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This week students started asking critical questions about the Chagim (Holidays). The verse in the Torah (Bible) states, “on the first day of the seventh month, will be known as Yom Teruah (Day of the Shofar Blasting). The students asked how can Rosh Hashana, the Jewish New Year, be during the seventh month, Tishrei, and not the first month, Nissan?  Toiling through Jewish text (via the internet) the students figured out that Tishrei refers to start of Creation and Nissan refers to the period when the Israelites left Egypt.

One of the skills we are teaching the students this year is how to learn and become familiar with a diverse group of Jewish texts.

This week started off with a trip to the community home Hillel Lodge! There, each student was paired with a resident to befriend. We started to forge meaningful connections that will continue to grow over the next few weeks. We will be returning to Hillel Lodge to catch up with our new friends every Monday.

 

On Thursday, Ari Kotkowski of the Grade 8 class presented a wonderful Dvar Torah about this week’s Parsha, Ki Tavo. He discussed the concept of punishment and reward, and what it means to give to others. The Middle School students then broke off into groups to discuss questions provided by Dr. Marcovitz. The discussions were led by Grade 8 students.

 

On Friday, Grade 8 participated in a fun and tasty lesson! We made chocolate logs! The purpose of this, is to practice the concept of Baal Tashchit – Not to waste and recycle instead. This is because used leftover snack from the Middle School retreat, to make something new.

Prepared: Talia Cherun

Grade 6 started the process of understanding the concept of Brachot. We began by identifying what needs a Bracha. Is it just food, travel, something new, a rainbow… Next week we will be looking at the actual text to figure out all the different categories of Brachot. For a fun activity, which will be their assessment, (similar to a Spelling Bee), we will have a Bracha Bee. We hope all of you will be able to join us for the Bracha Bee.

Shabbat Shalom.

This week the 7th graders learned about the Mezuzah. They asked each other questions about the laws of the Mezuzah. Do we put a Mezuzah in a boat, a storage room, etc… I explained to the students they were reenacting what the great Rabbinical Sages did in the year 200. The students went around the school to make sure all the appropriate location had Mezuzot. Next week, we will be looking in the text  (the Talmud, the Torah, and the Shulchan Aruch) to understand what are the laws of the Mezuzah. The students are starting to understand the Torah is a living document.

Sept. 11, 2019

 

These last few weeks the Grade 8 class has been discussing ideas of what to learn this school year. One idea that came up was bonding with Hillel Lodge residents. We thought this was a great idea to show some Gemilut Hasadim to the elderly people. We got a list of hobbies that each resident wrote down on a piece of paper and based on that, we chose the resident who had hobbies that we were interested in, so it would be a good match to promote bonding and a shared interest. Our next step is to go meet with the residents and chat with them. The Grade 8 class is very excited to get to hear some of the amazing stories of these elderly people. They have lived through a lot so it will be a great learning experience for us and even for them to hear each other’s stories. They will also feel valued by the younger generation taking an interest in their past.

Another idea we had was to have a debate. We have had some class experiences with debates in the past and we thought it would be fun to do another one. The topic that we chose for this debate is the school dress code. We have some mixed opinions about the school dress code so it will be great to hear each other’s opinions when we debate this topic. 

Since we are the Grade 8 class, the most responsible grade in the school, each week we would teach a few things about Israel to the younger grades. Some examples are: One student from Grade 8 would write a small Torah portion and read it out to the younger grades. Another student would make a word search relating to Israel and the younger kids would try and solve it. Another student would write a small fact about Israel, sharing their knowledge to educate other students. 

      Before the start of a Jewish Studies period, Dr. Marcovitz would give us ten minutes to write a sentence or two about an Israeli article. This is a fast and fun way to learn about what’s going on in Israel right now. 

Kiera Vered

Today the students were introduced to the concept, the Torah is a living document.  We discussed this week Torah Portion פרשהת and how it is relevant in the modern world. Below are the discussion questions.  Hopefully, they will share with you what they learned today.

Parent Signature:

Parshat Hashavua: Shoftim

A.This weeks Parsha, we learned about:

1.

