Monday, June 8, Thursday, June 11, and the End of the Year

The last few days of KIRS were busy and exciting ones in Kitah Dalet-Hei. The students completed their work with Mitkadem, and reflected on what it was like to learn Hebrew with that program. A great way to encourage students to keep up their Hebrew skills over the summer is to attend Shabbat services with them, or have them recite the blessings for kiddush, candles, or food at home.
The students also completed their iPad projects on characters from the book of Kings and on the mitzvah of Shmirat HaLashon. I hope you enjoyed seeing them at the end of the year celebration!
It has been a pleasure working with your students this school year. I was very sorry to miss the last few classes, but I know they were in great hands with the substitute teachers. I hope you all have a wonderfuk summer, and I look forward to seeing you all when I return!

Thursday, June 3, and student projects!

On Thursday, the students created iPad projects about characters in the book of Kings. Check out their amazing work below!

Matthew as King Solomon:

<iframe src="https://tellagami.com/gami/EU2UMG/embed/" width="435" height="245" frameborder="0" scrolling="no"></iframe>

Eli as King David:

<iframe src="https://tellagami.com/gami/DF6UBX/embed/" width="435" height="245" frameborder="0" scrolling="no"></iframe>

Caleb as King David:

<iframe src="https://tellagami.com/gami/DF6UBX/embed/" width="435" height="245" frameborder="0" scrolling="no"></iframe>

Mira as King David:

Carly as Absalom:

Anya as Absalom:

Anya as Absalom: 

Monday, June 1

Class on Monday was led by Yvonne Asher, who reported that it went very well. The students worked on Mitkadem. They have just one more class session to reach the goal of mastering 3 Ramot this year! They also explored the concept of Shmirat HaLashon in a project that required them to give compliments to each of their classmates, and then discuss what it was like to both give and receive compliments. Shmirat HaLashon is not just about not using hurtful words, but about actively using kind words.

Thursday, May 29

Greetings from Huqoq, Israel! 

The view from the site where we are digging

On Thursday, the students were led by Sara Fried, who reported that they had a great class! The students analyzed characters from the book of Kings in preparation for their final project on that book. They then worked on their video projects on the subject of Shmirat HaLashon. Most of them are very close to finishing. Stay tuned to hear how you can help the students celebrate the completion of their studies and the end of the year!

Thursday, May 21

It was a lovely last day (for me, anyway) on Thursday in Kitah Dalet-Hei. After taking care of some housekeeping items, the students, generous chaperone Daniel Friedman, and I went to Rami's to order falafel in Hebrew. The students did a great job remembering how to say the names of foods, and of course "please" and "thank you"! We then walked back to KI and had a picnic in the yard.

For the next five classes, the students will be in the capable hands of Yvonne Asher and Sara Fried. I will be providing lesson plans and updating the blog, and will be in regular communication with the subs and Rabbi Silverman, so please don't hesitate to get in touch with me if you have any questions or concerns. The students' last day of classes will be June 11. Thanks for a great year. I look forward to seeing you when I return!

Monday, May 18

On Monday, the students worked on learning Hebrew with Mitkadem. Many of them are close to finishing 3 ramot, and some will even finish 4! Having them lead kiddush on Friday nights is a great way to have them show off (and practice) what they have learned.
The students also practiced ordering falafel in Hebrew. They'll put this knowledge to good use on Thursday, when we'll be taking a field trip to Rami's. If you have not yet sent in a signed permission slip with your child, please make sure you do so by Thursday.

• Th. May 21, field trip to Rami's. This will also be my last day. I'll be sure to be in touch from Israel!
• Sat. May 23, Brookline Tikkun Leil Shavuot, beginning at 9 PM at KI
• Mon. May 25, No KIRS--Memorial Day
• Th. May 28, Regular KIRS day. Yvonne Asher will sub.
• Sat. May 30, Kitah Dalet-Hei leads Jr. Congregation for the last time this year
• Ongoing: Prayer Assessments. See sidebar for resources.

