Daled – Fourth Year – Tuesday (Reisberg)

10/27: Today in class, we worked on:

  1. Today started with an all-school T’fillah led by Rabbi Prass, with help from Luke and Willow in Kitah Daled. Rabbi Prass shared that Israel’s elections took place today, and that casting a vote is using your voice, just like praying is an expression of voice.  After t’fillah Rabbi Prass shared announcements and the word of the week, b-cheera, or elections. The students then made Heb-lish sentences with it.
  2. Today we concluded lesson 2 – the G’vurot. This blessing speaks of God’s powers to help us when we are in need. While God’s powers are many, this blessing speaks of God’s powers to create, to save, and to sustain life.  God also helps the fallen, heals the sick, frees the captive, and takes care of the souls of those who have died. We read lines 1-7.
  3. We made flashcards for key blessing vocabulary words and worked on a blessing review worksheet – this worksheet should be completed for homework.
  4. Today was the first alef-bet letter/vowel quiz of the year.  This is an assessment we take 3-4 times a year to review the names of the Hebrew letters and the sounds of the vowels.  The goal is to see score improvements as the year goes on. If your students aren’t already doing so, I strongly recommend reviewing their Hebrew letters with flashcards.
  5. Today’s word of the day was: talboshuet (costume).
  6. The students finished their day with all-school Hebrew Through Movement and Trivia led by Rabbi Prass.

Homework to be completed by next class:

  1. Practice reading the G’vurot lines 1-7 on page 16 in your textbook.
  2. Complete the blessing review worksheet (you can download it here)
  3. Please bring a phone or tablet to class next week to play a blessing review game. Wifi will be provided.

10/20: Today in class, we worked on:

  1. Today we started with an all-school tefilah led by Moreh Jon.  He shared a short teaching about the words metim vs. hakol in the gevurot.
  2. We went over the homework (page 18)
  3. We continued working on the Gevurot, reviewing its meaning and reading it.
  4. In our book, we did pages 22, 24, 16
  5. We talked about the Crown of a Good Name
  6. We ended the day with an all-school Hebrew thru Movement with Rabbi Prass in the Sanctuary.  It included our weekly trivia, Hebrew word of the week, and announcements.

Homework to be completed by next class:

  1. Read the G’vurot, page 16, lines 1-7
  2. Complete page 26 in your book

10/13: Today in class, we worked on:

  1. We enjoyed an all-school T’Fillah led by Rabbi Prass.  He asked us to think about how we tell time.  The learners had some great answers.  He then pointed out that our prayers also tell time (insertion in Gevurot tells the season, which prayer for peace tells time of day, etc.).  After t’fillah we had announcements, and the always fun word of the week and our weekly trivia.
  2. We continued with lesson 2 – the G’vurot. This blessing speaks of God’s powers to help us when we are in need. While God’s powers are many, this blessing speaks of God’s powers to create, to save, and to sustain life.  God also helps the fallen, heals the sick, frees the captive, and takes care of the souls of those who have died. We read lines 1-7.
  3. We played a flashcard game for the blessing vocabulary words and completed the activity on page 19 in our books, reviewing the blessing themes. 
  4. Today’s word of the day was: b’hootz (outside).
  5. We joined the kitah gimmel b’hootz with Rabbi Prass for Hebrew Through Motion.

Homework to be completed by next class:

  1. Practice reading the G’vurot lines 1-7 on page 16 in your textbook.
  2. Complete the vocabulary activity on the top of page 18 in your book.

10/6: Today in class, we worked on:

  1. We had an all-school t’fillah led by Rabbi Prass.  In addition to our growing number of prayers, Rabbi Prass showed us the now 1+ week-old lulav and his collection of etrogim from the last 21 years as we ended the 4 Tishrei Chagim.  He then reminded us that this is the 3rd yahrzeit of October 7th.  We lit a yahrzeit candle, and then he taught us about 2 Israelis, Hersh and Gabriel, who were part of October 7th.   What he read to us was a little about what they did on October 7th, and more about the way they lived. Finally, Rabbi Prass handed us literal footprints and asked us to write ways we can walk in their footsteps of how they lived.
  2. Today we started lesson 2 – the G’vurot.This blessing speaks of God’s powers to help us when we are in need. While God’s powers are many, this blessing speaks of God’s powers to create, to save, and to sustain life.  God also helps the fallen, heals the sick, frees the captive, and takes care of the souls of those who have died.
  3. Before reading the Hebrew, we did an activity where we looked at God’s powers – healing the sick, healing the fallen, freeing the captive, and taking care of the souls of those who have died – and brainstormed things we can do that would be extensions of God’s powers – like visiting the sick, lighting yahrzeit candles, donating food, etc.
  4. We read lines 1-2 of the G’vurot on page 16 and ended class today by playing an online game to review the Avot V’Imahot.
  5. Today’s word of the day was: oo-gee-ot (cookies).
  6. Kitah Gimmel & Daled enjoyed Hebrew thru Movement led by Rabbi Prass, where he showed us the open sefer Torah since we just celebrated Simchat Torah. 
  7. On the way out, and since Sukkot is over, Rabbi Prass cut the Etrog into smaller pieces and offered each interested learner a piece to taste.

