A Guide for Parents and Students

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A​ ​GUIDE​ ​FOR PARENTS​ ​AND​ ​STUDENTS

19785​ ​Hampton​ ​Dr​ ​#​ ​4 Boca​ ​Raton,​ ​FL​ ​33434 p​ ​561-852-6555 rabbi@davidpaskin.com

OUR​ ​VISION A​ ​learning​ ​community​ ​that​ ​engages​ ​and​ ​empowers​ ​every​ ​soul​ ​and​ ​translates​ ​learning​ ​to​ ​living.

OUR​ ​MISSION To​ ​inspire​ ​each​ ​learner​ ​through​ ​dynamic​ ​Jewish​ ​learning​ ​and​ ​living;​ ​providing​ ​them​ ​with​ ​the​ ​tools​ ​to​ ​guide​ ​their daily​ ​lives​ ​according​ ​to​ ​Jewish​ ​values​ ​and​ ​create​ ​their​ ​own​ ​Jewish​ ​memories.

WHY​ ​WE​ ​LEARN We​ ​believe​ ​that​ ​learning​ ​should​ ​be​ ​transformative​ ​and​ ​empowering:​ ​That​ ​we should​ ​learn​ ​so​ ​that​ ​we​ ​can​ ​live​ ​full​ ​and​ ​meaningful​ ​lives​ ​as​ ​Jews​ ​and​ ​members​ ​of the​ ​human​ ​family.​ ​At​ ​Shaarei​ ​Kodesh​ ​we​ ​learn​ ​so​ ​that​ ​we​ ​can​ ​discover​ ​our purpose​ ​in​ ​life;​ ​see​ ​ourselves​ ​through​ ​God's​ ​eyes​ ​and​ ​partner​ ​with​ ​God​ ​in completing​ ​the​ ​work​ ​of​ ​Creation.​

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We​ ​believe​ ​that​ ​the​ ​best​ ​learning​ ​comes​ ​not​ ​from​ ​sitting​ ​in​ ​a​ ​classroom​ ​but​ ​through joyful,​ ​Jewish​ ​experiences.​ ​That's​ ​why​ ​our​ ​entire​ ​synagogue,​ ​and​ ​in​ ​fact,​ ​the​ ​whole world​ ​is​ ​our​ ​classroom.​ ​We​ ​learn​ ​everywhere​ ​and​ ​all​ ​the​ ​time:​ ​On​ ​the​ ​playground, playing​ ​soccer,​ ​helping​ ​a​ ​friend,​ ​and​ ​eating​ ​snack.

We​ ​also​ ​recognize​ ​the​ ​importance​ ​of​ ​learning​ ​as​ ​a​ ​family​ ​and​ ​so​ ​we​ ​create​ ​multiple​ ​opportunities​ ​for​ ​children​ ​to learn​ ​with​ ​their​ ​parents,​ ​grandparents​ ​and​ ​siblings​ ​both​ ​in​ ​the​ ​synagogue,​ ​in​ ​your​ ​homes​ ​and​ ​in​ ​public​ ​spaces.

HOW​ ​WE​ ​LEARN Learning​ ​at​ ​Shaarei​ ​Kodesh​ ​is​ ​personalized,​ ​inspiring​ ​and​ ​empowering.​ ​We use​ ​the​ ​latest​ ​educational​ ​tools,​ ​technologies​ ​and​ ​scholarship​ ​to​ ​make​ ​our opportunities​ ​for​ ​learning​ ​rich​ ​in​ ​meaning​ ​and​ ​deeply​ ​relevant​ ​to​ ​each​ ​of​ ​our learners.​ Personalized Personalized​ ​learning​ ​is​ ​an​ ​emerging​ ​trend​ ​which​ ​seeks​ ​to​ ​support student-centered,​ ​21st​ ​century​ ​teaching​ ​and​ ​learning.​ ​A​ ​growing​ ​body​ ​of research​ ​suggests​ ​that​ ​overall​ ​student​ ​achievement​ ​is​ ​likely​ ​to​ ​increase when​ ​students​ ​are​ ​able​ ​to​ ​learn​ ​at​ ​their​ ​own​ ​pace​ ​with​ ​a​ ​variety​ ​of​ ​teaching​ ​styles​ ​and​ ​formats​ ​available​ ​to them.​ ​Personalizing​ ​students’​ ​education​ ​enables​ ​them​ ​to​ ​access​ ​a​ ​unique​ ​learning​ ​experience​ ​based​ ​upon their​ ​individual​ ​needs,​ ​rather​ ​than​ ​receiving​ ​instruction​ ​through​ ​a​ ​standard,​ ​paced​ ​curriculum.

