Museum Program Teaches Jewish Values to Children

Laura Spitzer sat at a children’s table while her 3-year-old daughter, Jessica, pretended to prepare Shabbat--a Jewish family dinner traditionally served on Fridays, consisting of fish and challah, or egg bread--for her.

“I’m usually the one fixing the meals at home for our dinner,” Spitzer said Tuesday. “This is great because it puts her in my role so she’s learning the significance of the different parts of the dinner. Kids love this stuff.”

“Wine goes in kiddish glasses,” Jessica said, pointing to glasses used as part of a ceremonial blessing.

This “for play” dinner table is one of many projects offered at My Jewish Discovery Place, a Westside children’s museum designed to teach children Jewish values.

The museum is housed inside the Westside Jewish Community Center at 5870 W. Olympic Blvd.

The program was designed for parents to help children understand their Jewish heritage through museum exhibits and hands-on projects.

The museum also offers special summer theme-day activities for families, such as puppet making and ceramics workshops. The summer programs end Aug. 29.

Exhibits are geared to children, ages 3 to 11, and their families. Children are encouraged to dress as a horse from Noah’s Ark or play with a dreidel, a small top associated with Hanukkah, inside a Jewish symbol box.

“The projects explain in simple terms the customs at home and also facilitate questions about Jewish history,” said Mendy Bistritzky, who brought her two children, 2-year-old Chanoch and 1-year-old Tovi, to the museum. “We’ve spent almost the whole day here.”

The programs are presented in two ways, through interactive experiences to bring children into a celebratory Jewish experience and the use of reading material about Jewish customs, said Jill Cordova, the museum’s administrative coordinator.

The museum highlights include electronic exhibits, the simulation of an airplane flight and a costume center.

“It helps parents reinforce what they teach their children at home,” said Sherri Kadovitz, the museum director. “It’s not just the Holocaust that some people automatically associate with Judaism. Judaism is rich in beauty and culture, which we emphasize through the programs.” Admission to the museum is $2 for 3- to 7-year-olds and $3 for children over 7 and adults.

Information: (213) 857-0036.