So much happens in each

session of religious school, our

teachers keep things active

and moving. See pages 2—6

to read all

about it!

There are many opportunities

for families to participate

together in everything from

childrens’ services, programs

and dinners. See pages 7 & 8

for details.

The Youth and Family Program

Department has a variety of

events for all ages.

See page 9 for information on

upcoming events.

2

JARSON

EDUCATION

CENTER

HAPPENINGS

The Teachers and Madrichim keep things moving

and active in the classrooms. Take this

opportunity to read about some of the things that

have happened during this past month.

SHERRY COHEN PRE-GAN 3 (PRE-KINDERGARTEN 3Y)

Mazel the Mailcat has been busy delivering a Torah on Simchat Torah,

chai-yot (animals) for Noah's Ark, and a keshet (rainbow) when we

learned about colors. We rolled out a real Torah and Harrison pointed

to the Hebrew words with a yad. Kingston worked on making his

beautiful wearable Torah mantle, using all the decorations in his bowl.

Sadie stamped shtayeem (2) animals at the easel. Galia dressed up like

a zebra and jumped in the ark to stay safe from the flood. Atalya

popped the colored bubble wrap all by herself when a Hebrew color

was called out. Pre-Gan 3 may look like all play but we are learning to love Judaism!

SARAH WASNIEWSKI PRE-GAN 4 (PRE-KINDERGARTEN 4Y)

This month we learned about Simchat Torah and looked at a Torah scroll with Pre

Gan 3! We learned the colors in Hebrew. Then, we did many fun games and centers

with the letters Bet and Gimel. We learned the Hebrew words for ice cream and

camel that start with Gimel. We started making our book for the seven days of

creation in art for the Torah portion of Bereishit. Then, we learned about Noah’s Ark

and the different animals! We made an animal out of Model Magic and matched

the animals with the picture and Hebrew name. Aviv and Bernie loved the animal

match! For Noah’s Ark, we saw a petting zoo and saw the animals we read about!

We had an awesome craft in Mazel Tots and made a rainbow with the blessing on it

to go with Noah’s Ark!

3

CLASS HAPPENINGS DEBBIE LEMPERT GAN (KINDERGARTEN)

The past month in Kindergarten has been a whirlwind of holidays! The kids enjoyed

visiting the Sukkah, where they smelled the etrog and shook the lulav on Sukkot. To

celebrate Simchat Torah, the children enjoyed examining a real Torah, making and

devouring an edible Torah, and making their own mini Torahs. Once we celebrated

the holidays, we got back to our G-d Talk. We have previously discussed that G-d is

like air-all around us but invisible. We know that G-d exists, just like we know air

exists. When we blow up a balloon, we see how the air fills it up and changes it. G-

d too makes changes in our world, such as the leaves on the trees. David J. and

Ella J. loved watching the balloon expand and then fly across the room when I let it

go. Next, we discussed that G-d made the world and all of nature, including us,

and we went on a nature walk to find examples of things G-d makes. Then they

partnered with G-d to continue creation by making popcorn. We discussed that

G-d created the corn plants, which people plant, grow, sell to manufacturers,

which come to stores for us to buy and make. Our next topic was G-d wants us to do mitzvot. It just so

happened that the farm animals came to visit so we got to do the mitzvah of taking care of the animals. The

students brushed, fed, and gave them lots of love. It is always busy and active as we learn and grow in

Kindergarten!

ALLISON LESTER BET (SECOND GRADE)

This month we wrapped up our Israel LEGO project, where we

constructed a 3D model of Israel. In small groups, we researched

different cities in Israel: Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, Haifa, and Eilat. We

studied the geography, taking a closer look at the landscape and

terrain. We watched videos and discussed the food and culture in

Israel. We had a lot of fun building and creating.

