In a light-filled classroom in Sherman Oaks, gregarious teacher Jenna Zucker dons a straw hat and, in an exaggerated Southern drawl, invites the gathered first- and second-graders to an imaginary picnic.
The children, taking part in an after-school program at Kester Avenue Elementary, must tell Zucker what they plan to bring; she will then decide if they can join her. Alex wants to bring apples; he gets the nod. But Athena and her offer of brownies are turned down, as are Samantha and her macaroni and cheese. Elijah suggests eels and Matthew melons; both are accepted. The students soon realize they must bring something that starts with the first letter of their name.
Zucker, 28, tells them that once they figured out the rules of the game, the reward was "greater satisfaction."
"What does greater satisfaction bring?" she asks. Matthew replies: "Spiritual power!"
Zucker asks him where the power comes from? "Your inner light," the boy answers.
And where is that light found? "In your heart," he says.
The exchange is part of "Spirituality for Kids," a class offered in several Los Angeles public elementary schools during the day or after school. Created by a leader of the Los Angeles-based Kabbalah Centre International, a spiritual and educational organization, the program is promoted as a nondenominational effort to teach children to make wise choices.
But it is drawing fire from parents and others who say it is illegally bringing religion into public schools under the guise of ethics training.
"I think it breaches the separation between church and state," said Margie Mulder, a guidance counselor at Utah Street and Noble Avenue elementary schools. "I wouldn't send my children to the group."
But others say it provides children with essential skills.
" 'Spirituality for Kids' is not religious," said Karen Timko, who is in charge of elementary counselors for the Los Angeles Unified School District and has included the group in a resource fair for counselors. "It's tools for navigating your life."
Timko noted that school programs run by better-known faith-linked organizations, such as the YMCA, have not met with similar controversy.
The spirituality program was created in 2001 by Karen Berg, who leads the Los Angeles kabbalah center with her husband, Rabbi Philip Berg. Kabbalah is an ancient form of Jewish mysticism, but critics of the Berg center say it departs from many traditional practices.
