New CKids Curriculum Combats “TikTok Brain” with Experiential Jewish Learning
For children who might otherwise miss out on a Jewish education, the CKids Lighthouse curriculum provides engaging weekly experiences designed to instill Jewish pride and foundational knowledge for years to come.
Recent studies have highlighted the growing challenge of maintaining children’s attention spans amidst the rapid-fire short-form content of platforms like TikTok and Instagram. The CKids Lighthouse curriculum directly addresses this by creating immersive learning experiences that captivate young minds while delivering authentic Jewish knowledge.
Complete with colorful wall decorations showcasing the aleph-beis, Jewish festivals, or perhaps a map of the Holy Land, Hebrew School classrooms have long been a cornerstone of Jewish education for children around the world. But in today’s fast-paced, distraction-filled world, maintaining focus and engagement requires innovation. Enter the CKids team at Merkos 302, which develops a cutting-edge curriculum every year. This year’s theme: “Lighthouse.”
“A lighthouse guides sailors safely home, warning of shallow rocks and providing light to those who might otherwise be lost at sea,” explains Rabbi Zalmy Loewenthal, director of CKids International at Merkos 302. “Similarly, mitzvos serve as a guiding light, illuminating our souls and the world around us. This year’s curriculum introduces children to mitzvos through immersive activities, music, and storytelling, equipping them with the foundational knowledge they need to thrive as Jews.”
The Lighthouse curriculum is studied weekly by over 27,000 Jewish children in hundreds of Chabad Hebrew Schools across the globe. Whether in Mumbai, Madrid, or Melbourne, on any given Sunday or Wednesday after school, you might find a group of children sitting in a circle, joyfully beating drums and chanting Adon Olam after being awed by flying Alef-Bet butterflies that exploded from their siddurim. Guided by their teacher, they are discovering tefillah as a meaningful and engaging activity—a rarity in today’s age of fleeting attention spans and relentless digital stimulation.
This immersive activity is just one of many meticulously planned by the CKids curriculum team at Merkos 302, led by Mrs. Mushky Loewenthal and Mrs. Chaya Shochet, with contributions from Mrs. Sara Bluming, Mrs. Chavie Ash, and Mrs. Devorah Gancz. Whether it’s creating a Jerusalem-inspired Shabbos Candle to study Shabbos or participating in a “berochos fair,” each lesson is crafted to captivate young minds while reinforcing timeless values.
Teachers have access to supply sheets, detailed lesson plans, video training, and online resources on the CKids website to ensure every child leaves Hebrew School empowered with Jewish knowledge and a strong sense of belonging. Translated into multiple languages, including Hungarian, Spanish, Danish, Russian, and French, CKids is bringing Jewish education to the diverse global Jewish community.
“In a world where children are bombarded with distractions, it’s more important than ever to offer a curriculum that is both immersive and grounded,” says Rabbi Mendy Kotlarsky, executive director of CKids’ umbrella organization, Merkos 302. “By addressing today’s challenges, we’re helping kids develop focus and meaningful connections to their Jewish identity that last a lifetime.”
Designed to connect with children on their level, the new curriculum aims to inspire families to integrate mitzvos into their daily lives and routines while building a confident Jewish identity.
“This year’s curriculum is something special,” says Rabbi Amram Hoffer, Hebrew School Director in Greater Orlando. “It doesn’t just teach kids how to perform mitzvos but helps them see why they matter and how they can make them their own. When my students took home their beautifully designed tzedakah boxes, complete with coins to give, it made the mitzvah of giving tangible and deeply personal.”
