How can we love our neighbor as ourselves?
First Grade has been working hard on practicing how to work as a team. And what better way to practice working together as a team than herding goats?!
We were invited to Rabbi Philmus’ house to learn how to care and shepherd two very clever goats named Kesef and Cinnamon.
We gathered on a porch shaded by a beautiful grape arbor. We sat on hay bales and woven mats and held objects that could have been used during the time of the Torah. Students were asked to find objects that were either made from plants or came from an animal.
Once Kesef and Cinnamon had their hay stashed in the goat barn, students learned how to care for the goats, which included a quick nail trimming, grooming, and adjusting the goat’s harness.
We learned the key elements of goat herding:
- Stay together as a group.
- Show them where you want them to go by walking behind them.
- Sometimes it helps to shake a can of goat treats and walk in the direction you want them to go.
- Best of all, you can use a shofar to signal what you want them to do.
We also used commands; for example, Tekiyyah = run! Tekiyyah gedolah= stop!
First Grade was able to herd the goats all around the large field, then we stopped for a story and a game featuring goats and mountain lions. The goats were content to nosh on leaves during the game.
It was time for snack, and students had to work hard to herd the goats back to the house. 
Thank you Rabbi Philmus!
May we continue to work as a team and to build a classroom community which works as a team, shows kindness, and has fun together.
What a wonderful way to begin the new year!
שנה טובה ומתוקה – May we all have a sweet new year!
