DOING THE RIGHT THING

 

The students in Kitah Vav continue to explore the importance of making ethical decisions, and doing the right thing.  In particular, we have been talking about Possessions, and the Jewish take on how much is enough, and how much is too much.  We looked at the many things we take for granted, and civilizations where even clean water is looked upon as a luxury.  We wrote some songs using the song "Dayenu" and had a great discussion about what we would be happy with, and what we could live without.  This was a great lesson for many of our students, especially right before Hanukkah.  

Our Kitah Hey students have been talking about the commandment to show respect for all living things, and especially the commandment of Tzaar Balaei Chayim, Kindness and Respect for animals.  We have been talking about how we treat our pets, kashrut, and the ethical treatment of animals.  Students made mini-posters using biblical text, and debated the pros and cons of zoos.  The most important thing we want our students to understand it that as Conservative Jews, we are commanded to care for all living things, and our responsibility begins in the home first. 

CANDLES FOR THE COMMUNITY

As conservative Jews, we are commanded to demonstrate solidarity with Jews around the world, take pride in our Jewish identity and embrace our heritage.   The story of Hanukkah provides wonderful opportunities to truly teach and experience these life lessons.  

Last week, we talked about Hannah and her Sons, and how this Matriarch watched as each of her sons was murdered for standing up for his right to be Jewish.  We had discussions about peer pressure and taking a stand for what is right.  Our students shared some very interesting ideas about "bullying" and the importance of defending others when they are being treated as victims.  

We also talked about Hanukkah bringing light into one of the darkest periods of Jewish history.  With faith and commitment to a belief, the Jewish people endured and emerged a winner in the fight for Religious Freedom.  Perhaps as you light the candles on your chanukkiah this year, you will have the chance to talk about the importance of our Jewish identity and why the candles are placed in front of a window for all in the community to see.  

This year, for many Jews in our community, they too are faced with a difficult time, and so we are partnering with Yad Ezra to share the light and we are asking each family to donate one box of Hanukkah candles to help those in need share the lights of Hanukkah.  Please bring your box of candles to Hillel or to Shaarey Zedek this week, and we will deliver them in time for Hanukkah. 

Enjoy the long winter break, and don't forget about our Jews Around the World Project which is due on Sunday, January 8, 2012.   

Happy Hanukkah, and  L'Shanah Tova!

JEWISH HISTORY TIMELINE PROJECT

THIS ASSIGNMENT IS DUE ON SUNDAY, JANUARY 8, 2012

Please pick a country with a strong Jewish community either now or in the past and report back to our class about the following items: 

• The year Jews arrived and when they left 
• Why they left
• Is there still a strong Jewish community
• Culture, food, recreation
• Education, Observance and Celebrations
• Hardships, Anti-Semitism
• synagogue life
• family life

If possible, pick a country where your family is from, and interview a family member.  We would love to have guests visit us and share their story.  This all helps us to better understand our Jewish heritage, nurtures our Jewish identity, and demonstrates the importance of showing solidarity with Jews around the world.  

Feel free to add anything else you think might help us understand why these Jewish communities are still vibrant, or why the population was displaced.  This may be presented in a mini-poster, bullet points, or any other way you can share the information in an interesting and engaging way. 

 

AM YISRAEL

As members of the Jewish community, we are commanded to demonstrate solidarity with Jews around the world, take pride in our Jewish identity and embrace our heritage.  As part of this ongoing theme in our Sunday morning rotations, we have been talking about what it means to identify as a Jew, how we show solidarity with Jews around the world, and what constitutes Jewish heritage. 

Students were asked to think about how Jews ended up all around the world, and what countries still have strong Jewish communities.  After identifying the major reasons for our dispersion, students were asked to think about their own families and how they arrived in America, Michigan, and ultimately, Oakland County. 

This discussion led us to talks about anti-Semitism, leaving family behind, and moving for better opportunities.  The discussion also began to lay the foundation for our Jewish History Time line.  Students were asked to pick a country with a strong Jewish population either in the past, or now, and report back to our class.  The purpose of the assignment is to give our students a point of reference in terms of Jewish history when learning world history in their 6th grade classrooms. 

The goal is to help our students understand that most world history events have a Jewish history connection, and having a Jewish point of reference helps us to understand that our life as a Jew is a part of of our JEwish identity which must be nurtured, recognized, and embraced everyday and everywhere. 

