Am Yisrael SJS Limmud/Education Update 4-24-19
י״ט ניסן   תשע"ט  
מועדים לשמחה

In this week's issue:
  • Am Yisrael SJS resumes this afternoon -- Wed Apr 24 for Gimel (3rd-7th) and for the whole SJS on Sun Apr 28
  • New Mosaic at Am Yisrael
  • Mazal Tov
  • Programming for this week: Intergenerational Torah Reading Opportunity is coming up Sat Apr 27; Rabbi Newman Kamin reads to Torah Tots (N-3.5 years with accompanying adult); Rabbi Newman Kamin Brunch & Learn with High School Students/Madrichim; Zayin (7th Grade) visits the Holocaust Museum
  • Programming for next week: Gimel (3rd Grade) Siddur Ceremony Fri May 3 6:00 p.m.-7:00 p.m.; Yom HaShoah Commemoration Sun May 5 10:30 a.m.-11:30 a.m.
  • Do you know of someone looking for a class for their newborn through 3.5 year old?
  • Signing up to lead Friday Evening Kiddush
  • RSVP's
  • Class Updates, Curriculum Outlines and Schedules
  • Torah Reading opportunities on Sat May 11 & Sun June 9
  • Supporting Leket Israel: Kira Friedel's Mitzvah Project
  • SJS & Youth Groups Calendar: Last revised on 2-18-19
  • SJS Tzedakah Totals: Early Sep 2018 through Apr 14, 2019: $647.66
  • Inclusion Updates
  • Room Parent Update
  • #Partnership Am Yisrael and Ramah
  • Key Resources for Hebrew Practice, SJS Manual, Contact Info, Babysitting Initiative, Finding us on Social Media and more
When is SJS in session in the upcoming weeks?
Wed Apr 24 (Chol HaMoed Pesach); Sun Apr 28; Wed May 1; Sun May 5; Wed May 8; Sat May 11 (SFP); Sun May 12; Wed May 15; Sun May 19 

Am Yisrael SJS resumes this afternoon--Wed Apr 24 for Gimel through Zayin (3rd-7th Grade) & for the whole SJS on Sun Apr 28

New mosaic on second floor of school building
This mosaic was created by SJS in 5779 for one of my mitzvah projects, because one of my passions is art.  Students in the Am Yisrael School of Jewish Studies painted the individual tiles. The blank space in the mosaic spells 'ללכת בהם," which means to walk in the commandments, or to live by them.  It means that we shouldn't just memorize them; we should truly shape our lives around them.  This phrase is very meaningful to me because it symbolizes how we should live our lives. When you first glance at the mosaic, you might not see the phrase right away. You might have to stand at a distance to fully see the phrase.  Just as in your life, you may have to pause, stand back, shift your perspective, and refocus yourself to follow the commandments. -Naomi Szmuilowicz   

Mazal tov:
  • To our Intergenerational Torah Readers this Shabbat Apr 27: Jane Adelman, Marcia Adelman, Howard Kreiner, Jordan Kreiner, Rachel Kreiner, Jamie Loewenthal, Rod Loewenthal, Aleeza Strubel and Ariel Strubel Iram.
  • Thank you to our outgoing board for helping to bring us CHUSY Region's Most Improved Chapter award for 2018-2019.  Mazal Tov to our newly elected Am Yisrael United Synagogue Youth (AMUSY) Executive Board. 
    President: Nathan Brodkin
    Executive Vice President: Jayden Fogel
    Communications Vice President: Zoe Jagher
    Membership/ Kadima Vice President: Mackenzie Ball
    Social Action Tikkun Olam (SATO) Vice President: Adina Grossman
    Religious Education Vice President: Ilana Friedel
    Freshman Representative: Rachel Miller
    We look forward to an outstanding year working with this group of talented teens to plan fun and meaningful programs for AMUSY's chapter.     
Programming for this Week:

Rabbi Newman Kamin teaches our youngest and oldest students: Sun Apr 28, as part of the session, Rabbi Newman Kamin will read a story to our Torah Tots with a Twist (formerly Camp Am Yisrael) in Room 2.  Following the All-SJS picture in the Sanctuary at 10:15 a.m. the Rabbi will have a Brunch and Learn with our High School Students from 10:30 a.m.-11:30 a.m. in Room 6.  All 9th-12th Grade students who received email invitations need to RSVP either via email to [email protected] or via the Evite: http://evite.me/cJNTnWrYXw. Thank you to those High Schooler (or their parents) who signed up to bring in food for the brunch.  

The annual All-SJS Picture will be taken in the Sanctuary at 10:15 a.m.

Zayin (7th Grade) Field Trip to the Holocaust Museum: Sun Apr 28: Zayin students come to SJS at the regular time.  Prior to heading to the Holocaust Museum, they will have a brunch with Morah Sandra Mieli Kamm in Room 10.  Pick-up for the Zayin Class only is in Skokie at 2:00 p.m.  We need RSVP's for all Zayin studnets either via email to [email protected] or via the Doodle di 
https://doodle.com/poll/rthn4piwz9kcrhp5. Thank you to those who signed up to bring in food for the brunch.

