4th Grade Newsletter, October 2024 | Tishrei 5785

What is in this newsletter?

What did the students learn: Content and values from this month's curriculum


What did students do: Crafts, games, songs and other classroom experiences


Hebrew corner: A recap of Letter of the Week and Hebrew Through Movement


Torah Corner: A selected text students learned this month


The Shabbat table: Questions and conversation starters for the family Shabbat, holiday, or weekday dinner table about the K-1 grade curriculum


Coming Attractions: What you can expect from the next month at the JLL

What did the students learn?


Our main topic for the year is the story of the Exodus, the escape of the Israelites from Egypt. So far this year, students read about the new Pharaoh's rise to power, his enslavement of the Israelites, the birth of Moses and Moses's escape from Egypt.

We try to include many types of media to keep students engaged. Take a look at this thought provoking video about two often overlooked Torah characters.

What did the students do?


Our students started the year by learning a short version of the Exodus. They then decorated posters of the story - which now hang in our classrooms and help guide us through the year.


Hebrew Corner


Letter of the Week

Every week we explore one letter of the Alef-Bet, the Hebrew Alphabet. This is the first taste of Hebrew for many of our students. In our midweek sessions, we complete work book pages from "Shalom Alef Bet" that correspond with the Letter of the Week. Over the last few weeks, our letters have been:


  • Shin (ש) - as in Shana Tovah, Shalom and Shofar
  • Bet (בּ- as in Bimah, B'vakasha, Brit
  • Tav (ת) - as in Tapupch, Todah and T'fillah
  • Mem (מ) - as in Machzor, Mitzvah, Middot

Torah Corner

torah-reading.jpg

Beside the book of Exodus, the Torah and Tanach (Hebrew Bible) repeat the story of the Exodus in many iterations. This short text from the book of Deuteronomy, originaly intended to be recited in the Temple while bringing the first fruits there, tells the entire story in only five verses.

The text here is a child friendly version.

Click here for a more mature translation.

Our ancestors wandered from a land called Babylon. They went down to Egypt to live there for a short time, with just a few people; 

but there they became a great nation with a lot of people.

The Egyptians were harsh to us and made us suffer, and forced us to work very hard.

We cried to the God of our ancestors, and God heard our voice and saw our pain, our struggle, and our suffering.

God freed us from Egypt by a strong hand, by an outstretched arm, with great power, and by signs and wonders,

And God brought us to a land flowing with milk and honey, and gave us this land.


(Deuteronomy 26 5-9; adapted by the editors of “In Every Generation: A PJ Library Family Haggadah”. Further adaptation by Noam Vinokor-Meinrath)

The Shabbat Table


Here are some conversation starters about what students learned:


Knowledge Questions:

What's the title of the king of Egypt?

Who were the women who saved Moses and other Israelite babies?


Comprehension questions:

What did Moses' mom do to protect him?

What happened to Moses when he went out of the Palace?


Analysis questions:

Why was Pharaoh afraid of the Israelites?

Why did the midwives refuse Pharaoh's order?


Opinion Questions:

Who are the "Israelite Slaves" in our society? How can we treat them?

Coming Attractions


We looking forward to see everyone for the Lab Shabbat featuring 3rd grade this Friday evening, 10/25!


In the coming weeks, students will learn about Moses growing up, leaving Egypt and hearing God's call for the first time through the burning bush. Also, look forward for special craft activity coming up soon!

Noam Vinokor-Meinrath, 914-723-5226 ext. 8525

WRT Stands with Israel


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