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Ann Arbor Reconstructionist Congregation

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nature based learning

Beit Sefer Celebrates a Year of Resilient Nature Based Jewish Learning

May 25, 2022 by Gillian Jackson Leave a Comment

Beit Sefer wrapped up its 2021/2022 school year last weekend with a year end celebration and art show at the Farm on Jennings. The Beit Sefer program spent much of the 2021/2022 year outdoors, exploring Judaism’s relationship to nature. In addition to our traditional curriculum, the year focused on the changing of the seasons and what lessons the students can learn from nature. Some examples of this year’s lessons include blessings for harvest, Tikkun Olam and environmental stewardship, and the Jewish calendar’s relationship with agriculture. The impetus for the nature based curriculum was born out of COVID safety precautions, but served as a profound opportunity for families to explore Jewish learning in a new way.

It was a bittersweet celebration last weekend as our Beit Sefer director, Clare Kinberg, announced her retirement. Clare has brought so much to the Beit Sefer program, and she will be dearly missed. Thankfully, she remains a member of our congregation and community- so she will still be a presence in families’ lives in the future.

Please enjoy the photo collage below with some fun snapshots from the year. As you can see, it was a joyous year spent in community! If you would like to share any thoughts, memories, or gratitude for Clare, we will keep the comments open on this blog or you can email us at aarcgillian@gmail.com.

Filed Under: Community Learning Tagged With: Beit Sefer, Clare Kinberg, jewish learning, nature based learning

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Upcoming Events

  • 6:30 pm – 8:00 pm, August 28, 2026 – Fourth Friday Kabbalat Shabbat
  • 12:15 pm – 2:00 pm, August 30, 2026 – AARC Book Group
  • 6:30 pm – 9:00 pm, September 5, 2026 – Selichot
  • 7:30 pm – 9:00 pm, September 11, 2026 – Erev Rosh Hashanah
  • 9:30 am – 1:00 pm, September 12, 2026 – Rosh Hashanah Services

Latest News

  • D’var by Wesley Jackson August 19, 2026
  • Rosh Hashanah La’Behemot Celebration August 12, 2026
  • AARC Welcomes New Assistant to the Executive Director by Elizabeth Brindley August 5, 2026
  • Jewish Federation launches community new board member training July 1, 2026
  • AARC Board featured in the July 2026 Washtenaw Jewish News June 28, 2026

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