ALEPH (1st) Blog 22-23

Aleph

1 - This week we learned about Lag B’omer.

We read a book called “Sadie’s Lag B’omer Mystery”.

We learned that Lag B’omer is the holiday we celebrate between Passover and Shavuot.

It is the 33rd day of the counting of the Omer.

We completed a word search with Lag B’omer words and made a bonfire out of fun treats!

Lag B’omer is celebrated with bonfires, picnics and fun!

Morah Suzanne, Parker and Max

Aleph 2

Hi families,

After we finished school and class photos, the students and I continued learning about Israel this week. I was so pleased to hear that a few of them even took time during the week to research and learn more about the Dead Sea! We learned about the ways people in Israel live that are similar and different from the way we live here. This included talking about Kibbutzim and Moshavim and listening to the book, Chicken Man, to deepen their understanding. Ask them what job they’d like to have if they lived on a Kibbutz! 

It’s hard to believe we only have one more day of Hebrew School. Everyone has been working really hard to keep their Siddurim open to the correct page and participate during morning Tefilah as well as listen and participate in class. As a result, they’ve once again filled their pompom jar. To celebrate their accomplishment, to mark the end of the year, and to celebrate Shavuot (because I have to throw learning into the prize) we will be making our own pizza, having ice cream, and wearing PJs on 5/21. If you have any concerns or questions about this, please let me know. 

Have a great week! 

Morah Jen, Hannah, and Parker

Hello Aleph 1 families!!

Happy Spring.

This week we had music with Alex and learned about the Mezuzah.

We learned that every Jewish home has a mezuzah on their doorpost and that the mezuzah contains the words of the Shema. We know that the mezuzah asks God to keep our homes safe.

We recited the prayer and then made our very own mezuzah!

Have a great week!

Morah Suzanne, Parker and Max

Aleph 2

Shalom,

Today we had a giant review of Hebrew letters through games.  The students used puzzles, blocks, cards and magnetic letters to identify letters learned this year.  They also earned points for saying Hebrew words beginning with the letters called.  We learned about Israel's birthday, which was celebratedf earlier this week and read a book sbout an imaginary trip to Israel stopping ub najor cities all over the country.  

Morah Jen, Parker and Hannah

In class we read the book “More than Enough” by April Halprin Wayland. The book repeatedly says “Dayenu”- “it would have been enough.” Students were asked to think about some experiences and gifts which they are thankful for and the class responded, Dayenu!  For the past two weeks we have focused on the first and second of the Ma Nishtanah, this week we focused on the 3^rd and 4^th questions. Then the class talked about the order of the seder and did an art project related to this. In Hebrew, we reviewed the following letters: Shin, Samech, Lamed, Daled, Tav, Aleph, Nun, Bet, Yud, Chet, Mem, Tet, Vav, Pey (for Pesach), and introduced the letter Hey (for Haggadah), which means “telling”. It was a wonderful morning of learning

Section 1

Hi Parents,

The Aleph students have been working so hard and did such an amazing job at the class Shabbat so we’d like to reward them with a special day of activities this Sunday. That being said, Passover is coming up so our special day will incorporate learning about the holiday by showing the movie The Prince of Egypt while providing some nut free, kosher snacks (including some Passover favorites). Kids are also encouraged to wear pjs and bring in a stuffed animal. If you have any concerns about the movie or the snack, please reach out to us no later than noon on Friday.

Thank you for all your support!!

Best,

Morah Suzanne and Morah Jen

Section 2

Hi families,

We did it! The class filled their pompom jar and earned a prize for this Sunday. Please see the email from Rabbi Kornsgold for details. Aside from celebrating their accomplishment, we discussed the different backgrounds Jewish people have and their exodus (like the Torah book that we’re currently reading from and the story of Passover…see what we did there) from various countries. We looked at a map and discussed Sephardic and Ashkenazi origins and the languages Ladino and Yiddish. We read the books Buen Shabbat, Shabbat Shalom and When Jessie Came Across the Sea and listened to a song in each language. Finally we started a family tree which the children brought home to finish with your help and discuss their personal/family journey. In Hebrew the kids learned the letter vav. They also had music today which is always a fan favorite!

Have a great week,

Morah Jen and Parker

Aleph

Section 1

Hello Aleph 1 families! This week our class had music with Alex. We sang new songs and some familiar ones. We also began practicing for our class Shabbat which is on March 3. Our class talked about Havdalah. We learned a lot about it including what it is, how many prayers we say and what special items we use to mark the end of Shabbat.

We read a cute book called “Welcome” because we always encourage the students to be welcoming and supportive of everyone. Finally, we learned the letter lamed and played a fun game putting the Hebrew letters together to make words.