Thursday, May 7

Thursday was a fun day at Kitah Dalet-Hei. After reading about King Solomon's wisdom, and talking about what it means to be "wise," the students enjoyed a Lag B'Omer carnival in KI's yard, sponsored by the Chai Center. We were having too much fun to take any pictures!
Thanks to everyone who came to Parent-Teacher conferences today. It was great to share with you how much your kids have accomplished this year. Please feel free to continue to reach out with any questions or concerns.
Finally, please save the following dates:

• Th. May 14, I will be absent. Karen Terry, a KI member and colleague of mine at Harvard Divinity School, will be subbing.
• Th. May 21, field trip to Rami's--we'll be ordering falafel in Hebrew! Please return permission slips by Monday, May 18.
• Sat. May 23, Brookline Tikkun Leil Shavuot, beginning at 9 PM at KI
• Mon. May 25, No KIRS--Memorial Day
• Sat. May 30, Kitah Dalet-Hei leads Jr. Congregation for the last time this year
• Ongoing: Prayer Assessments. See sidebar for resources.

Monday, May 4 and lots of save-the-dates

On Monday, the students continued studying Ramah 5. Many are very close to our goal mastering 3 Ramot in Mitkadem this year! They also continued working on their Shmirat HaLashon final project videos. Scripts and lyrics are being written and interviews are planned. I'm excited to see the finished products and share them with you!

We have lots of exciting things coming up as the year winds down at KIRS! Please note the following dates:

• Th. May 7, Lag B'Omer celebration (in class)
• Mon. May 11, Parent-Teacher conferences. Please sign up for a time to meet with me here.
• Th. May 14, I will be absent. Stay tuned to hear who the sub will be.
• Th. May 21, field trip to Rami's--we'll be ordering falafel in Hebrew! Stay tuned for more details and look out for permission slips.
• Sat. May 23, Brookline Tikkun Leil Shavuot, beginning at 9 PM at KI
• Mon. May 25, No KIRS--Memorial Day
• Sat. May 30, Kitah Dalet-Hei leads Jr. Congregation for the last time this year
• Ongoing: Prayer Assessments. See previous posts for resources.

Thurs. April 30 // Parent-Teacher Conference Sign-Ups Are Here!

On Thursday, the students completed the activity packet for "David Gives Up the Throne." We have almost completed our study of 1 Kings and are starting to think about if David was a good king, and what that means. We're also making predictions about what lies in store for the land of Israel.
We also began a project to show what we know about "Shmirat HaLashon." The students will be making videos sharing how to use their words in a positive way. Stay tuned to see their creations!
Please note that next Monday, May 11 will be parent-teacher conferences. There will be no class. Please sign up here for a time to meet with me. If none of these times work for you, please email me and I'd be happy to set up a time to meet or speak on the phone.
Finally, prayer assessments are now underway! Your children can practice the prayers with recordings at Audioboom. (Username: KIRS, Password: Israel1948!). If they are missing any prayer printouts they can find in the Tefillah Resources folder.

Please join me in congratulating Eli Roffman, our Mensch of the Month for Nisan!

Tefillah Resources Now Online

I've collected some of the Torah Service/Musaf prayers in a Google Drive folder so that you and your child will be able to access them whenever you need them. This is a work in progress, so please let me know if I'm missing anything, or if you have any trouble accessing the prayers. Thanks!

Tefillah Resources

Monday, April 27

Welcome back to KIRS! I hope you had a restful and fun spring break.
On Monday, the students continued their study of Hebrew in Mitkadem. Most students are working on Ramah 5, which focuses on the Shabbat kiddush. A great way to have them practice--and show off what they've learned--is to ask them to lead kiddush before your Friday night meal!
The students also read "David Gives Up the Throne," continuing our study of the book of Kings. We read how Solomon inherited the throne after David, and are eager to see what kind of king he will turn out to be.
If your child has not turned the homework assignments from break yet, please have them do so ASAP. See the previous post for details. In addition, prayer assessments will begin on Thursday. Please make sure they are preparing at home. They can access recordings of each of the prayers at audioboom.com/Sari_Fein116. Again, see the previous post for more details. Thank you for your help!

Thursday, April 16

We had a small but fun class on Thursday. The students completed the activity packets for "O Absalom, My Son, My Son." They also investigated teachings from our ancestors, both from the rabbis and from the Tanakh, on Shmirat HaLashon. They used a method called "It Says, I Say, So" to break down quotes from ancient literature. (Learn more about this comprehension strategy here.)

