Daled – Fourth Year – Tuesday (Reisberg)

9/24: Today in class we worked on:

  1. Participated in an all school Tefillah led by Rabbi Prass.  We shared ‘noises’ that distract us and things that help us quiet and focus our brains.  We talked about how t’fillah is one Jewish language/tool for quieting and focus.
  2. We continued with the Avot V’imahot blessing – the first blessing in the Amidah section of worship that reminds us of our ancestors and our connection to generations before us.  We continued to focus on lines 1-3, and everyone did a really nice job reading!
  3. after mapping out the Jewish matriarchs and patriarchs on a family tree, we spent time mapping out our own family trees to reinforce new vocabulary words:
    • Mishpacha (family), Ima (mom), Aba (dad), ach (brother), achot (sister), saba (grandfather), savta (grandmother), ani (me), dod (uncle), dodah (aunt), ben-dod (cousin-m), bat-dodah (cousin-f) … and of course, we couldn’t forget kelev (dog) and catool (cat).
  4. We ended class with the entire Hebrew school coming together for Hebrew Through Movement led by Rabbi Prass, and one of our own Daled students, Ben G.  We also heard the calls of the Shofar in celebration of Elul, the month leading up to Rosh Hashanah and the other High Holy Days.

Homework to be completed by next class:

  1. Shana tova! Wishing you a sweet and healthy new year!
  2. Practice reading the Avot V’Imahot, lines 1-3 on page 5 in your textbook.  Keep your ears open for this blessing during services!

9/17: Today in class we worked on:

  1. Welcome back!
  2. We began with an all school assembly.  The 2 older grades (daled & gimmel) shared 3 things that are helpful to learn Hebrew and 3 things that used to make them nervous about learning Hebrew. 
  3. We jumped into a little Hebrew vocabulary and writing practice, sharing what Beit Sefer (school) we go to, our favorite seret (movie), sefer (book), and our favorite thing l’echol (to eat). We also shared what we did this kaytz (summer).
  4. Back in the classroom, we introduced the first bracha (blessing) we’re learning this year, Avot V’Imahot. This is the first blessing in the Amidah, the central prayer section of every service.  Avot means fathers and Imahot means mothers.  This blessing reminds us that our ancestors, Abraham, Issac and Jacob, Sarah, Rebecca, Leah and Rachel each had a special and unique relationship with God. It asks God to watch over us, protect us, and bless us, just as God did for our ancestors. We read lines 1-3.
  5. We ended the session with all school assembly to do Hebrew Thru Movement.  Our kitah daled students helped lead it.  Parents were invited for this first session so they could meet the teachers. It was great to see so many parents and to have almost perfect attendance at Hebrew school! We also sounded the shofar in celebration of this month of Elul.

Homework to be completed by next class:

  1. Practice reading the Avot V’Imahot, lines 1-3 on page 5 in your textbook.