 

2.

 

3.

 

4.

 

5.

 

6.

 

B.The Parsha  relates to at least one of our North Stars and why:

1.

 

2.

 

To me, the most relevant part of the Parsha is________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________because_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

 

1. Did you know the reason we blow Shofar everyday at school is because______________________________________________________________________________Personally, this is important to me because______________________________________________________________________________
2. In Israel____________________________________________________________________________

גם המסע הארוך ביותר מתחיל עם צעדים ראשונים

Even the longest journey starts with first steps

 

For our new Hebrew students

 

The following are links to Alef Beit songs that will help you learn the name and some sounds related to each Hebrew letter.

First the classic: this is an Israeli song that each and every child learn and sing:

https://watchkin.com/f524f72833

 

And now to the tool that could let you recite the Alef Beit within 10 days (usually).

All you need to do is listen to it 2 times a day and sing with it!

There is Jewish wisdom that says: the shy will not learn … אין הבישן למד ואין הקפדן מלמד…

Do not be shy to sing it aloud, it’s pure fun!

https://watchkin.com/9617cac694

 

Looking forward to listening to you in class!

Dr. Sagy

שלום לכולם!

המלל המקורי בעברית מיד אחרי התרגום

Shalom everyone,

Prepare Prepare for the Memory Games Championship

היכונו היכונו לאליפות משחקי הזכרון!!! בשבועות הקרובים נגלה למי יש את שרירי הזיכרון הטובים ביותר  : )

The first week of Hebrew at school! So exciting : )

So First thing First, starting with the end in mind : )  we had conversations on the Seven Habits and Schools Northen Stars. At this point, we are translating through the keywords in our study books, the rationale is to learn by games, and we will make our own memory games – a big competition to see who has the best memory mussels is coming up – once we will get these cards all ready for the game.

Shabbet Shalom!

Dr. Sagy

 

מרגש מאוד לחזור ללימודים! וכולנו נהנים

כידוע סוף מעשה במחשבה תחילה, ולכן אנו מתחילים את השנה עם התכוונות ומודעות למקום שבו אנו רוצים להיות בסוף התהליך

את הימים הראשונים העברנו בשיחות על תרבות בית הספר, כוכבי הצפון שמנחים אותנו ושבעת ההרגלים שבית הספר מאמץ למערך ההתנהלות שלו

 

כרגע אנו מתרגמים את המילים המרכזיות בספרי הלימוד שלנו וכדי ללמוד בכיף אנו נכים משחקי זכרון מהמילים

אז….

בברכת שבת שלום,

ד”ר שגיא

 

Text

https://www.timesofisrael.com/

Daily Israeli Newspaper

https://www.jpost.com

One of the oldest Israeli Daily Newspapers

https://www.israel21c.org/

ISRAEL21c is a non-partisan, nonprofit organization and the publisher of an English-language online news magazine recognized as the single most diverse and reliable source of news and information about 21st century Israel.

VIDEOS

https://www.youtube.com/user/ISRAEL21cdotcom

Local video perspectives about Israel

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuxgEyMeaks7HS5gAw6Tt7w

Israel Daily TV

https://www.youtube.com/user/i24News

i24NEWS is the global news network bringing unfiltered, unbiased, global news from where it happens. With headquarters based in the Middle East, i24NEWS broadcasts worldwide from its studios in New York, Paris, Washington and Tel Aviv. In a single newsroom, over 250 journalists of 35 nationalities and faiths together, produce content (news, talk shows, news magazines) available on TV, web and mobile devices

 

Today we discussed the idea of why and who. How do we personally connect to being a Jew and Why?

Please click this link https://www.aish.com/jl/l/ms/47139952.html?mobile=yes

Fill in your Hebrew Name,  and what time you were born (ask your parents).

For Friday, please turn in a Google Doc with the Hebrew date of when you were born and what happened on that day in History.

Extra Credit if you also get responses from other family members.

If you did not finish your in-class assignment on Israel please make sure you will be able to share it on Friday.