Who Knows One?

Hello Grade 4 Parents and Students,

We had a great day at Hebrew School today.

Our day began as usual, with Tefillah (prayer). Right now, we say Modeh Ani, morning Blessings (read one at a time by each student), Harieni, Adon Olam and Shema. After each day of Prayer, we also practice reciting the Birkat HaMazon (blessing after eating) which is one of our Tefillah fluency goals for grade four.

I, Rabbi B, then write the Hebrew date on the board and discuss anything significant about the date. Today was the 11th of Cheshvan which is the anniversary of passing (the Yahrzeit) of Rachel our foremother. Rachel was the mother of Joseph, wife of Yaakov and is an extremely special mother to all Jewish people. You can even say that would make today a sort of Jewish mother's day.

Next comes Aleph Champ, our incredible Hebrew reading and fluency program. Each level of Aleph champ corresponds to a level of reading and ability. Hebrew school has hired reading specialist to take charge of you child(ren)'s Hebrew reading. Once their fluency is quite good, they can begin learning Hebrew language and grammar skills with me in the Grey/Black level. SO far, I have two students in my group and form the looks and sounds of it, I will have a few more very soon.

Following Aleph champ is recess. Kosher snacks are available for sale during this time, if instead you wish to send snacks with your child, please ensure it is Kosher and nut-free.

Upon return from recess, we learn a weekly Jewish song. Last week, we learned a funny song called "Because I'm a Jew". Today, we sang "Who Knows One?" In this song, various general Jewish knowledge is reviewed through a fun and repetitive tune. Some of the kids already knew the song and were more than happy to share their knowledge with the others who did not. It was a hoot.

Next, we learn a new Hebrew letter, or two, in script. Today we practices Bet and Gimmel. Perhaps ask your child to show you how to make a script aleph, bet and gimmel. You can use their review page in their binder for reference.

Today we spent some time focusing on the Forefather and Mothers of Judaism as this is very important general knowledge. The three forefathers were Avraham, Yitzchak and Yaakov and the four foremothers were Sarah, Rivka, Rachel and Leah.

We ended our day with some Hebrew vocabulary. Each week, or bi-weekly, we willlearn a new list of Hebrew vocabulary words. These words will be used in classroom conversation throughout the year by me. As new words are learned, I use them in place of the english word. Today, we learned how to count to ten in Hebrew. Please review these numbers with your child to enhance their retention. Each week we will be having a POP-Quiz (in which is give pop or popcorn etc to those who do well) on last weeks vocabulary words. To assist with review, I have prepared and given out an index card with the words in Hebrew, English transliteration and English translation. They are in your child's bag/binder.

Thank you for entrusting me with your precious ones and I hope to see you all in good health next week,

L'Hitraot (until next time)

Rabbi B

Getting Ready for Shabbos

Hello all,
Today in grade four we learned all about getting ready for Shabbos. This is in preparation for our upcoming Shabbaton - Friday night dinner on November 14th.

We read through a play about Yosef, the man who loved shabbos. We practiced candle lighting and kiddish practices and sang out new favourite song "Ain't Gonna Work On Saturday"

To top it all off, we created our own fancy Shabbos candles. Below are the pics from our craft.

As well, I have included pics from our Aleph Champ program of Hebrew reading. The class is doing great in learning to read and hand write in Hebrew! Way to go guys! Keep up the good work!

Shalom,

Rabbi B

Sukkot

Hello everyone,

This week in Hebrew School grade 4 we learned all about Sukkot. Here is a review of the material we covered. Please go over it with your child and be sure to experience Sukkot first hand by visiting as many Sukkahs as you can over the next weeks.

The Four Species:
We put four special plants together and shake them in all 6 directions on Sukkot. The four species are:
Lulav - Palm Branch
Esrog - Citron
Hadassim - Mytle branches (3)
Aravos - Willow branches (2)

Each object represents a different Jewish personality according to if the plant has taste or smell. Taste is an internal faculty so it represent Torah learning which is meant to effect us internally. Smell is an external faculty and represents Good Deeds which one does to an other.

Lulav has taste (the dates that grow on it) but no smell = Torah without Good Deeds
Esrog has taste and smell = Torah and Good Deeds
Hadassim have smell but no taste = Good Deeds without Torah
Aravos have neither = neither Torah or Good Deeds

The lesson is that all types are needed for the mitzvah just like all Jews need to be at peace with one another, no matter their level.

The mitzvah on Sukkot is also to live in the Sukkah. This could mean eating, drinking, reading or even sleeping. The mitzvah of Sukkot is unique in that it is the only mitzvah done with the whole body equally.

We ended our day making decorations for the Shul's Sukkah. Each student made at least one item to decorate the sukkah with. Then we went into the Sukkah, set up the decoration and did a dance off to prepare the celebration of this joyous holiday!