FALL FIX UP

Thank you to all of the families who participated in Sunday morning's Fall Fix Up.  It was wonderful seeing so many of our students working together to show our support for the community.  This simple act of kindness, referred to as Gemilut Chasidim, helps us partner with GOD in repairing the world.  The act of kindness and respect for the elderly helps to bring us closer to GOD, our community, and ourselves and it is what we are all about. 

DOING THE RIGHT THING

This Sunday is our Fall Fix-Up.  We will meet at the Oak Park Jewish Center and spend some time working together to help make the world a better place.  We have been talking about our responsibility to those in our community in both our 5th and 6th grade rotations.  The idea of Tikkun Olam, repairing the world is just part of the grand scheme of things.  We are commanded to work together to bring us closer to GOD, ourselves, and to the community, and one of the ways we do this by helping others.  

We have had some wonderful discussions in our class about the things we can do to bring us closer to GOD, and how difficult it is to talk about GOD.  We understand that there is something far greater than we are, but at times we struggle to understand what that is.  The best way to create a relationship with GOD is to try to always do the right thing, with the idea that this is the path we need to travel.  

Our Tuesday class has also been talking about ethics, and how it is important to think about doing the right thing, even if it is not the popular thing to do.  Ethics are the feelings behind the law, and they are often difficult to understand because they are not always the easiest choices to make.

The Ties that Bind

We have been talking about the things that connect us to Jews around the world, and the wonderful things about being Jewish.  It was so interesting to listen to our students share their thoughts about what makes them Jewish, and how proud they are to share in the traditions that bind us together. 

FALL FIX UP REMINDER

Project Tikkun Olam – November 13!

On Sunday, November 13^th, the Religious School will participate in Shaarey Zedek’s Project Tikkun Olam in partnership with Jewish Family Service’s 15^th Annual Fall Fix Up. Families should meet at the JCC in Oak Park at 9:30 a.m. 

This program is a part of the Religious School experience. As such, it replaces the regularly scheduled synagogue-based learning time. Fall Fix Up serves homebound older adults and those in need of minor home repairs and outdoor cleanup. Each family will receive 2-4 homes, located in close proximity to one another. It is a great way to teach your children about the value of giving back to our community!  

RSVP is due by Sunday, October 23^rd to ensure adequate space in the program. You may request 1 family to be paired with. Please contact Karen Davis to make your reservation in the program at kdavis@shaareyzedek.org or 248-357-5544 x60.

Tuesday Afternoons and the Living is Easy

Helping Rabbi Starr at the Learner's Minyan

Building community one day at a time

Jewish Identity

We have been talking about Ahavat Yisrael, and the commandment to demonstrate solidarity with Jews around the world.  We are also commanded to take pride in our Jewish identity, and embrace our heritage.  On the surface this seems like a simple task, but the students in our class have started to deconstruct the idea of Jewish identity, and what each of them stands for.  We have had some very interesting discussions, and we are beginning to recognize that each of us defines ourselves differently, but our common bonds connect us to each other, Jews in America, and around the world. 

On Tuesday afternoons we have been talking about building community and our connections to working together to make the world a better place.  We have been talking about the value of friendship, kindness and respect.  

We also had the opportunity to spend some time talking about Gilad Shalit, and the commendment to free a captive at all costs.  The discussion was quite interesting when we were confronted with the issue of the families that lost loved ones at the cost of the freed terrorists.  Our Tuesday afternoon discussions are quite enriching, and I encourage you to ask your children to share the discussions with you.  

WELCOME TO OUR COMMUNITY

 Building our Kitah Vav Community

Our Sunday morning Kitah Vav class has been talking about community, and the importance of building connections to people in the community.  Although we come from different families, schools, cities, or neighborhoods, we are connected through many similar experiences, and most importantly, we are connected as Jews.  Our focus for the year is Ahavat Yisrael, our commitment to one people helping to make the world a better place by building relationships with ourselves, GOD and each other. 

Our Tuesday afternoon Mitzvot and Middot rotations are devoted to finding ways to help repair the world on a personal level.  We do this through living an ethical life, and following the commandments defined in our Torah.  Students are encouraged to think about how they fit into our community, and what actions need to be taken to help repair the world. 

Please remember we start each day in the Chapel, so hang up your bags, drop off your coats, and meet us in the Chapel as quickly as you can. 