Homework to be completed by next class:

  1. Practice reading the G’vurot lines 1-2 on page 16 in your textbook.
  2. Complete the vocabulary activity on the top of page 17 in your book.

9/29: Today in class, we worked on:

  1. We had an all-school t’fillah led by Rabbi Prass.  He asked us, “What do you notice that is beautiful inside the sanctuary?”  Then Rabbi Prass pointed out that we are in the middle of the holiday of Sukkot, which helps us notice that which is beautiful outside, and how prayer/t’fillah helps us notice that which is beautiful both inside and outside.
  2. We concluded the Avot V’Imahot, the first blessing in the Amidah section of worship that reminds us of our ancestors and our connection to generations before us.  Every student read the entire blessing!
  3. We made flashcards for key vocabulary words in this blessing.
  4. Today’s word of the day was: balagan (mess).
  5.  Kitah Daled and gimmel went outside with Rabbi Prass in the sukkah and fulfilled the mitzvot of sitting in the sukkah and shaking the lulav and etrog.

Homework to be completed by next class:

  1. Practice reading the Avot V’Imahot, lines 1-7 on page 5 in your textbook.
  2. Complete the worksheet that was sent home. If you were absent or need another copy, you can download it here.
  3. Please bring a phone or tablet to class next week. We’ll be playing an online Avot V’imahot review game.

9/22: Today in class, we worked on:

  1. Today started with an all-school T’fillah in the sanctuary led by Rabbi Prass. Rabbi Prass started the t’fillah asking the learners, “Why is it important to fast on Yom Kippur (if you are both healthy and post B’nai Mitzvah age)”  The children had some really deep, interesting answers.  
  2. We continued the Avot V’Imahot, the first blessing in the Amidah section of worship that reminds us of our ancestors and our connection to generations before us.  We read lines 5-7 today.  I was REALLY impressed by how well everyone read.
  3. To review the Avot V’Imahot vocabulary, we played a few rounds of BINGO.  Students made their own bingo cards, filling squares with either the Hebrew or English translation of the blessing vocab words.  When we pulled a Hebrew word, if they had the English translation written on their card, they got to mark it off. If they wrote the English translation and we pulled the Hebrew word, they marked it off. 
  4. Today’s word of the day was: stav (Autumn). Today was the first day of stav – and the weather sure felt like it 🙂
  5. Bet, Gimmel, Daled students went outside for Hebrew through movement led by Rabbi Prass. This is a fun activity where the students learn verbs by doing the action of the verb said in Ivrit.

Homework to be completed by next class:

  1. Practice reading the Avot V’Imahot, lines 1-7 on page 5 in your textbook.
  2. Complete the vocabulary activity on page 9 in your workbook.

9/15: Today in class, we worked on:

  1. Kitot Gimmel & Daled went outside for Hebrew thru movement led by Rabbi Prass. Rabbi Prass taught them how to blow a shofar. It was fun to listen to. I hope the students had fun and learned that they can do it!
  2. We continued the Avot V’Imahot, the first blessing in the Amidah section of worship that reminds us of our ancestors and our connection to generations before us.  We read lines 1-4 on page 5.  Everyone did a really nice job reading!
  3. The Avot (fathers) and Imahot (mothers) named in the Amidah were the first Jewish people.  We took a look at their family tree and then had an opportunity to make our own using mishpacha (family) vocabulary words:
    • Aba – dad
    • Ema -momAch -brother
    • Achot – sisterSavta -grandmother
    • Saba – grandfather
    • Dod – uncle
    • Doda – aunt
    • Ben-dod – cousin (m)
    • Bat-doda – cousin (f)
  4. Today’s word of the day was: chag  (holiday).  We all shared our favorite Jewish chag.
  5. Kitot Gimmel & Daled went outside for Hebrew thru movement led by Rabbi Prass. Rabbi Prass taught them how to blow a shofar. It was fun to listen to. I hope the students had fun and learned that they can do it! We have some great shofar blowers in 6th grade!
  6. G’mar chatima tova!

Homework to be completed by next class:

  1. Practice reading the Avot V’Imahot, lines 1-4 on page 5 in your textbook.
  2. Complete the activities on page 7 in your workbook.

9/8: Today in class, we worked on:

  1. Welcome back! It was so nice meeting everyone.
  2. We enjoyed an all-school assembly with Rabbi Prass.  The students were very curious about the sanctuary remodel.
  3. In our classroom, we did introductions and discussed what’s ahead in Daled Hebrew this year. 
  4. We introduced the Avot V’Imahot, the first blessing in the Amidah section of worship that reminds us of our ancestors and our connection to generations before us.  We read lines 1-2 on page 5.  Everyone did a really nice job reading!
  5. Today’s word of the day was: Nar-geesh (excited).  We wrote “ani nargeesh” (I am excited) in Hebrew and said the phrase out loud before sharing something we’re excited about Hebrew school for the coming year.
  6. We joined the other kitot (classes) in the sanctuary for Hebrew through Movement and hearing the sound of the shofar for Elul.
  7. It was great to meet the parents and explain the curriculum and the year-in-review.
  8. Shana tova! Wishing you all a happy and healthy new year.

Homework to be completed by next class:

  1. Practice reading the Avot V’Imahot, lines 1-2 on page 5 in your textbook.
  2. Complete the activities on page 6 in your workbook.