DEENA ABERNATHY ALEF (FIRST GRADE)

We were happy to welcome two new students, Cayden and Nittai. They have

both been a very nice addition to the class. Our focus this month has been on

mitzvot. We have discussed the little things we can do each and every day as well

as opportunities for the grander acts of kindness that may not be present as often.

As always, we continue to review all of our holidays celebrated so far this year and

will soon focus on the overwhelmingly popular holiday of Hanukkah!

4

CLASS HAPPENINGS

ZAK LEMPERT : DALED (FOURTH GRADE)

Fourth Grade is doing awesome things! Next month we will be starting our Torah

Induction projects. I hope everyone enjoyed Harry Potter Day. In our Amidah

books, we've learned about the Kedusha, praising G-d's holiness, and Kedushat

Hayom, holiness of Shabbat. Both of these prayers have K-D-SH in them, which

means "holy" in Hebrew. Our class has worked on recognizing these root words

and making them into words for boys and for girls.

ZAHAVA RENDLER GIMEL (THIRD GRADE)

Welcome to another wonderful month in Kitah Gimel! In tefillah we have

mastered the Modeh Ani and Mah Tovu, and worked in our prayer workbooks.

We also learned about the difference between the words bracha and tefillah.

We talked about how most brachot begin with the same six words- sometimes

called the “blessing formula.” In the spirit of Thanksgiving, we talked about what

we tell G-d we are thankful for. Hannah J said she is grateful for her family,

friends, and food to eat. In Hebrew, we have been working with the iPads

playing Hebrew games – which has helped with their letter recognition and

they’re having fun! For our history lesson, we learned about David Ben-Gurion,

the first prime minister of Israel, and how he helped Israel gain independence in

1948. The students were very interested in how important he is to the state of

Israel, and said they are grateful that he helped Israel become a state!

ASHLEY ENGLANDER, AUDREY RONIS-TOBIN, AMY NIREN: HEI (FIFTH GRADE)

This past month, the fifth grade class has delved deep into tefillah. They have

conquered the Birkat HaShachar – the daily morning prayers in the service. They

are also becoming more confident the service structure. Their Hebrew

comprehension and reading skills have grown tremendously. This past

Wednesday, the students learned about different buildings in Israel. Their

excitement to see the places and learn about them at the computer lab was

wonderful! They are strengthening their knowledge of the Torah portions each

week, while figuring out how the text can relate to their lives. The students are

excited to learn more about Israel, and cannot wait to visit it one day or once

again!

Change

5

TOBY SAMET HEBREW RESOURCE ROOM

Students look forward to their individual sessions and choose their favorite activities

in the room. Some like working iPad activities, others prefer to copy words with

colored chalk on the board, and some students go for computer challenges and

enjoy the success of reading whole pages. The year is advancing, and so are their

skills and feelings of success! Our goal is to see the students read with accuracy and

fluency, while also being familiar with and enjoying the meanings of the prayers in

the Siddur. We are constantly creating new experiences designed to reach these

goals. We are delighted to see the responses to new activities each week. PLEASE

ask your child to share with you about their time in the Resource Reading Room!

Toby, Shosh, and Leah

CLASS HAPPENINGS BRETT SCHWARTZ/LESLEE LISNEK : VAV/ZAYIN (SIXTH/SEVENTH GRADE)

Shalom from Kitot Vav v'Zayin! This month, we've been continuing to explore the

concept of Areyvoot - our mutual responsibility for each other as Jews. Students

imagined themselves as medieval Jewish pre-teens, playing historical games to get

in the mindset. They then "received" a letter from Maimonides: the Jews of Bilbays,

Egypt, need our help! The letter requested that we send money to redeem the 6

Jews that the Crusaders have taken hostage. Students took to the texts - Torah,

Mishnah, and Talmud- to determine the course of action our community (class)

should take. The students studied their texts in small groups, and every group came

to the conclusion that our tradition is clear: we have a responsibility to save Jews in

captivity. We are examining our responsibility to the communities in which we live as

well, through our mitzvah projects this month. We assembled blankets for single

mothers and their children through Bethany House, and assembled birthday kits for

foster children at Lighthouse Youth Services. We are still taking this sense of

responsibility home with us, as we continue to provide an example of an act of Gemilut Chasadim that we

have performed for others throughout the week.

