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Chabad of the South Hills in Mt. Lebanon offers learning opportunity for children

By Harry Funk staff Writer hfunk@thealmanac.Net 3 min read
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Heading into the Hebrew Calendar’s Year 5782, Chabad of the South Hills in Mt. Lebanon is ready to offer a weekly learning opportunity for youngsters.

“This program was surprisingly born during COVID,” Chabad event coordinator Mussie Rosenblum said. “That was really a testament to the parents. I was so impressed that, with everything that everyone’s been through, they were insistent that their children still need Jewish education.”

Harry Funk/The Almanac

Mussie Rosenblum speaks during Chabad of the South Hills’ Chanukah celebration in Dormont, December 2019.

As a result, a series of in-person sessions was launched in January, following all the safety protocols in place at the time.

“The kids came every week, and they loved it,” Rosenblum said. “And they asked us to continue.”

And so CKids Jewish Discovery Club – the “C” stands for Chabad – will take place Sunday mornings for children ages 5 to 13, starting in October. A September kickoff event is planned, with details to be announced.

The program is an initiative of the international Chabad Children’s Network, which took a pandemic-ready approach to continuing its educational component.

“They rose to the occasion immediately, right away, last March,” Rosenblum said. “They put out an unbelievably professional online interactive lesson with supply lists and everything, coming out of the headquarters in New York.

“And they put it online for everybody. Even if kids weren’t signed up for any program in their local city, they were able to go onto this website and watch videos and learn,” she continued. “From that, it grew into a curriculum they put together.”

Chabad of the South Hills implemented the program in early 2021. Rosenblum, who is serving as Jewish Discovery Club director, looks forward to its resumption.

“They’re putting out another curriculum, which I know is going to be amazing because everything they do is very professional and really is impressive,” she said.

Lessons are planned around kid-friendly activities such as games and crafts, along with Hebrew reading and an exploration of Jewish history, values and traditions.

“It’s nice for them to have a place where they can be around other kids who share in this unique identity that they have, and to gain pride in who they are,” Rosenblum said. “If they have the knowledge and know the whats and the whys and the hows, then they’ll have more confidence.”

In addition to the Jewish Discovery Club, numerous special activities for youngsters will be offered throughout the year, as has been the usual practice.

With the goal of making the club accessible to all Jewish children, a yearly rate is offered, with a substantial discount prior to June 30. As always, Chabad is open to all, with no membership required. No child will be turned away because of lack of funds.

For more information and to register, visit chabadsh.com/jdc.

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