PARSHAT HASHAVUA

GAN YAVNEH

At Gan Yavneh we have been busy bringing Sefer Bereishit to life. Each week we learn Parshat Hashavua and do a hands-on activity that helps us understand or connect to the story and the people in the Parsha. While learning Parshat Noach we enjoyed a petting zoo at school complete with goats, chickens, bunnies, and more. For Parshat Vayeira, we pitched our tents and welcomed neighboring classes in for a Shabbat party with “Bruchim Ha’Baim!” We also learned about Bikur Cholim and had a visit from TVAC. Last week, for Parshat Chayei Sarah, we learned all about Sarah Imenu and made our own delicious challah. It was so much fun to mix and roll and braid the dough. We cannot wait to continue bringing Torah to life!

EARLY CHILDHOOD

This week in Ganon Gimmel, the children focused on the letter T. They explored the T sound and came up with a list of examples such as Torah, truck, tiger, and turtle. A highlight of the week was a special visit from Shelly the Turtle, who has been part of the Yavneh Academy community for 30 years! The children were so excited to meet Shelly and make meaningful connections to our letter study. It was a truly terrific week of learning!

Since Parshat Vayera, Gan Daled has been learning about Hachnasat Orchim. We compiled pages of a How To be a Guest Book and then invited our own guests. We thought of a list of Yavneh Staff and wrote them each personalized invitations. We created welcome signs to hang outside our room and prepared for each guest by making treats. When each guest came greeters welcomed them into our room. We offered drinks and treats and enjoyed spending time in our centers with our Yavneh friends. We escorted our guests out of the room and wrote thank you notes letting them know how much we enjoyed having them! 

In SEL this week, we read The Color Monster, a story that helps children understand and talk about their feelings. We learned how each color in the book represents a different emotion and practiced naming our own. The class also talked about noticing how our friends feel and what we can do to help them feel better. It was a fun and meaningful lesson that helped the children build emotional awareness and confidence.

LOWER SCHOOL

Last Friday, Yavneh Academy was proud to join the Rabbi Sacks Global Day of Learning with a special intergrade learning experience. Older students led younger students in learning about Rabbi Sacks’ inspiring teachings about chesed and the impact it has on our lives. Together, each group created a collaborative poster filled with handwritten notes representing hope and unity, values that Rabbi Sacks both lived by and inspired in others. It was a meaningful opportunity for students to learn, create, and connect across grades, bringing Rabbi Sacks’ message to life in our school community.

During a hands-on science lesson about ecosystems second grade students explored how living things depend on one another. Acting as “bees,” students used pipe cleaners and colored powders to model how pollen moves between flowers and helps plants reproduce. The experiment sparked great discussions about pollinators, plant life cycles, and community connections. Families are invited to ask their child what role pollinators play and to look for examples of interdependence at home or in local parks.

The fourth graders bundled up and headed to the recreated Lenape Village at Waterloo to learn about early Lenape life. Students learned how tribal members lived hundreds of years ago and then immersed themselves in hands on experiences such as playing traditional children's games, making rope from plant fibers, grinding corn meal, and even trying to start a fire. The trip was a great way to bring our classroom learning to life. Students are well prepared for their upcoming unit about the Lenape, then and now.

MIDDLE SCHOOL

Last Friday, dozens of Yavneh's 7th and 8th grade students packed our recently renovated Beit Midrash to learn from noted Israeli posek and rabbinical leader, Rabbi Eliezer Melamed. After sharing a dvar torah on the parsha, Rav Melamed opened the floor for vibrant and engaging Q and A session with the students. The Rav was amazed by the depth and quality of the questions. Students sat spellbound as he answered each question with sensitivity and nuance. What an unforgettable experience for our Yavneh students!

Many residents of Jamaica were hard hit by Hurricane Melissa. Rabbi Raskin, of Chabad in Jamaica, is running an urgent mission to provide essential aid to those devastated by the storm. He is collecting numerous items that are in great demand, at a collection site in Newark. The items will then be sent to Jamaica. The Yavneh Chesed Team chose bedding and first aid kits as items we wanted to donate. Additionally, when Yavneh reached out to the rabbi to ask what else was needed, they felt that the residents most definitely needed some cheering up. At this month’s Chesed Team event students decorated pillowcases to donate along with inspirational notes included with each pillowcase. We hope that when the residents of Jamaica go to sleep at night with these pillowcases, they will feel the support and encouragement sent their way. Additionally, stickers were placed on the first aid kits with good wishes from Yavneh. The next step to help victims of Hurricane Melissa will be spearheaded by our Tzedakah Committee as our Tzedakah of the month of Kislev will be the Chabad of Jamaica’s Hurricane Melissa fund.  

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Yavneh Academy is a beneficiary agency of the Jewish Federation of Northern New Jersey.