PARSHAT HASHAVUA

EARLY CHILDHOOD

What a busy week in Ganon Bet! The children have been learning about animals and incorporating their discoveries into class activities. When speaking about the different habitats animals live in, the children used sensory bins filled with animals and loose parts to create homes for animals. During center time, the children have been playing many class-made games, such as a number matching game, using clothes pins with numbers to show how many animals are on the card, and much more. We are having a blast learning about animals and applying it to our everyday learning! 

Last week, Gan Gimmel assembled their very own planting kits! One side contained soil, while the other had only water. The children have been carefully observing and recording how the seeds sprout and begin to form roots.Their curiosity quickly blossomed into thoughtful questions:

· Where do seeds come from?

· How do seeds open?

· Why are the roots so long?

To explore these ideas further, we read an informational text about the life cycle of a plant. The students then drew and wrote about their observations, deepening their understanding through hands-on discovery. In our classroom, every project begins with a question and often leads to even more questions! Our goal is to nurture a love of learning through curiosity, dialogue, and exploration. 

In SEL this week, we began our Whole Body Listening unit! The children learned that good listening means using their whole bodies — not just their ears. We talked about how our eyes, mouths, hands, and feet all help us show attention, kindness, and respect. During our discussion, the children shared what good listening looks like and why it’s important at school. To wrap up, each child created a Whole Body Listening self-portrait to show how they use their bodies to be great listeners.

LOWER SCHOOL

The students in class 1C have been diving into the fascinating history of the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade and learning about the brilliant puppeteer Tony Sarg, the man who made those giant floating balloons possible! Inspired by his creativity, our young innovators are designing their own mini parade balloons for the upcoming Yavneh Academy First Grade Mini Balloon Parade! With imagination, color, and plenty of excitement, class 1C’s creations might just steal the show. Broadway, watch out!

This month, the 5th graders began their study of Mishnah. This year, they will be focusing on Mishnah Brachot, which discusses the blessings we say before and after eating. They will explore what brachot to say on different types of food, including all of their yummy snacks. Now that they have been introduced to Mishnah, 5C has started their 1,000 Brachot Challenge, where they aim to say 1,000 brachot as a class throughout the year. The students are excited to dive into these teachings and deepen their understanding of how brachot can enhance their daily lives and connection to Hashem.

MIDDLE SCHOOL

Yavneh Academy’s 8th graders were honored to hear Mr. Norbert Strauss’ eyewitness account of Kristallnacht, 86 years ago. Mr. Strauss told of the horrors of Kristallnacht including his uncle’s restaurant business being destroyed. He recalled the burning of the shuls as the beginning of Hitler’s Final Solution unfolded. Mr. Strauss was 11 years old when Kristallnacht occurred and his memory is crystal clear regarding the events of that fateful day. Below are thank you letters written by our 8th grade students.

Dear Mr. Strauss,

On behalf of the 8th grade at Yavneh, we want to thank you for taking the time to share your story with us. Hearing about your experiences as a young boy growing up in Nazi Germany was very moving. Your courage and strength that you showed left a great impact on all of us. We will remember your story about all the miracles that you and your family experienced. Your story helped us understand history in a deeper way. Thank you again for taking the time to come and speak to us about your experience.

With sincere appreciation,

The 8th Graders at Yavneh

"I am incredibly grateful to Mr. Strauss for telling us what it was like to be a religious Jew during the Holocaust. His very personal story made me recognize how lucky I am to be safe in my neighborhood and go to a Jewish school. I will always remember that he had to celebrate his Bar Mitzvah without his father, and how that made him stronger and more courageous. He made me feel proud to be Jewish, knowing how much we have persisted throughout our history. He also reminded me how important it is to never forget."

The Diary of Anne Frank was one of the first publications to bring a personal story of the Shoah to life. The diary has been published in over 70 languages and is taught across the world to guide young adults to understanding the atrocities that befell Eastern European Jewry.

To commemorate Kristallnacht, Living Voices’ Through the Eyes of A Friend was presented to our 6th and 7th graders. The program began with a historical perspective of how Hitler rose to power. Our children learned that Anne and her family left Germany and ran to Holland where they thought they would be safe from the Nazis. The performance was interactive with Maureen, our Living Voices actor playing the role of Sarah, Anne’s friend. The dialogue is based on archived pictures and information from those who knew Anne in Holland and later in Auschwitz. The presentation concluded with a question and answer session. Maureen also shared how important it is to cherish our Yiddishkeit and take pride in Israel.

Yasher Koach to Living Voices for this amazing program which is presented in day schools and public schools throughout the United States.

In honor of Veterans Day, Rabbi Dr. Jacob J. Schacter addressed Yavneh Academy’s 8th grade students. He spoke about the importance of acknowledging the sacrifices made by veterans and shared how his work with Operation Benjamin honors veterans. Operation Benjamin is an organization dedicated to preserving the memories of American-Jewish soldiers who made the ultimate sacrifice while defending freedom during World War I and World War II. Operation Benjamin locates Jewish personnel buried in American military cemeteries around the world who, for various reasons, were mistakenly interred under markers that do not correctly represent their religion and heritage. The organization is named for Private Benjamin Garadetsky, a Jewish soldier who was mistakenly buried under a Latin Cross at the Normandy American Cemetery and Memorial.

Prior to Rabbi Schacter’s visit, the 8th grade classes, under the direction of Mrs. Brittany Ricklis, learned about the history of Veterans Day and explored the cemeteries where many veterans are interred. As part of their studies, they examined the symbols found on graves at Arlington National Cemetery and the Normandy American Cemetery, deepening their understanding of how soldiers' personal lives are reflected on their headstones. In anticipation of the program, the students read articles, reviewed the organization’s mission statement and recent projects, and watched interviews with family members whose relatives’ graves were corrected through the organization’s efforts. This research helped students appreciate the historical and emotional significance of Operation Benjamin’s work and allowed them to generate thoughtful halachic and historical questions for Rabbi Schacter.

When Rabbi Schacter visited, he shared his powerful experiences working with families of veterans through Operation Benjamin. He emphasized the importance of Chesed Shel Emet, the ultimate act of kindness, and the sacred responsibility of honoring soldiers who defended our country. He also responded to the students’ questions, connecting their classroom learning to real-world acts of remembrance and respect.

It was a true honor to welcome Rabbi Schacter and to see the students’ Veterans Day lessons come to life through his inspiring stories and meaningful message.

Our sixth grade students had a fantastic time on today's trip along the Hudson! We enjoyed a beautiful hike with amazing views, including a walk beneath the George Washington Bridge. Midway through the hike, we stopped at Ross Dock to eat lunch, play sports and hang out together in the park. Mr. Steiner and Rabbi Shore brought their guitars along for some spirited music.

When we returned, everyone cooled off with ices and ended the day with a lively game of Panoply. It was a wonderful day of fun, friendship, and community - a perfect opportunity for our students to bond and make great memories together.

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