Because of school vacation, we will not meet for Jr. Congregation or KIRS this week. To stay on track to meet our goals for this year, I am asking that students complete the following work by Monday, April 27:

• Read Hebrew 5 minutes/day, 5 days/week

• Complete the Parshat Shmini assignment

• Read "Who Will be King?" and complete 3 of the activities in the packet

• Practice Torah Service (4th graders) or Musaf (5th graders) prayers to prepare for assessment after break. Recordings can be found here. It has come to my attention that you may need an account to access these recordings. You can use the KIRS login information: Username--KIRS, Password--Israel1948!

• For Torah Service: Ein Kamocha, Av HaRachamim, V'yihi Binsoa, Bei Ana, Shema, Torah Blessings for Aliyah (bonus), V'zot HaTorah, Lecha Adonai

• For Musaf: Amidah blessings 1 and 2, Yismechu, Sim Shalom, Ein Keloheinu, Aleinu, Adon Olam

• Complete any make-up work

Please let me know if you have questions about any of these assignments.

Have a great break! See you on Monday, April 27!

Thursday, April 9 and Monday, April 13

The students have been reading much of the book of Kings. On Thursday, we completed "Absalom is Tricked," and on Monday, we began "O Absalom, My Son, My Son." We talked a lot about the conflict between David's love for his son, and how terribly Absalom has treated David. David mourns Absalom's death even though Absalom was trying to kill him!
The students are also making great progress in Ramah 5. Please remember to have your child practice reading Hebrew 5 minutes/day, 5 days/week. The prayer the students are learning for Ramah 5 is the Friday night kiddush. They can practice with the Mitkadem recording here or my recording here.
Because of school vacation, we will not meet for Jr. Congregation or KIRS next week. To stay on track to meet our goals for this year, I am asking that students complete the following work by Monday, April 28:

• Read Hebrew 5 minutes/day, 5 days/week
• Complete the Parshat Shmini assignment
• Read "Who Will be King?" and complete 3 of the activities in the packet
• Practice Torah Service (4th graders) or Musaf (5th graders) prayers to prepare for assessment after break. Recordings can be found here.
• For Torah Service: Ein Kamocha, Av HaRachamim, V'yihi Binsoa, Bei Ana, Shema, Torah Blessings for Aliyah (bonus) V'zot HaTorah, Lecha Adonai
• For Musaf: Amidah blessings 1 and 2, Yismechu, Sim Shalom, Ein Keloheinu, Aleinu, Adon Olam
• Complete any make-up work

All of these assignments were distributed on Monday. If you have any questions about them, please let me know. Thanks in advance for your help!

Monday, April 6

On Monday, the students continued their work on Ramah 5, or revisited the Ramah 4 mivchan (assessment). We are well on our way to having 100% of our students master Ramah 4, which would mean we're 2/3 of the way of our goal to mastering 3 Ramot this year!
The students read the next installment of the book of Kings, "Treat Absalom Gently." We talked about even though Absalom did terrible things, his father King David still loved him. We shared about how even when people (or pets!) we love act badly, we still love them and forgive them.

Thursday, April 2

On Thursday, the students picked up their study of the book of kings by reading "Absalom is tricked." Please make sure they complete a total of 3 activities in the activity packet to help them develop a deeper understanding of the story; this will be due next Thursday.
The students also completed their afikoman bags. I hope they were used and appreciated at your seders! They also explored different iPad apps for Passover such as "Passover Karaoke," so they would be prepared to sing at the seders!

We will have regular KIRS as scheduled this Monday and Thursday, but there will be no Jr. Congregation on Saturday. Chag sameach!

Monday, March 30

Excitement for Passover is building in Kitah Dalet-Hei! On Monday, we created Afikoman bags for students to take home and use at their family seders. We look forward to learning some Passover songs on Thursday.
All students are currently working on Ramah 5 of Mitkadem! They can use the Kriah section of their Ramah packet to fulfill their daily Hebrew reading requirement.

Thursday, March 26

On Thursday, the students celebrated our annual Chocolate Seder! Everyone had a great time, even if they did feel a little full and sticky at the end.

Mira is our Mensch of the Month for Adar. Please join me in wishing her Mazel Tov, and Happy Birthday!

Thank you to all the students who did a fantastic job leading Jr. Congregation this past Shabbat. Please remember that students must have an average of 80% attendance to advance to the next Kitah, and Jr. Congregation counts in that average. We look forward to seeing you every Saturday morning after Pesach!

