‘Tis the day before Rosh Ha-Shana and all through my house I am kvelling (sighing big sighs of pleasure)  and schepping (i.e., experiencing - no not “schlepping,” which is something else entirely) such naches (deep gratitude and pleasure – no, not nachos!) from our wonderful kids and their amazing “Three Morehs (technically that should be morim – plural of teachers, but whatever; no, not the Three Tenors, but our THREE AMAZING, FANTASTIC AND TRULY GENEROUS TEACHERS OF OUR YOUNG PEOPLE: MIKE JAWER, ERIC ROSENBERG, AND OUR NEWEST MEMBER WHO HAS JUMPED RIGHT IN, MINDEE LAUMANN.

Mike, Eric and Mindee just sent the following letter to all our kids’ parents about the first day of our “little school in the little shul in Arlington” and I feel it’s worthy to share it with the whole Kol Ami community. Hope Warshaw, to whom we owe a big debt of appreciation for coordinating our children’s programs, asked me “how do you say WOW” in Hebrew? Well, I guess it would be what Israeli’s say “Yofi  (beautiful) – fantasti (you can figure that one out)  – kol ha-kavod (all the honor to you!) – yasher koach (all the power to you)  or m’tzuyan! (excellent!).

How blessed we have to have these three individuals who are fulfilling the wonderful mitzvah of teaching our children. NOW, parents or not, let’s help them with that sukkah! See below for details!

SHANA TOVA U-METUKAH!  A sweet new year to all from my house to all of yours!

Rabbi Leila

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Dear Parents,

Sunday marked the first class of JCEP for the school year 5769-5770. We got off to an energetic start! Thank you for getting your kids to the building by 5:00 so we could not only get off on the right foot but do so on time.

Getting to Know You

We have 14 kids in class this year – an all time high for our growing school.  First thing we did Sunday was to welcome our new classmates: Nicholas Lower-Basch (who’ll be 6 in October); Naomi  Abramowicz (who just turned 6); Nikota Laumann (7); and his big sister Retta (9).  We found out what everyone’s favorite summer activity was, whether new or returning.  Then we moved into our new format, which is a three breakout approach (for Hebrew lessons) followed by meeting in two groups, an older and a younger (for others Jewish studies).

One of the three breakouts – the elementary Hebrew section – is taught by Nikota & Retta’s mom, Mindee Laumann.  Mindee is a terrific instructor who brings much elementary age experience and we’re so pleased to have her!  She’ll be introducing the Alef-Bet to our youngest students.  Moreh Mike pilots the middle group (which will focus on putting words together through the combination of consonants and vowels), and Moreh Eric will guide the older, more advanced group (progressing toward eventual Bar/Bat Mitzvah).

Meaning of the High Holidays (and a Family To-do)

Toward the end of class, we moved into the two groups to talk about the approaching High Holidays and introduce the concept of a class constitution. Eric’s group discussed Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur as a time to pursue personal growth and bettering oneself as a Jew and as a human being.  Mike read a story introducing Tashlich – the scattering of pieces of bread or pebbles onto a pond or stream. This allows us to see that we have a fresh start when the things we wish we’d done better last year drift away with the current.

Hebrew Lesson (and Homework)

For Moreh Mike’s group: Trace every letter on every page that he handed out, except for the page with the entire elf-bet on it. Also memorize the first four vowels on that handout.

For Moreh Eric’s group: Using the Hebrew primer (we are going to a new book a few classes hence), try reintroducing yourself to the alef-bet by reading the “shema” and “vhavta” in the back of the book.

Food Drive: Your Child Can Make a Difference)

Speaking of the High Holidays, we’d again like to encourage our kids to do a major mitzvah by being part of the annual Kol Ami food drive.  Please have your child(ren) collect non-perishable foodstuffs themselves and/or gather food donations from friends and neighbors, and bring what they collect to the Yom Kippur Day services.  Empty boxes are also needed in which to pack all the donations – the older kids are welcome to help do this.  If any questions, please email Mattie Cohan, who’s coordinating this activity (fencergal@yahoo.com).  We’ll discuss how it felt to do this important mitzvah at our next class on October 4th.

Next Class in the Sukkah?  Your Help Needed

October 4 is Sukkot and we’d like your help to do something different this year!  Congregants Jen and Dann Sklarew, in North Arlington, have offered to host a Sukkah for Kol Ami – and our plan is to hold our next class right there – enabling the kids to see, feel and otherwise immediately experience this facet of our tradition.  We just need to help the Sklarews build it! (and break it down)    .

Please go asap to their sign-up sheet, posted at http://doodle.com/c5evzh895ue4fgyu, to help out.  Otherwise, the Sukkah will not become a reality, and we’ll have to hold class in the same old classrooms.

Here are what Dann and Jen need us to do:

1.           Order and obtain (before Fri, Oct 2) lulav and etrog, etc.:  (already done)

2.           Sukkah set-up (pre-sunset [6:45], Fri, Oct 2): 5-9 people    

3.           Sukkah ritual prep/leadership (Sat, Oct 3): 1-3 people     

4.           Sukkah festivity prep (set-up for meal, service on Sat.): 2-4 people     

5.           Sukkah festivity clean-up (after meal, service on Sat.): 2-4 people     

6.           Sukkah break-down (Thurs or Fri, pre-sunset): 5-9 people

None of these will take much time, so please step forward!  Any questions should go to dann@sklarew.com.

Questions?

We’re looking forward to another exciting year filled with learning, meaning and fun!  If ever you have questions or concerns, please contact any of the teachers and we’ll get right back with you.  Shanah Tovah to you and your family – may we together be blessed with health, happiness, and personal growth and fulfillment in 5750. May it also be a year of peace.

See you in shul,

The Three Morehs