The grand event in Parshat Yitro is the revelation at Mt. Sinai, preceded by God’s promise to the Israelites that they will be God’s “treasure” (Exodus 19:5) if they “listen” to God and keep God’s Covenant. Scrubbed and trembling, the Israelites stand at the foot of the mountain, awed by a spectacular, theatrical display of […]
Shalom Kitah Gimel Students and Families #14
In Wednesday Hebrew class, we began, as always, with the Blessings for Torah Study and cookies. Then, students received grape juice and a copy of the Kiddush Blessing which is recited on Friday evening to welcome Shabbat. Kiddush on Wednesday?! As we read through the Hebrew, students identified words, like Kiddush, formed from the root […]
Tu B’Shvat – Happy Birthday Trees from the Fourth Grade
“Ha Shkeidia Porachat…Tu B’Shvat Higiah – The almond tree is blossoming…Tu B’Shvat is coming” This Israeli children’s song doesn’t exactly describe Tu B’Shvat in my neighborhood, but is a reminder that in Eretz Yisrael, trees are really beginning to bud and the ground is warm enough to plant saplings. On Tu B’Shvat (the 15th day […]
Commentary – Beshallach
Parshat Beshallach might be called “Days of Whine and Moses.” The Israelites’ behavior in Beshallach is an embarrassment, a shonda, as my mother would say in Yiddish. After experiencing God’s protection from Ten devastating Plagues, after escaping from slavery to freedom under the leadership of Moses who communicated directly with God, the Israelites had the […]
Shalom Kitah Gimel Students and Families #13
Welcome to the new Hebrew month of Sh’vat! Today, students led the Blessings for Torah Study and cookies. They added the new Hebrew month of Sh’vat to the attendance conversation and identified Tu B’Sh’vat as the Holiday of the Month. To review the vocabulary and language patterns from the previous week, students completed a “Pop” […]
In Memory of Debbie Friedman
I’ve just received the heart-wrenching news that Debbie Friedman passed away. Musician, composer, songwriter, singer, Debbie Friedman invented modern Jewish music. Where once there were mostly traditional synagogue melodies and ponderous “hymns,” Debbie Friedman created Jewish songs with soaring melodies, spirited and spiritual lyrics. In addition to her original works, Debbie composed music for words […]
Shabbat Commentary – Bo
On the Jewish calendar, we may be only two weeks away from Tu B’Shvat, but in this week’s Torah Portion, Bo, it’s Passover – THE original Passover! Pharaoh remains steadfast in his refusal to free the Israelite slaves. As a result, three more plagues ( locusts, darkness, and death of the first born) descend, upon […]
Shalom Kitah Gimel Students and Families #12
Welcome back from winter vacation and welcome to second semester. We started off 2011 with every Kitah Gimel student present! After students led the Blessings for Torah Study and cookies, we launched into a review of the Hebrew vocabulary which students had practiced during their vacation. Students demonstrated good recall of word meanings and everyone […]
A Message on a Fence
Several times this week, I’ve driven by an elementary school near my house. The school is bordered by a metal mesh fence. This week, there is a message on the fence spelled out in bright pink plastic cups pushed through the mesh. “We ‘heart’ you Mrs. Diller RIP” the large pink letters read. The message […]
Reflections on Va’era
We are only a few hours away from the dawn of 2011. The media are blaring out New Year’s advice in every form – “4 Money-Making Investments!” “6 Steps to Six-Pack Abs!” “8 Solutions to Household Clutter!” How about “7 Ways to Get Out of Egypt!” This item isn’t from CNBC or “The Martha Stewart […]
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