Parshas Chayei Sarah is filled with meaningful stories and themes, making it a wonderful inspiration for hands-on crafts that bring the parsha to life for kids. This week, we’re exploring two fun and educational crafts: camel puppets to represent Eliezer’s journey and a beaded jewelry activity inspired by Rivka's kindness. These crafts are perfect for engaging children in the story while reinforcing important values like chesed (kindness) and creativity!
Craft 1: Camel Puppets for Eliezer’s Journey
Camels were an essential part of Eliezer’s journey to find a wife for Yitzchak. This craft allows kids to create their very own camel puppet to retell the story.
Materials Needed:
Paper plates
Brown paint or crayons
Googly eyes
Pipe cleaners (for legs)
Glue
Scissors
Instructions:
Use a paper plate to create the camel’s body.
Paint or color the plate brown and let it dry.
Cut out a small oval from another paper plate to make the camel's head. Attach it to the folded plate with glue.
Use pipe cleaners to make the camel’s legs and tail. Attach these to the folded edge of the plate.
Add googly eyes and draw a mouth with a marker.
Optional: Attach a popsicle stick to the bottom to turn the camel into a puppet.
Bonus Idea: Create a "desert scene" by drawing a background with sand dunes and palm trees for the camels to travel through.
Craft 2: Rivka’s Beaded Necklace
When Eliezer met Rivka, he gifted her beautiful jewelry as a token of appreciation for her kindness. This beading activity lets kids create their own "Rivka-inspired" necklace or bracelet.
Materials Needed:
String or elastic cord
Assorted beads (gold, silver, or colorful to mimic Rivka’s gift)
Scissors
Optional: Charms or letter beads
Instructions:
Cut a length of string or elastic cord long enough for a necklace or bracelet.
Let the children thread beads onto the string in patterns of their choice.
Add a charm or a special bead to symbolize Rivka’s chesed.
Once the beading is complete, tie a secure knot and trim the excess string.
Extension Activity: Discuss Rivka’s act of kindness and ask the kids to share ideas of how they can practice chesed in their own lives.
Conclusion
These crafts are a wonderful way to help children connect with the stories of Parshas Chayei Sarah. By making camels and Rivka-inspired jewelry, kids not only get to express their creativity but also deepen their understanding of the parsha’s lessons. Try these crafts at home or in the classroom and watch the story come alive!
