Dr. Emily AronoffInteractive Torah Scroll Felt Board
A hands-on opportunity for exploring Torah with kiddos!
As a songleader, I use interactive props like the Torah Scroll Felt Storyboard in my home, my classroom, and even in the sanctuary when working with young children. This engaging hands-on experience is perfect for sparking curiosity and reinforcing a positive connection with our Jewish traditions. It offers an immersive learning experience that captivates children and supports multi-modal engagement, increasing the ways that participants can immerse themselves in the musical experience. My own children recreate the stories with the materials independently!
Materials
- 2 rolling pins
- 1 white felt piece for the scroll
- 1 colored felt piece for the cover
- Pipe cleaners with beads and bells for the rimonim*
- Hot glue gun
- Wooden bookshelf, foam block, or strips of Velcro for display
Directions:
- Make sure you have a clean and clear workspace to create your Torah Scroll Felt Storyboard.
- Begin by cutting the white felt piece to the size of your rolling pins, a length that will have at least 10 inches of fabric in between when unrolled, ensuring there is enough surface to affix the felt puppets .
- Using a hot glue gun, affix the white felt piece to each rolling pin so that they can roll towards each other.
- Decorate the felt cover with your desired colors and patterns to give the Torah a personal touch.
- Create the rimonim* by attaching beads and bells to the pipe cleaners and attaching them to the rolling pins.
Choose a display option that works for your space, either by propping it up on a wooden bookshelf or using a foam block or strips of Velcro to attach it to the wall.
*Rimonim are decorations shaped like bells or pomegranates that are traditionally placed on the handles of the Torah scroll
Songs I share with young children using this felt approach:
- Jeff Klepper and Jeff Salkin’s ‘Jonah and The Whale’ with a Jonah and The Whale puppet set
- Lisa Baydush’s ‘Six Days to Make The World’ with a Creation story set
- “Rise and Shine” with a Noah’s Ark set
This interactive approach allows children to learn Judaism through music, song, and meaningful play, inviting them to engage with our sacred stories.
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