With a background in both Judaic and general studies combined with 30 years of teaching in Jewish educational settings, I saw the same challenges again and again. Jewish educators were being asked to plan meaningful lessons without enough time, structure, or support. So, I began creating tools that bridge the gap between Judaic content and real classroom practice. Teachers need purposeful lessons that help students think deeply, build skills, reflect on Jewish values, and connect learning to their own lives. That is why I created Menschenables, my 5-step Jewish lesson planning framework, and the Kehillah Collective. My work is designed to help Jewish educators stop starting from scratch and start planning with more clarity, confidence, and joy. Because meaningful Jewish learning should feel thoughtful, doable, and deeply connected — for both teachers and students.
A Little Sukkot Help for a Very Busy Time of Year
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Shanah Tovah! The beginning of the Jewish school year always seems to arrive all at once. We’re welcoming students back, learning new names and personalities, building classroom community, preparing for the High Holidays—and before we know it, Sukkot is right around the corner. It’s exciting. It’s meaningful. And it can also be a lot. So, as we move through the High Holiday season and into a new year of Jewish learning, I wanted to share something that might make one small piece of your planning a little easier. I created a new Sukkot Community Decorations activity built around three ideas I think are especially meaningful at this time of year: Gratitude • Hospitality • Joy Rather than simply having students make decorations for the sukkah, this activity asks them to think about what they want to bring into the sukkah—and into their community. Students choose from three stations: Gratitude — Hakarat HaTov Hospitality — Hachnasat Orchim Joy — Simchah Then they turn their ideas into decorations they can hang together in the sukkah. The finished sukkah becomes more than something beautiful to look at. It becomes a collection of your students’ ideas, hopes, and values. And because I know many of us teach wonderfully complicated mixed-age groups, I designed the activity with different prompts for younger and older students. PreK–1 students can respond primarily through drawing, while older students are asked to explain a little more deeply. The resource also works especially well with mixed-age buddies. Inside the resource, you’ll find:
The central idea is simple: a sukkah can remind us to notice what we have, welcome others, and bring joy into our community. And I especially love the idea of telling students that while the sukkah itself is temporary, the values we practice inside it can come with us long after Sukkot is over. [DOWNLOAD THE FREE SUKKOT COMMUNITY DECORATIONS RESOURCE] I hope this gives you one less thing to create during an already very full season—and gives your students a way to add something genuinely meaningful to your sukkah. As we begin another year of learning together, I’ll continue sharing resources designed to make Jewish teaching feel more purposeful, practical, and manageable—without having to start from scratch every week. Wishing you, your students, and your community a new year filled with meaningful learning, connection, gratitude, hospitality, and plenty of joy. Shanah Tovah U'Metukah and Chag Sukkot Sameach, Frannie Meaningful Jewish learning. Practical resources. Planning with purpose. P.S. Respond to this email with any suggestions or lessons you would like to see! And please let me know if this type of resource is helpful to you.
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Menschenables
With a background in both Judaic and general studies combined with 30 years of teaching in Jewish educational settings, I saw the same challenges again and again. Jewish educators were being asked to plan meaningful lessons without enough time, structure, or support. So, I began creating tools that bridge the gap between Judaic content and real classroom practice. Teachers need purposeful lessons that help students think deeply, build skills, reflect on Jewish values, and connect learning to their own lives. That is why I created Menschenables, my 5-step Jewish lesson planning framework, and the Kehillah Collective. My work is designed to help Jewish educators stop starting from scratch and start planning with more clarity, confidence, and joy. Because meaningful Jewish learning should feel thoughtful, doable, and deeply connected — for both teachers and students.
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