KINDERGARTEN SIYUM COMMEMORATING THE COMPLETION OF BEREISHIT

This week marked the completion of the first book of the Torah, Bereishit. For our Kindergarten students that meant a siyum celebrating this moment in the yearly cycle of Torah readings, and also their own artistic representations of each parsha in Bereishit. Students have been working each week on their favorite stories and characters from the parsha, culminating in this week’s siyum where they displayed their art in their completed Torah scrolls and dressed up as their favorite characters.

Judaic Studies Teacher Morah Shoshi shared that, “for many weeks, the students listened carefully to the story from that week’s parsha, eager to learn about how Yaakov and Esav traded a blessing for soup or about what would happen when they reunited years later." Morah Shoshi, along with Kindergarten Teachers Morah Elyse and Morah Aliza, added that "through the siyum, students become invested in and part of the Torah because they reenacted and therefore made its stories come to life. As a result, they are connected to their heritage in a kinesthetic and fun way."

Firsties learning the basics of coding with Cubetto.

A Second Grade student works on FlipaClip, an animation program.

A Third Grade student is wowed by a closed circuit that powers a propeller!

Fourth Grade students transform electrically conductive material into keyboards with Makey Makey.

Fifth Grade students focus as they use Scratch to code.

A Sixth Grade student programs a Lego EV3 Mindstorm robot.

Two Seventh Grade students collaborate to design and build a model of the Mishkan to scale.

Eighth Grade students build their mobile apps!

Students collaborate and create in the Popkin Innovation Lab.

A BUSY WEEK IN THE POPKIN INNOVATION LAB!

The Popkin Innovation Lab is always a hub of free thinking and creativity, and this week was no exception. Each grade was up to something different, and all students are encouraged in the POPLab to demonstrate Playfulness, Openness, and Perseverance known as “POP" as they learn to fear less and invent more.

"It's an absolute delight to watch students' learning come to life in the Lab. From construction of cardboard prototypes to physical computing and programming, students strengthen their design thinking, computational thinking, and creative thinking skills through a variety of engaging and purposeful projects. We strive to provide low floor, high ceiling activities that are easily accessed by all but can be extended to high levels,” said Design Thinking Teacher Lauren Ovadia and Educational Technologist and Design Teacher Seth Guttenplan.

YOUNG ALUMNI EREV IYUN IN MEMORY OF RABBI FRED ELIAS Z”L

More than 70 Schechter Bergen Alumni gathered together for our Annual Young Alumni Erev Iyun (evening of learning) in memory of Rabbi Fred Elias z”l. Middle School Judaic Studies teacher Jerry Shapiro moderated the evening of learning, and alumni from the Classes of 2015-2022 came back to the Schechter Bergen Beit Midrash to learn as a Kehillah.

Justin Yehuda (‘15), a member of the Alumni Planning Committee, gave a beautiful d’var Torah highlighting the importance of treating everyone with kindness so as to find and build community. Mr. Shapiro shared that he "chose to teach a lesson that was the last Torah I learned together with Rabbi Elias z"l before he passed. The main idea was that unlike God, humans are not always ready to change. I then asked the alumni to share a time when Rabbi Elias z"l helped them accept when they were not ready to change. It was really beautiful to hear the alumni share memories and Torah together."

Click here to view photos from our learning at Schechter Bergen this week!

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Donate a Library Book

Engrave a Paver

Dedicate a Bench Plaque

Donate a library book or place a commemorative paver or bench plaque in Bruno's Garden or our AHAVA Plaza seating area in celebration of a Schechter Bergen Simcha (Milestone Ceremonies, B'nei Mitzvot and more!)

Contact Michelle Weinraub, Director of Institutional Advancement,

for information.