Hebrew School

Chabad's newest project inspires children to learn Hebrew

By Shani McManus
Journal Staff Writer

Anyone who thinks Hebrew school has to be arguably boring, hasn't checked out the Jewish School of the Arts, says Chani Ezagui, director of the inventive school located at Chabad House Lubavitch of Palm Beach.

"If we want to get through to children these days, we need to tune into their lifestyles and ways of learning through things that keep them entertained and highly motivated," she says.

The school offers a variety of extracurricular activities, including computer instruction with advanced Jewish computer programs; Jewish ceramics and sculpture; piano and violin lessons; photography instruction, complete with dark room; and culinary arts where children learn the art of Jewish cooking, Ezagui says. The staff members are all professionals in their fields of expertise, and understand developmental issues applicable to the age level of each individual child, she says.

The newest project at the school is its "Aleph Champion Karate Motivational Reading Program," which is modeled on the karate motivational system of colors and levels, she says.

"After the children excel with a certain amount of Hebrew letters, they become a 'white' aleph champ, and receive a white band, prizes and certificates. Then they begin the 'red' aleph level and have a different set of letters to study. They keep advancing from color to color, and level to level until they are able to read Hebrew fluently," she says.

"The children are so excited about this program, that they spend their own time practicing."

One parent, Carole Rosbruch, says she likes going to the school so much, she hangs around to enjoy the fun.

"School of the Arts is an amazing program," she says. "My children beg me to go every week. From the moment we arrive, it is a high-energy session jam packed with excitement and activities.

"What an incredible way for kids to learn and grow with Judaism."

Another parent, Debra Gonzales, says the best thing about the karate reading program is that it doesn't matter what kind of religious background a child has since the many activities bring out the talents of each child.

"It's a fun after-school program for all Jewish kids, whether they go to a Hebrew school already, attend public school, or are affiliated with a synagogue, or not," Gonzales says.

"The Jewish School of the Arts is an innovative program created just for today's children," Rabbi Shlomo Ezagui, the shul's spiritual leader, says. "This school was created to capture the minds of young Jewish children, whether they need a Hebrew school or they just want to do after-school activities.

"The children move from one activity to the next. And the kids learn about their [Jewish] heritage through all these activities."

The fee for attending the Jewish School of the Arts is $60 a month, with the first month free of charge. The school also offers limited scholarships, and transportation is available from area schools.

Children who attend Jewish elementary schools enjoy coming to the Jewish School of the Arts to participate in after-school activities with other Jewish kids, Chani Ezagui says.

"It is not your typical Hebrew school program where children resent going each week," she says. "It's a program that is geared to children in this fast-paced, high-tech society. And it's all flavored with a Jewish twist." For more information, call 561-624-7004.