Learn - Engage - Venture

LEV Children's Museum
Featuring: Sarah DeWoskin, Founder and Director

“In today’s world all of us are realizing that we want to reach everyone no matter where they are in their journey. It could be those on the way outskirts; or those that they are not even Jewish. In today’s world, the more understanding we have of one another’s cultures and where we are coming from; the more we can connect, collaborate, and meet each other where we are,” says Sarah DeWoskin about creating inclusive Jewish environments. 

My guest today is Sarah DeWoskin, the Founder and Director of LEV Children’s Museum. Sarah is a Jewish Educator, who has worked with children since she was a child. Sarah is a recent  graduate of HUC-JIR’s Executive Master’s program for Jewish Education. Sarah has worked in Jewish preschools, supplementary schools, youth groups, camps, and more. Through LEV, she is following her inner voice to create an innovative concept for engagement and education for Jewish families in South Florida. 

Sarah’s goals for LEV Children's museum are to:

1. Meet people where they are both literally and figuratively. 
2. Allow children to explore Judaism in an interactive and engaging environment.
3. Bring Jewish to remote areas. Engage all who are looking to enhance their knowledge of Jewish culture and Israel.

Sarah shares her key takeaways in creating LEV: 

1. Collaboration is essential. Partner with other organizations. Bring innovation to legacy organizations. Create stand alone opportunities for interaction with LEV’s tiny house. 
2. Use different learning modalities. Be inclusive to the variety of ways people learn.
3. Develop more than an idea. Your plan needs to be well thought out and vetted. Know who your  audience or customers will be and have funders in place.
4. Build a team.  Don’t try to start something alone.  Elicit mentors and volunteers. Not everyone has to be paid.
5. Building a new initiative takes Grit. Be Determined and committed. It’s ok to be scared. It’s a journey; keep climbing.

Learn more about LEV Children's Museum here.

Follow LEV on here on Facebook  and on Instagram.

Email Sarah DeWoskin. 

Episode Glossary: 

LEV -  stands for Learn, Engage, Venture and is the Hebrew word for heart ❤️.

Tu B’shvat -  is a Jewish holiday occurring on the 15th day of the Hebrew month of Shevat: often termed the  "New Year of the Trees" is Jewish Arbor Day. Scholars believe that originally Tu B’Shvat was an agricultural festival, marking the emergence of spring.

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