Beit Midrash

Hello Everyone!

Could anything be better than an amazing Tu B’shvat celebration with all our students and parents?  Thank you to everyone who brought in fruit for the kids and helped to make our Seder a success.  Just as a reminder, we will have our next Religious School this week on Sunday, February 12.  When school ends at 12:30 p.m., we will be having a Hamentashan making class for all who are interested.  We will then have a week off on February 19 and resume Religious School the following week on February 26.

  And now for the recap.  Rabbi Dean and Cantor Marney led our Tefillah service and introduced us to more Tu B’shvat songs.  All the classes then worked together to plant a nectarine tree and kumquat tree.  The kids really enjoyed digging in the dirt and spreading the soil.  One day they will walk by those fully grown trees and think to themselves “I planted that!”

The second half of class was all based on preparing and celebrating our Tu B’shvat Seder.  Taking turns with washing and cutting up the fruit, all the kids helped put together the 7 species along with 27 different kinds of fruit.  When the parents arrived we were all set for our Seder.  Everyone started off with tasting the 7 species (wheat, barley, grapes, olives, dates, pomegranates, and figs) and saying the blessings for each one.  We then tried fruits with edible seeds, followed by fruits without edible seeds, followed by fruits that can be eaten entirely, and finally smelling the aromas of lemons and limes and oranges.  All the kids and adults then announced which fruit they had tried a lot and which one they had never tried before.  It was fun hearing which fruits were surprise hits (like dragonfruit) and which would never be tried again (like jackfruit).  All in all, a highly successful seder for our families!

   And that about covers it for now.  I will see everyone next Sunday for classes, Hamentashen lesson, and then Super Bowl!

Best,

David

Hello Everyone!

  And welcome back once again after a short break.  We will now be able to have a more regular schedule now that the major holidays are done.  We will have Religious School for the next three weeks until mid-February for the school break.  Just as importantly, a huge thank you to all the parents who assisted in putting in the new sand and wood chips for the playground last Sunday.  We could not have done it without you.  Our next Religious School will take place on Sunday, January 29, starting at 9:30 a.m.  And in two weeks on February 5, we will have our TuB’shvat celebration (more details to come).

     And now for the recap.  Rabbi Dean and Cantor Marney led our Tefillah service, with Cantor Marney teaching us new TuB’shvat songs to sing in the next few weeks.  While the younger grades were starting to learn about TuB’shvat, the B’nai Mitzvah class continued our multi-week project about what it means to live a Jewish life.  For the first hour, we continued our studies of the Hebrew language.  The kids can now ask basic questions, make simple statements, and engage in brief conversations all in Hebrew.  For the second hour, we discussed the value of having to do something you may not want to do but will benefit you in the future.  All the kids wrote down activities in their lives that they liked to do or had to do, why it was a good idea to still do things they may not like, and what that means for their future.  We ended by looking at two texts from the Midrash about observing Torah and doing the right thing as often as possible, even if it is for the wrong reason, in order to build habits of a good life.  We will continue this lesson next week before shifting to TuB’shvat.

     And that about covers it for now.  Please remember to sign up to bring snacks for the kids on the sign-in sheet in the main hallway of the classroom building.  Thanks everyone!

Best,

David

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

Hello Everyone,

Although we had our last Religious School for 2022, there is still a great opportunity to end the year with a bang for our kids.  This Friday, December 16, my family and I will be hosting the Family Shabbat activity that will include the first ever TBH Dreidel Olympics!  Come by and test your dreidel skills.  The Religious School will resume on January 8.

  And now for the recap.  Rabbi Dean and Cantor Marney helped lead our Tefillah service along with teaching us several key Hannukah songs.  We were all in the Bnai Mitzvah room so that Food for Thought had all the room they needed in the sanctuary to get ready for the food deliveries this week.  The younger kids had a lot of fun making Menorah art projects and creating Hannukah themed cakes with frosting designs.  The Bnai Mitzvah class started off with learning all the modern Hannukah songs, including the Adam Sandler hits and the newest addition from Daveed Diggs, “Puppy for Hannukah.”  For the second hour, we held our annual winner take all Dreidel game.  Our newest student Solomon ended up winning it all with his excellent dreidel spinning skills.  The kids are now all set for their own dreidel games and leading their families in the Hannukah blessings for next week. 

  And that covers it for now.  Everyone have a wonderful Hannukah and Happy New Year!  We will see y’all on January 8th! 