We are off next week, so see you in two!

Rabbi B

ROSH HASHANAH POEM

This is a collective poem we all wrote in honour of Rosh Hashanah! Enjoy

Rosh Hashanah is the New Year

Rosh Hashanah is finally here,

Rosh Hashanah the Head of the Year

We will celebrate with a cheer

My head is the head of my body,

Rosh Hashanah is the head of the year,

Hashem is here to help us have

A Sweet and Happy new Year

We crown our King on Rosh Hashanah,

We thank our King, Hashem

We ask Hashem to write us in

The Book of Life, the year to begin

I pray on this day, all day long

To Hashem, for my Jewish soul

A Family always sticks together

On Rosh Hashanah we try to be better

I say I``m sorry to my friend

So he will be with me in the end

Apple and Honey sticks together

Me and you are Jews forever

Apples and Honey make it sweet

And so do all the good things we eat

Apples and Honey greet us to a treat

Apples and Honey taste so sweet

Apples and honey in my tummy

Apples and Honey are very yummy

We eat round Challah to represent

That Hashem is our King once again

We bake honey cake to represent sweet

Shanah Tova is how we greet

Tashlich is what we do,

Throwing bread crumbs to fish

We do it to get rid of our sins

This is called Tashlich

A fish`s eyes never close

Hashem is the King that I chose

Being Jewish is so cool

Thats why I go to Hebrew School

Getting Ready for Rosh Hashanah

This Sunday in Grade 4 we continued our discussions about Rosh Hashanah.

One big item we learned about was the Shofar. We typically use a Ram's horn to remind Hashem about Avraham's great deeds. However, in some communities they use a Kudoo antelope horn to remind Hashem about Matan Torah (the giving of the Torah), as well to signify our longing for the days when there will be peace in the Holy Land, which will be signalled by the blast of a big shofar.

I demonstrated the various sounds the shofar is to make on Rosh Hashanah and employed all the students to take part in this mitzvah this year. Rosh Hashanah falls out next Thusday and Friday. Make sure you go to shul to hear the shofar!

Another item we learned about was the tradition greeting we give on Rosh Hashanah. The most popular one is Leshana Tova Umetuka (Happy and Sweet New Year). To make this learning become more active, the students each created their own original Shanah Tova greeting cards. Below is a collection of those students who did not mind their picture taken. These photo's are private and only able to be viewed on this blog.

Next week we will take a more active approach into the idea of Teshuva (Repentance and Forgiveness). Stay tuned!

Rabbi B

Shalom LeTalmidim and Rosh HaShanah Preparation

Shalom U'Brachah,

Welcome to a brand new year of Hebrew School! I am so excited to be teaching Grade Four this year and I am filled with new ideas to make our Torah, Hebrew and Judaism learning exciting and rememberable.

I do expect every Student to arrive on time daily, 9:30am, and ready to learn. Readiness entails having all Homework completed and having a backpack with the following necessities inside:
1) A 2-3 inch Binder with subject dividers
2) A Pencil case with:
   a) Pencils (and a sharpener)
   b) Pens (black or blue)
   c) Colouring utensils (markers, crayons, etc.)
   d) Glue Stick
   e) Scissors
3)  Any materials or books given out during the year

In addition, each boy is expected to wear a Kippah the entire time at Hebrew School.

This year we will be covering the following subjects: Jewish Holidays (Traditions, Laws and History), Hebrew Handwriting, Hebrew Reading, Hebrew Vocabulary and the Weekly Torah Portion. Every week will include a special activity and/or art project. Please visit this blog regularly to keep track of what was done in school, as there will be no notes sent home.

Today, being that Rosh Hashanah is close to two weeks away (I know, sorry for reminding you!), we learned about the special foods we are to eat and why. I will attach pictures and the pdf. of the project soon.

In review: We eat Apples dipped in Honey to signify our want of a sweet new year, Pomegranates to signify our desire to be full of good deeds like a Pomegranate is filled with seeds and Fish (specifically the head of a fish) to signify a) our desire to produce mitzvos as fish produce babies, b)to signify our desire to be leaders and not followers, c) to signify how Hashem's eyes are always open like that of a fish and d) to signify how important Torah is to us, like water is to a fish.

We repeated the special prayers we say before eating each item. Please consult with your child and review it with them. They should have the poster in their bag.

As well, we discussed why we are careful about what we do on Rosh Hashanah. Rosh Hashanah literally means the HEAD of the year. Just like a head controls and gives life to the body, so too does Rosh Hashanah control and give life to rest of the year. If our Rosh is weak or sending bad signals it can effect the body negatively, if it is healthy and positive, the our bodies will be healthy and good.

I hope you all have an easy and joyous preparation for Rosh Hashanah, and if you can't take the heat..... get invited to the Rabbis!

Rabbi B