring about it in a regular basis. Most people

think that when it comes to the makeup all they need to

look stunning is a quality makeup and a really good

Makeup Artist. Although, that may be true, but if the

―canvas‖ is not ―flawless‖ then the products and colors

just don’t sit right. I will usually suggest to my brides to start

using skincare regimens at least one month before the

wedding, so the skin can get used to my product, and

start healing the skin so it can be blemish free, (or almost

blemish free but that can easily be covered up) and well

hydrated .

What services do your offer for your clients?

As I’ve mentioned before, the specialty that I offer to my

clients, is the application of airbrush makeup. Airbrush

makeup has been around for at least 30 years in Holly-

wood, and has been used on models and actors to cre-

ate that flawless skin. Airbrush makeup is so lightweight

that even 5 layers of airbrush foundation will feel like 1

layer of your average liquid foundation. Another thing

that I offer to the bride or any other client is the applica-

tion of false lashes. I include that into the price of the ser-

vice, because I feel it ―opens up‖ the eye and gives it that

final touch. The first thing people think of when they hear

false lashes is Mini Mouse, but it doesn’t need to be that

dramatic. It can be very thin, very separated lashes, that

make your eye look like it has full lashes, and that of

course gives off a very youthful look.

In one of your articles for The Jewish Press you were talk-

ing about Inglot cosmetics that you use on your clients.

Why did you pick this brand? How our Mazel mom should

pick the cosmetics for herself?

I chose to write about Inglot because I found its products

to be high quality with pigmented colors that will last a

long time, both on the face and in your

makeup bag, because a little goes a long

way, and it’s not as expensive as MAC. I

don’t have a favorite brand, simply because

I find different things that I like from different

companies. My makeup kit that I use on cli-

ents includes products by MAC, Inglot, Bene-

fit, Laura Mercier along with a couple of

drugstore products. You’re asking me how a Mazel Mom

should choose her makeup. Well, she should take in a

few things into consideration like:

Budget that will help her determine where to shop.

Then, what is it that she wants to enhance. If she

loves the way her lips look, then she should focus on

buying lip colors, etc. To choose an eye shadow that

complements her eye color she may use the color

theory—blue compliments orange, green—reds,

purple—yellow. So for those moms that have blue

eyes, try coral colors. You can never go wrong with

the neutral colors which are browns, grays/silvers,

and white. Stay away from blues/greens—they will

take away from the eye color versus enhance them.

Green eyed moms go for pinks, purples/plum colors,

gold looks very nice with green and neutrals as well.

Blue—eyed should stay away from greens/blues—it

will take away from your eye color versus enhance it.

Brown—eyed moms can go with any color they

want, since brown is a neutral color and will blend

nicely with any color, even browns.

Last tip I would suggest is, if you like the product buy

it, don’t mind if the look is not ―in‖ for that season, if

you feel great, and like the way you look, then that’s

all that matters.

What do you think of an idea to lead a workshop for

Mazel’s moms where you share some beauty tips and

techniques? Would you offer a discount for your products

and services for Mazel moms?

The idea of doing a makeup/skin care product workshop

could be a lot of fun. For example, I can demonstrate

how airbrushing works and how to achieve certain looks.

I will offer a 20% discount to Mazel moms on my skin care

products.

What are some final recommendations to our female

readers? I would just like to emphasize the importance of

taking care of your skin; on a daily basis not just when a

―problem‖ arises. Also have fun experimenting, if you are

afraid of risk, then go to a makeup store such as Sephora,

where they have testers of all products available, and

play around with colors, see what you feel works best for

you.

And remember—makeup is washable so don’t be afraid

of color.

14

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When your Passover table is filled with boisterous

youngsters who get fidgety before it's time to recite the Ma

Nishtana, the evening may begin to feel longer than those

infamous years of slavery in Egypt, and filled with more tears

than the salt water intended.

But don't fret; your liberation from bondage is closer than

you think. The following offers a guide of creative ideas for

frazzled parents who seek to inspire every kind of child, in-

cluding the wise one, the simple one, the one who is too

young to ask and, well, I'm not even going to mention the

fourth one.

First, you have to set the

scene; I always make my

table child-friendly by setting

the table with Passover

paraphernalia such as plastic

frogs, red water colored with red wine or grape juice

(blood), sunglasses (darkness), ping pong balls (hail), masks

and other and plague-related odds and ends.

Just as you invite all of those who are hungry, don't

forget to invite your children to share. Welcome your

children to bring their own Haggadahs to the table and

share what they have learned with everyone else.

As you set your table with your finest Passover china and

crystal, don't leave out the most important

display – the handmade pillows, seder plates and crafts

your progeny created in school this year and in previous

years.

Try to reward good questions, singing, readings and stories

with something special. This way, they will pay attention to

the proper place in the Haggadah. I have found that this

technique keeps everyone alert.

Some people charge the children at their seder with the

task of producing a Pesach-related skit. All the children can

be given a part to play from the

Haggadah, along with props, such as toy frogs and plastic

bugs to add more realism and dramatic flair. The activity

has the added benefit of requiring a

certain amount of planning away from the table,

affording the adults an opportunity for higher level conver-

sation.

Some have the custom of marching

around the table with either a piece of

matza or a heavy load of items on their

back. This helps us to fulfill the mitzvah of

the Seder, which requires us to feel and

act as if we have personally experi-

enced liberation from slavery.

