Shalom Kitah Gimel Students and Families #26

The year has flown by! Here we are on the final day of the Hebrew month of Nisan and the last day of Hebrew class.

Together we recited the Blessing for Torah Study.
Students took turns asking and anwering the questions in the attendance conversation - all by heart.

We had an abundance of special treats for our Last Day party and recited several Blessings over the different types of food we were enjoying.
(Thank you to those families who kindly provided delicious snacks.)

Torah Study
We reviewed the main points in the seven Portions of the Book of Vayikra (Leviticus) which we've studied together. Students remembered an impressive amount of information about these Portions. In this week's Portion, Emor, God commands us to observe Shabbat, Passover, Shavuot, and Sukkot. We discussed the question, "Why does God command us to observe Holidays?" Students suggested that we connect with God through the "Holy Days" which God has chosen for us; that Holidays help us remember and honor the past; that Holidays teach us and give us occasions for joyful celebration. Insightful ideas!

In the midst of our "Happy Last Day" events, we paused to recognize that Sunday was Yom HaShoah (Holocaust Remembrance Day), a time when we are urged to zacor (remember) the millions whose lives were destroyed. One student shared that Yom HaShoah inspired her to learn more about the experiences of her grandparents who were Holocaust survivors.

Modern Hebrew Language
To review Hebrew vocabulary and events and figures from the Torah Portions we've studied, we played Zingo. Zingo is similar to Bingo, except that questions and answers are used instead of letters and numbers. Last week, students had prepared some of the Zingo questions and answers themselves. Students were enthusiastic players. Everyone was eventually a winner and received a Twizzler prize.
One of the Zingo words was p'rachim (flowers) - a perfect opportunity to thank the class for the beautiful vase of flowers which greeted me when I entered the classroom.

Following Zingo, each student received a slip of paper with a Hebrew word on it. They were directed to figure out what the word was and to find an object on the classroom walls which related to the word. After a few attempts to sound out the unfamiliar words with few vowels, students discovered that the words were the names of American cities on a Hebrew language map of the USA which the Cantor had lent to the class. This was our first acquaintance with the category of Hebrew words which spell out foreign words in Hebrew letters.

With their attention already focused on the wall displays, students worked in groups to find items on the walls which matched descriptions on a Classroom Scavenger Hunt sheet. An intensive search revealed all of the items. Students now know such intriguing facts as: The Hebrew letter dalet evolved from a fish symbol and the three languages on an Israeli ten shekel coin are Hebrew, English, and Arabic.

After a few energetic rounds of Shimon Omer (Simon Says), and several last handfuls of snacks, it was time to say "Shalom" to a great year of Hebrew School and to look forward to Machon in the fall.

Thank you for the privilege of teaching our students. I've enjoyed watching them learn and grow and wish them success and satisfaction as they continue on their Jewish journey.
From strength to strength!
Have a terrific summer.
B'shalom,
Morah Ronni

Shalom Kitah Gimel Students and Families #25

As we began our class with the Blessings for Torah Study and cookies, we noticed that students were eating a variety of other snack foods - a teachable moment! We discussed and recited the Blessing that is said over a mixture of foods and reviewed the meaning of the food Blessings. One student asked why there are specific food Blessings, when there exists a Blessing for a mixture of foods. Great question! The answer is that in saying the food Blessings, we're acknowledging God as the Creator of the food which sustains us. Hence, we think carefully about the type of food we are about to eat.
Students led the attendance conversation and were reminded that it is now Aviv (spring.)

Modern Hebrew Language
We reviewed vocabulary from chapters 1-6 in our textbook, Shalom Ivrit, by playing a pantomime game, "Read - Act Out - Describe." Each student received a card with a Hebrew sentence on it. Students took turns acting out their sentences while their classmates guessed (in Hebrew) what the sentence might be. The student pantomimes were expressive, creative, and fun - and elicited enthusiastic responses.

In preparation for our last class together (next Wednesday), students wrote question and answer cards based on the vocabulary and language patterns in chapters 1-6. These cards will be used in a Bingo-style game called Zingo.

Each student put his/her class folder into a plastic bag to bring home. Students were asked to treat the materials in their folders as though the folder was a book to be placed on their bookshelves. The information about modern Hebrew and the weekly Torah Portions is certain to be useful as they progress in their Jewish learning. Also,some of the sheets may have the Hebrew name of God and, as such, they may be re-cycled, but never discarded.

Torah Study
This week's Torah Portion, Kedoshim, begins with God teaching the Jewish people, "You should be holy, because I, the Eternal your God am Holy." God then commands that many different rules be followed including, "Love your neighbor as yourself." Students pointed out
that this was sometimes hard to do as neighbors could be rather un-likeable.
We stressed in our discussion that not only were the ancient Israelites holy, but we are also. Students recognized that being holy doesn't mean acting superior to others. Being holy involves being "responsibe" and "following God's commandments."

LAST DAY Party
Some students volunteered to bring refreshments for next week's LAST DAY celebration. They are welcome (but not obligated) to do so as long as the treats do not contain nuts or meat products.

Students shared one thing they'd learned and departed for T'fila.

T'fila was held in the Sanctuary where students practiced the parts of the Family T'fila which they'll be leading on Sunday. Following the service, the 4th Graders will receive their siddurim.
The Cantor recommended that on Sunday, the students wear clothing befitting their role as Prayer Leaders.
Please join our students for this, the last Religious School Family T'fila of the school year.

