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Upcoming Events
September 29
Erev Yom Kippur
School Closed
October 4
Erev Sukkot
School Closed
October 5-11
Sukkot
School Closed
October 12
Shemini Atzeret
School Closed
October 13
Simchat Torah
School Closed
October 16
School Resumes
October 17
Hillel Matmidim Program Starts
see flyer
October 18
Chidon Hamesorah Starts for 2nd-4th grade
3:45-4:45
see flyer
October 21
Kehilla Shabbat
see flyer
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Mom's Night Out!
Join your fellow Hillel Moms for a night out on
Sunday October 22nd at 7:30pm. We'll provide all the instructions and supplies you need to make your own
beautiful succulent arrangement, while you enjoy wine and cheese with friends. Bring a friend, sister, mom or neighbor and get ready to have some fun!
It's easy to sign up online. But hurry, we expect this to sell out early!
Give your children the gift of healthy food. A fun and enjoyable treat! Fruit cart sign-up entitles your student to a bag of fresh fruit once a week during the entire school year. Fruit cart is available for Grades Pre-1 to 5 on Wednesday mornings. Sign up online here for the remainder of the year.
Co-Sponsor a Rosh Chodesh Breakfast for the teachers and staff in in honor of your child's bar mitzvah, birthday, or teacher; or in honor or memory of someone you love. The teachers
really appreciate
this gesture
! The next Rosh Chodesh teacher breakfast will be Friday, October 20th for Cheshvan but you can sign up online in advance for any month. $100, or add multiple times to your cart to contribute $200 or $300 if desired.
Join The Birthday Book Club!
Your birthday child will get to choose a new book for the library with a dedication to him or her inside, check it out first, and have their picture proudly on display in the library.
Kids love to see their names in the books!
Excess funds will be used for recreational supplies like games, balls, hula hoops and jump ropes.
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Parnas
HaYom
is a beautiful way to honor a yarzheit, merit a refuah shelemah, or celebrate a simcha. Dedicating the Torah learning of students at Hillel to mark an occasion helps us to imbue both a love of learning and appreciation for the value of Torah scholarship.
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ISSUE NO. 003
Friday, September 29, 2017
9th of Tishrei 5778
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Erev Yom Kippur 5778
By Rabbi Sufrin, Head of School
 As we approach Yom Kippur, one might question the unique and auspicious nature of this most holy day. Yom Kippur is one of the first ten days of the year referred to as עשרת ימי תשובה - the ten days of repentance. On Yom Kippur Gd declares ונסלח לכל עדת ישראל - All of the Jewish community is forgiven. Why is Yom Kippur the day on which Gd makes this declaration? What is it about Yom Kippur that sets it apart from the other ten days?
Our Sages tell us that Yom Kippur coincides historically with the day that Moshe brought down the second set of Tablets. Gd gave us the first set of Tablets, which were miraculously engraved by Gd Himself. The second Tablets were inscribed by Moshe after he beseeched Gd for atonement on our behalf. The Jewish people had repented for their sin of serving the golden calf and the second Tablets were given as an outcome of their effort, hard work and commitment to doing
teshuva
. It is the result of this human effort, and it is on precisely this day, when Gd makes His declaration that all Jews are forgiven. Yom Kippur celebrates human achievement and this is what makes the day unique. We learn that the result of our efforts will be appreciated and thus endure over time.
As the sun sets on Yom Kippur eve, we go through a spiritual transformation. We as humans become angels in physical bodies. Through our personal efforts during the ten days of repentance, we have earned the right to call ourselves Gd's children and also His angels. Atonement is the essence of the day; as our Sages tell us: עיצומו של יום מכפר - the essence of the day (of Yom Kippur) atones (for our sins). With this atonement comes the highest of Gdly blessings in return. On this day the High Priest can enter the קודש הקדשים - the Holy of Holies - the holiest place in the world, to pray and connect us with Gd. Nowadays, when there is no Temple, each of us effect this same connection and enhance our relationship with Gd through our own efforts and our prayers. Gd appreciates the role we play in achieving our Divine goals and recognizing the role we play in this world.