Best,

David

Hello Everyone,

One of the most exciting times of the year is right around the corner.  The wonderful holiday of Hannukah brings together tradition, family, friends, delicious food, and the prospect of an entire week of gift giving.  Our school will be focusing on this holiday for the rest of the year.  We will have a Hannukah themed class this Sunday, December 11, starting at 9:30 a.m. with our Tefillah service in the Bnai Mitzvah classroom to allow Food for Thought to set up.  We will then have a break through the rest of December and resume Religious School on January 8.

  And now for the recap.  As usual, Rabbi Dean helped lead our Tefillah service along with teaching us key Hannukah songs.  The younger kids then learned about the different traditions of Hannukah, read Hannukah stories, enjoyed Sufganiyot and Senorita Bread, and prepared for the Hannukah themed activities for next week.  The Bnai Mitzvah class went into a deep dive into the story of Hannukah and its symbolism.  We learned how the story focused not just on the war between Jews and Greeks but also on the civil war between religious Jews and more secular Jews at that time.  We also learned how Hannukah is related to Sukkot, the reasons why the Jewish army was able to prevail against the stronger Greeks, and why the lighting of the menorah was considered a miracle.  We ended the day by practicing the Hannukah blessings so that the kids can lead their families in lighting the menorahs at their homes this year.

  And that about covers it for now.  We look forward to seeing everyone for our Hannukah themed classes this Sunday on the 11th. 

Best,

David

Shalom Everyone, 

As we all get set to celebrate Thanksgiving with our friends and families, I wanted to give you a few reminders.  There will be no religious school on November 27 for the holiday weekend.  We will resume class on December 4 and 11, which will start our Hannukah lessons, before our winter break at the end of December.  Please also remember to bring jars of peanut butter and other nut butters for the Food for Thought Drive. 

  This past week Cantor Marney once again joined us to help lead Tefillah service with Rabbi Dean.  The younger and middle grades had review lessons based on the meaning of thankfulness and gratitude.  The Bnai Mitzvah class engaged in a deep discussion on the beginning and ending of the Jewish Life Cycle (birth and death, specifically), the meaning of life, and speculation about what is beyond this life.  For our class, the deepest meanings came from entertainment and knowledge.  We will have more deep conversations like this throughout the year as we engage more with the Jewish Life Cycle.

And that about covers it for now.  Everyone have a nice long weekend and we will see you on December 4.  Happy Thanksgiving!

Best,

David

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

Hello Everyone!

  Can you believe the secular year is winding down so fast?  Before we know it, it will be the holiday season and then another new year.  Next week there will be no Religious School on November 13 in observance of Veteran’s Day.  We will resume class on November 20 and then have another break on November 27 for Thanksgiving.  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.  Cantor Marney graciously joined us to help lead our Tefillah Service alongside Rabbi Dean.  While the younger kids had fun with Jenny, the older kids joined the Bnai Mitzvah class to learn more about the Jewish LIfe Cycle.  We discussed various examples of cycles in the world (seasons, phases of the moon, the sun rising and setting etc) and then learned the different parts of the Jewish Cycle, which include birth, Bnai Mitzvah, Confirmation, Marriage, Conversion and Death.  The kids went on a treasure hunt around the classroom matching each Life Cycle with the traditional prayer that goes along with them.  Finally, each student came up with their own significant events on their personal life cycle to give greater meaning to their own lives, since most have not had a Bnai Mitzvah yet.  We will continue to explore this theme in the coming weeks.

And that about covers it for now.  Everyone have a nice long weekend and we will see you the 20th.  Take care!

Best,

David

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

Shalom Everyone!

I wanted to thank all the families for their support last Friday in welcoming our own Chase McCrary as a Bnai Mitzvah and the newest adult in our community.  It was such a thrill to have that tradition in person again and the teachers and I were deeply grateful you all got to share it with us.  Here’s to future Bnai Mitzvahs for all kids in the coming years!  In the meantime, our next class will be this Sunday, October 30, at 9:30 a.m.  Please remember to bring jars of peanut butter for the Food for Thought drive.

And now for the recap.  Larry, the rock of our Religious School, led our Tefillah service while Rabbi Dean was out of town helping with refugees.  The younger kids learned all about Noah’s Ark, which was the subject of the Torah portions for the last two weeks.  For my class, I invited the middle grades to join us in learning about the ins and outs of the Hebrew months and how they compare and contrast with the secular year.  They learned about the difference between a solar and lunar calendar, why the Jewish New Year occurs in the 7th month, why there is a 13th month every third year or so, and many more fun facts.  For the second half of class, the kids all came up with a mnemonic story to remember the Hebrew months.  They go so creative with their story, it captured the imagination!  Parents can ask their kids to tell them about the adventures of Ms. Anne, her mule, and the trip to the vet.  You’ll never forget the Hebrew months again either.

And that about covers it for now.  We’ll see you all on Sunday!

Best,

David