Beit Rayim Hebrew School Newsletter Newsletter September, 2007 Elul, Tishrei, 5767/ 5768
Principal Rabbi David M. Eligberg
Shanah Tovah 5768
C on te n t Shalom Parents News From the bookshelf Our faculty Parenting Shofar Upcoming events Shabbat Shorashim Supper and Sukkah Announcements From our readers Simchat Torah Calendar
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Upcoming Events •
Sukkah decoration
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Simchat Torah Hakafot
Shalom Horim/Parents Seeing the school come to life on Sunday was a real pleasure; students were laughing, teachers were smiling and parents were catching up with each other. As I said at the opening assembly, I am very excited about the changes that have been introduced to our curriculum. The first and most pervasive change is the area of T’fillah/Lashon (Prayer/ Hebrew). Students will be honing their reading skills on words and phrases that appear in the Siddur while learning to identify the three root letters that are the building blocks of Hebrew words thereby giving them a measure of comprehension. The texts will also allow students to explore the meaning of the prayers they encounter. Perhaps the most exciting element of the new T’fillah/Lashon material is that each student will receive either a CD or access to a website which provides support exercises, review material and self– correcting drills. My hope is that the new technology will accelerate our students language acquisition. This coming year Jews around the world will celebrate the 60th. Anniversary of the birth of the State of Israel. This major milestone is the impetus for the second change in our curriculum. Israel has always been an important element in our studies but this year every grade will spend a portion of their class time discovering Israel and learning about our homeland. Our Grade Six and Seven students will participate in a series of special workshops about contemporary Israel. Our Israel focus will culminate with our school wide celebration of Yom Ha’atzmaut– Israel Independence Day in May. In addition to new curricular materials, we also have several new faculty members– Yifat Ben– Meir (Grade 4), Davida Lebowitz (Grade 6) and Steven Greenwood (Grade 7). They join the excellent returning members of our faculty- MTova Dror (Grade 5), Nurit Levy (Grade 3), Ayelet Krikunetz ( Grade 2A), Miriam Warner (Grade 2B), Zippi Zisu (Grade 1), Janie Tizel (kindergarten), Rachel Atteslander (Remedial)- who make Jewish learning come alive in our classrooms. Our Family Education Program will continue to engage families with innovative new programs as well as some familiar annual events. Please watch for details of programs that effect your child’s class and for special school wide events and celebrations. With all that is going on at BRHS I cannot help but be excited about the upcoming year. I look forward to your active participation as our partners in the process of Jewish education. K’tivah v’chatima tovah. May you and your family be inscribed and sealed in the book of life, health, blessing and success. B’vracha, Rabbi David M. Eligberg
BRH School Newsletter
From the principal’s bookshelf Ilan Ramon: Jewish
Star
by Devra Newberger Seregen (2004) Ilan Ramon was a hero in every sense of the word. As Israel's first astronaut, he captured the hearts of Jews all around the world and was a national hero and a symbol of hope. For 16 exciting days, Ramon managed to bring a bit of Jewish culture, tradition, and history to the millions of people who followed the space mission. Young readers will be captivated by this biography, with its rich portrait of Ramon in words and photographs, as it celebrates the life of an extraordinary man and pays tribute to his enormous courage. Ages 9-12/120 pages, paperback –
News
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Did you sign up for Snack Club?
Introducing our Faculty
Our school council is providing a snack to be distributed to participating students during the Sunday morning break. This program is a fundraiser for much needed educational equipment to directly benefit your child.
Kindergarten: Janie Tizel Grade 1: Zippy Zisu Grade 2A: Ayelet Krikunetz Grade 2B: Miriam Warner Grade 3: Nurit Levy Grade 4: Yifat Ben– Meir Grade 5: Tova Dror Grade 6: Davida Lebowitz Grade 7: Steven Greenwood
10 Things to Keep in Mind by Ron Isaacs (rabbi, educator, lecturer and author) There are no shortcuts to good parenting! Today, many forces are at work which makes raising good children difficult. In our open society, children are exposed to a multitude of mixed messages. Hard work, love and a little bit of “mazal” (luck) ought to increase the chances of creating a nurturing, sound foundation for your children. Although there are no pat answers or formulas for raising children of whom you will be proud and whose Jewishness will be more than just "skin deep," there are some things to keep in mind. Here is a list of ten suggestions culled from various sources on parenting: 1. The most common complaint that psychologists hear from children is that their parents are too busy to listen to them and don't find time to spend with them. 2. You cannot be a good role model for your children if you fear them. 3. Being a good parent requires as much time, talent, energy and thought as any full-time job. 4. Good parents get to know their children by becoming actively involved in their interests. 5. A child’s first and most important teachers are his parents. Note that the Hebrew word for parents, “horim” and for teachers, “morim” are very similar. Both words mean to teach and to instruct. 6. The more time we spend with our children, the greater the possibility that we will be together for important moments in life. 7. "How-to" books on parenting by experts can help to some extent, but parenting is too important a responsibility to hand over to experts. 8. Raising children requires “activist" parenting. Parents must learn to praise their children and show them kindness, to say “no” when required, to set limits, to have respect for them, to teach them responsibility, to be realistic and to teach them through their own role modeling. 9. Goodness is not an innate or natural disposition. People are not born good. Rather, they become good human beings by learning from role models who are good. 10. Plan ahead and set goals for your child in terms of the kinds of values you want your child to have, and the type of person you would like your child to be.
