Gimel – Third Year – Wednesday (Weiner)

10/22: Today in class, we worked on:

  1. The entire school gathered in the sanctuary for t’fillah led by Rabbi Pras, and this week three of our 7th graders/hey students helped lead. Rabbi Prass talked about the end of this month of Tishrei, and how on Thursday night we begin the new month of Cheshvan, and how that brings new opportunities.
  2. Warmed up with a review of 5 Hebrew letters and vowels
  3. Reviewed the six words that most blessings start with
  4. Reviewed the blessings for many different foods we eat with a variety of activities
  5. Practiced saying these blessings and identifying what each blessing is for
  6. Reviewed the roots we’ve learned and learned the root meaning ruler
  7. Practiced reading words built on this root
  8. Had a great discussion about how many different blessings we say and came up with a giant list of things we are grateful for
  9. Aleph thru daled kitot Participated in Hebrew through Movement with Rabbi Prass.  At the conclusion of that, those who wanted were able to taste the etrog from sukkot this year.
  10. Students did a terrific job today!

Homework to be completed by next class:

  1. To reinforce the practice we did in class today, students should complete the activities listed below on page 35 in their workbook, The New Hebrew Through Prayer.
  2. Recognizing the Root (Page 35): Circle the root letters and practice reading the words.
  3. Pick a Fruit (Page 35): Fill in the missing word and practice reading the blessings.

10/15: Today in class, we worked on:

  1. We joined the rest of the school and Rabbi Prass for tefillot.  We reviewed the recent holidays thru by looking at the symbols of the shofar, white Torah mantel, lulav, and etrog. We heard how the dried lulav sounds like rain, since the rainy season in Israel has now begun and some of the prayers we say ask for bountiful rain. We also spoke of the recent release of several hostages from Hamas and answered students’ questions.  We concluded with singing Hatikvah.
  2. Went over our letter/vowel assessment from last week
  3. Warmed up with a review of 5 Hebrew letters and vowels
  4. Began our next unit on blessings
  5. Learned the meaning of the six words that most blessings start with
  6. Practiced reading these 6 words individually and together
  7. Reviewed the root meaning bless and learned the root meaning faith
  8. Practiced reading different blessings and translating what the blessings are for
  9. Reviewed the numbers 1-10
  10. Gimel and Daled kitot joined Rabbi Prass to look at the Torah as part of Simchat Torah and students got a chance to find letters they have learned, read from the Torah, and learned how a Torah is made.
  11. Students did a terrific job today!

Homework to be completed by next class:

  1. To reinforce the practice we did in class today, students should complete the activities listed below on page 34 in their workbook, The New Hebrew Through Prayer.
  2. Thank You (Page 34): Write the 6 words that most blessings start with and then read the words.
  3. Count Your Blessings (Page 34): Students should write their own blessing starting with the 6 words we have learned.

10/8: Today in class, we worked on:

  1. The entire school started our session with tefillah led by Rabbi Prass.  We had a short ceremony to mark the 2nd anniversary of the October 7th attack.  We lit a yartzheit candle, observed a moment of silence.  Then Rabbi Prass asked what we knew about October 7th and what questions we had.  We concluded joining in singing Hatikvah, Israel’s national anthem. 
  2. Reviewed final letters and the sounds they make
  3. Reviewed what the Barkhu is and why we say it
  4. Practiced reading the Barkhu
  5. Learned the different ways G-d’s name is written and found examples of the different ways in our books and in the Siddur
  6. Learned what a minyan is and how this is connected to the Barkhu
  7. Learned the blessings we say in the Sukkah and practiced reading them
  8. Celebrated Sukkot outside in the sukkah. Gimmel & Daled classes went with Rabbi Prass to the Sukkah.  We reviewed what makes the sukkah unique building and what makes up the lulav/etrog.  Then we each got to shake the lulav and etrog.  We of course said the bracha in Hebrew.
  9. Students worked really hard today!

Homework to be completed by next class:

  1. To reinforce our practice with final letters, students should complete the activities listed below on page 4 in their workbook, The New Hebrew Through Prayer.
  2. Final Letters (Page 4): Read each of the words containing final letters. Pick 2 words on each line and write out the way they sound.

9/17: Today in class, we worked on:

  1. Our session began with Tefillah where Rabbi Prass reviewed how our services are structured. We discussed why we are wearing kippot during Hebrew School t’fillot. We then prayed the avot v’imahot and sang the Israeli National Anthem.
  2. Warmed up with a review of 5 Hebrew letters and vowels
  3. Reviewed what the Barkhu means
  4. Practiced reading the Barkhu
  5. Learned how the Barkhu got its name
  6. Learned what a Hebrew root is and learned the root meaning bless
  7. Practiced reading words with this root
  8. Gimmel & Daled students went outside to have a lesson in how to blow the shofar with Rabbi Prass. It was fun to listen to the students try their best. I heard some impressive sounds!
  9. Students worked really hard today!

Homework to be completed by next class:

  1. To reinforce our practice with roots, students should complete the activities listed below on page 5 in their workbook, The New Hebrew Through Prayer.
  2. Recognizing the Root (Page 5): Students should follow directions as written and circle the root letters in each word.
  3. Siddur Phrases (Page 5): Students should circle all words built on the root and then practice reading the phrases.

9/10: Today in class, we worked on:

  1. Had a welcome assembly
  2. Participated in get to know you activities
  3. Reviewed 5 Hebrew letters and vowels
  4. Looked through the textbook and workbook we will be using
  5. Began our first unit on the Barkhu
  6. Learned what the Barkhu is and why we say it
  7. Practiced reading the Barkhu individually and together
  8. Learned Barkhu prayer vocabulary with a variety of activities
  9. The whole school participated in Hebrew through movement with Rabbi Prass
  10. And from there the parents came back to our room so we could meet and discuss our classroom. It was lovely to see so many parents.
  11. We had a really fun first day, and I’m looking forward to a terrific year!

Homework to be completed by next class:

  1. Each session, students will be assigned a workbook page to complete to reinforce what we did in class. This should only take 5-10 minutes to complete. If it ever takes longer, please have your student stop working, and we will complete it together in class.
  2. Students should complete page 1 in their workbook, The New Hebrew Through Prayer.
  3. A Call to Prayer: Students should fill in the missing Hebrew words and then read the prayer they have written.