Yad Making

Many of our students had the opportunity to make a Yad with Artist in Residence, Gail Kaplan.  If you missed the opportunity, please contact Megan Toppor  for the make-up date.  These beautiful, one of a kind pieces are a gift from the Religious School to all students to use as they read Torah for the very first time.  Hopefully, they will be used many more times as our students continue on their Jewish Journey. 

Final Countdown

As the year quickly comes to an end, many of  our students have finished  their personal statements and are working on their D'var Torah.  If your student has not brought home a B'nai Mitzvah packet to help them complete this project, please have them contact me as soon as possible.  Students have been given class time to work on this project,  and all papers are due on Sunday, May 22, 2011.  

Attendance awards are being presented at the end of the year ceremony.  If your child has missed less than three times this year, they are eligible for an attendance certificate.  Please have them contact me if they believe they have earned an award.

This week we will complete our Life Cycle Unit on Dating, Marriage, and Divorce, and we look forward to celebrating together at our End of the Year Celebration.  Please feel free to join us next Sunday for our L'ag B'Omer Celebration.

It has been a pleasure working with your children this year.  They are a bright, committed, and articulate group of students, and I believe they are beginning their Jewish Journey into adulthood, prepared to be educated, informed, and knowledgeable Jews, able to live a Jewish life in a non-Jewish world.

Learn, Lay and Pray - A Tefillin Workshop

IT'S A WRAP

LEARN, LAY AND PRAY 

A B'NAI MITZVAH FAMILY EDUCATION PROGRAM

Sunday, April 17, 2011  

10:45am to 12:15

THANK YOU!!!

Thank you to all of the students who volunteered at the Purim Carnival, you did a great job.  I have worked with our sixth grade students in the past, but this year's  group was extraordinary.  All of you supervised your stations appropriately, engaged our younger students, helped each child feel good about themselves, and you made everyone feel comfortable in our Shul.   You were a true benefit, and I am proud to say you were students in Kitah Vav!  Yasher Koach on a job well done, you should be very proud of yourselves. 

DON'T FORGET!
Sunday, Marcy 27, 2011 - Field Trip to Ira Kaufman Funeral Home  
Meet in the Lobby of the Shul at 9:30am
Bring a signed permission slip
Bring a parent to accompany you or...
Make arrangements to carpool with a friend


NO CLASS  - SPRING BREAK
Sunday, April 3, 2011  through April 10, 2011

SAVE THE DATE

SIXTH GRADE FAMILY ED TEFILLIN PROGRAM
Sunday, April 17, 2011.
More Info to Follow

PURIM COMMANDMENTS

THE FOUR COMMANDMENTS OF PURIM

The celebration of Purim allows children to associate Judaism with joy and celebration. They feel bonded to a people and community who know how to laugh and love their tradition enough to play with it and enjoy it.   

Source Unknown

1.  The Reading of the Megillah

On Purim it is a mitzvah to hear the Megillah, the Book of Esther, read aloud. Purim’s festivities center on this reading.   The actual story of the Megillah is one of straightforward idealism. Its message for us and for our children is that every Jew can be a hero and that individuals can make a difference. Attending a Megillah reading and discussing the story of Esther with children can help to foster a sense of self-worth and provide a role model for every would-be hero. 

2.  Giving Shalach Manot, Gifts of Food

Giving Shalach Manot reminds us that being a Jew means being part of the community and sharing celebrations with friends. Giving Shalach Manot is a simple mitzvah. It is just a matter of giving a gift of two or more kinds of food to the people important in your family’s life. Shalach Manot may typically include hamantashen , three-cornered cookies named after Haman, fruit, and candy.

3.  Giving Matanot la-Evyonim, Gifts to the Poor

In the Jewish tradition, every act of celebration, every moment of significance, and every formal gathering includes an opportunity for giving tzedakah. Tzedakah, comes from the Hebrew word meaning justice, and is the obligation to help those who are in need by sharing part of the wealth we are fortunate enough to have. 

4.  Celebrate and Be Happy

On Purim, it is a mitzvah to celebrate and be happy. Parties, special meals, hamantashen, costumes, carnivals, plays and sounding graggers are all part of the Purim festival. It is even a mitzvah to get drunk with gladness.

