Family Experiential Learning at Nitzanim is a rich and exciting offering. It is a kind of pop-up Jewish village that offers an opportunity for families to deepen in Jewish experience and learning through song, prayer, nature, art, story, mysticism, movement, text and discussion. Through the Nitzanim program, we nourish our families so they can blossom and draw sustenance from Judaism’s deep, deep roots. 

Our nature-inspired program will take place monthly during the school year on Sundays (with the exception of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur). Our gatherings will unfold, weather permitting, in nature, to better explore how Judaism’s holy days and spiritual practices grow out of the cycle of the seasons themselves.

Together we will learn Jewish wisdom, values, and texts by grounding them in our bodies and lofting them into our imaginations. Our invitation is for the learning to continue after each event, as families bring the information and the excitement home with them. Nitzanim Family Experiential Learning also allows our kids to be held inter-generationally – in community with parents, professionals, senior volunteers from Ner Shalom, and a wide range of child ages.

The Nitzanim B. Mitzvah Academy explores connections between what we believe and how we live, and invites discovery into how our Jewish heritage can guide us in finding the right balance. Through a values-based experiential educational program, we ensure that the B.Mitzvah journey is individualized and accessible for every learner.

Using a spiraling curriculum, students will, during their two years of participation, engage with the beauty of the natural world and environmental concerns, grapple with ancient texts, and take action for justice through service work – all grounded in Jewish text, history, ritual and culture.