Thanks to technology and some creativity, two classes from two different schools were able to enjoy a year of learning together. Over the course of the school year, Yeshivat Noam’s (YN) first grade and Rabbi Pesach Raymon Yeshiva’s (RPRY) first grade have been virtual pen pals sending videos back and forth.

It began when Morah Freida Rothman of YN decided to send a video to Shmuel Kurtz, a first grader at RPRY and the son of Rabbi Elie Kurtz, director of Judaic Studies at YN, incorporating some Hebrew her class had learned in the Tal Am program, knowing that he too was learning the same curriculum. Rabbi Kurtz, and his son Shmuel, sent a video back to the class, in Hebrew, and thus a beautiful friendship began. At the end of sefer Bereishit, Morah Freida prepared a Jeopardy game for the two classes to enjoy via Google hangout. Rabbi Kurtz hosted the game show and the two classes played together showing off their knowledge of the parshiot. To end the year off, Morah Frieda again prepared a game for both classes to enjoy. This time topics included parsha, Yom Yerushalayim, Shavuot, Lag B’Omer and Sefirat HaOmer. The two classes loved meeting each other over the computer. They enjoyed a yummy snack and even made one bracha together before enjoying. It was a great way of integrating technology into both classrooms!