PURIM

The core curriculum in our Tuesday afternoon class reinforces the concept that each of us has a direct responsibility to care for the world through building a relationship with GOD, ourselves, and the community. To  further emphasize the importance of working to build these relationships through acts of kindness, we will be making Mishlach Manot, baskets of food for people in our community to fulfill  one of the commandments of the Purim celebration. 

In addition to making these gifts of food, students are encouraged to donate money to the poor, hear the megillah being read aloud, and celebrate at a Purim Seudah.  By participating in this wonderful act of giving, and attending the Purim Extravaganza on Saturday evening, March 19, and  Sunday morning, March 20, Kitah Vav students with fulfill the observance of all four of these mitzvot, and begin their pre B'nai Mitzvah journey into Jewish adulthood.

Please send in two regular size packages, or one COSTCO size bag or box of Kosher treats, candy, snacks, crackers, granola bars, raisins, or fruit snacks, on Tuesday, March 15, 2011 to help make these Mishlach Manot packages. 

Thank you in advance for your kind and generous donations.

FIELD TRIP

As the end of the year quickly approaches, we are preparing for units on Purim, Passover,  and Shavuot observances, and the Jewish traditions, laws, and customs concerning dating, marriage, divorce, death and dying.

Our Life Cycle Unit on Death and Dying will begin on Sunday, March 13, 2011, and will commence on Sunday, March 27, 2011 with our Family Education Trip to the Ira Kaufman Funeral Chapel. Please plan on joining us as we take a behind the scenes tour, ask questions, and learn about traditional Jewish burial customs.

In past years, this topic has been quite interesting for the students, as they seem to have many questions concerning this often taboo subject. The unit is taught in a sensitive, safe, and non-threatening manner, but may be an uncomfortable topic for some students. Please take a few minutes to discuss the curriculum with your children and do not hesitate to contact me if you have any questions or concerns.

Tzedakah Experience Update

Making a Difference... Together!

Our Connections

We have been talking about the importance of building strong connections to GOD, the community, and ourselves,  and this week we continued the discussion.  Our Chai curriculum lesson introduced the idea of Gemilut Chasidim and Tikkun Olam, acts of kindness and taking care of the world as ways to build these relationships.  Students were asked to think about all of the world problems and then they were asked to help identify which of these global issues were also Jewish concerns.  Surprisingly, every world issue they listed had a Jewish value connected to it.  We spent the afternoon talking about how brilliant our ancient teachers were when thinking about the work each of us must do to build our relationships with GOD, our community, and ourselves, and what each of us can do, however small, to begin repairing the world through acts of kindness.  

Thank you to the families who attended Shabbat School.  We appreciate the message you send to your children when you encourage their participation in our Shabbat experience, and Mazal Tov to our students for  the beautiful chanting of the Amidah.   

Sunday, February 13, 2011 - Community Wide Tzedakkah Fair -  All students meet at Temple Israel. 

Tu B'Shevat This and That

In our Tuesday afternoon class we have shifted our weekly Chai lessons from Avodah to Gemilut Chasidim.  Our weekly discussions give students the opportunity to explore the  many ways they can connect to GOD, community and themselves through the work of Torah study.  This month our discussions will center around the connections we make through  improving the world, ourselves, and our community with acts of kindness. 

On Tuesday, we began to explore the Jewish value of Bal Tashchit, the Jewish value stressing the importance of not wasting. The purpose of this mitzvah is to teach us to love that which is good and worthwhile and to cling to it, so that good becomes a part of us and we will avoid all that is evil and destructive. 

To reinforce the value of  loving the resources GOD created for us, and to celebrate Tu B'Shevat, the birthday of the trees in Israel, we sat together and learned about the seven species mentioned in the Torah as the original foods of the land of Israel, and tasted many of the fresh fruits grown in the Jewish holy land.  We sang, prayed, ate, learned, and celebrated together, and had a wonderful afternoon.  

On Sundays, we are beginning our B'nai Mitzvah  unit, and students will begin exploring the many facets of beginning their Jewish Journey into adulthood.  If your child knows their B'nai Mitzvah date, please have them bring it to class with them on Sunday, and we will locate their parsha.  Our unit will commence with each student writing a mini d'var torah, where they will have the opportunity to explore their Torah portion in detail.  

DON'T FORGET....

Tzedakkah Experience on Sunday,  February 13, 2011.  
Meet at Temple Israel at 10am.