Please note that there is no Jr. Congregation this Shabbat, 4/4, or the following Shabbat, 4/11, but there WILL be KIRS classes in the intervening week.

Monday, March 23

On Monday, the students continued to work on transitioning between Ramah 4 and Ramah 5. Some students have mastered Ramah 4 already--Mazel tov! They may begin working on Ramah 5. If your child is still taking the Mivchan for Ramah 4, please make sure he or she is studying the vocabulary, grammar, and reading for that level.
We also began to prepare for Passover! We listed everything we know about the holiday, and it's a lot! Then, the students did a Passover scavenger hunt with the G-dcast "Exodus" iPad app.
Thank you so much to everyone who has already signed up to contribute to our chocolate seder (this Thursday, March 26). If you haven't already, please sign up here to bring some chocolate supplies. If you are able to sign up to bring an additional item or two, we would really appreciate it!
Finally, please note that we are leading Jr. Congregation this Shabbat, March 28. 

Thursday, March 19

On Thursday, the students continued to work on "David Escapes," a chapter from the book of Kings. We discussed how both David and Absalom were tricky figures, and made predictions about who would triumph in the end. 
We also began a new unit on the mitzvah of "Shmirat HaLashon"--guarding one's tongue. We talked about what this means, and what some examples of positive language and negative language were. We watched a video from Kid President on positive things we should say more often. The students really enjoyed it and asked to watch it again--it's below if you'd like to share it with them!

Thank you so much to everyone who has already signed up to contribute to our chocolate seder (this Thursday, March 26). If you haven't already, please sign up here to bring some chocolate supplies. If you are able to sign up to bring an additional item or two, we would really appreciate it!

Monday, March 16

It was back to our regularly scheduled program on Monday in Kitah Dalet-Hei. Students worked on Ramah 4 of Mitkadem; they are all reviewing or taking the "mivchan" for that level and thus are getting ever closer to the goal of mastering 3 Ramot this year!
We also read another chapter in Kings, "David Escapes." We learned that Absalom fully took over the kingdom of Israel from his father David, but while David leaves the city, he leaves behind some spies and allies who could help him come back to power.
We are getting ready to celebrate Passover with our chocolate seder on March 26! We need your help to make it a success. Please sign up here to bring some chocolate supplies.

Yasher Koach!

Please join me in wishing Sam, Ellie and Eli of Kitah Hei a hearty Yasher Koach for the wonderful job they did leading the Musaf service in the Main Sanctuary yesterday! They made me (and, I hope, themselves) very proud!

Thursday, March 12

We had a very productive day in Kitah Dalet-Hei today! The students helped clean and organize the classroom and other KIRS spaces in order to make them more usable and beautiful. They did a lot of great work!
We then moved to the Main Sanctuary so that the 5th graders could practice Musaf, which they will be leading this Saturday. They are off to a great start and just need a little more practice and confidence to be strong leaders. Check out audioboom.com/Sari_Fein116 for recordings of all the prayers. If you have any questions, please let me know. Otherwise, I will see you at 10:15 on Shabbat!

Monday, March 9--MSPCA visit

We had a great time visiting the MSPCA yesterday! Thank you all for your generous donations, and for helping make this drive a success. A special thanks to Jennie Roffman for driving and chaperoning. The staff were very grateful for the items we brought, and the animals were very grateful to have some enthusiastic kids to play with!
Ask your child what they learned about "Kol Yisrael Arevim Zeh b'Zeh" through this project.

Thursday, March 5

Thanks again to all who came and celebrated with us at our Purim party on Thursday afternoon! The students worked hard rehearsing for our Purim shpiel, and I think they had a lot of fun dressing up as the characters from the Book of Esther. Please check out our Facebook group (and "join" it!) to see some pictures of the event.
Please be reminded that students have a Parshat Ki Tisa assignment due Monday. They should also be reading Hebrew 5 minutes/day, 5 times/week.
There are some exciting events coming up next week! On Monday, we will be visiting the MSPCA to deliver our donations and tour the facility. Please make sure your child has turned in a signed permission slip; one is required to attend. We should be back to KI by the normal end time of KIRS (4:45).
On Saturday, the 5th graders will be leading Musaf in the Main Sanctuary! Please make sure your child is practicing the prayer he or she will be leading at home. You can find a recording of the Musaf prayers here.