At​ ​Shaarei​ ​Kodesh,​ ​learning​ ​is​ ​crafted​ ​with​ ​an​ ​appreciation​ ​for​ ​each​ ​child's​ ​unique​ ​approach,​ ​pace,​ ​and​ ​style​ ​of learning​ ​and​ ​developmentally​ ​appropriate​ ​goals​ ​are​ ​set​ ​that​ ​both​ ​support​ ​and​ ​challenge​ ​the​ ​learner.​ ​Each​ ​child has​ ​a​ ​Personalized​ ​Learning​ ​Plan​ ​that​ ​tailors​ ​our​ ​school’s​ ​curriculum​ ​to​ ​the​ ​child’s​ ​needs​ ​and​ ​strengths.

Students​ ​set​ ​personal​ ​learning​ ​goals​ ​and​ ​regular​ ​assessment​ ​enables​ ​them​ ​to​ ​receive​ ​consistent​ ​feedback​ ​on their​ ​progress.​ ​Research​ ​demonstrates​ ​that​ ​positive​ ​feedback,​ ​such​ ​as​ ​the​ ​progression​ ​toward​ ​a​ ​chosen​ ​goal, is​ ​highly​ ​motivating​ ​to​ ​students.​ ​Additionally,​ ​students​ ​who​ ​track​ ​their​ ​own​ ​progress​ ​toward​ ​these​ ​goals​ ​are more​ ​likely​ ​to​ ​make​ ​greater​ ​gains​ ​toward​ ​reaching​ ​their​ ​goals​ ​than​ ​students​ ​who​ ​do​ ​not.

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Personalized​ ​Learning​ ​means: ● Putting​ ​the​ ​needs​ ​of​ ​students​ ​first; ● Tailoring​ ​learning​ ​plans​ ​to​ ​individual​ ​students; ● Supporting​ ​students​ ​in​ ​reaching​ ​their​ ​potential; ● Providing​ ​flexibility​ ​in​ ​how,​ ​what,​ ​when,​ ​and​ ​where​ ​students​ ​learn; ● Supporting​ ​parent​ ​involvement​ ​in​ ​student​ ​learning; ● Encouraging​ ​relationships​ ​between​ ​student,​ ​parent,​ ​teacher,​ ​school,​ ​and​ ​community; ● Preparing​ ​students​ ​to​ ​be​ ​lifelong​ ​learners; ● Engaging​ ​and​ ​motivating​ ​students​ ​by​ ​supporting​ ​their​ ​learning​ ​in​ ​a​ ​way​ ​that​ ​is​ ​relevant​ ​to​ ​each student’s​ ​life,​ ​interests,​ ​and​ ​goals.

Inspiring Joy,​ ​spiritual​ ​development,​ ​skill​ ​mastery,​ ​Habits​ ​of​ ​Mind​ ​and​ ​content​ ​exploration​ ​are​ ​all​ ​a​ ​part​ ​of​ ​the​ ​inspiring learning​ ​environment​ ​created​ ​at​ ​Shaarei​ ​Kodesh.​ ​Learning​ ​at​ ​Shaarei​ ​Kodesh​ ​is​ ​fully​ ​integrated​ ​and emphasizes​ ​big​ ​ideas,​ ​essential​ ​questions​ ​and​ ​the​ ​application​ ​of​ ​our​ ​learning​ ​to​ ​our​ ​lives.​ ​At​ ​Shaarei​ ​Kodesh, learners​ ​are​ ​inspired​ ​to​ ​ask​ ​questions,​ ​seek​ ​answers​ ​and​ ​solve​ ​problems​ ​as​ ​they​ ​are​ ​immersed​ ​in​ L ​ imudei Kodesh​ ​(Judaic​ ​Studies)​ ​and​ ​Ivrit​ ​(Hebrew.)

