October 21, 2025

The Etz family Shabbat experience

Saturday, October 25, 10:15am

Join us for a special Family Shabbat designed especially for families with a 4th-grade student! Celebrate Shabbat with song, spirit, and connection in a lively, participatory service co-led by Rabbi Chaim and our Etz students. Experience a creative Torah reading and a teen-led Dvar Torah with an interactive Q&A—just like an Etz Bar & Bat Mitzvah! Open to the entire community.

Dear Parents,

Last week’s Parasha concludes with the words: “And Noach (literally, Comfort) found favor in the eyes of God.”

Read literally, it reminds us that God appreciates comfort.

This Sunday, our 4th and 5th graders wrote poems about their heroes. Two students chose to write about their previous teacher, Lissa (pictured). I warmly invite you to read their poem—may it bring you as much comfort as it brought me.

Rimon and Tamar (2nd & 3rd grades) Mishpacha day


Sunday, 10/26, after opening circle


Sacred Times: Exploration of the Jewish Calendar

Ever wonder why Rosh Hashanah keeps moving or how the moon helps us celebrate holidays? Parents join with their students for an interactive learning adventure through the Jewish calendar! We’ll explore the cycles of the moon, mark special times of the year, and uncover how Jewish time helps us celebrate, remember, and renew — together! Each student must be accompanied by an adult family member. In the image, you can find all dates for Mishpacha days this school year.

Future Dates:


Sat, Oct 25 | The Etz Family Shabbat experience. Please invite a friend!


Sun, Oct 26 | Zra'im, Midor, Shorashim, Gesher, Bar/t Mitzvah class, Hadracha ice cream social, 2/3 grade Mishpacha day.


Wed, Oct 29 | Shorashim, Gesher, Hineni


Sun, Nov 2 | Midor, Shorashim, Gesher, Teen Chai, Bar/t Mitzvah class, 6th Grade Mishpacha Day


Wed, Nov 5 | Shorashim, Gesher, Hineni


Sun, Nov 9 | Zra'im, Midor, Shorashim, Gesher, Bar/t Mitzvah class


Wed, Nov 12 | Shorashim, Gesher, Hineni


Fri, Nov 14 | Musical Kabbalat Shabbat


Sun, Nov 16 | Midor, Shorashim, Gesher, Teen Chai, Bar/t Mitzvah class, Hadracha ice cream social


Wed, Nov 19 | Shorashim, Gesher, Hineni


Sun, Nov 23 | Zra'im, Midor, Shorashim, Gesher

Library

Mitzvah related books are now in the Library!

Our library committee has set up a special monthly display for everyone to enjoy. You’re warmly invited to stop by, spend some quiet time with your child, read a story together, or check out a book to take home.

This month’s theme is Mitzvah, featuring wonderful books for all ages—perfect for sparking conversations and adding a little extra light to your week.


Aliza's recommendation

One book that my children loved when they were younger is Bagels for Benny by Aubrey Davis (Author) and Duýan Petricic (Illustrator). This is a story about Benny who loves to help out at his grandpa's bakery in the morning, and the customers love the crusty bagels with their soft insides. When Grandpa explains to Benny that God, not him, should be thanked for the wonderful bagels, Benny sets out to do just that. He decides to leave God a bagful of bagels in the synagogue at the end of each week. And each week God eats the bagels --- or so Benny thinks ... Lovingly told, Bagels from Benny explores the values of caring and sharing, building a strong sense of community and finding joy in giving thanks.

Tikun Ha'aretz

Jane Goodall was an extraordinary observer, thinker, and conservation activist for both chimpanzees, for wildlife and for humans. She inspired me as a young girl. I read about her in National Geographic magazine— going off to Africa with her mom to observe chimpanzees! I’ve particularly admired and appreciated how she was able to learn so much without being dominating or harmful to the subjects she was studying. And as a woman facing all sorts of backlash against her methods, remained steadfast in her approach and in her thinking. I also appreciate how she was always learning and thinking about how to conserve in ways that were mutually beneficial to humans and wildlife. When she learned of the devastating impacts to habitat that were impacting her chimpanzees. She became a tireless worldwide speaker on the topic of conservation, animal welfare and the importance of all life on the planet. She was speaking up to the end and died at 91 here in California on Oct. 1. Her memory will indeed be a blessing, and I hope an ongoing inspiration to all to care for and take care of our planet; she inspired so many generations of young people.


“Each one of us…everybody… every day that we live, we make an impact on the planet, and we can choose what sort of impact we make.”


      Jane Goodall, from her last interview, September 23, 2025, The Journal


Young people are on the front lines of the climate emergency. How can we stay listening to them and not let our own fears and worries, overwhelm us? We all need supportive communities and lots of opportunities to be listened to.


Here's an inspiring video of Jenny Sazama from Sustaining All Life. She talks about children deserving to know the truth about what is happening to them in a way they can hear. And, to help them define the things that they care about and help them to take actions. https://youtu.be/e0Q7THrnEJw


Resources for Supporting young people in the climate movement:

“Parents and the Climate Crisis” pamphlet written by Marya Axner and Tresa Elguera (copies available in the Etz library)

—Sustaining All Life, https://sustainingalllife.org/


Organizations by/ for young people:

—Jewish Youth Climate Movement, https://adamah.org/for-teens-youth-adults/jewish-youth-climate-movement/ (no local chapter yet?)

—Roots and Shoots, https://rootsandshoots.org/

—The Sunrise Movement, https://www.sunrisemovement.org/


EPA

EPA WhatsApp Groups

Would you like to:

  • Receive timely updates about your child’s cohort?
  • Strengthen the social connections within your child’s cohort?

If so, join the WhatsApp group!


Here is a link:

https://chat.whatsapp.com/JrtycEEP3TB5CQvPxlYRdp?mode=ems_copy_h_t

Head of EPA:

Dorothy Sacerdote


Room Parents:

Zra'im: Melissa Kaganovsky

Midor: Rachel Hanson

2/3 grades: Saul Bancroft

4/5 grades: Yael Saggie

6th grade: Leslie Brody

7th grade: Shuli Zilberfarb Sela

8th grade: Maura Tarnoff

9-12th grade: Dorothy Sacerdote


Teacher's gift collection:

Andrea Klein Lacy


WhatsApp Groups:

Lessa Spitzer

EPA Signup Sheet 

Here you can find all the signup sheets for the year including Sunday snacks sign up. and other events throughout the year. We are nuts free school! Please check with your room parents regarding students with specific allergies in your class.


Teachers and Hadracha appreciation

Twice a year, before winter break and summer break we appreciate all our teachers and Hadracha team for their work. The suggested contribution is $36 per child - but whatever you feel comfortable with works as well! 

paypal: @andrealacy

venmo: @Andrea-Lacy-5.


Please include the names of your kids and their grades.

Room Parents responsibilities:


Each learning cohort will be taking ownership of a different EPA event throughout the year. Attached is the full list of events with cohort assignments—please mark your calendars.

To make things easy, Dorothy, Kristy, Andrea, and I put together an EPA Handbook with step-by-step guidance for each event. We hope it will be a helpful resource all year long!

Download the calendar here.

Calendar

2025-26 calendar cheat sheets.

All the dates for the year in one place. Print in color and hang on your refrigerator!

Here is a link for a Pdf file for easier printing

Contact Information

Aliza Cohen-Savransky, Religious School Director 

aliza@etzchayim.org

phone: 650-485-9961