A Message from Rabbi Dennis | |
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Dear Community,
For those who are observing Yom Kippur, "may you be sealed in the book of life" and we wish you a meaningful fast.
If you would like to learn more about Yom Kippur, you can find more information here. Also, as a reminder, you are all welcome to join my adult education class beginning Tuesday, October 29 where we learn about this and other Jewish holidays, traditions, and texts.
Shabbat Shalom and G'mar Tov,
Dennis
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From our community, Kol Hakavod to: | |
- The JCC for giving me a place to go during my free blocks
- Trader Joe's for being the best place for lunch
- Tall people for giving me someone to look up to
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From the halls to the water, our Rams are making strides and making waves this quarter! Last Friday, during the Bay Area heat wave, Kesher Fellowship members took a refreshing trip to Shoreline Lake. "Kesher," meaning "connection" in Hebrew, is brought to life by School Counselor Sarah Lesser, eight fellows (9th-graders and 10th-graders), and eight senior fellows (11th-graders and 12th-graders) as they dive into Jewish values of leadership and community. Through discussions and fun outings, senior fellows are stepping into their mentorship roles, fostering a supportive, connected community. A special thanks to the Jewish Community Federation and Endowment Fund for making this program possible! | |
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On Monday, October 7, our school came together for a special assembly and program to commemorate the October 7 terrorist attack in Israel. While our parents gathered in the Kikar to commemorate the day, our students began their day together in an assembly of remembrance.
Students participated in small group activities and workshops, including a Contemplative Walk for mindfulness, a Creative Expression Space with multi-media, sharing personal stories during Empathy in Times of War, using ancient Jewish prayers in Praying for Peace, and Processing October 7 through Meditation and Reflection in a quiet space. They also engaged in Sharing Personal Stories in a safe space to honor individual experiences, learned about the historical context in The Conflict in Perspective, and joined discussions on the resurgence of antisemitism and Islamophobia in The World After October 7 – Navigating a Changed Landscape.
During the Assembly, Rabbi Dennis spoke about the importance not only of feeling the difficult feelings, but of finding hope and allowing it to expand. He spoke about the imagery of light in so many Jewish traditions and how that light is hope. In our hope, we will find our resilience and our strength to move toward a better future.
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Pictured are yellow flags bearing the names of hostages that were displayed by our KPA in the Kikar. | |
Updates and Announcements | |
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MANDATORY Educational Travel Meetings in November
Attention all families and students participating in our 2024-25 educational travel program — we will be hosting a mandatory meeting for all students and their families in November. To accommodate different schedules, we are offering two date options. Please select the one that works best for your family:
- Wednesday, November 6 at 7:00 PM
- Wednesday, November 13 at 7:00 PM
Important: Attendance is required, and these meetings will be in-person. Both sessions will cover the same information, so you only need to attend one.
We look forward to seeing you there!
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Jewish High Holidays Food Drive (Service Club & Jewish Family and Children’s Services - JFCS)
The Service Club will be collecting non-perishable food donations for the JFCS Food Bank in honor of the Jewish High Holiday season. JFCS supports families across San Francisco Bay Area counties. Please drop off your donations in the marked bins located by the elevator.
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Important Events and Dates | |
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A Yom Kippur Like No Other (Jewish Study Network Event)
Thursday, October 10 from 7:00 to 9:00 PM
Mitchell Park Community Center, Palo Alto
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Kikar Coffee
Friday, October 11 from 8:30 AM to 10:00 AM
Kikar (If weather does not permit, please meet in the Multi-Purpose Room)
Topic: How to be a Parent Rambassador, hosted by Director of Admissions & Enrollment Manager Dr. Dave Weiner and Grade-Level Parent Rambassadors.
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Noon Release (Yom Kippur)
Monday, October 11
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Indigenous People's Day
Monday, October 14
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No School (Sukkot)
Monday, October 14 to Friday, October 18
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Noon Release (End of Quarter 1)
Wednesday, October 23
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No School (Simchat Torah)
Thursday, October 24 to Friday, October 25
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A Yom Kippur Reflection from KPA Chair Caryn Wasserstein
When I was young one of my most vivid memories of Yom Kippur was asking for forgiveness from my family members on the way to services the night of Kol Nidre (the evening service that begins Yom Kippur.) Each of us in turn would ask for forgiveness of anything we'd done "knowingly or unknowingly" throughout the past year. In my teenage years this felt forced, but as an adult I've grown to recognize the value of this ritual and the importance of it to my family.
If you have never heard the call to Kol Nidre services sung by Neil Diamond in The Jazz Singer, I highly recommend a listen. Its beauty speaks to the tradition and the solemnity of the Holiday!
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