Do you ever just lose it? Do you ever become that parent you swore you would never be? This past Monday evening my family was rushing off to a Chanukah performance at our synagogue. I was racing from a late afternoon party at the JCC to quickly feed my children before we went out again. […]
Archives for December 2010
Shalom Kitah Gimel Students and Families #10
Today we celebrated the eighth night of Hanukkah and the first day of the Hebrew month of Tevet. After a student led the Blessings for Torah Study and cookies, we used Hanukkah vocabulary to practice the Hebrew language patterns which translate as “I want,” “Here is,” and “I have.” In our textb00k, Shalom Ivrit, we […]
Shabbat Hanukkah
Miketz – Shabbat Hanukkah – Sermon – 12/3/2010 https://media.blubrry.com/jcasttotalfeed/jcastnetwork.org/storage/dsksermons/dsk007.mp3Podcast: Download
Podcast: Download
Tinkering With Tomorrow
When I was a kid I loved tinker-toys. I would spend hours constructing skeletal looking and what I thought were futuristic buildings. I never knew what the outcome would be, I didn’t know if what I was building would stand up to the forces of nature or my brother’s kicks, but I had fun. I […]
Creating Community in the Classroom and Beyond
I recently attended a wonderful faculty meeting. That might sound like an oxymoron, but this meeting was really informative, stimulating, – and fun! As one of the activities, we were given a sheet detailing ways of “Creating Community in Learning Environments.” We were asked to discuss how we might apply the concepts presented on the […]
Why Hanukkah is Awesome or Keep Your Stinkin’ Pity Menorah
For the record, Chanukah is one of my favorite holidays. Nothing beats the combination of lighting candles, opening presents and making Christians feel like dirt when they accidentally wish me a Merry Christmas (“Merry CHRIST-mas to me. Oh, how nice. You have yourself a very Merry I’m-a-Ignoramus-Who-Assumes-Everybody-Believes Exactly-the-Same-Stuff-I-Do and a truly Happy Funny-You-Don’t-Look-Jewish-Because You-Don’t-Have-Horns, too. Maybe you should ask Santa for a diversity seminar- that is, if he can fit in under the tree between the burning cross and copy of the Protocols of the Elders of Zion. And stop ringing that bell at me, I’m sure as hell not giving you a quarter now, I don’t care what Army you’re with.”)
I know it sounds like I’m not feeling the holiday spirit — but remember, my holiday isn’t about wussy crap like “Peace on Earth” and “Goodwill to Men” – it’s about eating fried food and jelly doughnuts, getting presents for EIGHT WHOLE NIGHTS and, most importantly, celebrating the crazy-ass bunch of Jewish rebels who kicked the ancient Greeks out of Israel and stretched one day of oil for more than a week. That’s right, ass-kicking, thrift, cholesterol and shopping — throw in the guilt over not calling my mother, and you have all the pillars that the Jewish faith is based on. The only thing more awesome would be a holiday celebrating Israeli Airport Security — and I don’t mean National Opt Out Day.
Words of Wisdom – Miketz
This week’s Torah Portion, Miketz, continues the saga of Joseph. There are more dreams, more familial distress, and a hefty dose of deception. Joseph is released from prison to interpret Pharaoh’s dreams. Based on the dream imagery, Joseph predicts that Egypt will have seven years of plenty followed by seven years of famine. He advises […]
Lighting the Lights
If ever I talk too positively about my children my grandmother will interrupt me and warn against the “evil eye.” Her superstitious worries inhibit her (and me, in return!) from saying too much about how great things are, or telling others for fear that they might feel jealous and cast an evil eye upon me […]
Shalom Kitah Gimel Students and Families #9
Chag Hanukkah Sameach! Happy Hanukkah! How wonderful that the first night of Hanukkah falls, this year, on a Hebrew School day. We celebrated and practiced our Hebrew. After saying the Blessings for Torah Study and cookies, we played a game called, Eifo Ha S’vivonim? (Where are the dreidels?) Students were given two minutes to search […]
Family Shield Project – A Hanukkah Highlight
HAPPYTHANKSGIVINGHAPPYHANUKKAH – one holiday following on the heels of another. But, the Early Childhood Center at the synagogue where I teach is ready! Turkeys have been replaced by a splendid display of dreidel shaped “Family Shields.” Each ECC family received a large piece of posterboard with the outline of a dreidel drawn on it. Attached […]