Adult Education with Mr. David Lerner: Sun Apr 28 from 10:00 a.m.-12:15 p.m. i n the Conference Room 

Programming for next Week:
Gimel (3rd Grade) Siddur Ceremony:   Fri May 3: 6:00 p.m.-7:00 p.m. Kitah Gimel has been learning many new prayers this year and developing their Hebrew skills beautifully.  We look forward to presenting each student with a copy of the siddur that we use at Am Yisrael, Siddur Lev Shalem.  Our Gimel students will help lead many prayers on the bimah at this service as well.   https://goo.gl/forms/4cxrtKz2iiqLvb8g1

Yom HaShoah Commemoration:  Sun May 5: We encourage the entire community to join us from 10:30 a.m.-11:30 a.m. in the Sanctuary.  In addition, our Vav (6th Grade) students/madrichim and older will attend this program.  All details can be found by clicking on this link:  http://evite.me/KtU8Ahpu5z 

Do you know of someone looking for a class for their newborn through 3.5 year old?:
  • Over the past several years we have had various iterations of a class for newborns through 3.5 year olds.  In many ways we have fine-tuned this class so that it is the best it has ever been.  We have a teacher and dedicated madrichim (teenage assistants) who are great with little kids and the class is getting very positive reviews.  We would love for you to check out Torah Tots with a Twist (formerly Camp Am Yisrael) in Room 2 from 9:30 a.m.-10:30 a.m. on all dates that Am Yisrael SJS is in session.  Torah Tots with a Twist is made possible by a generous grant from JBaby Chicago.  Here is a link to sign up:  juf.org/torahtots 
  Signing up to lead Friday Evening Kiddush:
  • Our B'nai Mitzvah students lead Friday Evening Kiddush the Friday prior to being called to the Torah as a Bar/Bat Mitzvah. In preparation, please sign up for a date that your Bar/Bat Mitzvah student will chant Kiddush at Am Yisrael an additional date leading up to the Bar/Bat Mitzvah as part of our regular 6:00 p.m.-6:40 p.m. services. Please be sure to scroll from left to right within the Doodle sign up to make sure that you see the many choices of dates ranging from Oct 12, 2019 through May 15, 2020. 
    https://doodle.com/poll/p4v4cny82kfb6xt2
    Shortly after you sign up, we will confirm the date that you have chosen and email you the appropriate Friday Evening Kiddish files (the Hebrew text and an audio recording) for your student to practice.  


Please RSVP for the following upcoming programs if you haven't already.  

High School Students/Madrichim Brunch and Learn with Rabbi Newman Kamin Sun Apr 28: 10:30 a.m.-11:30 a.m.

Zayin (7th Grade) Field Trip to the Holocaust Museum
All Details are in this link: 

Gimel (3rd Grade) Siddur Ceremony
Please note: This Google form includes space for dedications
Fri May 3: 6:00 p.m.-7:00 p.m.

Yom HaShoah Commemoration
Sun May 5: 10:30 a.m.-11:30 a.m.

Please see Am Yisrael Events email from our 
Executive Director Nancy Holab Nevins for 
Am Yisrael Programming beyond those listed above
If you do not receive these congregational emails, please send an email to [email protected].

Class Updates, Schedules and Curriculum:
We will resume these updates next week, following the conclusion of Pesach.  The  link directly below gives you access to the entire year's worth of class updates:  https://www.amyisrael.org/classschedulesandupdates
   
Class-by-class curriculum outlines for Am Yisrael SJS, can be accessed here:
https://www.amyisrael.org/sjscurriculum

Torah Chanting Opportunitiues on Sat May 11 and Shavuot Sun June 9:
While there are many opportunities for our students and madrichim to chant from the Torah scroll, the dates that I am currently taking requests via email  [email protected] or text message 847-708-1805 are: 
  • Intergenerational Torah Reading on Shabbat morning Apr 27 for those interested in participating. 
  • Shabbat Family Programming (SFP) taking place on Shabbat mornings: Mar 16 and May 11. 
  • Our final opportunity for this academic year will be for Shavuot on Sun Jun 9.  On that morning we will be making some special presentations.

Supporting Leket Israel:
Written by Kira Friedel

For my Israel/Passion Mitzvah Project I am selling bracelets that will help raise money for Leket Israel! The bracelets say Healthy Food For All. Healthy Food For All means that everyone should be able to access healthy food not just junk food like chips, soda and candy. All proceeds go to Leket Israel. Bracelets cost $3.00 for one bracelet and $5.00 for two bracelets. I will be selling them during SJS.

Facts About Leket Israel
In 2004, 1.426 million people in Israel were hungry; that is 22.4% of the population of Israel. Leket Israel is one of the largest organization in Israel that feed/help the hungry. You can make sandwiches, pick fruits and vegetables and you can come to the warehouse and help move or package things up. They make over 8,000 sandwiches in a day.  HEALTHY FOOD FOR ALL!!!!


SJS Calendar Revised 2-18-19:
Please note that events that have been modified since the original calendar was published in June 2018 are in teal  and bold font on the calendar on the website along with the printable PDF.

