Kindergarten
This week we had a shorter class time since we got to see Rabbi Spike's office and our Shin Shin Nicole came to visit! We talked about the 10 commandments and why they are important to live by. We also go to make our own 10 commandment book to take home! Ask your students: 1. What are 2 out of the 10 Commandments? 2. What day is the Sabbath day in Jewish culture?
1st Grade
Today we discussed Bikkur Holim. We read Let's Discover Mitzvot magazine. We discussed how to visit the sick and make them feel better. We made a poem about visiting the sick. We made a card and decorated a get well bag. Ask your students: How do you make the sick feel better? What can you bring the sick?
2nd Grade
We had fun learning about Moses, the 10 plagues, parting of the sea and Exodus from a multi-sensory approach. We also learned about the holiday Tu B’Shevat (Seder to follow next class). We made plague puppet sticks and acted out scenes during a reader’s theater. Ask your students: How many plagues were there? Why do we celebrate Tu B’Shevat?
K-2 Music
It was Fabulous to see your kids today! We sang about trees, about God, and about how God is a part of everything-even the growing of the trees! We learned "Atzei Zeitim Omdim- The Olive Trees are Standing," "God is Everywhere," and "The Tree Song!" Ask your students to sing for you!
3rd Grade
Judaics
Today, our students learned about Golda Meir the "Iron Lady" who went to become the prime minister of Israel in 1969. We will explore Tzionut ( support for the nation and people of Israel) by hearing the dramatic story of Golda Meir's visit to Moscow Great Synagogue on Rosh Hashanah in 1948. Ask your students: Why did Golda insist on going to visit the Jewish population on Rosh Hashanah? Imagine that you are in the crowd that met Golda Meir in the Great Synagogue in Russia. what emotion did you feel at the time?
Applied Hebrew
We began class by reading the story "A Visit to Heaven and Hell." Our discussion focused on the choices made by the main character in the story, a Rabbi. Throughout the story, the Rabbi visits both Heaven and Hell, and in the end gets to choose where he would like to stay. The students described the Rabbi's personality as kind and thoughtful. We tied the Rabbi's story to our main topic, which was the story of Rebekah at the Well from Genesis 24. After reading the story, the students were asked to think of one kind act they had recently performed. The kids were then given construction paper and were able to bring their act of kindness to life. The kids all shared their creations with each other and we had so much fun reading about everyone’s kind actions! Ask your students: 1. What made heaven into heaven? 2. Why did the Rabbi choose to go to Hell?
4th Grade
Judaics
We discussed the 'role' of the Jewish people as being 'chosen'. How the Torah was offered to other peoples and they refused it due to the laws and consequences. How the laws in Torah are the basis for our civilian laws. We discussed the most important characteristics of being an effective leader. Ask your students: What are the Jews are the 'Chosen People' chosen to do? What are the 2 most important characteristics of a leader?
Applied Hebrew
Today we read about how God speaks to Moses and promises him that he will indeed save the Jews. He tells him that he must go to King Pharaoh and demand that he let the Jews out of Egypt. Ask your students: What did we learn about the process of Moses becoming a leader for the people of Israel? What do you think, was Moses's job, easy or hard, why?
5th Grade
Judaics
This week we learned about 2 Torah Portions! In Parshah Vayish-lach (Gen. 32:4-36:48), we talked about Jacob and Esau reuniting and forgiving one another and the birth of Jacob’s children. In Parshah Vayeishev (Gen. 37:1-40:23), we followed the story of Joseph, from his early life through his enslavement in Egypt and eventual imprisonment by his master Potiphar. Ask your students: 1. Why did Jacob send gifts ahead to his brother Esau when he heard he was not alone? 2. Why do you think Jacob’s brothers were mad enough at him to throw him in a pit and sell him into slavery?
Applied Hebrew
We will watch a short movie about people wasting food - good food. We will ask why and how we can prevent wasting food or any other material related to our life. We will create a meaningful recycling "Taking Action" picture that will show us our action to make this world clean and joyful. Ask your students: 1. What ware we recycling at home? 2/. How can we do not waste food at home?
6th Grade
Today was another day of maps, but this time we used them as a way to talk about narratives. Maps tell stories and one of the stories that Israel’s map covers is the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. This was just a taste of a much larger conversation, but we looked at all kinds of maps of Israel, starting from the Balfour Declaration in 1917 up until today. We used large scale maps that were spread across the floor for the students to observe, ask questions about, and start to understand just how much things have changed over the years.
If you’re interested in looking at some of these maps, here is a link to an excellent resource: https://mfa.gov.il/mfa/aboutisrael/maps/pages/israel%20in%20maps.aspx
Here are some follow-up questions you could ask your child(ren):
- How has Israel’s map changed throughout the years?
- What caused the maps to change? (usually wars)
- How do you feel about the ways in which Israel has taken and given up land throughout its short history?
7th & 8th Grades
Today we were fortunate enough to hear from George Rishfeld, a survivor of the Holocaust. He shared his experiences with our classes from the time he was a child through adulthood. We appreciate him sharing his time with us, and we are looking forward to this Sunday's trip to the Breman Museum where we will hear another Survivor speak on his experiences.
