No.16, Spring 2008
|
Journal of
the Babylonian Jewry Heritage Center No.16, Spring 2008 |
Pnina Shaham:
MUESEUM'S EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS
The actors Noa Spector with visiting children in the museum
The Education and Instruction Department published a detailed brochure for the school year 2005-2006 in which schools around the country were informed of the programs available for classes interested in visiting the Museum. The tastefully-designed brochure was received very favorably.
Today the Babylonian Jewry Heritage Center’s Department of education and instruction is about to complete the construction of thirteen new exhibitions and the preparation of new instruction topics at the Museum. The philosophy behind the new topics is that instruction at the Museum should be based on a pluralistic-universal approach which promotes unity among all sections of our people.
In the list given below we present the various topics and to which classes they are most appropriate.
In-Depth Heritage Studies: appropriate to all classes.
A Journey into the Past – from Diaspora to Revival: 5th-12th grade.
The Spiritual Center in Babylonia: 5th-12th grade.
Jewish Community Institutions in Babylonia: 7th-8th grade.
Emigration/the Distribution of Babylonian Jewry: 9th-12th grade.
Aliyah and Absorption: 7th-8th grade.
Roots, Aliyah and Absorption: 5th-9th grade.
From the Land of Birth to the Homeland, Zionist Activity in Iraq: 7th-12th grade.
Tools for the Young Historian: 4th-7th grade.
Reminiscences of Baghdad, Babylonian Journeys: 4th-9th grade.
Oriental Jewry, a Cross-Cultural Encounter: 6th-12th grade.
The Jewish Life Cycle, My Life in the Community and Our House in the Jewish Quarter, 1st-6th grade.
Life under Islam: 6th-10th grade.
The Holidays, the Jewish Annual Cycle: 1st-6th grade.
Getting Your First Torah Book, the Siddur Celebration: 1st-2nd grade.
Bar and Bat Mitzvah: 7th-8th grade.
The Synagogue: 1st-8th grade.
The Synagogue as Spiritual Center in the Diaspora: 7th-12th grade.
The End of an Exiled Community, the Jews of Iraq after the Mass Aliyah: 9th-12th grade.
Jewish Education in Iraq, Traditional Institutions vs. Modern Education: 9th-12th grade.
From an Artistic Perspective, Our History through Art: 6th grade.
The topics are presented with the help of visual aids such as films and slide shows, a rich variety of activity sheets, puzzles, dramatizations, workshops, “visual dialogues” (presentation of rare photographs from our archive followed by a discussion), storytellers, listening to prayers and religious poetry.
The Center receives numerous letters of thanks and appreciation from groups that have visited the Museum. Obviously we cannot mention them all here, but here are some examples:
Yehuda Shohat (Yoel) from Petach-Tikva wrote: “It was a wonderful visit in every way. We were especially moved by our mother’s biography, delightfully presented by Noa with great talent. I would like to thank you in the name of our family, especially the second, third and fourth generations, who discovered in the Center a spiritual and educational home, guardian of the values of our great Jewish community”.
Perah Mizrahi and Beracha Rahamim, who ran the Ramat HaShikma club, with members from every corner of the globe, wrote: “For many of us the visit was like going back in time. Each one of us found a memory, a sight, a picture which reminded him or her of their childhood or youth, from where they originally came. We are particularly thankful to the young women who accompanied us throughout our visit, Ayelet, Pnina and Noa.