Wishing all a
גמר חתימה טובה -
g'mar chatima tova - may we be sealed in the book of life.
May
we all merit to a year full of ברכה - blessing - during which we each find our personal connection to Gd and in turn see his blessings of goodness in our lives. We should be blessed with
nachat
from our children, good health and may we merit the final redemption.
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Elementary School Fifth Grade Leadership Making Giving a Priority
By Rabbi Eli Broner, 5th Grade Judaic Studies Teacher
Rabbi Swigard introduces fifth graders Parker Gruenbaum, Dvir Regev, Leah Cohen, and Kira Hueman as they make their presentation.
The fifth grade made a special presentation at our annual Leil Selichot. It was a culmination of our opening fifth grade leadership project. Below is an excerpt of their speech, because there is nothing better than hearing it in their words!
Welcome to our Liel Selichot!
As fifth graders we realize that we are in an unique position. On one hand, we are the oldest grade in elementary school and on the other hand we are preparing to enter middle school.
We know that as the oldest grade in elementary school, we have the Achrayut to be leaders for the students in the other grade levels. As leaders, we know that we need to look for opportunities to lead by example and to give more than we take.
That is why, when we got together before school began for a welcome breakfast with Morah Revital and Rabbi Broner, we did more than eat and play games. We took time to create kupot tzedaka that we each designed and decorated. We made these kupot tzedaka not for ourselves but rather to share with the classrooms and offices of our school. By putting these kupot tzedaka all around our school, it sends the message that we are here to lead by giving and encourage others to do the same.
Tonight when we say Selichot we will say Avinu Malkeinu...Asei Imanu Tzedaka Vachesed. We ask Hashem that even if we may not have enough of our own merits, Hashem should still act towards us with tzedaka and chessed. When Hashem sees us acting with kindness towards each other, then He grants us kindness. That is why we are presenting our kupot tzedaka tonight at Selichot. Please join us in giving as we prepare for the new year. It is our hope and prayer that Hashem will accept our tefillot and grant us everything we ask for in the coming year.
From the fifth grade to all of you, Shana Tova Umetuka.
The Fifth Grade with their kupot tzedakah
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Learning Begins in the Classroom but Continues Beyond
By Rabbi Eliyahu Kenigsberg, Middle School Judaic Studies Teacher
In the 6
th
grade we are deeply engrossed in learning in preparation for the Chagim. We are always striving to find and utilize a number of methods and tools that make the learning more clear, engaging and most importantly, relevant.
In our Chagim unit, we are currently using the Nearpod app to facilitate learning. This tool gives us the ability to interact as a class with visuals and activities as well as complete self-paced lessons so that students can spend more time on things that they find more challenging or interesting - all while completing the assigned work and learning the material. After learning the material, students proved their mastery of the unit when they created
Kahoot!
review games and played them with the class.
The most inspiring part of this process, however, was when students showed up this past Motzei Shabbat for Hillel's annual Leil Selichot program. This optional program allowed students to spend the evening learning with their teachers and parents, singing uplifting songs, and reciting the Selichot. Of course, students were treated to pizza and ice cream at the end! As I observed the students participating Selichot, I felt confident that we ended the unit in a most appropriate and relevant way.
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New Beginnings in Nursery
By Alison Hendeles, Nursery Teacher
 The beginning of any new school brings many new changes: a new classroom, new teachers and new friends. A new school year also begins a fresh start for the children. In Nursery, a main focus of our general studies curriculum is the alpha-bet. We start off the year right away with learning the letter A: we are both beginning a new school year and beginning to study the alpha-bet.
As we experienced Rosh Hashana, we take this opportunity to teach that just as we are starting a new school year, the Jewish Calendar is beginning a new year. Many exciting things came with celebrating Rosh Hashana. We eat apples (which is one of the words we teach when learning the letter A), taste a new fruit, hear the shofar, and thank Hashem for all the things we are lucky to have in our lives. While teaching and learning, the teachers and students learn more about each other, and the feeling of newness becomes one of deeper understanding.