At any point if you would like access to a Google Calendar for SJS/Youth Group Programming please send me an email  [email protected]  and I will send you a link to sync it with your electronic calendar(s).

Tzedakah Collection 5779 (through Apr 14, 2019):
Thus far this academic year our classes have donated a total of 
$647.66
Each SJS class is collecting Tzedakah throughout the year to support organizations that each class chooses with their teachers.  The class totals and organizations chosen are listed in the chart directly below.   Allocation Percentages, can be modified by students speaking with their teachers and the class as a whole coming to new consensuses.  

Inclusion Update
A year and a half ago we were chosen to be a part of USCJ's Ruderman 4th Cohort.  Out of this experience a group of dedicated congregants, SJS parents and friends of Am Yisrael have gathered to discuss goals for how to help each and every SJS student and madrich/a find his/her voice at SJS.  The topics we have discussed have had a positive impact on our students and madrichim.  We plan to keep meeting and further refining our goals and action steps.  

Room Parents:
Throughout this SJS year, a dedicated group of room parents have organized gatherings for the classes to help strengthen the connections within our class communities.  Michelle Maer has done an outstanding job of leading and inspiring this initiative.   If you are interested in getting involved please contact Michelle via email  [email protected]  or phone (773) 909-6416.  

#Partnership: Am Yisrael and Ramah:
Am Yisrael has been chosen for a grant called #Partnership that will enable more of our Am Yisrael students get to my "camp alma-mater," Camp Ramah in Wisconsin.   As part of our partnership this year, we are offering a guaranteed scholarship of $1,500 to first time 4-week campers at Am Yisrael; and we have additional scholarship funds available for younger students attending the overnight or Ramah Day Camp on an as-needed basis. 
 

KEY RESOURCES TO GET MOST OF SJS EXPERIENCE:
Am Yisrael Communication on the whole:
Am Yisrael Events emails from our Executive Director Nancy Holab Nevins  [email protected]  or 847-446-7215

Access all SJS pages on our website:

SJS Manual 5779:
There are two ways to read the SJS Manual: (a) Links for each topic, beginning with fourth bullet point on:  https://www.amyisrael.org/visitors  and (b) is in PDF form:  https://images.shulcloud.com/1177/uploads/SJS-PDFs/Parent-Manual-SJS-5779-rev-8-27-18.pdf

Practicing Tefillah (Sun and Wed students):

Soundtrack for Newborns through Kitah Alef/Bet:

Talking with Our Children Following Pittsburgh Tragedy. 
We are in this together and we are stronger together:





Am Yisrael SJS Faculty:
-Mr. Allan Arnet: [email protected]  Hei (5th), Zayin (7th) and Pardes (9th/10th)
-Mr. Dennis Gelbart :  [email protected]  Dalet (4th), Vav (6th) and Kahoot Chug 
- Morah Annie Glasser:   [email protected]  Hei (5th) and Zayin (7th) JLab (Enrichment) and Youth Groups Activities
- Morah Sandra Mieli Kamm:   [email protected]  
 Zayin (7th) and Youth Groups Advisor
- Ms. Debbie Kroopkin: [email protected]  Torah Tots with a Twist (formerly Camp Am Yisrael) (Newborn through 3.5 years, accompanied by adult)
- Mrs. Tikva Moustakis:   [email protected]  Dalet (4th)
- Mr. E. Marc Nevins:   [email protected]  Band Chug, Tefillah and SFP
- Ms. Sara Preis:   [email protected]  Omanut (Art) Classes and Chug 
- Ms. Diane Rosenfeld:   [email protected]  
 Alef/Bet(1st/2nd) and Wednesday Hebrew Tutoring
- Mr. Marc Sender:   [email protected]  Hei (5th)
- Mrs. Shira Sender:   [email protected]  Gimel (3rd) and Yad Squad Chug
- Ms. Sheila Serota:   [email protected]  Omanut (Art) Classes and Chug
- Hazzan Lawrence Szenes-Strauss (Mr. S.): 
[email protected]  Dalet (4th), Hei (5th), Vav (6th) and Musical Drama Chug
- Morah Aviva Tilles:   [email protected]  Prozdor (8th), Pardes & Tichon (9th-12th) & Madrichim Professional Development
- Morah Lynn Washer:   [email protected]  Gan (3.5-6 years)
- Morah Myra Weisberg:   [email protected]  Alef (1st) lead Hebrew Teacher and Wednesday Hebrew Tutor


Inclusion at Am Yisrael SJS:

Regional CHUSY
CHUSY/CRUSY Regional Teen Engagement Director: Marc Sender:  [email protected]  and CHUSY Assistant Regional Teen Engagement Director: Daniel Warshawsky: [email protected]. 

Am Yisrael Teen Babysitting Initiative
Contact Am Yisrael congregant and SJS parent Carrie Feig:  [email protected]  or 312-636-4241

SOCIAL MEDIA:

B'Shalom/בשלום

Charlie Sherman, MAEd, CJE
Head of School
Am Yisrael Conservative Congregation
4 Happ Road
Northfield, IL 60093
Cell phone: 847/708.1805
Fax:  847/446.7202