Empowering Learners​ ​at​ ​Shaarei​ ​Kodesh​ ​are​ ​empowered​ ​to​ ​own​ ​their​ ​learning​ ​and​ ​create​ ​their​ ​own​ ​Learning​ ​Legacies.

They​ ​are​ ​supported​ ​and​ ​guided​ ​in​ ​their​ ​learning​ ​by​ ​Learning​ ​Guides.​ ​More​ ​than​ ​teachers,​ ​Learning​ ​Guides help​ ​students​ ​find​ ​the​ ​resources​ ​they​ ​need​ ​to​ ​reach​ ​their​ ​goals​ ​and​ ​master​ ​their​ ​learning.​ ​Learning​ ​Guides​ ​use on-line​ ​educational​ ​programs​ ​and​ ​resources​ ​and​ ​experts​ ​both​ ​locally​ ​and​ ​internationally​ ​to​ ​supplement​ ​their own​ ​expertise​ ​as​ ​they​ ​work​ ​with​ ​students​ ​to​ ​deepen​ ​their​ ​knowledge,​ ​hone​ ​their​ ​skills​ ​and​ ​reach​ ​their educational,​ ​social-emotional​ ​and​ ​spiritual​ ​potential.

Kehillot​ ​-​ ​Learning​ ​Communities Our​ ​program​ ​is​ ​structured​ ​around​ ​learning​ ​communities​ ​that​ ​allow​ ​students​ ​to​ ​learn​ ​from​ ​one​ ​another,​ ​see where​ ​their​ ​learning​ ​is​ ​going,​ ​serve​ ​as​ ​mentors​ ​and​ ​role​ ​models,​ ​and​ ​allow​ ​teachers​ ​to​ ​collaborate​ ​with​ ​one another.

A​ ​multi-age​ ​classroom​ ​is​ ​not​ ​the​ ​same​ ​as​ ​a​ ​multi-grade​ ​classroom​ ​where​ ​students​ ​are​ ​still​ ​taught​ ​as​ ​separate grade​ ​levels​ ​even​ ​though​ ​they​ ​are​ ​in​ ​the​ ​same​ ​room.​ ​ ​Multi-age​ ​classrooms​ ​use​ ​flexible​ ​grouping​ ​and differentiate​ ​instruction​ ​according​ ​to​ ​each​ ​child’s​ ​needs​ ​without​ ​distinguishing​ ​students​ ​by​ ​grade​ ​level.

At​ ​Shaarei​ ​Kodesh​ ​we​ ​have​ ​three​ ​learning​ ​communities:.

‫ָשׁים‬ ִ ‫שׁוֹר‬ Roots​ ​(K-2nd)

‫נִי ָצנִים‬ Sprouts​ ​(3rd-4th)

‫ִאילָנוֹת‬ Small​ ​Trees​ ​(5th-7th) 2

WHAT​ ​WE​ ​LEARN Each​ ​student​ ​at​ ​Shaarei​ ​Kodesh​ ​has​ ​a​ ​Personalized​ ​Learning​ ​Plan​ ​(PLP)​ ​built​ ​upon​ ​a​ ​set​ ​of​ ​Big​ ​Ideas​ ​and Enduring​ ​Understandings.

Big​ ​Ideas​ ​are​ ​categories​ ​of​ ​Jewish​ ​learning​ ​that​ ​help​ ​us​ ​learn​ ​in​ ​an​ ​integrated​ ​way.​ ​Enduring​ ​understandings are​ ​statements​ ​summarizing​ ​important​ ​ideas​ ​and​ ​core​ ​processes​ ​that​ ​are​ ​central​ ​to​ ​Jewish​ ​learning​ ​and​ ​have lasting​ ​value​ ​beyond​ ​the​ ​classroom.​ ​They​ ​synthesize​ ​what​ ​students​ ​should​ ​understand—not​ ​just​ ​know​ ​or do—as​ ​a​ ​result​ ​of​ ​studying​ ​a​ ​particular​ ​content​ ​area.

