Exploring the Big Ideas of Sukkot Through Stories Presenter: Maxine Handelman
We will explore the “Big Ideas” of Sukkot, and then learn strategies to explore this holiday with young children using stories as a vehicle. We will play with traditional Sukkot stories, secular books that embody the Big Ideas of the holiday, and even dabble in using your own stories to explore Sukkot. These strategies can then be applied to every holiday!This breakout session is appropriate for teachers of grades Pre-K - 2. It will run from 9:35 am to 10:30 am.
Poppy Seed or Plain: 101 Things You Never Knew About Challah Presenter: Maxine Handelman
Know why we cover the challah on the Shabbat table? Why some people sprinkle some salt on the challah, but others use honey? Are you a ripper or a cutter? Want to impress your friends with a five-strand challah? Every wonder if chocolate-chip pumpkin challah is kosher for Shabbat? And WHY do we have two challot for Shabbat dinner?? With answers to these and more questions, your K-2nd graders will be inspired by you to sweeten their own Shabbat tables. This breakout session is appropriate for teachers of grades Pre-K - 2. It will run from 10:40 am to 11:35 am.
Maxine Segal Handelman is the Early Childhood Education Specialist for the United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism. Never one to rest on her laurels, Max holds an M.A. in Jewish Education from the Rhea Hirsch School of Education of the Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion, and an M.A. in Early Childhood Education from Pacific Oaks College. She holds the titles of Reform Jewish Educator (RJE), and Conservative Jewish Educator (CJE), and she worked for many years for the JCCs of Chicago, so she knows how to play nicely in the sandbox with everyone. Max bakes a mean challah, and she is passionate about chocolate. Max is the author of Jewish Every Day: The Complete Handbook for Early Childhood Teachers, The Shabbat Angels, What’s Jewish About Butterflies and other resources for Jewish educators. She is always working on her next book. Max is a professional storyteller, and is celebrating 20 years as the Young Families Educator at Anshe Emet Synagogue in Chicago, where she lives with her husband Jacob and their two daughters, Ariana and Yael.
