This Shabbat we started to learn about the Jewish calendar by discussing the differences between the Gregorian and
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This week in 5th grade, we’ve begun a deeper analysis of the story of Jacob and Esau, looking at which characters committed wrongdoings throughout. Students have been asking great questions as they realize there can be many sides of a story, and the truth is not always so clear cut. Ask your child: Who do you think is to blame for the outcome of this story?
Next week, students will hear from some guest speaker-parents who work as lawyers, about what it’s like to be part of a trial. They’ll learn more about the different roles in a trial as we work our way toward assigning roles in our own mock trial.
Hello again 4th Grade families! We also introduced the value of Kesher: Connection. (Not like connected with glue, like, the opposite of feeling lonely.) Our scholars had massive class brainstorms on the following topics:
Good afternoon 4th Grade families,
This week we learned the Akeda / the Binding of Isaac, in which Abraham nearly sacrifices his son!! The students loved the intensity and suspence of this dramatic story (though they generally felt sorry for the ram who got sacrificed instead).
Questions abound in this mysterious text. How did Isaac feel about his dad Abraham nearly sacrificing him — that’s not what dads are supposed to do! How about Sarah, did she know this was going on, what did she think/do about it? Why didn’t Abraham argue with God (in a previous story, Abraham argued with God to save his nephew, but he didn’t even argue about his beloved son)! Did Abraham or Isaac suspect that an angel was coming to save the day, or was it a total surprise to both of them?
More questions for families: What would your child do if they had to sacrifice something they loved — would they do it, would they refuse, would they argue, or try to find another way?
What tests do we face — not as in the Pacer or other standardized tests, but as in, when is somebody trying to see how we behave?
For an artistic child (since I’d made original illustrations for our telling): what choices do they make when they’re illustrating? How would they like our Torah heroes to look? They could look like anyone, after all.
For an Israel-loving child, you can still visit the mountain in the land of Moriah where this Torah story takes place. What do you think it looks like there? Can you find pictures together?
Anyway, it’s a very toothy story, and we had great fun exploring some of the moral dilemmas it presented. Enjoy!
Jewish Studies
Jewish Studies with Haley, Anat and Ashley
This week at Yachad 2nd graders focused on the Jacob and Esau Story.
Seventh grade families had their first Moving Traditions Family Session of the year this week. (Thanks to all of the families who joined!) During the session, kids learned about what their parents lives were like when they were 12 years old and had a chance to share some of their own fears, questions and concerns about being adolescents and parents learned about some of the pressures and anxieties their children are thinking about.
Announcements:
Kabalat Shabbat B’Yachad (KSBY) 4th Grade will be Jan 24, 2020. 5:30-7pm. Sign up here: https://cbebk.shulcloud.com/yachad/ksby-4th-grade-2020
(When you RSVP, that makes us able to have enough staff and enough food for everyone, so don’t forget.) It’ll be lovely, with songs, food, fun activities, and each other.
Upcoming Closures: No Yachad on MLK Jr Day, Monday 1/20. But we have a special MLK family event in the rotunda (see below)! Yachad classes ARE happening on Saturday 1/18.
MLK Repair The World Day of Service @ CBE CBE is hosting Repair The World’s family MLK activities in our rotunda: There will be three service projects conducted simultaneously: mural painting (children with adults welcome), poetry writing (adults welcome), and packaging hygiene products for St. John’s Bread & Life (all ages welcome). Because each project involves a lot of work, they will be completed over the course of two shifts (9:30-11:00, 11:00-12:00), which people can register for via the Repair the World brand new MLK website (please search for this event on 1/20- there is no direct link).
Creative Arts Academy camp information session @ CBE,12:30 – 2pm, RSVP to Hbreskin@cbebk.org. 1/18, 3rd – 11th Grade families
This week, our 4th Graders learned the story of Abraham and Sarah, who laughed when they learned they’d finally have a child with each other, whom they’ll name Isaac.
We talked about welcoming people in, like our Torah heroes Abraham and Sarah. We talked about laughter, and breifly about tact (since God lies to Abraham about why Sarah is laughing).
We don’t live in an open tent in the desert, where we can look out for travelers to welcome in — how do we welcome people into *our* communities — our homes, our friend-groups, maybe even our country?
How do we decide when to use kind tactful words (so as not to hurt people’s feelings or make them fight) vs. when to use really tough words (such as when we need to stand up to a bully or oppressor)?
This week students learned about Jewish Life Before WWI focusing on Jewish Nationalism and Zionism.
Jewish Studies
Jewish Studies with Haley, Anat and Ashley
We were so excited to welcome all of our students back to CBE after a restful and fulfilling break.
Happy 2020! We began our new year at Yachad by reviewing our classroom Brit (covenant) and sharing the resolutions and blessings we want to bring into the new year with us. We spoke about how we set goals for ourselves during Rosh Hashanah, and now we get a chance during the secular new year to check in on those goals and re-focus ourselves. Ask your child: What blessings do you want to bring into 2020?