Big​ ​Ideas​ ​and​ ​Enduring​ ​Understandings B’tzelem​ ​Elokim​ ​(In​ ​God’s​ ​Image):​ ​All​ ​people​ ​are​ ​created​ ​in​ ​the​ ​image​ ​of​ ​God.​ ​This awareness​ ​allows​ ​us​ ​to​ ​see​ ​all​ ​people​ ​as​ ​having​ ​infinite​ ​value​ ​and​ ​challenges​ ​us​ ​to​ ​do​ ​our​ ​part in​ ​tikkun​ ​olam​ ​-​ ​repairing​ ​the​ ​world.

Avodah​ ​(Service​ ​of​ ​God):​ ​God​ ​is​ ​the​ ​goal​ ​and​ ​everyday,​ ​we​ ​are​ ​challenged​ ​to​ ​find​ ​ways​ ​to serve​ ​and​ ​connect​ ​with​ ​the​ ​Divine​ ​through​ ​prayer,​ ​mitzvot,​ ​celebration​ ​and​ ​Jewish​ ​living.

Talmud​ ​Torah​ ​(Torah​ ​Study):​​ ​Torah​ ​is​ ​the​ ​ongoing,​ ​living​ ​story​ ​of​ ​the​ ​Jewish​ ​people.

Through​ ​the​ ​study​ ​of​ ​Torah,​ ​we​ ​become​ ​active​ ​recipients​ ​of​ ​this​ ​tradition​ ​and​ ​learn​ ​how​ ​to​ ​walk in​ ​God's​ ​ways.

K’lal​ ​Yisrael​ ​(The​ ​People​ ​of​ ​Israel):​ ​As​ ​a​ ​people,​ ​Jews​ ​are​ ​sustained​ ​by​ ​a​ ​common​ ​history, culture,​ ​language​ ​and​ ​tradition.​ ​Our​ ​task​ ​is​ ​to​ ​find​ ​our​ ​place​ ​amongst​ ​the​ ​Jewish​ ​people​ ​and feel​ ​at​ ​home.

Medinat​ ​Yisrael​ ​(The​ ​Land​ ​of​ ​Israel):​ ​The​ ​land​ ​of​ ​Israel​ ​is​ ​the​ ​Jewish​ ​homeland.​ ​We​ ​pray and​ ​advocate​ ​for​ ​her​ ​while​ ​holding​ ​her​ ​accountable​ ​to​ ​reach​ ​her​ ​greatest​ ​potential​ ​as​ ​a​ ​Jewish democracy.

PaRDeS:​ ​An​ ​Orchard​ ​of​ ​Learning In​ ​traditional​ ​Jewish​ ​learning​ ​sacred​ ​texts​ ​can​ ​be​ ​examined​ ​on​ ​many​ ​different​ ​levels,​ ​each​ ​deepening​ ​our understanding​ ​and​ ​appreciate​ ​of​ ​the​ ​text.​ ​These​ ​levels​ ​are​ ​known​ ​by​ ​the​ ​acronym​ ​PaRDeS,​ ​which​ ​means "orchard." ​

Our​ ​learning​ ​is​ ​structured​ ​like​ ​the​ ​PaRDeS:​ ​We​ ​begin​ ​with​ ​simple​ ​understandings,​ ​learn​ ​to​ ​see​ ​hints​ ​of​ ​deeper meanings,​ ​immerse​ ​ourselves​ ​in​ ​Jewish​ ​wisdom​ ​and​ ​interpretation​ ​and​ ​then​ ​come​ ​to​ ​discover​ ​the​ ​sacred secrets​ ​that​ ​our​ ​learning​ ​holds​ ​for​ ​us. ​

Because​ ​we​ ​know​ ​that​ ​every​ ​child​ ​learns​ ​differently​ ​and​ ​at​ ​different​ ​paces,​ ​our​ ​program​ ​allows​ ​students​ ​to move​ ​through​ ​the​ ​PaRDeS​ ​as​ ​they​ ​are​ ​able,​ ​some​ ​faster​ ​and​ ​others​ ​more​ ​methodically.

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In​ ​our​ ​radically​ ​connected​ ​world,​ ​content​ ​is​ ​readily​ ​accessible​ ​and​ ​so​ ​our​ ​focus​ ​is​ ​on​ ​helping​ ​students​ ​build​ ​a skill​ ​set​ ​that​ ​will​ ​allow​ ​them​ ​to​ ​access​ ​and​ ​interpret​ ​information,​ ​feel​ ​confident​ ​with​ ​Jewish​ ​ritual​ ​and​ ​tradition, and​ ​find​ ​their​ ​own​ ​voice​ ​in​ ​the​ ​eternal​ ​conversation​ ​between​ ​God​ ​and​ ​the​ ​Jewish​ ​people​ ​through​ ​Torah​ ​and sacred​ ​text.