It is the custom to sound the shofar daily after the morning service during the month of Elul, beginning the second day of Rosh Chodesh (the first day of Elul). We blow Tekiah, Shevarim, and Teruah. We do not blow the shofar the day before Rosh Hashanah to make a distinction between the voluntary blowing during Elul and the mandatory sounding on Rosh Hashanah. The reason the shofar is sounded during Elul is to move people to repentance. - Code of Jewish Law (Kitzur Shulchan Arukh), Rabbi Solomon Ganzfried.
SCHOOL Thursday Sept. 13 Sunday Sept. 16 Thursday Sept. 20 Thursday Sept. 27 Thursday Oct. 4 Sunday Oct .7
BRH School Newsletter
Upcoming Events
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Supper and
How to Contact your Child’s Teacher:
Sukkah decorating
Please call the office
Our Youth Group is having a Supper and Sukkah decorating September 24th 5:30-8:30 PM at Reena
905.889.0276 x.32 or school@beitrayim.org
RSVP by September 10th. With Cheri Szereszewski at: cheri@rogers.com The message will be given to the teacher who will contact you.
Announcements
School Council Get involved in your child’s Hebrew School experience by joining the Beit Rayim School Council. Sunday September 23rd., 2007 is the first meeting. For more details please contact the school office.
Happy Birthday!
New this year!
Nseiri, Aviva Sep.1st. Kleinberg, Ethan Sept. 8th. Laredo-Marcovitz, Reece Sept. 9th. Israel, Sarah Sept. 12th. Lifschitz, Ross Sept. 12th. Wengle, Rachel Sept. 16th. Tameer, Rachel Sept. 21st. Starkman, Lindsey Sept.22nd. Minden, Daniel Sept. 23th. Daiter, Joshua Sept. 29th.
From our readers “NEW Section” Send us your suggestions, recipes, pictures and experiences you like to share school@beitrayim.org Thank you for being part of our newsletter
Shabbat Shuva is the Shabbat between Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur. It takes its name from the Haftara from Hoshea 14 which reads: "Shuva Yisrael - Return, O Israel, to Adonai your God." During these days we are obligated to do shuva, to repent. In fact, some people call this Shabbat T'shuva since it is the Shabbat of the Ten Days of Repentance. It is customary in all congregations for the Rabbi to give a sermon calling on the people to repent before Yom Kippur. He also reviews with them the laws of Yom Kippur. Thank you http://www.akhlah.com/
Our Shabbat shuva service will take place at Bayview Hill C.C. at 9:00AM
We’re on the Web! www.beitrayim.org
Calendar
BRH School Newsletter
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Elul 5767- Tishrei 5768- September 2007 Sunday
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Saturday 1
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Labor Day
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Shabbat Shorashim
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29th of Elul, 5767 1st of Tishrei, 5768 2nd of Tishrei, 5768 3rd of Tishrei, 5768 Erev Rosh Hashana Rosh Hashana Rosh Hashana II Parashat Ha'Azinu 5768 Shabbat Shuva
First Day of Hebrew School
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Erev Yom Kippur
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Yom Kippur
23 School
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Erev Sukkot
Sukkot I
Sukkot II
Sukkot III (CH''M)
No School
School Council Meeting
30 School Sukkot IV (CH''M)
Reminder: our building is NUT FREE and KOSHER. In winter time please leave your boots outside of the classrooms. School Office: 209-1118 Centre St. Thornhill ON L4J 7R9 Phone: (905) 889-0276 x32 During School Hours: (647) 230-0597 Fax: (905)889-4113 E-mail: school@beitrayim.org