Monday, March 2

On Monday, the students worked on Ramah 4 of Mitkadem. Many of them are ready to take the mivchan (assessment) for this Ramah! If your child is ready, please make sure he or she practices reading the Kriah section aloud, and studies the vocabulary and dikduk (grammar) for this Ramah.
We are also getting ready for our Purim party on Thursday! We will be performing a short Purim skit with Kitah Bet/Gimel and Sulam. Your child is welcome to wear a costume depicting the character he or she will be playing--or, any other costume that makes them feel festive! Please remember to bring a non-perishable kosher food item for Family Table as Matanot L'Evyonim.
Please note the following upcoming special dates:
Thurs. March 5: Purim Party at KI, beginning at 4 PM. Costumes encouraged!
Mon. March 9: MSPCA field trip. Please continue to send in donations, especially office supplies. Students will need to return a completed permission slip in order to attend.
Sat. March 14: 5th graders lead the Musaf service in the Main Sanctuary.

Carly, Our Mensch of the Month for Shevat

Thursday, Feb. 26 and 4th Graders Lead in the Main Sanctuary

On Thursday, the students continued reading the saga of David and Absalom in "Secret Plans." Here, we learned that Absalom declared himself king in Hebron--while his father was still king in Jerusalem! We made predictions about what might happen next.
The 4th graders also practiced leading the Torah service in the Main Sanctuary. When Shabbat came, they did an amazing job! They were professional, flexible in the face of changes, and strong leaders. They should be very proud of themselves!
Finally, please join me in wishing Carly Grossman, our Mensch of the Month for Shevat, Mazel Tov!
Please note the following upcoming special dates:
Thurs. March 5: Purim Party at KI, beginning at 4 PM. Costumes encouraged!
Mon. March 9: MSPCA field trip. Please continue to send in donations, especially office supplies. Students will need to return a completed permission slip in order to attend.
Sat. March 14: 5th graders lead the Musaf service in the Main Sanctuary.

Monday, Feb. 23

It was great to see the students back in Kitah Dalet-Hei after February break! We worked on Ramah 4 of Mitkadem, which many of the students are close to completing. Please remember to have them practice reading Hebrew 5 minutes/day, 5 days/week.
The 5th graders learned Aleinu, and the 4th graders rehearsed the prayers they will be leading on this Shabbat's Torah service. Please see the previous blog post for the prayer assignments.
Some upcoming dates to remember:
Sat. Feb. 28: 4th graders lead the Torah Service in the Main Sanctuary
Thurs. March 5: Purim Party at KI, beginning at 4 PM. Costumes encouraged!
Mon. March 9: MSPCA field trip. Please continue to send in donations, especially office supplies. Students will need to return a completed permission slip in order to attend.
Sat. March 14: 5th graders lead the Musaf service in the Main Sanctuary
Thanks, as always, for your support!

Thursday, Feb. 12 and February Break

On Thursday, the students created projects, using the KIRS iPads, to illustrate a scene of their choice from a Bible story featuring animals (Jonah and the whale, Noah's ark, or David the Shepherd). Many of them chose to use the great app ArtStudio. All of the projects came out beautifully and I hope to share them with you soon!
The students also began preparing for leading services in the Main Sanctuary. Please have them practice their assigned prayer over break.
On Feb. 28, the 4th graders will lead the Torah Service.
Ein Kamocha: Caleb
Av HaRachamim: Anya
Vayehi Binsoa: Anya
Shema: Caleb
L'cha Adonai: Caleb, Anya, and Matthew
Bei Ana Rachetz: Matthew
V'zot HaTorah: Matthew

On March 15, the 5th graders will lead Musaf, with my assistance.
Amidah Blessing 1: Eli
Amidah Blessing 2: Mira
Yismechu: Sam
Sim Shalom: Ellie
Ein Keloheinu: Ellie and Carly
Aleinu: Mira
Adon Olam: Carly

Recordings of all of these prayers can be found here: https://audioboom.com/Sari_Fein116

Additional homework over break includes:

• Practice reading Hebrew 5 minutes/day, 5 days/week for Mitkadem
• Complete Parshat HaShavua assignment for Mishpatim
• Read and complete the activity packet for "Absalom wants to be King"

I realize that this is an unusually heavy homework load, but unfortunately it is necessary due to the many snow days we have taken. Your child completing these assignments ensures that we will be able to complete the curriculum in a meaningful way. If you have any questions or concerns about any of the assignments, please feel free to contact me.