Tracking​ ​Progress​ ​-​ ​Reaching​ ​Goals Learning​ ​at​ ​Shaarei​ ​Kodesh​ ​is​ ​goal​ ​oriented​ ​and​ ​mastery-based.​ ​We​ ​work​ ​with​ ​our​ ​students​ ​and​ ​families​ ​to​ ​set challenging​ ​learning​ ​targets​ ​and​ ​then​ ​assess​ ​students​ ​on​ ​an​ ​ongoing​ ​basis​ ​through​ ​both​ ​formative​ ​(informal and​ ​ongoing)​ ​and​ ​summative​ ​assessments​ ​to​ ​help​ ​students​ ​reach​ ​their​ ​learning​ ​goals​ ​and​ ​show​ ​mastery.

Celebrating​ ​Success At​ ​Shaarei​ ​Kodesh,​ ​a​ ​student’s​ ​success​ ​is​ ​determined​ ​by​ ​how​ ​they​ ​progress​ ​in​ ​reaching​ ​their​ ​learning​ ​goals.

This​ ​progress​ ​is​ ​celebrated​ ​through​ ​a​ ​badge​ ​system​ ​(tagim)​.​ ​As​ ​students​ ​complete​ ​units​ ​of​ ​study​ ​they​ ​will​ ​earn a​ ​tag​ ​(badge)​ ​marking​ ​their​ ​accomplishment.​ ​Each​ ​year​ ​on​ ​Shavuot​ ​we​ ​will​ ​give​ ​out​ ​these​ t​ agim​ ​and​ ​celebrate all​ ​the​ ​students​ ​have​ ​accomplished.

Let’s​ ​Learn​ ​-​ ​Resources​ ​for​ ​Learning We​ ​want​ ​to​ ​make​ ​learning​ ​as​ ​easy​ ​and​ ​accessible​ ​as​ ​possible​ ​for​ ​all​ ​of​ ​our​ ​students,​ ​parents​ ​and​ ​members.

That​ ​is​ ​why​ ​we​ ​are​ ​ ​creating​ ​rich​ ​and​ ​comprehensive​ ​resources​ ​on​ ​our​ ​website​ ​to​ ​make​ ​reviewing,​ ​enriching​ ​or enhancing​ ​learning​ ​easy.​ ​Just​ ​visit​ ​www.letslearn.online​.​ ​There,​ ​you​ ​will​ ​be​ ​able​ ​to​ ​find​ ​resources​ ​for​ ​all​ ​of​ ​our learning.​ ​There​ ​is​ ​audio​ ​to​ ​listen​ ​to,​ ​video​ ​to​ ​watch,​ ​and​ ​interactive​ ​learning​ ​throughout.

PrayDate Coming​ ​to​ ​Religious​ ​School​ ​is​ ​like​ ​practicing​ ​for​ ​the​ ​big​ ​game.​ ​We​ ​learn,​ ​review​ ​and​ ​practice​ ​all​ ​to​ ​put​ ​our​ ​hard work​ ​to​ ​use​ ​in​ ​the​ ​big​ ​game.​ ​The​ ​big​ ​game​ ​for​ ​Jews​ ​is​ ​Shabbat​ ​and​ ​Holidays.​ ​Coming​ ​to​ ​synagogue​ ​is​ ​a​ ​great way​ ​to​ ​“play​ ​the​ ​Jewish​ ​game.”​ ​It​ ​can​ ​also​ ​be​ ​a​ ​bit​ ​uncomfortable​ ​for​ ​those​ ​who​ ​aren’t​ ​regular​ ​shul-goers.

That’s​ ​where​ ​PrayDate​ ​comes​ ​in.​ ​As​ ​kids​ ​we​ ​have​ ​playdates​ ​with​ ​our​ ​best​ ​friends.​ ​PrayDate​ ​is​ ​a​ ​spin​ ​on​ ​the same​ ​idea.

