Original Programming for Families at Museum of Jewish Heritage

From 2016-2018, I worked with the Museum of Jewish Heritage to develop their new MJH Kids program, geared at children ages 3-7. In these programs, we develop original workshops and drop-in activities, as well as an original interactive performance, in conjunction with the museum's exhibitions or holidays. This program is sponsored by PJ Library, and many of our programs have direct tie-ins to their books or the themes of their books. 

For the 2014-2015 season, we developed four programs:

My Favorite Something, which focused on the Jewish concept of tikkun olam, or fixing the world. Workshops and drop-in activities included a sing-along about making the world a better place, a tree focused on thankfulness, and other arts and crafts. We drew inspiration from the book Joseph Had a Little Overcoat and Something From Nothing, and connected this program to the Jewish Life a Century Ago as part of the Museum's core exhibition. 

Breaking Bread, which focused on the mitzvah, or good deed, of sharing your food with someone. The workshop was a challah-making workshop, and our performance focused on neighbors wanting to throw their neighbor, Ned, a birthday party, full of food and festivities, even though he doesn't like birthdays. This program tied into tikkun olam (fixing the world) and the rituals of shabbat, as well as the books Rise & Shine: A Challah-Day Tale and Bagels From Benny.

All Aboard focused on immigration at the turn of the century, and children were invited to take part in immersive activities that put them in the places of immigrants coming to America, including suitcase packing, passport stamping, and more. This program was inspired by When Jesse Came Across the Sea, and tied into sections of the Voices of Liberty exhibition at the museum. 

A Gift of Friendship focused on the statue of liberty and Emma Lazarus' poem The New Colossus, which is on the pedestal of the statue. The activities for this program focused on the experience of immigrants coming to the United States and included maps, artifacts, and singing songs from the turn of the century. The program was inspired by the book Emma's Poem and tied into both the Voices of Liberty exhibition and the core exhibition.