Community Corner

Union County Torah Center Presents Krav Maga Self-Defense, Chess, And Jewish Origami

Submitted by Rabbi Levi Block 

On Sundays in June, the Union County Torah Center will host three active and creative new workshops geared for children and teens.

Rabbi Michoel Shapiro, known as “The Fighting Rabbi,” will teach the Israeli self-defense system Krav Maga. Teens ages 13 and up will learn how to defend themselves against an attacker who is stronger, more skilled, and even armed. Participants will increase their fitness, energy, and endurance while mastering new skills and having fun. No prior experience is required; all levels are welcome.

Find out what's happening in New Providence-Berkeley Heightswith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Rabbi Shapiro is a certified Krav Maga instructor with twelve years of experience practicing and teaching the proven, street-smart Israeli martial arts. His methods are easy to learn, enabling students to quickly gain confidence in themselves and in their ability to protect themselves and their loved ones. Rabbi Shapiro’s motto is: “Be Strong. Be Wise. Be Safe.”

Krav Maga will be held on June 1, 8, 15, and 22, from2:00 to 3:00 P.M. The cost for the whole series is $50 per student. All dads are invited to join the Father’s Day class free.

Find out what's happening in New Providence-Berkeley Heightswith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Kids and teens of all ages can also learn chess with Yaacov Norowitz, International Master and the current New Jersey State Chess Champion. The four-week chess club will be exciting and instructive, a rare opportunity for kids to learn from a true master.

Mr. Norowitz started playing chess competitively as a child, and made the title of Master at age 16. In 2013 he was in the top 20 in the U.S, he placed 12th in the country at the U.S. Invitational Championship, and he has won the World Open Blitz Championship a record five times. He has been teaching chess for the past ten years, in groups and in private lessons. Many of his students have become strong tournament players in their own right, ranking at the top in the country for their age groups.

Chess Club will meet on June 1, 8, 15, and 22 from 3:00 to 4:00 P.M. The cost for the series is $40 per student.

Also on Sundays, children of all ages are invited to attend a three-week Judaica Origami Clinic, presented by Allon Shadmi. Students will learn how to fold paper to create models of a variety of Jewish symbols, including the Ten Commandments, a decorative Star of David, a kippah, a Star of David box, and others.

Before and during the origami instruction, students will discuss the relevance and meaning of each model in the context of Jewish tradition and practice. At the end of each session, participants will receive free access to a child-friendly website where they can view video tutorials of Jewish origami.

Mr. Shadmi was born and raised in Israel. After serving in the army, he came to the U.S. and became a commodity trading advisor, managing millions of dollars. After twenty years living the stressful life of a futures trader, he decided to turn his origami hobby into a full-time career, and created Judaica Origami. He now designs original origami models with Jewish themes, bringing enjoyment and education to people worldwide.

Jewish Origami Clinic will meet on June 1, 8, and 15, from 4:00 to 5:00 P.M. The cost for the series is $30 per student.

All classes will be held at the Union County Torah Center, 509 Central Avenue in Westfield, New Jersey. For more information and to register, call908-789-5252, e-mail info@torahcenter.org, or go to www.torahcenter.

 


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

More from New Providence-Berkeley Heights