From Recife to New Amsterdam

We officially began our unit of study on American Jewry this past week.  I say "officially" since I "unofficially" introduced the subject when I started to read the historical novel, "Out of Many Waters" by Jacqueline Dembar Greene, out loud at the start of each session three weeks ago. The novel tells the story of how the first permanent Jewish community was established in 1654 in New Amsterdam (to be re-named New York by the British in 1664). This past week, we read about the early history of American Jews, beginning in 1654 and going up to the end of the Revolutionary War. We learned how those colonies which were established for religious reasons (like Maryland and Plymouth Colony) would not allow Jews to settle within their boundaries. Instead, Jews were welcomed into the colonies established for trading purposes along the eastern seaboard (New York, Philadelphia, Newport, Charleston, and Savannah). The earliest Jewish settlers in these colonies were of Sephardi (Spanish/Portuguese) descent, though by the time of the Revolutionary War, Ashkenazi (central and eastern European) Jews were settling in the colonies as well. Most of these Ashkenazi Jews came from Germany and England, so it was not surprising that they sided with the loyalists when war broke out in 1775.  There were Jewish patriots as well. Most of the loyalists eventually made their way back to England. By 1780, there were approximately 2,500 Jews in the United States.
 
On another note, those students who attended Sunday's sessions, did a remarkable job creating a giant "Get Well" card for Bill Broussard, who supervises the Isaiah campus' maintenance crew. Special thanks for the card's beautiful front page design goes to Anna, Melissa, and Sarah. Bill had knee replacement surgery a week ago, and is sorely missed by us all. We all wish him a speedy "Refu'ah Sh'leima" (complete recovery).

I'm attaching a couple of photos that I shot during our week day hafsaka (recess) a couple of weeks ago. The 10-minute break we have is a short, but important one. The children have a chance to interact with each other in the informal setting, and quite a few friendships are made in the play area.