Have a great February Break!

Thursday, Feb. 5 and note on Jr. Cong.

After our snow day on Monday, Thursday was a busy one in Kitah Dalet-Hei. The students worked on Mitkadem, and also read stories from the Tanakh featuring animals. Our goal is to understand how caring for animals is a Jewish tradition, one we are carrying on today by holding a supply drive for the MSPCA. We will be taking a field trip to the MSPCA Boston on March 9, during normal KIRS hours--please let me know if you would be willing to help drive the students over.
The students also worked on the Torah Service and Musaf prayers. A recording of V'zot HaTorah from the Torah Service can be found here. All Musaf prayers that the students have learned so far can be found here. Please save the dates--on Feb. 28, the 4th graders lead the Torah Service in the Main Sanctuary, and on March 14, the 5th graders lead Musaf in the Main Sanctuary.
***It has come to my attention that last Shabbat, when the class was scheduled to lead Jr. Congregation, less than half of the students were present. I understand that occasionally things come up that prevent us from getting there, especially in the winter with the weather we've been having. However, please know that when we lead, the students count on each other to be there. When someone is absent, someone else has to step up to take their role. Kol haKavod to the students who stepped up to take on several roles last week!
Please make every effort to attend Jr. Congregation. It does count towards the students' overall KIRS attendance, and is especially important when we are leading and your child has a prayer he or she is responsible for leading. If you know you may be absent, please let me know ahead of time so that we can make alternate arrangements.

Happy Tu B'Shvat!

Here's a video for you to enjoy on Tu B'Shvat, the Jewish New Year for Trees. Enjoy!

Thursday, Jan. 29 and KIRS Snow Day Policy

On Thursday, the students prepared to lead their parts at Jr. Congregation on Shabbat morning. I was so sorry I couldn't be there on Saturday--I'm sure they did a great job! They also completed their activity packets for the story from Kings, "A Father's Sorrow and Love."
Please remember that their Parshat HaShavua assignment for BeShalach is due on Monday.
Since we are fully in the winter season, please be reminded that KIRS' policy is to follow the Brookline Public Schools with regards to snow days and cancellations. If the BPS school day or extracurricular activities are cancelled, KIRS will be as well. Otherwise, we will have class. If you're ever unsure, please feel free to reach out to me or to the KI office.

Mensch of the month for Tevet

Please join me in congratulating Caleb Friedman, our mensch of the month for Tevet! Mazel tov!

Monday, Jan. 26

On Monday, the students continued their study of Hebrew by working on Ramah 4 of Mitkadem. Please remember to have them read Hebrew 5 minutes/day, 5 days/week. If they need more resources, they can go here. If they need to complete the "read with the tape" section, they can go here.
They also read the story from Kings "A Father's Sorrow and Love," about the reconciliation of David and Absalom. We discussed how we can have conflicting feelings about people, which can include both hate and love.
Please note that this Shabbat, the students will be leading Jr. Congregation. We hope to see you there!
This week is our FINAL chance to collect donations for our MSPCA supply drive! We are very close to our goal of 50 items and just need a few more things:
Timothy Hay
Hand Sanitizer
Catnip
Pens
Other office supplies
Thank you in advance for your support!

Thursday, Jan. 22

On Thursday, the students prepared for our Shabbat dinner together by learning the Friday night prayers and decorating their "Shabbat Dinner guides," which are theirs to take home and keep.
It was great to see everyone who came to the dinner last night. Thank you so much for contributing and helping to make it a success!
The students also spent some time Thursday working on Mitkadem. Many of them are almost done with Ramah 4! Please remember to have them read Hebrew 5 minutes/day, 5 days/week. If they need more resources, they can go here. If they need to complete the "read with the tape" section, they can go here.
Next week is our FINAL chance to collect donations for our MSPCA supply drive! We are very close to our goal of 50 items and just need a few more things:
Timothy Hay
Hand Sanitizer
Catnip
Pens
Other office supplies
Thank you in advance for your support!