Each​ ​year,​ ​students​ ​in​ ​Ilanot​ ​(3rd-4th)​ ​and​ ​Eitzim​ ​(5th-7th)​ ​are​ ​required​ ​to​ ​make​ ​six​ ​PrayDates.​ ​A​ ​PrayDate​ ​is when​ ​a​ ​student​ ​invites​ ​one​ ​of​ ​their​ ​friends​ ​to​ ​come​ ​to​ ​synagogue​ ​on​ ​a​ ​Saturday​ ​morning.​ ​The​ ​friend​ ​doesn’t need​ ​to​ ​be​ ​a​ ​member​ ​of​ ​Shaarei​ ​Kodesh​ ​but​ ​should​ ​probably​ ​be​ ​Jewish​ ​for​ ​his​ ​or​ ​her​ ​own​ ​comfort​ ​level.​ ​When students​ ​and​ ​their​ ​friends​ ​arrive​ ​(by​ ​10am),​ ​they​ ​will​ ​be​ ​met​ ​by​ ​Rabbi​ ​David​ ​or​ ​one​ ​of​ ​our​ ​teachers​ ​who​ ​will engage​ ​them​ ​in​ ​the​ ​service.​ ​Before​ ​your​ ​child’s​ ​PrayDate,​ ​we​ ​will​ ​look​ ​at​ ​their​ ​Personalized​ ​Learning​ ​Plan​ ​to see​ ​what​ ​prayer​ ​they​ ​may​ ​want​ ​to​ ​participate​ ​in​ ​leading.​ ​PrayDates​ ​need​ ​to​ ​be​ ​scheduled​ ​and​ ​you​ ​can​ ​do​ ​so on​ ​the​ ​temple​ ​website.

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Family​ ​Learning Some​ ​of​ ​our​ ​most​ ​memorable​ ​experiences​ ​are​ ​ones​ ​we​ ​create​ ​with​ ​our​ ​families.​ ​That’s​ ​why​ ​learning​ ​at​ ​Shaarei Kodesh​ ​is​ ​more​ ​than​ ​just​ ​a​ ​journey​ ​for​ ​our​ ​students​ ​-​ ​it​ ​is​ ​an​ ​opportunity​ ​for​ ​the​ ​entire​ ​family.

Throughout​ ​the​ ​year​ ​there​ ​will​ ​be​ ​many​ ​opportunities​ ​for​ ​parents​ ​and​ ​family​ ​members​ ​to​ ​learn​ ​with​ ​us​ ​and​ ​with our​ ​students.​ ​Sometimes​ ​we​ ​will​ ​be​ ​together​ ​at​ ​synagogue​ ​and​ ​other​ ​times​ ​we​ ​will​ ​be​ ​in​ ​your​ ​homes.

Wherever​ ​we​ ​are,​ ​family​ ​participation​ ​in​ ​our​ ​learning​ ​is​ ​vital​ ​to​ ​the​ ​success​ ​of​ ​each​ ​of​ ​our​ ​students.

If​ ​you’d​ ​like​ ​to​ ​host​ ​one​ ​of​ ​our​ ​family​ ​learning​ ​opportunities​ ​in​ ​your​ ​home​ ​please​ ​email​ ​rabbi@davidpaskin.com.

We​ ​also​ ​want​ ​to​ ​celebrate​ ​with​ ​you​ ​all​ ​the​ ​ways​ ​that​ ​your​ ​family​ ​is​ ​living​ ​and​ ​learning​ ​Jewishly.​ ​You​ ​can​ ​post pictures​ ​of​ ​your​ ​family’s​ ​Jewish​ ​memory-making​ ​activities​ ​to​ ​our​ ​Shaarei​ ​Kodesh​ ​Facebook​ ​page​ ​or​ s​ end​ ​them to​ ​us​​ ​and​ ​we’ll​ ​post​ ​them​ ​for​ ​you.

