In the latest episode of “Learn with Ms. Rachel,” which premiered on YouTube on Feb. 26, kids’ star Rachel Griffin Accurso features several children speaking Hebrew and teaching her some words in the Jewish tongue.
The episode is all about friendship and social skills, and the entertainer, known for her pink headband, overalls and cheery voice, focuses on different ways to connect with people: through music, compliments, and by learning the different languages they speak.
Along with Hebrew, the episode features Arabic, French, Tagalog, and ASL, with Ms. Rachel and her puppet friend Herbie learning from little kids how to say “friend,” “I love you” and count in the different languages. Ms. Erin teaches the kids how to say “hello” in ASL (and sings “Skinnamarink” with the rest of the cast). It also features a young boy named Zach communicating with an AAC device.
Two different segments in the hour-long episode have Hebrew dialogue. In a classroom, young Ruthie and Gabriel teach Herbie and Ms. Rachel how to say hello in Hebrew — “Shalom” — before singing a silly version of the ABC song together.
In another segment, a young girl and boy count wooden ice cream toys in Hebrew. There are five on the table and the young girl says, “achat,” “shtaim,” “shalosh,” “arba,” “chamesh,” with the young boy adding, “sesh,” a sweet and very common mispronunciation of “shesh,” the Hebrew number for six, while pointing to an invisible piece of ice cream. The three of them then joke about the invisible ice cream before they teach Ms. Rachel how to say the numbers in Hebrew.
The episodes feature Arabic and Middle Eastern instruments like the oud and the debke, played by Tareq Hailat, director at the Palestine Children’s Relief Fund (PCRF), who shows Ms. Rachel how to dance to the debke. She also shows off art from Palestinian children and dances and plays with Rahaf, a double amputee and Palestinian refugee brought to the U.S. by PCRF.
Ms. Rachel has faced backlash for her activism and online statements since October 7, 2023. A 2024 Save the Children fundraiser sparked frustration and anger from some when she didn’t mention Israeli children. She later shared a prayer for all children, including Israeli children, on her Instagram feed. Her social media posts about Israel have been accused by some of promoting “modern-day blood libels.” Other Jewish organizations have rallied to support her.
Earlier this year, her account appeared to have liked a comment that featured overt antisemitism. The entertainer shared that it was an accident. “I am super sorry for any confusion it caused. I delete antisemitism ANY time I see it. I am against all forms of hate including antisemitism against the Jewish people,” she wrote on Instagram.
There are Jewish parents out there who have stopped watching her show with their toddlers and opted to watch Jewish creators on YouTube instead, like “Sing It! With Ms. Sara.”
But those who still watch Ms. Rachel will likely enjoy the Hebrew representation, and presumably Jewish kids, in this newest episode.
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