6

MITCH COHEN MUSIC & TROPE TEACHER

Music: Our songs paralleled the Torah this month. As we began the Torah again

with Bereishit, we sung songs about creation, including "That's What G-d Made"

by Ellen Allard. Next came the story of Noah's Ark as we sang "The Unicorn Song"

by the Irish Rovers. The third parsha of the Torah is Lech Lecha, which is all about

how G-d tells Abraham to "Go Forth". We sang the beautiful Debbie Friedman

song “L'chi Lach” that mirrors this story. Other popular songs this month included

“Hinei Ma Tov” by Elana Arian, “Hame'ira” by Rabbi Josh Warshawsky, and

"There's a Dinosaur Knocking at my Door" for the pre-schoolers.

Trope: Fifth graders continue to impress me as they quickly learn the trope tunes

and symbols. The Masoretes were Jewish scholars between the 6th and 10th

centuries. They were thought to be the ones who created the Trope cantillation.

The students took on the role of the Masoretes in class as they discussed in teams

which tropes they thought fit best. In order to do this, you need a good mastery of the trope tunes and how

the tropes work with text. Sixth graders continued to review the longer blessings after the haftorah as well as

review.

CLASS HAPPENINGS

7

UPCOMING FAMILY EVENTS

Change

Change

8

UPCOMING FAMILY EVENTS

9

UPCOMING YOUTH EVENTS

10

YOUTH PROGRAM PHOTOS

K-3 Krav Maga &

USY Mystery Bus

Ride at Top Golf!

11

PETTING ZOO VISIT!

12

1 NO RELIGIOUS

SCHOOL

2 3 4 RS 5 6

6PM USY

Shabbat Around

The World

7

Cody Goldstone

Bar Mitzvah

10:30AM Family

Service

8 RS, Mercaz

12:30PM Atid/JS

Program

5PM Confirmation

9 10 11 NO RELIGIOUS

SCHOOL

6PM Family

Chanukah Party!

12 13 14

6PM Kadima

Mystery Bus Ride

15 RS, Mercaz

9AM Mazel Tots

9AM Chanukah Fair

12:30PM USY

Lounge Day

16 17 18 RS 19 20 21

10:30AM Mini

Minyan

22 NO RELIGIOUS

SCHOOL

USY Int’l Conv 1

10:30AM JFS

Chanukah Party

23 Chanukah 1

USY Int’l Conv 2

24 Chanukah 2

Office Closed

USY Int’l Conv 3

25 Chanukah 3

Office Closed

USY Int’l Conv 4

26 Chanukah 4

USY Int’l Conv 5

27 Chanukah 5

USY Int’l Conv 6

28 Chanukah 6

29 Chanukah 7

NO RELIGIOUS

SCHOOL

30 Chanukah 8 31

1PM Office

Closes

DECEMBER BIRTHDAYS

DECEMBER 2019

Ella Blatt 12/27 Lily Levine 12/4

Lincoln Carson 12/17 Jocelyn Lipps 12/15

Ziva Charnay 12/5 Hanna Marcus 12/10

Zara Cohen 12/9 Iyla Monk 12/22

Avi Edelstein 12/8 Miriam Rodriguez 12/11

Aiden Feigelson 12/23 Jacob Ruby 12/31

Ari Fohlen 12/8 Jimmy Salters 12/16

Cody Goldstone 12/7 Katie Spector 12/2

Aiden Healey-Callahan 12/17 Hope Vernon 12/31

Rafe Hueber 12/7 Andrew Wade 12/4

Eli Joffe 12/16 Tyler Wade 12/21

Jacob Joffe 12/16 Mackenzie Wright 12/21