[1.5] 10/4/06

Oh yes, halfway through the High Holidays and frankly, I need a nap. Seriously, though, Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur at Chabad were really special. Junior Congregation Services were a lot of fun (I'm thinking of introducing Yom Kippur Bingo to the adult services next year). I want to extend a big thanks to all of the teen volunteers that helped staff Junior Congregation – we couldn't have done it without you.

We now find ourselves just days away from Sukkot. Sukkot is one of my favorite holidays because I love spending time together with family and friends, eating, drinking and talking in the Sukkah. I invite you and your family to please join us for the Hebrew School Family Sukkot Party: Pizza in the Hut , on Wednesday October 11, from 5-7 pm.

Please note the following changes and corrections concerning Hebrew School:

•  The hours of the Hebrew School Simchat Torah Celebration (Sunday, October 15) have been changed to 10:30 am – 12:00 pm

•  The Hebrew School Shabbat Morning Service and Program has been moved from December 2nd to December 9th

•  On the last Hebrew School Update, the Weekly Class Report for Kita Vav (grade 6) was incorrect. See below for the corrected info.

See you in the Sukkah,

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 Vav we covered the entire month of Tishrei, including Rosh Hashana, Yom Kippur and Sukkot. We learned the stories and the customs of the Holidays and the students completed a worksheet tested their knowledge of the holidays. Lastly, we broke into groups and each group acted out scenes illustrating the concepts of Prayer (tefilah), Repentance (teshuva), and Charity (tzedakah).

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.