Kayla Zecher

Kayla Zecher is originally from Pittsburgh, PA. At 14 years old, she moved to Israel with her family. She attended Pelech, an experimental girl’s high school in Jerusalem where she majored in Art, Physics and Talmud. After high school, Kayla attended Migdal Oz, a Beit Midrash for women’s higher education in Judaica, and attended The Jerusalem Studio School, an art school, at the same time. Following that year, Kayla served in the IDF, recently completing two years of service in military intelligence and achieving the rank of sergeant. Currently, she is living in Washington, DC and is serving as an intern on immigration policy at the Hebrew Immigration Aid Society. Kayla plans to return to Israel and attend law school. She is thrilled to begin teaching at Micah! Kayla is teaching the Welcome to Israel and I Have Some Questions About God curricula, as outlined below.

WELCOME TO ISRAEL!

Welcome to Israel! presents the miracle of the Jewish state with a sense of wonder, humor, and pizzazz. It introduces students to Israel's history; geography; and political, commercial, and cultural life. Israel's struggle to coexist peacefully with its neighbors is presented in a thoughtful and age- appropriate way. The book also tells kids about Israelis their own age: what they do for fun, their favorite sports and foods, and what their schools are like.

Full-color photos, maps, and illustrations help make the excitement of Israel come alive. With Evie’s aid, Welcome to Israel! develops students' love for Israel and makes them want to visit the country--for real!

I HAVE SOME QUESTIONS ABOUT GOD

Six rabbis were invited to write answers to tough common questions about God, many in the form of stories, to these questions. Exercises were added to expand the process and encourage children to reflect and share, looking at their experiences of God in the world. The end result is a collection of wonderful stories and hands-on experiences.

Twelve questions about God (and related issues) were collected from children.

1. How do we know there really is a God?
2. Where does God come from?
3. If there is one God, why are there so many religions?
4. Does God know what I am thinking or what I will do?
5. Can praying make someone well?
6. Does God care which team wins the World Series or the Super Bowl?
7. Does God understand Hebrew best?
8. Is the Bible true?
9. Does God really make miracles?
10. Why is there so much bad in a world created by a good God?
11. Does God punish people?
12. Where do people go when they die?

ADAM ZEMEL

Adam Zemel grew up at Temple Micah and is excited to be teaching fifth grade this year! Last year, Adam worked as a writer/analyst for the Breakthrough Institute, a public policy think tank based in Oakland, CA focusing on the current state of energy, education, health, fiscal policy and the current state of the progressive political project in America. This year, Adam is continuing his philosophy major and general studies at Northern Virginia Community College. Besides growing up and working at URJ Camp Harlam, Adam has also spent extensive time in Israel. Feel free to ask him about his Jewish idol, Bob Dylan. Adam is teaching the Being Torah curriculum, as outlined below.

BEING TORAH

Being Torah brings students into Torah by inviting them to become biblical commentators. The book works with words. Based on a real translation of the biblical text, students are drawn into the words of Torah. Using colored clues, they focus on the number of times given words are used in a story, the changes between what one person says and what another person says that first said, and into the parallel words that link one story to another. This is not a book about Torah. It is actual Torah study made accessible and age appropriate. The Student Commentary facilitates this exploration by breaking the inquiries down biblical story into a series of individual inquiries. It is also designed specifically to create classroom community.