Bet Midrash Blog

The events of November have afforded our class many opportunities to focus on the many middot-values and ideals that the Jewish people uphold. 

We’ve talked about:

Emunah – faith, what we believe in.

L’shon hara - an evil tongue.  We have heard so much of that over the past year.  Aside from the national climate, the students thought of many instances that have invoked l’shon hara.  We are sure to revisit this value often.  Certainly we are all careful about what we say around our children and how we say it. 

Vikuah -argument is always present.  Not always a bad thing.  The children are exploring ways for heathy argument – how can we respect another’s point of view even though we disagree?

Kavod - respect is what we continually work on. Time and again we hear the word hate arbitrarily tossed around without thought. 

Sinat chanim - baseless hatred pervades our society.  We read the story of Joshua and Caleb and saw that the other scouts that were sent out to the land of Canaan assumed the worst of the people of Jericho just by looking at them and their surroundings.  Hopefully our class discussions will help the children become more aware of their feelings and find ways to express them. 

One thing we all agree on: playing GaGa is fun, and it’s a good opportunity to show their sportsmanship. - Ann Krauser

We’ve been studying the stories of Genesis, beginning of course with Creation.  Now we are following Abraham and Sarah’s journey and taking our own journeys, too.  We talked about having faith in ourselves, our families, God, and more.  We took some journeys of “blind faith” – first literally blindfolded, and then with our sight.  Along the way we noticed Abraham and Sarah’s names were changed from Abram and Sarai.  We shared the origin of our own names and read a book about names.  We also talked about the idea of Abraham as the “father of many,” and the biblical promise that he would have as many descendants as stars in the sky.  We made our own beautiful stars using popsicle sticks and tissue paper.  And finally, we learned a special song by Debbie Friedman, “Lechi Lach” (which means Go! Take yourself! – the command that God gave Abraham and Sarah). - Pia Kutten

We've been studying Jewish diversity and the Jewish immigrant experience.  As part of our learning we read a few lines from "The New Colossus," a sonnet by Emma Lazarus that was engraved on the lower pedestal of the Statue of Liberty in 1903 (the sonnet was written in 1883). Inspired by this sonnet, the children wrote poems to welcome new immigrants.  They decorated posters to be hung up in international airports - you can see their wonderful ideas, warms, caring hanging in the hall, by the office (and at the top of this newsletter)  - Tamar Arieh

Zayin students have been hard at work, preparing both for their class Shabbat on December 10th and their own b'nai mitzvah, the first of which will be in January! 

Our trope learning takes many forms - one-on-ones, listening, singing as a group, dancing, singing on top of tables (okay, maybe that was just one time)....   The pictures above are shared from Marilyn Okoshi's trope team.  Lots of energy! 

Kitah Gimmel has been very excited about preparing for their Siddur Shabbat.  We spoke about the importance of Shabbat in our community and how it connects us to the Jewish community at large.  We are comparing the varied preparations for Shabbat at different times and places by examination of the cultures of Jews of Syria, Morocco, Spanish and Ashkenazi Jews, a story about a family living on the Lower East Side and looking forward to seeing a segment of "Fiddler on the Roof."
One of the connective threads throughout Jewish traditions is the Shabbat candles.  The students made their own and they will light it with their families at Siddur Shabbat on Friday, December 2nd.

  - Dina Bernheim

Kitah Vav students have been busily preparing two Hanukkah parties!  The first party, they chose to have with Kitah Bet on Shabbat, December 17th.  They will teach them how to play dreidl, read Hanukkah stories and enjoy the festival as big brothers and sisters to the younger children.  The second party is scheduled at Atria Roseland, an assisted living home, on December 19th at 7:00 PM where they will play dreidl, entertain with magic tricks, and sing songs.  We will be joined by Doni Zasloff and Eric Lindberg (Nefesh Mountain), who graciously agreed to party with us!  One of our students, Warren Roth, has been bringing his guitar and leading Kitah Vav children in their practice of Bob Dylan's "Forever Young"   Another student, Ben Aronson, will be bringing his magic tricks to entertain and amaze. 
We are hoping to bring the young and old of the Jewish community together through this project in two experiences of joy. - Karen Eilenberg and Guy Ratki