Chagigot​ ​-​ ​Celebrations​ ​of​ ​Learning Every​ ​year,​ ​the​ ​eldest​ ​students​ ​in​ ​each​ ​age​ ​group​ ​share​ ​a​ ​milestone​ ​celebration. ●

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Bet​ ​(2nd):​​ ​Chagigat​ ​HaWimpel At​ ​the​ ​conclusion​ ​of​ ​2nd​ ​grade​ ​all​ ​families​ ​participate​ ​in​ ​creating​ ​a​ ​personalized​ ​wimpel.​ ​The​ ​word "wimpel"​ ​in​ ​German​ ​means​ ​"banner,"​ ​and​ ​that​ ​is​ ​where​ ​the​ ​custom​ ​comes​ ​in.​ ​After​ ​a​ ​baby​ ​boy's​ ​brit milah​ ​(circumcision),​ ​the​ ​tradition​ ​was​ ​to​ ​save​ ​the​ ​baby's​ ​swaddling​ ​clothes.​ ​These​ ​were​ ​cleaned​ ​and cut​ ​into​ ​strips​ ​and​ ​decorated​ ​with​ ​the​ ​infant's​ ​name,​ ​date​ ​of​ ​birth,​ ​genealogical​ ​information,​ ​scenes​ ​from Jewish​ ​life,​ ​biblical​ ​scenes​ ​and​ ​often​ ​Biblical​ ​quotations.​ ​The​ ​wimple​ ​was​ ​then​ ​used​ ​to​ ​bind​ ​the​ ​Torah​ ​at the​ ​child’s​ ​bar​ ​mitzvah​ ​and​ ​woven​ ​into​ ​the​ ​huppah​ ​at​ ​the​ ​wedding.​ ​The​ ​wimpels​ ​we​ ​create​ ​will​ ​celebrate all​ ​of​ ​our​ ​learning.​ ​Each​ ​year,​ ​on​ ​Shavuot,​ ​we​ ​will​ ​add​ ​the​ t​ agim​ ​(learning​ ​badges)​ ​that​ ​the​ ​students have​ ​earned​ ​to​ ​their​ ​wimpel.​ ​They​ ​will​ ​then​ ​have​ ​a​ ​unique​ ​and​ ​beautiful​ ​binder​ ​for​ ​the​ ​Torah​ ​at​ ​their bar/bat​ ​mitzvah​ ​celebration.

Dalet​ ​(4th):​​ ​Chagigat​ ​HaKehillah​ ​-​ ​Celebration​ ​of​ ​Community As​ ​our​ ​children​ ​begin​ ​to​ ​form​ ​their​ ​own​ ​communities​ ​of​ ​friends​ ​and​ ​come​ ​to​ ​understand​ ​the​ ​value​ ​of participating​ ​in​ ​the​ ​Jewish​ ​community,​ ​we​ ​celebrate​ ​the​ ​values​ ​that​ ​drive​ ​our​ ​community​ ​and​ ​the​ ​unique gifts​ ​that​ ​each​ ​of​ ​our​ ​children​ ​offer​ ​in​ ​building​ ​a​ ​vibrant​ ​and​ ​joyous​ ​community​ ​of​ ​learners.

Zayin​ ​(7th):​​ ​Chagigat​ ​HaAliyah​ ​-​ ​Celebration​ ​of​ ​Moving​ ​Up As​ ​students​ ​approach​ ​their​ ​bar/bat​ ​mitzvah​ ​and​ ​begin​ ​to​ ​take​ ​on​ ​obligations​ ​as​ ​young​ ​adults​ ​and​ ​Jews, we​ ​celebrate​ ​the​ ​never-ending​ ​Jewish​ ​journey​ ​and​ ​recognize​ ​that​ ​with​ ​every​ ​milestone​ ​we​ ​move​ ​higher and​ ​higher.

We​ ​are​ ​really​ ​excited​ ​to​ ​learn​ ​with​ ​you​ ​this​ ​year.​ ​Our​ ​greatest​ ​hope​ ​is​ ​that​ ​you​ ​will​ ​share​ ​in​ ​our​ ​joy​ ​and​ ​partner with​ ​us​ ​to​ ​build​ ​a​ ​learning​ ​community​ ​that​ ​engages​ ​and​ ​empowers​ ​every​ ​soul.

Thank​ ​you​ ​for​ ​joining​ ​us​ ​on​ ​this​ ​wonderful​ ​journey​ ​and​ ​we​ ​look​ ​forward​ ​to​ ​celebrating​ ​all​ ​that​ ​Judaism​ ​has​ ​to offer​ ​throughout​ ​the​ ​year!

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