Blowing Their Own Horns

The blowing of the shofar wasn’t enough in the days leading up to Rosh Hashanah for 4- and 5-year-olds at the Marcus Jewish Community Center’s Sunshine School, a preschool housed at Temple Kol Emeth in East Cobb.

Instead, with the help of JCrafts of Georgia’s Shofar Factory, the children made their own shofars.

“We really encourage our children’s self-expression, and we want to expose them to Jewish values and culture in a hands-on way, through a variety of creative activities and experiences,” said Raye Lynn Banks, the director of the school.

Such in-house field trips are a hit with the children, she said. “It’s a really big deal for our pre-K students to make their own shofar, bring it home and keep it as a lifelong memory. As students immerse themselves in enriching activities, they gain a sense of personal achievement which is transformative.”

JCrafts head Rabbi Levi Mentz demonstrated the sawing and drilling aspects of shofar making. The boys and girls then used sandpaper and shellac to finish their own shofars.

The program was funded by the Sunshine School’s Parent-Teacher Organization.

“Every year we hold noninvasive fundraisers that provide families with a tangible item for their money,” said Robyn Davis, the PTO’s president.

Photos courtesy of the Marcus JCC