Summary for Sunday, 11/22

We practiced singing the Hanukkah blessings and tried to point to each Hebrew word as we sang it. We learned about saying the sheheheyanu on the first night of Hanukkah. I drew a hanukkiyah on the board and the children took turns drawing the lit candles, learning to put the candles  starting on the right, and lighting each new candle first every night. I also taught them how to dance the Menorah Hora.

Our madrichim, Rebecca and Camille, read the story "The Miracle Jar" by Audrey Penn to the children. Then we went into the youth lounge for our elective--Yoga with Stacie. The children learned about the link between peace-shalom-namaste, and Stacie also did an amazing job of integrating our Hanukkah learning into the session. The children did familiar poses as well as learned some new ones, and learned how to listen to their breaths and acknowledge that special light within others by saying "namaste."

We have the next few classes off for Thanksgiving, and will meet next on Tuesday, Dec. 1. When we return, be sure to take a look at the school bulletin board and the beautiful Hanukkah creations your children made.

Happy and healthy Thanksgiving (maybe the kids will remember the link with Sukkot!),

Morah Debbie

Tues. 11/17 summary

The children are making excellent progress in Hebrew, working hard to master their Hebrew letters and finish Ramah 1. A few have started Ramah 2. I was so proud during our prayer service when everyone in early session volunteered to help Morah Liz lead the Barchu prayer! Even though they're just beginning to learn Hebrew, they feel confident and comfortable enough to get up in front of the school and lead--great practice for our third grade Shabbat service this spring!

Enjoy your week,

Morah Debbie

Sunday 11/15 summary

Your children may be asking you for money for our tzedakah box. We're trying to collect as much as possible for the SMARTY Mitzvah Shopping for the Northeast ARC. Morah Liz explained that last year, the gifts we bought for the children weren't typical gifts--no toys were requested, rather necessities like diapers, gloves, hats and other warm clothes, etc.

You've probably seen the fliers, but here are the details again: Third through twelfth graders  meet at the Vinnin Square Panera at 6 PM on Saturday, Dec. 5 for hot chocolate and cookies before shopping together at the local stores. It's a real feel-good mitzvah, and gives our children another way of looking at this holiday season.

We finished learning about Hanukkah today, finished our bulletin board creations, and played the dreidel game. We also dramatized the Hanukkah story.

Enjoy your week,

Morah Debbie

11/10/15 Tuesday class summary

In early session, we reviewed our alef bet letters by playing Bingo--covering the whole board. Late session we played a new alef bet board game. Fortified by a little snack (choice of goldfish, cheese balls, cookies from Israel, or pretzels), the students worked hard in their Ramah 1 books. The room was quiet as they worked at their own pace, sometimes independently, other times with another student. They are making excellent progress!

Sunday 11/8/15 class summary

We finished learning about Simhat Torah yesterday. Ask your children about the brainteaser: Name two people in every Torah. Answer: Noah, Abraham, Moses, or anyone mentioned in the Torah, because every Torah is the same!

Next I invited the children to each list something on the board that they knew about Hanukkah. I was amazed that no one mentioned presents, but rather actual facts about the holiday! Happily, there were still some new things for them to discover about this winter holiday: menorah means lamp in Hebrew, and the accurate word for the Hanukkah menorah is hanukkiyah. They also learned the meaning of the letters on the dreidel: nes gadol hayah sham--a great miracle happened there. Ask your children how the dreidels in Israel are different!

Please help:

1. The tzedakah money we collect during the next few weeks will be used to buy gifts for children from needy families. Please try to remind your kids to bring in a few coins and get in the habit of the mitzvah of bringing in tzedakah money to class on Sundays or Tuesdays. We have a class tzedakah box.

2.  Many children are doing their homework and bringing it back to school in their homework folders. I've asked them to try to spend just five minutes a day, five times a week with Hebrew. The homework is easy and fun, and will help them to learn their letters so they can read soon. I give a sticker for homework, but tomorrow--Tuesday--Morah Liz said students who bring in their homework may choose a prize from her famous prize basket! If that helps to motivate them, I'll see what I can do about having the prize basket make frequent appearances!

Thank you for your support,

Morah Debbie

Sunday, 11/1/15 Class Summary

We learned about the connection between Sukkot and Thanksgiving today. The children worked in groups to brainstorm how the two holidays are similar, then wrote their ideas on the board. They enjoy writing on the board, and work very well together. Topics we explored included how, why, and when we celebrate the two holidays. We discussed themes such as being thankful for all the good things in our lives, that autumn is a time of harvests, and how Sukkot was the first Thanksgiving.

After our service with Rabbi Meyer, when we heard more of our story about the Jewish people (we're up to Noah's Ark), we went into the kitchen for cooking with Allison.  She was pleasantly surprised, and I was so happy and proud, that when she told them we'd be making mini pumpkin pies and asked them about the connection between Sukkot and Thanksgiving--they knew! We also decorated sugar cookies which you may not have seen since most of the children ate and enjoyed their creations before they went home.

Next week, we'll finish learning about Simhat Torah, and then we'll be right on schedule to start exploring Hanukkah.