Children learn Jewish traditions

Venice, FL- In a tradition that dates back thousands of years, 18 children learned to make an ancient Jewish musical instrument, a shofar, at the North Port Educational Center Sunday.

Their teacher, Rabbi Sholum Schmerling, had an assortment of animal horns spread out on a table, as he talked about the horn used on the Jewish high holy days of Rosh Hashana, which begins today.

This program was an outreach program of the Chabad of Venice and North Port and is in its second year. Children don’t have to be affiliated with the Chabad to attend or be Jewish.

“Anyone who wants to learn about Judaism is welcome,” Schmerling said.

He explained to the children that only kosher animals — those with cloven hoofs and which chew their cud — could be used to make shofars. Cows are exempt, he said, because Jewish people don’t want to remind God of the sin of the Golden Calf, a mistake committed in the time of Moses. He also took care to explain that horns could only be taken from a dead animal, as the Torah prohibits causing animals to suffer.

Schmerling called for some strong men from the class to help him demonstrate the ancient technique of shofar making. Blake Billington, 8, grasped the cartilage inside the horn with a pair of pliers and tried to pull it out. Parker Lawhorn, 11, cut the end of the horn with a hacksaw, and Guy Bean, 14, held the horn as Schmerling used a modern convenience — a drill — to hollow out its end.

Then the young children headed for the craft area to sand and shellac their own horns to make into shofars.

It was just the highlight of the lessons at Chabad Hebrew School. The morning began with lessons in the Hebrew alphabet by Bernice Davis, and then moved on to a spirited game of “Jewish Jeopardy.” Two teams answered questions about Jewish traditions as they competed for points.

The fun prepared them for Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur, as they learned the symbolic reasons certain foods are traditionally served: sweet cake, apple and honey are meant to bring in a sweet year; carrots are used for their linguistic similarity to a Yiddish word meaning “more,” and therefore convey a wish for prosperity.

Other events held by the Chabad of Venice and North Port include a summer camp and a teen camp.

The Chabad will be celebrating Rosh Hashana this weekend, and Yom Kippur next weekend, at the Best Western Hotel in Venice. Prayers will be in English and Hebrew, and a children’s program is available.

As part of the services, this Sunday morning, Schmerling will blow his shofar on behalf of the entire Jewish community.