[1.4] 9/19/06

The votes are in and it is final: the first day of Hebrew School was a great success! The teachers all told me that their students were, “awesome, adorable, fantastic, and smart.” The kids all told me that the Tishrei Carnival was, “cool, fun, neat and sugary.” And the parents all told me that the Parent Orientation was, “informative, useful, enlightening and entertaining.”

Thanks to all of our great teachers whose dedicated work got the year off on the right foot and to all the parents who attended the orientation session!

Unfortunately, the next Hebrew School session is not until October 22. In the meantime, don't forget about us! We'll be hosting a fun Junior Congregation on Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur and be sure to come by the Pizza in the Hut Sukkot Party on Wednesday, October 11 @ 5:00 pm.

On behalf of the entire Chabad Hebrew School I would like to extend our wish that your High Holy Days be filled with meaning and warmth and that you and your families get the most out of this rich season.

May you and yours be written and sealed for a good and sweet year,

Rabbi Weinberg

Gan - Morah Chani
This week in Gan we learned all about Rosh Hashana, Yom Kippur, Sukkot and Simchat Torah. For Rosh Hashana we learned the song, “dip the apple in the honey,” and the children made a honey platter to take home and put on their holiday table. Some children forgot to take their honey platters home, and parents should please pick them up in Rabbi Weinberg’s office.

Kita Aleph (1) - Morah Chava
This week in Kita Aleph we learned about the month of Elul, Rosh Hashana, Yom Kippur, and Sukkot. We colored a Rosh Hashana coloring sheet, played a shofar sounds game, and learned a Rosh Hashana song. For Yom Kippur we learned all about saying sorry and that by saying sorry two people can become even closer; we also colored a Yom Kippur coloring sheet. The children learned that the Sukkah reminds us of Hashem’s protecting the Jewish people in the desert and even now. Each of the children brought home a Yom Tov Checklist that they can complete little by little throughout the High Holidays.

Kita Bet (2) - Morah Devorah Leah
This week in Kita Bet we learned all about Rosh Hashana, Yom Kippur, Sukkot and Simchat Torah. The kids learned hands-on about the shofar, eating apples and honey, the Sukkah, and a Lulav & Etrog. We learned that on Rosh Hashana Hashem and Yom Kippur Hashem is judging the whole world. We learned about the meaning of sitting in a Sukkah and how the Lulav & Etrog represent the unity of the entire Jewish nation! We also learned about how fun and special it is to dance with the Torah on Simchat Torah. All of the kids made Shana Tova (Happy New Year) apple cards for their parents.

Kita Gimmel (3) - Morah Rivkah
This week in Kita Gimmel we learned all about Rosh Hashana, Yom Kippur and Sukkot. We learned about how on Rosh Hashana we think of Hashem as King of the whole world. We played a Rosh Hashana game with toilet paper squares that the kids really liked. For Yom Kippur we thought about the whole world balanced on a scale and how good or bad deeds can tip the scale in either direction. We even did some “Sukkot Jumping Jacks.” Each of the children made a Shana Tova card that parents can expect to receive in the mail any day now! Each child took home a High Holiday picture review sheet that they can look throughout the holidays.

Kita Dalet (4) - Morah Ellana
This week in Kita Dalet we learned all about Rosh Hashana, Yom Kippur and Sukkot. We learned the basic customs of Rosh Hashana as well as the meaning of the shofar and how on Rosh Hashana we make Hashem our King. We talked about 5 things that we don’t do on Yom Kippur such as eating and drinking. We also learned about “teshuva” which means recognizing if we did something wrong, saying sorry and correcting it. The kids were shown how this process can strengthen a relationship by looking at a rope that is cut and retied to become even stronger and each child was given their own piece of rope. Lastly we talked about the Sukkah, Lulav & Etrog and dancing on Simchat Torah. Each student was given a Holiday fact sheet to follow along with.

Kita Hay (5) - Morah Mushky
We began Kita Hay with everyone going around the room and introducing themselves. Everyone filled out a sheet about Hebrew School that we’ll get back at the end of the year – it will be neat to see if our expectations were met and how our attitudes changed! We learned about the High Holidays and that Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur are a time when we think about our relationship with Hashem. We went through an interactive Machzor (holiday prayer book) that allowed us to explore the holidays of Rosh Hashana, Yom Kippur, Sukkot and Simchat Torah. Lastly we learned a song about the story of Jonah. For homework the students should complete the pages of their Machzor.

Kita Vav (6) - Morah Chaya
This week in Kita Gimmel we learned all about Rosh Hashana, Yom Kippur and Sukkot. We learned about how on Rosh Hashana we think of Hashem as King of the whole world. We played a Rosh Hashana game with toilet paper squares that the kids really liked. For Yom Kippur we thought about the whole world balanced on a scale and how good or bad deeds can tip the scale in either direction. We even did some “Sukkot Jumping Jacks.” Each of the children made a Shana Tova card that parents can expect to receive in the mail any day now! Each child took home a High Holiday picture review sheet that they can look throughout the holidays.

Kita Zayin (7) - Morah Bracha
After getting to know each other with an introductory game, we talked this week in Kita Zayin about the High Holidays. We discussed what we would like from Hashem and what Hashem would like from us. We also learned about the various laws and customs of Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur. For Homework each student is to write 1 or 2 paragraphs about the favorite Holiday experience they had over the course of the next month.