Don’t forget, Sunday the 19th there is no religious school (Presidents Day Weekend). See you all on the 26th!                                                                                Morah Suzanne, Parker, and Max

Section 2

After Shira/Tefillah. The class reviewed material from the prior week. Then, we talked about Shabbat. The students had so much to say about Shabbat! Afterwards, we practiced the songs the class will be singing at their Class Shabbat, March 3. 

During Hebrew time, the students learned the letter lamed and played a fun game putting the Hebrew letters together to make words. Next week they will continue talking and learning about Shabbat, in addition to making a Challah cover.  Reminder – no class this Sunday, 2/19.

Section A

For this week's lesson, our students learned about a Jewish meal. We started the day having a discussion about Jewish foods. The kids had to think of a typically Jewish food and then tell us what holiday or occasion that we normally eat that food. I will send you all a picture of the students responses. 

We read the BJL beginnings pamphlet about a Jewish meal and learned that a Jewish meal begins  and ends with a blessing over bread. We talked about the importance of God  and how God created everything in the creation of bread. We recited the bracha over a challah and then got to enjoy it!

We watched a cute video of children eating typical Jewish foods including lox, babka and brisket!

In Hebrew, Parker taught the students the letter Aleph which does not make a sound. He also reviewed previous letters taught. 

Next Sunday, February 5th, whichever class has the most parents attend Shira/Tefillah (and then the PTO meeting) will get a special snack. Hopefully our Aleph class can be the winner! 

See  you Sunday! 

Morah Suzanne, Parker and Max

Section B

Hi families,

This week we continued our discussion of mitzvot and tzedakah. Everyone was very excited to do the art project that went along with our lesson and will be bringing home their beautifully painted tzedakah boxes next week. We also read the book Bagels from Benny to further explore the different ways we can do mitzvot and to loop into our previous lesson about how we’re partners with God. In Hebrew, the students reviewed previously learned letters using a movement game to help them remember the sounds each letter makes. 

Have a good week!

Morah Jen, Hannah, and Parker

Section A –

Hello families! Happy New Year! 

Although Parker and I were not there in class, the awesome Denise Abadi subbed for our class and she said the kids were great!

The lesson for the day was about mitzvot. - What is a mitzvah- the children gave examples of what they do that is considered a mitzvah. They talked about things they should do and things they should not do. 

They read the book - Its a, Its a, It's a mitzvah. and discussed the biblical story of Abraham and Sarah and how Sarah did the mitzvah of welcoming guests. They reviewed Hebrew letters and Alex, our new music teacher, taught them Od yavo Shalom. Check out the post on the FB TIRS group to see the video of them singing. 

Remember that next week there is no TIRS.  Looking forward to seeing you all on January 22.

Section B -

Hi parents,

It was great to be back and see everyone after our break! I went to Israel over the vacation and brought back some Israeli snacks for the students to taste. The snacks weren’t universally loved but I was very proud of them all for trying new things (Bamba Metuka/ sweet bamba, Falafel flavored bissli, and halva). Next we had a very special music class followed by Hebrew review.  Check out the post on the FB TIRS group to see the video of them singing. The students took turns identifying Hebrew letters, saying their sounds, and writing them on the write board. Last we had a discussion about the Chumash and reviewed the stories in the first book via discussion and an art project that will continue throughout the year.

Have a great week!! Reminder – no school on Sunday, January 15.

Morah Jen and Ava

Section 1

Hello Aleph families. Today we had our fun Chanukah boutique. The students had a chance to purchase gifts for family members!

Our friend Henry won a raffle prize. Yay Henry! We learned some facts about Chanukah, learned how to play dreidel, and made edible dreidels!!

We had such a fun class! Don’t forget, this  Sunday, December 11, is our family education program. Please bring a photo of who your child is named after.

Thank you!! See you on Sunday!

Morah Suzanne, Parker, and Max

Section 2

Hi families,

We had a very exciting day on Sunday! Not only did your children get to shop at the Chanukah boutique but we also earned our class PJ day and ice cream party! To give the fun an educational edge, the children learned the Hebrew word for ice cream and practiced recognizing their Hebrew name, both spoken and written in Hebrew. I’m Hebrew class the kids had a blast playing dreidel!

I look forward to meeting you all at the Family Education program on Sunday.

Have a great week,

Morah Jen, Ava, and Parker

Aleph 1 and 2:

Hello aleph class families! Today was a fun filled day! We learned about the Tower of Babel. We read the story and learned that the people built a tower up to the heavens. God was upset because the people were trying to upstage the power of God so God made it that all the people spoke different languages. The people could not communicate and they got frustrated and left the area. 

To represent this idea, the students learned how to say hello in several different languages! We joined with the other Aleph class and played Tower of Babel bingo using M and M's for the chips. They had a blast! 

