DIY

Dear Brandeis community,

 

 

Walking the halls last week, I was pulled into the CREATE space to witness the Shabbat-O-Matic, a project of a middle school elective that, following Rube Goldberg, aims to automate the Shabbat prayers. It’s an idea that was supported by the Brandeis Innovation Grants program, giving Mrs. Bisson the funds to take the students to the Contemporary Jewish Museum’s Rube Goldberg exhibit and work with the Wonderful Idea Company. It’s worth clicking through to the above video to see what the students have done. I was surprised and inspired, seeing the students take something so familiar and make it so unfamiliar, making it their own and making it new all at once. I love that it begins with putting your phone down—an important lesson in there for all of us! And I have loved seeing their inspiration spread to others—our 3rd grader came home from an encounter with the Shabbat-O-Matic wanting to build her own Shabbat machine.

 

I understand the Shabbat-O-Matic will be on display on May 10, at the Middle School Showcase night.

 

Wishing you all weekends full of surprising moments, my friends.

 

Warmly,

 

Dan