One Goal I Have Is to Have Fun Every Day

Keeping Connected    March 2024

Some of the students were recently tasked with the prompt:
Three goals I have for Hebrew School for the rest of the year are:

Here are some of their responses:

“to read Hebrew fluently”
“learn Torah Blessings”
“get better at listening”
“learn more prayers”
“to learn more about the Torah”
“to do things that help improve self-control in Hebrew School”
“to speak more Hebrew”
“eat more cookies”
“read Torah”
“learn melodies”
“to know all the letters and sounds”
“to be able to chant”
“to read Hebrew without vowels”
“to have fun everyday”

Hebrew School looks different these days at Congregation Shalom. On any Wednesday or Sunday morning, you will hear and see Hebrew all around you. Everyone is using Hebrew words throughout their time in temple school. You might hear someone say “Todah rabah for the crackers.” You might hear someone talk about the joy of coming together as a kehillah.  You might hear students working on reading and chanting. You would see students working one on one with adults and madrichim. You would see students working with each other.  You would hear students recording their Hebrew chanting on an IPad. You might see students moving their bodies to different Hebrew directions, reading from prayer books, singing songs in Hebrew, or jumping to different Hebrew letters on a rug. One day the students made Hebrew words out of Legos! Another day the students used air dry clay and created every letter in the Hebrew aleph-bet. The Preschoolers and Kindergartners colored all the Hebrew letters and have them proudly displayed in their classroom. Hebrew is everywhere in our building and in our curriculum. One day take some time to walk around the building and in and out of the classrooms and see how much Hebrew you can find.

I have shared this on many occasions but it bears repeating: Practicing Hebrew is important. The teachers and madrichim work very hard with the students to help them learn Hebrew but in order for all the hard work at school to make a difference, students need to practice a few times a week at home. It really only takes about 10 minutes three times a week to help the students retain what they work so hard on during class time. Unfortunately, the loss of Hebrew without practicing at home is great and leads to a lot of reteaching. Practicing Hebrew should not be a chore and should not be a negative experience. Have your student practice Hebrew to a family pet or a stuffed animal. Have your student practice Hebrew so you can hear them while you are preparing a meal. Have your student stand on a chair and chant one of the prayers and blessings. Have your student record themselves chanting or reading Hebrew. Enjoy a snack or a special drink while practicing Hebrew. Make a practice chart and once it is filled in, celebrate in a way that works for your family. Listen to your student practice. Encourage them.  Praise them.  You do not need to correct them.  (We will work on that at school.) If you have a fun way of helping your student to practice Hebrew, let me know and we will share it with others.  Let’s all work to make Hebrew learning fun everyday!

Schedule for March 2024

Friday, March 1
6:00pm – Shabbat Dinner for all
7:00pm – Family Shabbat led by the 4th/5th graders

Sunday, March 3
Religious School, 9:00am – 11:00am
Kitah Aleph, 11:00am – 12:15pm

Wednesday, March 6
Hebrew School, 4:15pm – 6:00pm

Sunday, March 10
Religious School, 9:00am – 11:00am
Kitah Aleph, 11:00am – 12:15pm

Wednesday, March 13
Hebrew School, 4:15pm – 6:00pm

Friday, March 15
Tot Shabbat – 6:00pm

Sunday, March 17
Religious School, 9:00am – 11:00am
Bagels, Blocks and Beyond Playgroup – 9am-10:30am
Kitah Aleph, 11:00am – 12:15pm
Kitah Aleph Parent Meeting – 11:30am

Tuesday, March 19
Post Confirmation at Rabbi Perry’s – 7:00pm-8:30pm

Wednesday, March 20  
Hebrew School, 4:15pm – 6:00pm
Chai School, 6:15pm – 8:15pm

Sunday, March 24
Purim!
No regular classes but all are expected to attend Purim 10am – 12pm

Wednesday, March 27
Hebrew School, 4:15pm – 6:00pm
Chai School, 6:15pm – 8:15pm

Sunday, March 31
Religious School, 9:00am – 11:00am
Kitah Aleph, 11:00am – 12:15pm