Dor L’Dor

r«us‰k r«us

 

Temple Beth-El Religious School

January 5, 2002          Number 15

5762  ,cy 21

 

 

 

 

What is Rosh Chodesh?

 

Jean Kolovson, one of our Bonim teachers, teaches her students about Rosh Chodesh.  She takes her students out to the Park where they sit in their designated Rosh Chodesh location.  They collect items for a collage, sing songs about the moon, talk about the new month and sing Sheheciyanu.  How could you bring the celebration of Rosh Chodesh to your students?

 

Rosh Chodesh, the first of the month, is a time to connect with the many cycles and patterns in our lives, an opportunity to renew our hopes and dreams, and an invitation to reconnect with God's presence in the world.  As it is written in the Talmud, (Sanhedrin 42a), "Whoever blesses the new moon in its time, invites the presence of God to dwell within." It begins when the moon appears as a slender crescent pointing left in the nighttime sky. Many Jewish holidays, including Sukkot, Purim and Passover occur when the moon is full in the night sky.

 

On the Shabbat before Rosh Chodesh a prayer is recited expressing hopes for health, peace, a long life, and many other blessings. On Rosh Chodesh itself an abbreviated Hallel prayer (a series of psalms) is recited.

 

Rosh Chodesh has a particular connection to women as Talmudic legend praises women for not donating their jewels for building the golden calf and gives them the holiday of Rosh Chodesh as reward. Traditionally, women have abstained from heavy work on Rosh Chodesh and today many women gather to celebrate the cycles of the moon and the rhythms of their lives.

 

Possible Art Projects: Giant Moon-Create a giant moon collage.  Papier-mâché Moon.  Phases of the Moon Mobile. Rosh Chodesh Cards-Make moon-print Rosh Chodesh cards.  Moon Calendars.  Moon cookies.

Information acquired from: http://www.jcca.org/thisnewmonth/roshchodesh.htm

 
Retreat Meeting This Sunday

 

We are having our first meeting for the Nivi’im through Yisrael grade retreat this Sunday.  All teachers and ma’aseh for these grades are expected to attend. Speak to me if you will not be able to make it.   The retreat will be held at GFC on the weekend of January 25th.

UAHC Greene Family Camp for Living Judaism

 

 

 

Loui Dobin the Director of the Greene Family Camp will be coming to Temple Beth-El Religious School this Sunday, January 13, 2002 to present to your classes the excitement and benefits of attending a U.A.H.C. Reform Jewish Summer Camp.  Please check the schedule for the time that you need to be in the Fiesta Room.

 

EVERY EXPENSE MUST BE APPROVED!

 

Avram Mandell, the Education Director, must approve all expenses/purchases submitted after February 1, 2002.  If this procedure is not followed, the expense may not be reimbursed.

Mid-Day Ma’aseh Meeting

 

There will be a 10:30 ma’aseh meeting in Room 138.  Ma’aseh, please head to that room and be there at 10:30.  Teachers, please adjust your lesson plans to allow for your ma’aseh to attend this meeting.  Thank you.

 
Pinat Amy

 

I hope all are enjoying your time off and doing something exciting.  Our last Sunday together was as busy as the first Sunday of Religious School this year.  Our “Strolling Musicians,” went into many classrooms with their animated, enthusiastic, energetic voices and led the classes in song.  I sat in on a couple of classes and Rebekah, Laura, and Matthew you are wonderful.  Keep up the excellent work. 

 

We had a very unique school wide tefillot.  Amanda Snowden’s drama chug showed us a unique adaptation to Adam Sandler’s Hanukkah song.  The students did a super job and just might have a future in acting.  Good going Amanda, your excitement and interest in drama have really helped the students bring out their ideas and put them into action. 

 

Continue having a peaceful, quiet rest.  My prayer to you all is that the year 2002 brings you much peace, love, and personal fulfillment.

 

Schedule Change Possibility

 

There is a possibility that there might be a schedule change that would affect Nivi’im to Kohanim.  The change would be that the order of the day would go from Judaica to Hebrew (Ivrit) back to Judaica.  This would allow for the Judaica teachers, the homeroom teachers, to welcome their students and get them settled and then also allow them to be able to take them outside at the end of the day for dismissal.  This may also help with Hebrew, because a lot of our students unfortunately show up late, this would allow for the Hebrew teachers to teach a full class without the disruption of latecomers.  Please email me with your thoughts at Avram@beth-elsa.org.