Learning for all students is about making connections. With the beginning of the school year, the beginning of the Jewish New Year and beginning of the alpha-bet all coinciding, the learning and activities in Nursery make for a great transition into the future months of school!
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Hebrew and Love of Israel, a Letter at a Time!
By Tirza Volkmar, Kindergarten Teacher
In Kindergarten we learn Hebrew every day. We speak it, we learn the Hebrew alphabet and the sounds and nekudot, and we practice new vocabulary. We make this learning fun by introducing new concepts with singing, dancing, games, and lots of repetition. We practice counting and review our number recognition by playing many games: one game includes using cubes and counting until we get the correct correspondence. We also use the Cap-it program daily to learn and practice the sounds, and we are also writing the letters.
Week by week, we add a letter and by the end of the year we will recognize all the sounds and letters. We practice writing our Hebrew names. We use crayons, pencils, Play-Doh and even pretzels to form the different Hebrew letters. We read many stories and poems in Hebrew. We review many new vocabulary words through the many pictures in books. We review animal names, colors, clothing, and the holidays we celebrate. We also give the children a love of Israel and a connection that will be treasured for years to come.
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Sleep is Critical!
By April Figueroa, School Nurse
Sleep is critical to an adolescent's everyday functioning, and healthy sleep habits make a big difference in each child's quality of life. When children sleep, their brains are actively working to form new connections. As a parent, you play a critical role in helping your child develop healthy sleeping habits.
Here are some things you can do to help establish these positive sleep habits:
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Stick to a set bedtime
: This will help his or her internal clock stay on track and make it easier to fall asleep easily at bedtime. Here are some recommended sleep times by age group:
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Infants
3 to 12 months 14 to 15 hours
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Toddlers
1 to 3 years
12 to 14 hours
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Preschoolers
3 to 5 years
11 to 13 hours
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School-age
6 to 12 years
10 to 11 hours
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Teens
13 to 17 years
8 to 10 hours
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Keep a consistent bedtime routine
: Your routines may be adjusted based on age or your family's preference. Avoid stimulating activities such as watching television or playing video games prior to bed. Instead, choose calming activities like reading or storytelling. Whatever you choose, keep the sequence consistent! Doing so helps to maintain your child's internal clock on a 24-hour cycle.
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Give your child a chance to unload his or her worries:
During hurried afternoons and evenings, when there's homework to be done and dinner to be cooked, it's often hard to find the time to talk about your grade-schooler's day. The result can be unaired anxieties that keep your child awake at night, a common problem for school-age kids. Instead, make a point to ask your child about the best and worst moments in his or her day. Those two simple questions will help you maintain a sense of closeness with your child, as well as provide a window into your child's increasingly independent life.
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Make sufficient sleep a family priority:
Remember that you are a role model to your child; making sleep a priority for yourself shows your children that it is part of living a healthy lifestyle (like eating right and exercising regularly).
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Monitor screen time:
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends keeping all screens - TVs, computers, phones, tablets - out of kids' bedrooms and turning all screens off 30 minutes before bedtime. Create a plan for appropriate technology use at night and set boundaries about technology use before and after bedtime.
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Create a sleep-supportive environment:
Dim the lights prior to bedtime and control the temperature in the home. Don't fill up your child's bed with toys. Maintain your child's bed as a place to sleep, rather than a place to play.
Avoid over-scheduling: In addition to homework, many children today have scheduled evening activities, such as sports, appointments and play dates, which pose challenges to getting a good night's sleep. Take time to wind down and give your children the downtime that they need.
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Chidon Hamesorah, is a hands-on, after-school learning opportunity for all Jewish children in grades 2-4 focusing on studying Mishna using the acclaimed Bonayich "Mishna Kids" program.
Medallions will be awarded to participants for their achievements!
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Please Join Us for Hillel's Annual Anne Samson a"h Memorial Golf Tournament on November 15, 2017! For sponsorship opportunities, or to purchase helicopter ball drop tickets and playing spot reservations, visit www.hillelhebrew.org/golfregistration
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