Religious School/Youth

From the Director of Congregational Learning

Again, this second half of winter, our calendars were full. Our school community participated in the World Wide Wrap and Mitzvah Day; they celebrated Tu b’Shevat and Purim.

Our students in Kitah Bet, along with their families, continued meeting virtually with tour guide educator, Shira Boso, in Jerusalem. In January, they visited the neighborhood or Ein Kerem for Tu b’Shevat. Everyone was able to see almond trees in blossom and Shira planted a tree sapling for us. In February, they visited Jerusalem’s Ben Yehuda street to celebrate Shushan Purim.

Kitah Zayin and YADniks began 2021 in-person, meeting in the courtyard at Temple Emunah. They then returned to their second round of Havayot. In January, students, families and congregants participated in an online Tu b’Shevat Seder. In February, YADniks began their third round of Havayot, participating in either Jews and TV or the Seven Wonders of Jewish History. On February 24, Kitah Zayin, YADniks and their parents joined together for an amazing evening with Pamela Schuller as part of JDAIM (Jewish Disabilities Awareness and Inclusion Month).

As one parent told us, “The girls loved it (both thought it was going to be BORING beforehand, by-the-way). I found her hilarious, touching, inspiring, and sometimes hitting too close for comfort to some of my own experiences growing up. When I wasn’t crying, I was laughing hard! She taught about inclusion without preaching, but by showing what the repercussions are in its absence.”

On February 7, our religious school joined in the Brotherhood’s World Wide Wrap and then in our own Mitzvah Day. Kindergarteners made tzedakah boxes, Kitah Alef students made dog biscuits, which were brought to Buddy Dog Humane Society; Kitah Bet baked Chocolate Chip Cookies, which were brought to the Bristol Lodge Family Shelter, and Kitah Gimmel made birthday cards for Temple Emunah congregants, supporting our Sisterhood’s Birthday Card Campaign. Kitah Dalet students packed Mishloah Manot for Family Table, Kitah Hey Families packed clothes for Cradles to Crayons, Kitah Vav students cared for Horses at BINA Family Farm and Kitah Zayin students built desks for Desk Mates.

The Sunday prior, our Kitah Hey students learned about tefillin and built their own with Rabbi Kling Perkins and members of our Brotherhood. In addition, Gan, Kitah Alef and Kitah Bet joined with students of the same age from Temple Israel in Natick for Story Time with Meron Reuben, Consul General of Israel to New England. They heard him read the story “A Room for Rent” by Leah Goldberg. Senior USYers ran their second Bagel Sale of the year. Thank you to all who supported them. They delivered bagels to forty Temple Emunah households and raised over $300. Article continues on next page.

Kitah Zayin students wrap tefillin during the World Wide Wrap.

Kitah Vav at BINA Farm Center

Meron Reuben, Consul General of Israel to New England, reads to students.

Most of February was devoted to Purim

School vacation week saw staff and volunteers pack Mishloah Manot for our congregants. A sincere thank you to the committee members of our Mishloah Manot Fundraiser and to all the volunteers who helped pack and make deliveries. Thanks to their efforts and your support we surpassed our fundraising goal for our Religious School and were able to send Mishloah Manot to every congregant!

Leading up to Purim our Kadimaniks participated in their annual Hamantashen Bake-off. Families picked up bags of dough and fixin’s for making hamantashen together on Zoom. Purim and Shushan Purim were very busy. We enjoyed joining the congregation for the Megillah reading and on Sunday, February 28, we celebrated Shushan Purim. Thanks to our Senior USY Board and Religious School madrikhim, students in Gan through Kitah Vav participated in a variety of fun carnival activities online. Kitah Vav students even joined with their Haifa partners for the fun. Students in Kitah Gimmel through Kitah Vav were treated to an interactive magic show by NateJester the Magician and students in Kitah Zayin “solved” A Megillah Mystery produced by Bagels and Locks Studios. In the afternoon, families gathered in-person in Temple Emunah’s parking lot for a performance by Benjamin the Clown.

As we plan for the months ahead, we look forward to more in-person youth activities, engaging in online learning and celebrating Pesah . , Yom Ha’Atzma’ut, Lag Ba’Omer and Shavuot. We look forward to celebrating together both online and in-person.

Wishing everyone good health,

Me’ir Sherer Director of Congregational Learning

msherer@templeemunah.org Benjamin the Clown entertained.

Kitah Dalet students pack Mishloach Manot bags. Boston-Haifa Purim Meet-up

Kitah Zayin Megillah Mystery