Monthly Mensches 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


Music corner: A taste of the great music experience students get every session


The family 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



First Grade Monthly Menches watching a video about Rosh Hashanah


Rabbi Citrin blowing the shofar for the Kindergartners and First Graders

What did the students learn?


Our students engaged in many discussions about the importance of the High Holidays and their connection to Israel.


Each class begins with Kehillah, building our community. The children greet each other and then share their answer to a theme connected question.


The main focus of the year so far has been Rosh Hashanah and Sukkot. The children learned how these holidays are celebrated here in our country as well as in Israel. The children then added how their families celebrate the holidays and what is their favorite part of each of the High Holidays.



What did the students do?

Our Kindergartners and First Graders were so busy the last two classes getting to know each other and building their own Kehillah (community). After a brief lesson on Tzedakah, each class decorated a box and turned it into their class tzedakah box. Each class, the children have a chance to share a mitzvah, good deed, they did and then add their coins to the box. At the end of the year, the classes will decide where to donate the money.


The children learned about the rituals and customs of the High Holidays and they did a hands on activity to reinforce the lessons they learned during their classroom learning time.


Their morning is filled with music, Hebrew Through Movement, T'filiah and for the first time, snack time! The students are enjoying a quick nosh and time to connect with all their friends.


The classes visited the sukkah and shook the lulav and the etrog. All the classes attended the Billy Jonas concert to round out a great beginning of the year!

Hebrew Corner

Create a Light on the Hebrew Letters
During T'filah with Rabbi Citrin and Cantor Kleinman, the talmidim (students) are introduced to the "Letter of the Week".
Shin
Shanah Tovah "Happy New Year"
Shalom hello, goodbye, and peace
Shofar ram's horn
Samech
Siddur prayerbook
Sukkot Holiday of Booths
Slicha sorry; excuse me




Monthly Menches learn HTM with their Kehillah, community

Hebrew Through Movement with the Kindergarten and First Grader Monthly Mensches
In Hebrew Through Movement (HTM) this month, the classes learned a variety of words and commands as well words connected to the High Holidays. Some of the words are:
Lakoom stand up
Lashevet sit down
Lalechet walk
Larutz run
Likpotz jump
The students have been enjoying HTM each class and impress us with what they retain! We are excited to continue building their vocabulary and their foundation of aural language experience!
The Family Table
The students have really enjoyed our discussions about the rituals of the High Holidays. Here are some questions and conversation starters that you can discuss with your learner:
  • What are the 4 notes that the Shofar blows?
  • What does the word Rosh mean?
  • What is a sukkah and what do you do in it?
  • Who would you invite into your sukkah?


Music Corner

The Kindergarten and First Grade Monthly Mensches have really enjoyed their time with Phillip Fisherman, our cantorial intern. Each month he engages the children with many different songs and melodies.


We used our voices to create the 4 notes of the Shofar and learned that a nigun has no words. It is a melody that repeats itself over and over again.

Coming Attractions

Next month the children will begin a deep dive into the rituals and customs of Shabbat. Each child will make their own Shabbat box and fill it with everything they need to celebrate Shabbat at home.

We will continue to learn about Israel and connect holiday celebrations both here in and in Israel.


Please check your child's Remini after each session.. You will find a summary of the day's activities as well as pictures of the class!


If you have any questions or need any information, please contact Ivy Schwartz at: Ivy.schwartz@wrtemple.org

914-723-5224 office ext 8521


WRT Stands with Israel


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