To show that we do not always need to speak to communicate, we did a team building activity where the students had to get into height order without speaking! That was fun!

From there, we each created our own towers out of Lego.

We reviewed our Hebrew letters by creating letters out of modeling clay. They created a gimel, dalet, hey, bet, tav, mem, final mem and shin. They did an amazing job! 

Thank you for sharing your wonderful kids with us every Sunday!

Aleph 1- Today we spoke about Shabbat and started the lesson by reviewing last weeks lesson on creation. The final day of creation, day 7, is the day that God rested. We call this day Shabbat. Going around the room we charted what do the kids already know about Shabbat. Many of the kids knew that we light candles, say prayers, and have  a family dinner. Using a prayer book, we practiced the three main Shabbat prayers, it was so wonderful hearing how many of them knew them already. We then read a story titled, The Friday Nights of Nana. The story is about a grandma who is preparing the Shabbat meal with her granddaughter. For our craft we created Shabbat challah covers. Each student had a choice to include their Hebrew and/or English name on the cover. I hope you highlight this cover at one of your next Shabbat meals. In Hebrew lesson, Parker reviewed all the letters we have already learned, including shin, tav, bet, gimmel, resch, men, and final mem. The students did an action for each letter to help them remember.  Since the rain prevented us from using the playground, we stayed inside and played pass the stuffed challah!

Please remember our Family Education program is on December 11th. You will be receiving more information as it gets closer.

Aleph 2- 

Hi families,

This week we continued learning about Abraham and Sarah but this time in the context of the mitzvah of Hachnasat orchim (welcoming guests). We watched a few short videos and had discussions to learn about the concept, how Abraham and Sarah did hachnasat orchim, and how we can do it in our lives with friends, family members, and strangers alike. They are doing such a great job participating and remembering previously learned concepts so they’re very close to earning a class prize. In the spirit of democracy they came up with a list of possible prizes and then voted to determine the winner. In a few weeks they’ll be treated to a well deserved pj’s and ice cream party…more details to follow.

In Hebrew, the children did a fun movement game to practice the sounds different Hebrew letters make and they learned the letter ג (gimmel).

Please remember to send your child to Hebrew school with a water bottle, kippah, and if you’re able, tzedakah.

Please remember our Family Education program is on December 11th. You will be receiving more information as it gets closer.

Have a great week!

Section 1 - Morah Suzanne

After Shira/ Tefillah, the class ate snack in the sukkah and had the chance to shake the lulav too!

We talked about Simchat Torah and learned many things about this holiday. We learned that we walk around the sanctuary 7 times. It takes a year to read the Torah from beginning to end. Bet is the first letter in the Torah and Lamed is the last letter. Together lamed and bet make the word lev, which means heart. We created our own Torah scrolls out of pretzels and fruit roll ups! In Hebrew, we learned the letter Dalet,which is the first letter in the word degel, which means flag! Then, we waved flags to celebrate Simchat Torah!!

Have a great week!!

Section 2 - Morah Jen

Today we spent some time in the sukkah admiring the decorations we made last week, smelling the etrog, and shaking the lulav. The kids also had fun doing a scavenger hunt in the sukkah. Some items were hard to find so we used the Hebrew words for hot (cham) and cold (kar) to help them figure out where the items were located. Back in the classroom we completed the book, This is the Sukkah that name Built. Some students wrote their name in English and others wrote them name in Hebrew. We also read a bit about Simchat Torah and learned the first and last words in the Torah. Based on that, we figured out that the first and last letters of the Torah spell לב (lev or heart). Finally we completed a craft to go along with that new discovery. In Hebrew, Parker reviewed previously learned letters and introduced the letter dalet ד. 

Aleph 1

Hello awesome Aleph families! Happy first day of TIRS! After an amazing opening assembly, our class had some get to know you activities.  There are 12 students in out section and we are looking forward to getting to know one another. We promised to be respectful and kind to everyone in our class.  Each student had a chance to share their wishes for the new year with the rest of the class. Many of the students said they wanted to have fun and to learn a lot! On our first day we learned the letter 'shin' and talked about our Hebrew names.  

It is wonderful getting to know your children and I look forward to a great school year.

Shabbat Shalom,                                                                                                                                                               Morah Suzanne, Parker (Hebrew madrich) and Max

Aleph 2

Hi Parents,

We had a great first day of Hebrew school in Aleph 2! We played some getting to know you games, talked as a group about what we already know about Rosh Hashanah, and read a book about it. The students also learned about the letter ש (shin) including the sound it makes and some words that begin with it. I look forward to a wonderful year of learning and fun with your children!

Reminders: Please send your child to school each week with a kippah and a water bottle. We will also be collecting tzedakah each week so please feel free to send some coins in with your child.

B’shalom,  Morah Jen