Artist Jacqueline Kott-Wolle shared her Growing Up Jewish exhibition with some of our students and answered their questions. | |
Update: Israel at Heilicher
Our Heilicher community continues to respond to the needs of family, friends, and acquaintances affected by the horrific attacks on Israel. Tz’dakah contributions from Kabbalat Shabbat last week totaled more than $250 — about 10 times our average amount. This money (and tz’dakah from forthcoming Kabbalat Shabbatot) will be donated to Ben Ribnick’s IDF unit to ensure they acquire the equipment they need. Ben is a Heilicher alum (class of 2013) who spoke at Tuesday last week's rally. TC Jewfolk wrote an article about his speech: Ben Ribnick Speaks at Israel Rally.
Third-grade students came together on October 15 to raise more than $2,200 for the Minneapolis Jewish Federation’s Israel Emergency Fund. Heilicher parents Roni and Michael Falck hosted the fundraiser at their home and shared their process with our development staff. If your student’s class is interested in replicating third grade’s effort, please reach out to development director Kiel Majewski.
We continue to reach out to Heilicher families with immediate ties to Israel to see if our Chesed Committee can support them in any way. If your family is in need of support, please contact Kiel.
In the classroom, students continue to engage in productive support of Israel:
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While many airlines have canceled flights to Israel, Heilicher students still visit each morning at the start of their Jewish studies classes. Here is the Daka ba-Aretz (A Minute in Israel) slide deck so you can discuss with your children the places they’ve learned about so far. Next week, we head down to the Negev!
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We are adding to our repertoire of Israeli songs and including them at All-School T’filah, All-School Lunch, and Kabbalat Shabbat. Our current song is Nolad'ti L'shalom (I Was Born to Peace) — see a YouTube video with lyrics and also slides with lyrics you can print out for following along (with Hebrew, transliteration, and translation).
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Curricular material for the middle school is in preparation, including three primary topics: hilchot milchama (the laws of war), pidyon sh’vuyim (ransoming captives), and tohar haneshek (purity of arms). These are mini-units using classic Jewish texts to generate conversations about essential moral questions (when do you go to war, and who must fight?; how do you weigh the needs of the individual against the needs of the community?; and how do you evaluate/balance risk and responsibility in war?).
From a security perspective, we continue to be vigilant in our communications with security experts and monitoring of campus.
We are proud of and grateful to our community for the ways it has shown up for each other and for our Israeli family.
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Mark Your Calendars!
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Friday, October 20 - NO SCHOOL: MEA
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Tuesday, October 24 - Information Evening, 6:30-8 p.m., Heilicher — Tell your friends!
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Wednesday, October 25 - Unity Day — Wear orange
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Thursday, October 26 - Billy Jonas Concert, 6:30-7:30 p.m., Auditorium
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Thursday, November 2 - Picture Day
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Monday, November 6 - NO SCHOOL: Professional Development Day
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Friday, November 10 - Veterans Day Kabbalat Shabbat, 2:15 p.m., Auditorium
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Sunday, November 12 - Beth El Illustration Project, 1-3 p.m., Art Rooms — Sign up below
View the full Heilicher calendar online
Key Dates for 2023-2024
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Torah Thoughts From Doc
Read a brief message about this week's Torah portion, Noach. The story of the Tower of Babel provides more than one lesson.
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Fall Information Evening
Please spread the word! Heilicher's information evening is a great opportunity for anyone looking for schools to learn more about a Heilicher education from students, parents, alumni, and staff. They'll meet the kindergarten teachers and visit the Makerspace for a fun demo activity. Please tell your networks to come to Heilicher at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, October 24, and RSVP.
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Heilicher Annual Benefit
Please join us for the Heilicher Annual Benefit at 5 p.m. Sunday, November 19, at Beth El Synagogue. We look forward to celebrating Heilicher and honoring our Ner Tamid Award recipients, alumni parents and community leaders Judy and Jerel Shapiro.
Come to see friends old and new, enjoy delicious food and drink, and participate in a moving and meaningful program. RSVP by Friday, October 20.
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Orange Shirts for Unity Day
October is anti-bullying month, and fifth graders want to raise awareness and encourage kindness. They are leading lessons in K-4 classrooms during October and would love if all students would wear orange on Wednesday, October 25, to support Heilicher's Unity Day. This day is about kindness, acceptance and inclusion.
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Billy Jonas Concert
Musician Billy Jonas will spend the day with some of our grades 1-7 students during music classes on Thursday, October 26. At 6:30 that evening in the auditorium, all are invited for a FREE interactive Billy Jonas concert featuring Heilicher students and everyone in the audience. RSVP.
Billy Jonas uses music as a vehicle for the expression of Jewish identity and will spread the music as our artist in residence for the day!
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Honoring Our Veterans
In observance of Veterans Day, we will honor veterans during Kabbalat Shabbat on November 10 at 2:15 p.m. We would like to invite any Heilicher family members who have served in the military to attend Kabbalat Shabbat services. Please fill out our veterans form if you are a veteran or on behalf of a veteran so we can include all of our veterans in our list and/or in person.
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Arts Opportunity for Beth El's 100th Anniversary
Beth El Synagogue will celebrate its 100th anniversary in January with a community sing-along. Our Heilicher Choir will be participating along with other choirs from the broader community. To make this event even more beautiful, there will be an opportunity for our students to create artwork inspired by the songs that will be sung during the event. The plan is to have three-five illustrations for each of 15-20 songs. These images will be projected during the event and possibly on a screen in the synagogue's lobby. All artwork will be turned over to Beth El. You do not need to be a member of Beth El to participate.
On Sunday, November 12, from 1 to 3 p.m., students can stop by the Heilicher art rooms and create a drawing. Space is limited; sign up for the Beth El Illustration Project. Parents, please plan to stay in the JCC while your child is participating. There will be a sign-in/sign-out sheet. If you would like to volunteer to assist, please contact Ms. Thor.
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