Hello Everyone!
We hope all the kids had a wonderful time on Halloween night this year. It really felt like a return to pre-pandemic times, with so many kids in great costumes and not needing to wear masks outside. As we enter November, I would like to remind you that we have our next Religious School class this Sunday, November 6, at 9:30 a.m. That day is also Daylight Saving Time so remember to switch your clocks before arriving. We will then have a week off on November 13 and return on November 20. Please also remember to bring jars of peanut butter for the Food for Thought Drive. Finally, mark your calendars for April 16, when our school will have a special time at Urban Adamah in Berkeley.
And now for the recap. Larry once again helped us out by leading the Tefillah service while Rabbi Dean was out of town. In the younger kids’ classes, Heather led a lesson on Anti-Bullying. First they learned what bullying means and then found out that once you say something, the words are out and you can’t take them back. Words have meaning and they can hurt. The kids then came up with Anti-Bullying Slogans, including:
“Say NO to BULLYING”
“Be Nice”
“Don’t be a BULLY”
“Don’t Laugh at Me”
and many more. It was a great lesson and all the kids were so creative with it.
In the B’nai Mitzvah class, we started our curriculum on the Jewish Life Cycle. For the next few weeks we will learn about the major events in a Jewish Life Time, what they symbolize, and how they still have value in the modern world.
And that about covers it for now. Everyone enjoy their extra hour on Saturday night before the early darkness reappears for us until the Spring. See y’all on Sunday!
Best,
David
Religious School Update – January 12, 2023
January 13, 2023 by tbhrich • Beit Midrash
Welcome Back Everyone!
It was so wonderful to see all the families back after the long hiatus. All the kids were ready and eager to get back to class. Just a reminder that we will not have religious school on January 15 because of the MLK holiday but we will resume the following Sunday on January 22 at 9:30 a.m. Also, unfortunately, the weather report still calls for more rain this weekend, so I decided to postpone the playground project one more time. We will now hold it on January 22 at 12:30 p.m. We would love for all the parents to help put in the new sand and wood chips (and bring a shovel if you have one)
And now for the recap. Rabbi Dean led us in our Tefillah service and introduced us to the opening of the Book of Exodus. Appropriately, the younger grades all learned the story about Moses and his confrontations with Pharoah. They read stories about Moses as a baby and being drawn from the Nile River and worked on illustration booklets.
In the Bnai Mitzvah class, we started a multi-week project about what it means to live a Jewish life. For the first hour, we started learning the basics of the Hebrew language, including how to say hello, introduce ourselves, and basic vocabulary. We also learned that each Hebrew word and name has an inherent value and connection through Gematriyah. For the second hour, I had the kids think about what living a Jewish life means in terms of thoughts and actions. They gave their opinions about what is most important for living a Jewish life and then we analyzed the key actions that Reform Rabbis highlighted, including deeds of compassion, honoring parents, prayer, and studying Torah. Starting next time we will begin work on their personal projects to reflect their own definition of living a Jewish life in their everyday lives.
And that about covers it for now. Everyone have a nice extended weekend and I will see y’all on January 22.
Best, David