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” quiz ( and received lollypops as they finished the activity.) As students strive to apply the vocabulary and language concepts they’ve learned, they’re encouraged to realize the importance of daily review of their word cards and use of the Hebrew words even in combination with English.
We read the last story in Chapter 4 in our modern Hebrew text. Students practiced giving Hebrew answers to Hebrew questions about the story. While the story ideas are simple, students are required to focus on using the language forms correctly – and that is a challenge! Students prepared the final two vocabulary cards for chapter 4. These are to be reviewed during the week along with previous cards. In the next class, there will be a quiz and other learning activities based on the vocabulary cards.
After reviewing the past weeks’ portions from the Book of Shemot, students examined an information packet on this week’s Torah Portion, Beshallach. Moses has led the Israelites out of Egypt. They are trapped between the Red Sea and Pharaoh’s army coming to recapture them. God, acting thorough Moses, parts the Red Sea in one of a series of Divine Actions to ensure the survival of the Israelites as they begin their journey through the wilderness. Students considered how they might have felt as newly freed slaves. One student answered that she would be thinking about ways to learn and become educated, an opportunity denied to slaves. As we continued our discussion of Beshallach, I pointed out to the students that the Israelites, even after experiencing God’s miracles in the Ten Plagues and the parting of the sea, complained about their plight over and over. Torah truly reflects human nature!
In T’fila, Kitah Gimel led part of the evening service and sang the Mi Chamocha prayer beautifully. The Cantor discussed the concepts of Keva (Prayer Ritual) and Kavanah (intention and feeling toward prayer). We had the opportunity to engage in silent prayer.
At the close of the service, as a tribute to the memory of well-known singer-composer Debbie Friedman who recently passed away, we sang her melody for Oseh Shalom…a sad event, but a joyful song.
L’hitraot – See you soon,
Morah Ronni
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