What are your “Jew-wishes?”

October 2022   Keeping Connected

We have had a smooth and successful start to the new school year. It has been joyful to see the students and teachers and families in the building, reconnecting, laughing and finding their place in the temple and all that it has to offer. As you know, the way the calendar worked out this year, we had a few weeks of school and then a break for the High Holidays.

This break and beginning to a new year seem like an appropriate time to take a moment to think about the future.  How would you respond if asked, “What are your “Jew – wishes” from Congregation Shalom?” If you took some time to sit back and think about what you hope your children get from Religious School, Hebrew School and membership in our temple community, how would you respond?

The teaching staff was posed with a similar question during a teacher training before the beginning of school. Their specific question was “What three things do you hope our 12th graders have when they leave Congregation Shalom?”  After you think about how you would respond, continue reading to see their responses.

  • They enjoy coming to temple.
  • They made friends.
  • They feel Jewish.
  • Feeling good about being Jewish.
  • Want to practice their Judaism their whole lives.
  • Know that they can always come back to Congregation Shalom ad call it home.
  • Love for others.
  • Traditions
  • Passion for learning.
  • Pride in being Jewish
  • Confidence in their Jewish identity.
  • Joy in being Jewish
  • Love of Judaism
  • Feeling of community
  • Desire to make a difference
  • A sense of community
  • A connection to the community during a service
  • A connection with other Jewish friends and families.
  • Proud to be Jewish
  • Excited to find other Jewish students in college
  • Want to continue their Jewish learning and forming their Jewish identity.
  • A connection/love for Judaism.
  • Familiarity with a Jewish service and prayers.
  • Friendship with other Jewish people.

I hope you take some time to reflect on this question and share with me what you hope your own “Jew – wishes” are for your children.  Together, we will continue to work to create a school and environment that is able to meet these wishes with success.

The new year will also bring with it some new ideas and changes.  One of the new things we are going to do is to invite all the school families to join us together for a Shabbat Dinner of pasta, meatballs, salad and challah on the evening of Simchat Torah – October 14 at 6pm.  We thought it would be a joyous occasion to come together over food and community to celebrate the finishing of reading the Torah for the year and starting it again.  More information will be coming out soon but mark your calendars and plan to have dinner with your friends and classmates before the Simchat Torah service on October 14!

Hebrew Words of the Week:

One of the additions to our Hebrew program this year, is the “Hebrew Word of the Week.” Over the course of the year, we will have a collection of Jewish words or phrases that will help to increase one’s connection to the Jewish people, traditions, culture and Jewish life.  Up to the writing of this article, we have been exposed to two Hebrew words through this program-

  • Sh’hecheyanu – שֶׁהֶחֱיָנוּ
  • rosh  – רֹאשׁ

When we return, the next word of the week will be simcha – שִׂמְחָה – meaning gladness or joy, as in Simchat Torah – rejoicing of the Torah.

Stayed tuned each week for the new word of the week.  Challenge yourself and your family to incorporate the Hebrew word into your life during the course of the week.  Use the word with temple friends and families.  Let’s have fun with it this year while learning a little Hebrew!

Finally, keep of reading below to see a list of the various school days and events occurring in October,

I look forward to hearing you share your “Jew – wishes” for the coming school year.

L’shana tova,

Deborah Morrissey

Schedule for October

 Sunday, October 2 – NO SCHOOL – High Holiday week

Wednesday, October 5 – NO HEBREW SCHOOL (It’s Yom Kippur)

Sunday, October 9 – NO SCHOOL (long holiday weekend)

Tuesday, October 11 – Post Confirmation at Rabbi Perry’s – 7:00pm – 8:30pm

Wednesday, October 12 – Hebrew School is in session

Friday, October 14 – Family Shabbat – Simchat Torah

            Dinner at 6pm – Everyone is invited to dinner!

            Shabbat/Simchat Torah – 7:00pm

Sunday, October 16 – School is in session

  • First day of Preschool – 8:30am – 10:15am
  • Kindergarten through 4th grade – 8:30am – 10:15am
  • Kitah Aleph (3rd grade Hebrew School) – 10:30am-11:30am
  • 5th grade through 7th grade – 10:30am-12:30pm
  • 7th grade family ed for parents and students 11:30am – 12:30pm
  • Madrichim Training 12:30pm – 2pm

Wednesday, October 19 – Hebrew School is in session

  • First night of Chai School (6:15pm – 8:15pm)

Sunday, October 23 – School is in session

  • K-7th
  • No Preschool
  • 7th grade – trip to the mikveh (arrival time at CS at 9:45am)
  • 6th grade Family Ed (parents and students) – 10:30am – 12:30pm

Wednesday, October 26 – Hebrew School is in session

  • Chai School (6:15pm – 8:15pm)

Sunday, October 30 – School is in session

  • K-7th
  • Preschool is in session