A new initiative from one of Israel’s most highly recognized and accomplished developers of educational materials is now helping to enrich Diaspora students in Hebrew-speaking skills through a new approach to the weekly Torah portion.
The program, ‘Parsha Adventures with SlowMo,’ was developed by the Jerusalem-based TALI Education Fund and distributed by Israel Connection, an educational resource company.
Specifically designed for children in the lower elementary grades, the program involves ‘SlowMo’ — a cartoon turtle (a take on the Hebrew name Shlomo) who leads the students through the educational process.
Margalit Kavenstock, of the TALI Fund and the Language Consultant for the program, says the program brings authentic materials from Jewish and Israeli culture in the context of the weekly Torah portion while expanding familiarity and connection with Israel. The target audience is day school students who are advanced beginners or at low intermediate level of the language.
Dena Thaler of the TALI Fund, Director of Department of Educational Resources, stresses the program is not meant to replace Hebrew instruction or any dedicated Torah study, but rather is intended to be a tool and a more captivating way to experience the weekly Torah portion. The curriculum is not geared to any specific level of religious observance or Jewish denomination.
The course is designed for 38 individual weeks, charting the school year from September through June. Each week, the students are presented with a letter in English introducing the week’s lesson with concepts attached to the Torah portion.
Guided by their turtle-friend ‘SlowMo’ the individual elements focus on sections from the text, short language exercises, a “multi-disciplinary section” which allows for lessons in topics like art appreciation, quizzes, a brief cartoon and then a section connecting between the weekly portion and the modern State of Israel.
“This initiative acts as an ideal avenue to help schools enrich their students in Hebrew language, familiarity with Israel and an appreciation for the Parsha in a fun, creative and dynamic way that works for students of all types of Jewish backgrounds,” says Mickey Katzburg, CEO of Israel Connection. “This is the type of program that can significantly enhance the students’ appreciation for these topics and their attachment to Israel.”