Temple Sinai Religious School combines theater and Jewish studies

What happens when you combine theater activities and Jewish studies? That is a question that was raised in the Religious School at Temple Sinai in Cranston. Through a gift to the school, a connection was made with Seth Finkle, the Education Director and Production Manager at The Wilbury Theater Group.

Seth worked with students in grades 1-7 for several weeks in each grade. Students learned warm-up and breathing exercises. Then they made “frozen tableaus” based on a topic they chose that was related to their curriculum. Grade 3 students chose the parting of the sea from Passover with students on the floor holding their arms upright for the parting sea, “Moses” with an outstretched arm and “Pharaoh” behind Moses in pursuit. Grade 7 students, studying the Holocaust, focused their tableau on the impact of bullying and prejudice. Students also had one-word clues to depict their characters. At the end of their classes, parents came to see the students present their work.

Jennifer Stern, whose son Adam is in fifth grade, said that she was so pleased by the sense of community the students developed in working together, and it was great that the parents were involved on the day of the performance and not just watching. Gabe Cohen, a sixth grade student, liked the challenge of the warm-up activities.

Seth noted the power of theater as a teaching tool. He loved seeing how the students worked together as a class and used the activities to enhance their learning. Students saw how theater can help them in many aspects of their lives. He enjoyed the welcome and involvement of the Temple Sinai community.

TOBY KORITSKY (tkoritsky@templesinairi.org) is Director of Education at Temple Sinai.