Shalom Religious School Parents!
Message from Rabbi Benjy Bar-Lev, Director of Education
Shalom Religious School Families,
It was another busy and productive day at TBS this morning! If you haven’t had time to stop by and see the school in action, please do! We have coffee, newspapers, wifi and lots of entertainment ready for you!
Please be sure to join us for CAMP SHABBAT! First Friday, February 6th, we will be celebrating Shabbat and Jewish camping! Director of Goldman Union Camp, (GUCI) Rabbi Ron Klotz, will join us on February 6th for this festive service. He’ll tell a great story and answer any questions you or your kids may have about our AMAZING regional Reform Jewish Camp. Feel free to RSVP to rsvp@tbsohio.org at anytime. We’ll be having a camp-style cook-out dinner (hamburgers, hot dogs, veggie burgers) in honor of Camp Shabbat.
Special Message from Gail Rose, Music Director:
Attention Young Jewish Musicians
Sign up today for the Justine Hackman Memorial Young Artists Competition. If you are in grades one through twelve and are currently studying to sing or play an instrument with a private teacher, you have the opportunity to compete for cash prizes and to play in the winners recital on May 3, 2009 at 7:00 P.M. The competition will be judged by professional musicians and each participant will receive helpful written comments from each judge. The auditions will be held Sunday, March 15th at Congregation Tifereth Israel from 12:45 P.M. - 4:30 P.M. Music must be memorized and auditions may not exceed five minutes for the Elementary Division (grades 1-5), seven minutes for the Junior Division (grades 6-8) and ten minutes for the Senior Division (grades 9-12). See the link below for more information and the entry form.
Send entry forms to Gail Rose by March 2nd. This is a very rewarding experience for musicians of all ages. All Jewish musicians are encouraged and invited to participate!!
Here are some of the Highlights from the morning:
- As always, please see pictures from this morning at www.tbsohiokt.com!
- The Kindergarten class finished learning about Martin Luther King, Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel and the Jewish role in civil rights. They began learning about Tu B’Shevat, the Jewish Arbor Day and Baal Tash-chit, taking care of our environment.
The 1st Grade Class started learning about Havdalah, the ceremony that separates the rest of the week from Shabbat. They had a Havdalah service, sang Havdalah songs and made their very own spice boxes to use at the end of Shabbat.
- The 2nd Grade class started learning about the prayer “Shema” and its meaning – listening, singing, praying! They listened to different versions of the Shema by Debbie Friedman and Craig Taubman. They finished the day by making personal Shema door hangers!
- The 3rd Grade class started learning about Kashrut, keeping Kosher. They talked about Kosher kitchens, kosher foods and learned a lot of the important rules of keeping kosher. They also discussed why it is important for Reform Jews to understand the laws of kashrut.
The 4th Grade class continued their study of keva vs. kavanah – of fixed prayer from the prayer book and prayers from our own hearts. They used the Shema and V’ahavtah to study these concepts. They began a beautiful art project focusing on the Shema and V’ahavtah.
- The 5th Grade class learned about how non-Jewish people saved many Jewish lives during World War II. These people are often referred to as “righteous gentiles” who put other people’s lives before their own.
- The 6th Grade class began their first of three mini units this morning. The focus of the first mini unit asks the question: Who is wise? What does it mean to be wise? They will study sections of Pirke Avot during these mini units.
- The 7th Grade class continued their study of Jewish life-cycle events this week. They discussed and studied bar/bat mitzvah – something that is on many of their minds! They also started learning about marriage, which may be on their minds in 12-15 years or so. They also discussed more broadly, how we Jews use ceremonies to mark important transitions in life.
- High School
The Green Class continued their study of the Judaism and the environment today. They are working to plan their Yarid Yarok, their Green Fair for the rest of the school.
- The Purim class started outlining the movie that they are making, which has the Purim story set in a High School in 2009. The movie will be shown at the Purim Carnival.
- The Jews of South Park class continued their study of the portrayal of Jewish characters in current TV shows and movies by watching an episode of South Park class “The Passion of the Jew,” which spoofed the 2004 Mel Gibson movie, “The Passion of the Christ.” The students are starting to learn about stock Jewish characters who appear in many TV shows and movies.
- The Iron Chef Jewish Cooking Class spent the morning perfecting Bubbe’s Famous Matzah Ball Soup! Their soup was delicious and cured everyone’s sore throats. Eat more, you’re skin and bones!
Important Announcements:
- We have an ALL-SCHOOL Service at 10:35 this Sunday featuring the new Jewish Value of the month and a Hannah Montanaberg Shtick. All students, K-8, will have services TOGETHER at 10:35. This will be the case for the first Sunday of every month.
- Join us for Shabbat Chai, our toe-tapping, warm and accessible Friday night service featuring our Shabband of guitars, piano, string bass, flute, percussion and much more! Singing, dancing and instrument playing from the congregation is encouraged! Please RSVP for dinner afterward to RSVP@tbsohio.org
- Friday, February 6th will be Camp Shabbat and LaBagrut all in one! This fun filled First Friday service will feature a story by Rabbi Ron Klotz, director of Goldman Union Camp. A number of our students will also ceremonially receive their First Aliyah materials. Join us for this great night!
- The next JuBeSTY event is Sunday, February 8th – join JuBeSTY for a bowl-a-thon! It’ll be awesome! Details to follow!
Have a great week!
L’Shalom,
Rabbi Benjy