Thursday, Jan. 15

On Thursday, the students completed their activity packets for the story from the book of Kings, "Hatred Between Brothers." They also spent a chunk of time practicing the prayers L'Cha Adonai, for the Torah service, and Yismechu, for the Musaf service. They next lead Jr. Congregation on Jan. 31--please save the date!
There are a few upcoming dates to remember:

• Monday, Jan. 19--no KIRS, MLK Jr. Day
• Thursday, Jan. 22--regular KIRS day. Parshat Vaera assignment and Mitkadem reading are due.
• Friday, Jan. 23--Kitah Dalet-Hei Shabbat dinner at 5:30 PM in Novakoff. Looking forward to seeing you there!
• Shabbat, Jan. 31--last day to collect MSPCA donations. Kitah Dalet-Hei leads Jr. Congregation.

As always, if you have any questions, please don't hesitate to reach out!

Monday, Jan. 12

On Monday, the students applied what they had been learning in Ramah 4 to real-life situations. They practiced blessings over candles, food, and played a vocabulary game. They sound great! Please remember that they should be reading Hebrew 5 minutes/day, 5 days/week and recording it on their Mitkadem reading record. If they need more resources, you can find some here or here.
They also continued reading the book of Kings, with the story "Hatred Between Brothers." We talked about why we fight with our siblings or close friends, but also how we make up with them. Unfortunately, our story of Amnon and Absalom did not have such a happy ending.
Please note that due to the Martin Luther King Jr., Day holiday we will not have class next Monday, Jan. 19. The students' Parshat HaShavua assignments on Vaeira will be due on Thursday, Jan. 22. If they have not turned in their assignment for Parshat Shemot, please make sure they do so this Thursday, Jan. 15.

Thursday, Jan. 8

It was a busy day in Kitah Dalet-Hei on Thursday. The students first completed their activity packets for the story from Kings, "The Sword Shall not Leave Your House." We discussed how David was a complicated man, and they ways we are like or unlike him.
We then began learning the prayer "L'cha Adonai." If your child wishes to practice at home, you can find a recording here. I am looking forward to seeing the 4th graders lead the Torah service on Feb. 28 and the 5th graders lead Musaf on March 14 in the Main Sanctuary!
Finally, the students created several cat toys to donate to the MSPCA. I'm sure the kitties will be very grateful! Please remember that we are still collecting donations for our MSPCA drive to learn about "Kol Yisrael Arevim Zeh b'Zeh." A wish list of items can be found here.
For Monday, please make sure your child has the following materials prepared:

• Practice reading Hebrew 5 min/day, 5 days/week, and record this on their Mitkadem reading records. 
• Cut out and organize both the purple and orange flashcards from Ramah 4.
• Our first "Parshat HaShavua" assignment, on Shemot, is due Monday. This can be found in the homework section of their binders.

Thank you!

Monday, Jan. 5, 2015

It was great to have everyone back in Kitah Dalet-Hei yesterday! We started the afternoon off working on Ramah 4 of Mitkadem. The students are making great progress in their work. Please remember that they should be reading Hebrew at least 5 minutes/day, 5 days/week. In addition, starting this week, students will be responsible for reading and analyzing the Parshat HaShavua (weekly Torah portion). This assignment will be due every Monday. If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out.

We then began a new unit, a study of the book of Kings. The students read about King David, and discussed his many challenges and contradictions. We will continue reading this text throughout the spring semester.

I am pleased to announce that many of our students' projects, virtual museums on ancient artifacts, can be seen on Youtube. Please visit this link to check them out!

Please join me in wishing Sam Corman, our Mensch of the Month for Kislev, Mazel Tov!

Welcome-back reminder

Looking forward to seeing everyone back in Kitah Dalet-Hei tomorrow! Please make sure that students' have completed their assignment:

"Over break, please make sure that the students are reading Hebrew 5 minutes/day, 5 days/week, or an average of 25 minutes/week. They can read from the Kriah section of their Ramot. In addition, please have them cut out and organize (in a baggie or with a rubber band) the purple and orange flash cards for Ramah 4. Studying the words therein can count towards their reading requirement. Please make sure to record these on the students' Mitkadem reading records, as this has fallen by the wayside for some of our students recently."

Thank you!