*Shalom Kitah Gimel Students and Families #1

*Posts entitled "Shalom Kitah Gimel Students..." are written especially for my Hebrew students and their families. All are welcome to read these posts and share in the excitement of a new school year.

What a wonderful first day of Hebrew School! Our students were pleased to hear that we're studying modern Hebrew. As this is the first year of the modern Hebrew curriculum, Kitah Gimel students will use the Hebrew skills which they developed in previous grades to master modern Hebrew vocabulary, language structure, and oral communication.

Judging from our students' responses today, they're off to a great start.
Class began with the blessing for Torah Study because, as we discussed, Torah is at the heart of all Jewish learning.

We recited the "cookie" blessing over our "on-time" oreos and, at a student's suggestion, we said the Shehecheyanu Blessing to begin the New Year together.

Taking attendance provided an opportunity for students to practice the questions and answers, in Hebrew, for this weekly procedure.

Next - on to Chapter 1 of the modern Hebrew textbook series, Shalom Ivrit. In a short time, students were rapidly translating the vocabulary and creating original sentences based on the new words.

From the vocabulary lists, students prepared flash cards for study at home. For the convenience of family members who may be unfamiliar with Hebrew, but who would like to help students review the cards, a transliteration sheet accompanies the flash cards.

In all, students learned 20 new Hebrew words - and used them in various activities. When students bring their cards to the next Wednesday Hebrew class on October 6, , they'll continue to add more words on a variety of topics.

Each student received a "gift" of candy, stickers, and a tiny eraser with a Rosh HaShana message attached. Why a tiny eraser? There are two reasons -
To suggest that we can "erase" our errors of the past year by asking forgiveness during The Days of Awe and
To symbolize that as long as our students respect themselves, their classmates, and their teachers (parents included!) any mistakes made as they participate in Jewish learning are small mistakes, a necessary part of the learning process.

Following our session in the classroom, we joined with the other Hebrew School classes and their families to continue our learning with the Cantor and the Rabbi at Family T'filah. In anticipation of Yom Kippur, the Cantor led us in singing the Aveinu Malkeinu prayer and the Rabbi told a story about a poor tailor and an amazing fish. The lesson of his story and indeed, an important theme for the school year ahead is: When it comes to Jewish living and learning, we must all put forth our very best effort.

G'mar Chatimah Tovah,
Morah Ronni