DALET (4th) Blog 22-23

Judaic Studies:

We concluded our study of Israel today with a review of facts and trivia.  The students did a great job recalling many of the things we learned throughout the year and learned a few new pieces of information.  Ask your child about the surprising kind of restaurant that is popular in Tel Aviv (sushi) and what a sabra is (someone born in Israel).

Hebrew:

Students completed the end of year Hebrew assessments and worked to finish the current Ramah (level) they are working on in Mitkadem.

Today as a part of our study of Israel we prepared for Yom Ha’atzmaut which we will celebrate this Wednesday, April 26.  We recalled the celebrations in 1948 when modern Israel became official and how we celebrate it today. Compare with your child how Israel celebrates their Independence Day and how we celebrate ours. Then, ask your child about the design they created for Israel’s Independence Day. 

Judaic Studies:

Today in our study of Israel we explored information about the modern day city of Tel Aviv.  Discuss with your child all that makes this city modern and exciting.  What did they like best about what they learned or what they did when they visited there?  What would they like to do if they went to Tel Aviv (again)?  We then compared Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.  Ask your child about the similarities and differences.   Was there something new they saw about Jerusalem that they didn’t learn when we first studied the city?   What is now most interesting to them about Jerusalem?  About all of Israel?

Hebrew:

Students went over the parts of the seder in Hebrew (there are 14 parts), and acted out the various plagues while classmates tried to guess the plagues. Students also talked about their favorite Passover traditions, foods and songs.

Judaic Studies:

Today our focus was on the flag of Israel.  We discussed the choice of the two blue bands (ask your child what those represent) and then the use of the Magen David.  We know it is named for Israel’s King David–have your child tell you how he used it and then why it was adopted by the Israeli people as a symbol.  We then started creating our own interpretation of the Magen David using tessellation.  We will finish up our designs when we return to regular class schedule, the week after Purim.

Hebrew:Students took a break from Mitkadem and learning different words and phrases associated with the Purim, including the 4 mitzvot of Purim.

Judaic Studies:

Thank you to all that were able to make it to our Dalet Class Shabbat on Friday night.  The students all did a fantastic job–wasn’t their poetry amazing?  They are truly displaying their learning about and love for Israel every week.

Today we picked up again our study of the Bedouin people that inhabit the deserts in Israel.  A couple of weeks ago we viewed two videos of their lives and today students used a viewing guide that they completed while watching to shape our discussion of these interesting people.  Some of the points we discussed were–1) the roles of men and women in that society and how they are different from what we see around us, 2) how their daily routines are like and different from ours, 3) what students would like about living that lifestyle, and 4) what they would miss most from their current life were they to live the life of the Bedouins. Ask your child how they answered these and other questions we discussed.  Then ask what they recorded as their two most significant facts about the Bedouin people in Israel.

Hebrew:

Students learned the different blessings we say over food and how to read these blessings, some of them contain difficult Hebrew words. The students are doing a great job working on their decoding skills. They also used flashcards to help them learn new Hebrew words.😁

I wish you all a blessed weekend

See you unday 

Today in our study of Israel and in preparation for our Class Shabbat on February 3, we concentrated on Hatikvah, the national anthem of Israel.  We talked about the significance of an anthem, what it means to citizens of a country, and how we use it to honor a country.  We then examined specifically the words in Hatikvah and why they are so  appropriate to our homeland.  The students worked on composing a poem that will help us teach others about Hatikvah and Israel.  Be sure you have February 3 on your calendar for our Class Shabbat so you hear their great work.

Judaic Studies:

Today we continued  our study of the Israeli desert. Picking up from where we left off last week students completed posters about the animals that inhabit the Israeli desert, including those that are near to extinction and under protection of the Israeli government.  Ask your child about those animals and how the animals are being protected.  They did an absolutely fantastic job creating the posters and sharing them with the class–they were very impressive with their hard work and team cooperation.

Hebrew:

-I wanted to take a moment  to rave about your wonderful children who did an amazing job this week in the find the word game for Chanukah and matching the holidays symbols to the words in Hebrew and writing them. In addition. They are all doing a great job in their different ramot in Mitkadem. Wishing you a great week and Happy Chanukah.

Judaic Studies:

Today we continued with both our study of Jerusalem and writing midrash. We completed the video about the three families/religions living in Jerusalem, what they share, and how they differ.  Ask your student what else they  now remember from the video and the families/religions represented.  The students then worked in groups to write midrash about how Jerusalem came to have its various names (City of David, Lion of God, Oasis of Justice, etc.) Ask your child which group they worked with, what name for Jerusalem they were assigned, and how the resulting midrash they wrote was expressed.  Which of the other names for the city do they remember from the groups’ presentations?

Hebrew:

Students continued working through their Mitkadem binders. Some students are working on mastering Hebrew vocabulary related to the Friday evening kiddush, while others are working on reading skills.

Thank you to all the parents, grandparents, and other adult friends that were able to join us for today’s Family Education program.  Elliot, Dylan, and I enjoyed exploring facts about Israel and especially about Jerusalem with you.  Everyone did such a great job with the Jerusalem paintings–I hope they will always help you think of Jerusalem–the city built of Jerusalem stone.  Our prayers for the Kotel have been delivered to my friend and soon they will be placed in the Western Wall for God to her our prayers.  May we all be together one day in Yerushalayim.

Judaic Studies - We reviewed the 5 Books of Moses–their names, that they are divided into chapters and verses–then read two more passages that describe the location of the land God promised his people.  This was more of the information the Zionists used when they were settling land and creating Modern Israel.  We then began work on a large wall map of Israel that we will continue to use throughout our study.  We had team “create the outline of the map” and team “create the sand for the desert. Ask your child about how they served.  We then all worked together to add the sand to the map to create the Negev. Discuss with your child the fact that 60% of Israel is made up of desert. In future lessons we’ll discuss how Israelis are able to make things grow and flourish in the dry desert conditions.  Be sure your calendars are marked for Sunday, November 6–that’s our Dalet Family Education Day and we’d love to see everyone here.

Hebrew - Students continued working in their Mitkadem binders. They are making  great progress. Students are working on various tefillot, including Friday night Kiddush, The Amidah as well as learning the blessings over different foods.

JUDAIC STUDIES - Today was a day to prepare for Sukkot.  We made three dimensional paper apples to hang in our Temple sukkah–and some students made one to take home for their family sukkah.  We also read the story Molly’s Pilgrim.  Ask your child about the relationship between Sukkot and the American holiday of Thanksgiving.  Have them tell you how Molly and her mother taught the children in the class that there are many ways to be a pilgrim and talk about the times Jewish people have been pilgrims.

HEBREW - Students learned Sukkot related Hebrew words and practiced writing these words. Then, students played Sukkot Bingo with these Hebrew words while reviewing the concepts and mitzvot associated with Sukkot. Next Sunday, students will begin working in their Mitkadem binders.