Similarly, some people dress up like slaves and walk around

the table to reenact the Jews' Exodus from Egypt. But you

don't have to end with your journeys through the dessert

around your table.

A scavenger hunt through the Haggadah will also keep

everyone on their toes; you can give your seder partici-

pants a list of words or characters to find as they read

through the Haggadah.

One family I know ends their seder with an energetic round

of the song "Who Knows One," complete with elaborate

hand motions. It certainly helped that they drank four cups

of wine first!

When children are involved in seder preparations, it gives

them a sense of ownership Generating enthusiasm for the

seder can begin before the matzah and herbs are even

brought to the table. When children are involved in seder

preparations, it gives them a sense of ownership in the

event. There are little jobs you can give them to help

prepare, such as getting the salt water and bitter herbs

ready. It may even encourage them to stick around at the

table longer.

One family I know prepares a treasure hunt in advance,

with clues to finding their missing afikomen. The adults are

forced to participate whether they like it or not because

without the afikomen, the seder cannot be completed.

If you successfully follow some of the suggestions above,

you might get the ultimate

compliment at the end of

the meal. The children just

might say, "Next Year--at your

table--in Jerusalem."

Other suggestions:

Paper bag dramatics.

You can make parts of the Haggadah come alive by

giving kids a bag of random materials. They must act

out the part of the Haggadah using the materials. This

can be done for the Ten Plagues as well.

Make the Ten Plagues come alive by throwing some-

thing out on the table for each one. For blood, put col-

ored cups of water around the table. For frogs, throw

around little toy frogs, etc.

Act out traditional Passover songs, such as Dayenu.

Dress up in robes or sheets to create the look of slaves.

Create a scavenger hunt out of the frogs that you

have hidden around the house during the day.

Jump over a low bucket filled with water to recreate

the splitting of the sea.

Get some sacks for the kids to pull around; fill with wa-

ter bottles and then reenact the exodus from Egypt.

INFORMATION IS REPRINTED FROM WWW.CHABAD.ORG.

ARTICLE IS WRITTEN BY DEENA YELLIN.

T I P S T O C R E A T E A K I D - F R I E N D L Y S E D E R

When children are

involved in seder

preparations, it

gives them a sense

of ownership.

Don't forget to in-

vite your children

to share.

15

B‖H

THERE IS A LIBRARY based in Western

Massachusetts that you don't visit; it

comes to you. The PJ Library (PJ for

Pajamas) is a program of the Harold

Grinspoon Foundation in partnership

with local Jewish communities. Its

goal is to support the Jewish journeys

of families raising young children.

Knowing that families read together in the quiet

moments before bedtime, when kids are in their PJs

and getting ready for sleep, the program's founders

thought, "Why not make these moments Jewish

moments"?

The PJ Library program mails free, high-quality Jewish

children's books and music to families across North

America on a monthly basis, helping them explore the

timeless core values of Judaism.

The PJ Library is offered in participating communities

on a first-come, first-served basis. The PJ Library is open

to all families with children ages 6 months to five-and-

a-half years.

You can find more information on how to enroll online.

There are a few locations in Brooklyn, so children from

the South Brooklyn area can be added to the list and

enjoy free age-appropriate books and CD’s on

Judaism.

Courtesy of Anna Blikshteyn-Khavulya

Thank you to those that came out to the F.R.E.E. Purim

in the 60’s Party. Through raffle donations we raised

about $350 to benefit the playground. Just another

step closer to our goal!

Every month we will publish business cards of the par-

ents that wish to advertise their services. If you wish

to advertise in the future issues, please do not hesi-

tate to contact the Editorial Staff at

mazelnewsletter@gmail.com.

This month we feature:

YELENA DIGILOVA (Eliana’s Grandma), owner of

specialty medical center.

SHARONA SILVA (Dani’s Mom), makeup artist and

creator of high-end skincare products.

MILANA FELDMAN (Etelle and Dovid Moshe’s

Mom) at Zori’s Fashion women’s wear

E D I T O R ’ S C O R N E R

PARENT SPOTLIGHT THE PJ LIBRARY

PURIM RAFFLE—THANK YOU!

16

SP

EC

IAL TH

AN

KS

W E A P P R E C I A T E I T . . .

B‖H

MAZEL DAY SCHOOL 2901 - 2915 Brighton 6th St

Brooklyn, NY 11235

Phone: 718-368-4490

E-mail:

mazelnewsletter@gmail.com

We’re on the web!

www.mazeldayschool.com

QUALITY RUSSIAN-JEWISH

PRIVATE SCHOOL

CARTOON OF THE MONTH A special note of appreciation to those parents who made

gift donations to school over the past month… The Rozin

family (Kindergarten) donated a matching sound game…

the Goloborodsky family donated a Curious George Book

Set to Kindergarten… the Kurlander family (Pre-Nursery) do-

nated a Passover Kit… the Permyak family (First Grade) do-

nated $100 worth of Scholastic Books!

Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!

Whether you want to give a gift to your child's class in honor

of his/her birthday or just because... check out your class's

online wish list of carefully selected items that will be greatly

appreciated and used by your child's teachers.

MO

NTH

IN P

ICTU

RES

CELEBRATING PURIM

FIRST AND SECOND GRADE BRING PURIM SPIRIT TO SHALOM SENIOR CENTER

F.R

.E.E

. PU

RIM

IN TH

E 6

0’S

PA

RTY