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.