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.