L'hitraot - See you soon,
Morah Ronni

Shalom Kitah Gimel Students and Families #24

Students led the Blessings for Torah Study and cookies and also led the attendance conversation. Our Director of Lifelong Learning visited our class and gave each student an evaluation form to fill out regarding his/her Hebrew School experience this year. Students were instructed to be candid and not to sign their names, so that their responses would be anonymous. Student Evaluations of their learning experiences are an excellent idea. What better way to understand more fully how we might strengthen and improve our program. When the forms were collected, they were numbered and students were given a copy of their numbers. Later at T'fila, several forms were drawn at random and students with numbers that matched the forms won prizes. A fun way to gather valuable information! Modern Hebrew Language Students completed a five page Comprehensive Exercise in which they had the opportunity to demonstrate their knowledge of vocabulary and language patterns which they'd learned from Chapters 1-6 in our textbook, Shalom Ivrit. When all students had completed the Comprehensive Exercise, they received a Pesach packet containing the Four Questions in Hebrew, English, and transliteration. We practiced singing the Four Questions, so that students would be prepared to participate at their Seders. Everyone sang beautifully. The Pesach packet also contained a word search game in Hebrew. Students are bringing their packets home to use and to share. Torah Study Everyone in Kitah Gimel now knows that the first Portion in the Book of Vayikra is called...Vayikra! We named all the Portions we've read so far and read an information sheet about this week's Portion, Acharei Mot ("after the death"). When asked "Who had died?" students identified the two sons of Aaron who were struck down by God's fire when they erred in performing a ritual in the Mishkan. The class likened the son's deaths by Holy Fire to the "melt down" scene in the movie, "Raiders of the Lost Ark" - a frightful image, but a good way to visualize the event which the Torah describes. At the beginning of Acharei Mot, God gives Aaron additional commandments regarding his actions in the Mishkan. When asked, "Why?" Students suggested that God didn't completely trust Aaron after his sons' behavior or that Aaron or that God didn't want Aaron to err and die as his sons did. I read the section of Acharei Mot in which Goof commands us to observe Yom Kippur. We compared the commandments in Acharei Mot to the modern observance of Yom Kippur. Students pointed out that the Portion doesn't mention the shofar, fasting, or the connection between Rosh HaShana and Yom Kippur - very thoughtful observations. As students departed for T'fila, they told one new thing they'd learned in class. In T'fila, as we prayed the evening Service, the Cantor taught us that the Prayer for Peace in the morning is Sim Shalom, but in the evening, we sing Shalom Rav. Students learned that the word, Rav means "abundant" and also "Rabbi." Rav is related to the word Rabah, "very much" as in Todah Rabah "Thank you very much." In the evaluation forms raffle, one of our students won! YAY! Remember - There is no Hebrew class next Wednesday, as we'll be celebrating Passover. Students have already begun discussing plans for our end of the year celebration. It's hard to believe that the Hebrew School year is nearly over. Happy Passover. L'hitraot Morah Ronni

Shalom Kitah Gimel Students and Families #23

We began our class using only Hebrew (Rock Ivrit) as students led the Blessings for Torah Study and cookies. We moved on to the attendance conversation, also student led, and discovered that we're now in the month of Nisan. In answer to the question Ayzeh chag b'chodesh Nisan? ("Which Holiday is in the month of Nisan?") Students replied, "Pesach!" Modern Hebrew Language We reviewed the story from Chapter 6 which had been assigned for homework. I understand that this is a busy time for students, but I reminded the class that doing their Hebrew homework assignment for at least 10 minutes each day really helps them build the vocabulary and language fluency needed for classwork and conversation. Students read the story aloud, answered comprehension questions, and translated story sentences from English to Hebrew. Students received a sheet which listed all the Hebrew verbs we've learned so far. Students then listened to a sentence with a verb and the masculine or feminine form of the pronoun "you." When the feminine form of "you" plus the feminine form of the verb were used, the girls acted out the meaning of the verb. Boys responded similarly when the masculine forms were used. Students identified pictures and objects in Hebrew and used these words in sentences which also included verbs from the preceding activity. All our Hebrew language activities were chosen to prepare students for a Comprehensive Exercise which they will complete next Wednesday. This exercise will cover the vocabulary for chapters 1-6 in our textbook, Shalom Ivrit. Students also completed a written activity on verb forms and meanings - the final activity in their chapter 6 packets. For homework, students were given a packet with vocabulary from Chapters 1-6. Students are to review a portion of the vocabulary each day. Torah Study We reviewed the fact that the name of the first Torah Portion in each Book of Torah is the same as the name of the Book. Next, three table groups were given pictures of non-kosher foods. The fourth table group was given a cereal box with the Kosher symbol. Students correctly answered that the pictures and box related to the Portions they'd studied in the Book of Vayikra, because some of the laws God commanded the Israelites to follow, form the basis for the Kosher Dietary laws. The Torah Portions for the last two weeks, Tazria and Metzorah deal with skin diseases, clothing, and houses that are "leprous" and in need of purification by the priests. When asked why the Torah deals with such "yucky" topics, students replied that having priestly rituals to deal with unpleasant happenings kept the people from panicking. Also, people trusted the wisdom of the priests and the priest's advice would help them to become healthy. One student asked why God no longer speaks to us directly as God spoke to Moses, Aaron, and the children of Israel. An excellent question - difficult to answer. I suggested that God still speaks to us in different ways. One student commented that a tsunami might be an example of God "speaking." As they left the classroom for T'fila, students told something they'd learned from our modern Hebrew activities and something they'd learned from Torah Study. It's especially gratifying to hear a student say that they learned the meaning of a Hebrew word which appears in their Bar/Bat Mitzvah Portion. In T'fila, the 4th grade students gave a presentation on the days of the week in Hebrew. Following the Torah trope symbols, students sang the Sh'ma. The Cantor taught us a new melody for the Mi Chamocha Prayer. Happy Nisan, L'hitraot - See you soon. Morah Ronni