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