William S. Malev Schools Newsletter March, 2017

Hadashot The News in Religious School, Sulam, and Kehillah High Fourth Grade Family Havdalah The fourth grade students prepared for the Family Havdalah by learning the Havdalah blessings and crea ng their own spice boxes, Kiddush cups, and candle holders.

They even made their Havdalah candles out of beeswax.

Our families enjoyed a light dinner together prior to the end of Shabbat. We were pleased that both

Rabbi Rosen and Rabbi Morgen were able to join us to talk about Havdalah and lead us in the blessings.

Our students enjoyed learning about Havdalah, making the ritual items to use, and sharing Havdalah with their families. Our parents enjoyed having the opportunity to see what the students had been learning and visi ng with each other.

Many thanks to music teacher, Dora Lee Grinberg, and 4th grade teachers, David Enav and Freda Wadler.

Fourth graders showed off their beeswax candles before twis ng them into Havdalah candles.

Kindergarten - 1st Grade

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2nd - 3rd Grades

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4th - 5th Grades; RSVP fpr Horsin’ Around Hav’dalah Sat., March 25

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A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words

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6th Grade and Sulam 7th Grade

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Kehillah High (8th - 7 12th Grades) ISRAEL-A8 PALOOZA; The Big Bread Burn

Upcoming Events: • Fri., March 24 Zamranim singing at services

Rabbi Rosen and Rabbi Morgen talked about Havdalah and led the service with the students.

CBY 6th -7th Grade Chopped: Purim Challenge CBY 6th-7th graders had an awesome me on March 5th at the Chopped: Purim Challenge! Teens from Emery/Weiner, Pin Oak, and Tra6on schools were split into groups to bake hamantaschen with

Inside this issue:

the wacky ingredients provided.

The final results included s’mores, peach, chocolate coconut, funfe9 cookie, and strawberry chocolate caramel, but the winning team stole the judges’ votes with their e-dye pizza hamantaschen. We also collected nonperishable foods that were donated to SEARCH Homeless Services. Everyone had a blast and is very excited for the next event! For more informa on on Youth Programming, contact Sarah Goldberg at sgoldberg@bethyeshurun.org or 713-255-8031.

• Sat., March 25 - Horsin’ Around Hav’dalah for 3rd - 5th graders • Sun., Apr. 2 - RS Model Seder; Kehillah High Q&A for Sulam; 11:45 Early Dismissal • Wed., Apr. 5 - Taste of Kehillah High at Brith Shalom • Sun., Apr. 9 - Sun., April 16 - Passover break - no school • Sun., Aprl 9 - The Big Bread Burn • Wed., Apr. 26 - Kehillah High Graduation • Sun., Apr. 30 - ISRAELA-PALOOZA • Watch your monthly calendar for more information!

Kindergarten We are con nuing to learn our Hebrew their parents to come and do a wonderful leEers and working very hard on the Hebrew welcoming project with them. Next, we Since we have come back from winter break, Alef-Bet book. The children are enjoying colorlearned about the we have been very busy holiday of Tu B’Shevat, ing and decora ng with something that starts learning a lot! We are with the sound of the leEer. the birthday of the working really hard on We can’t wait for you to see our finished trees, and how imour own hand made Bible portant the trees are to books of the Hebrew leEers and their own book. Learning about book of the Bible stories that they have been us. The children had Noah’s Ark was so much fun making their own fun, especially where the working on so very hard! We look forward to hand print tree prochildren got to pick which our last quarter of Religious School. ject. Our next lesson two animals they would was about ancestake on their ark. We try. Since Abraham learned the story of the and Sarah were the Tower of Babel. We Kindergarten students made their own first Jews to have learned how important it illustra ons of Noah’s Ark. children, we are all is to communicate with related to them! We others, follow rules from also learned that God promised Abraham our parents, from our teachers, from police, and Sarah that they would have many chiletc., and most important from God. Our next dren, as many as the stars in the sky. Anothstory that we learned about was Abraham and er story from the Bible that the children Sarah, the first Jewish people to believe in learned was about Joseph and his brothers God. The story taught the children to weland how the brothers were jealous of come people into their home as Abraham and him. Joseph had a special coat that his father Sarah did, and the children enjoyed invi ng gave him because he loved him the most.

Kindergarten students welcomed their parents

First Grade

as they learned about Abraham and Sarah welcoming guests.

pea ng what we hear because the original meaning may change. The students shared We were so happy to welcome our first different instances of when gossip or words To celebrate Tu B'Shevat and Earth Day graders back a6er winter break. Since we've had either hurt them or hurt someone else. we learned about Bal Tashchit (the mitzvah been back we have been busy bees working We also learned the of not destroying the and learning. song Hinei Ma Tov. Earth). We talked In Hebrew, we con nued to learn the HeWe sang the song, about ways to help brew alphabet. The students learned kaf, and we talked about save the Earth and lamed, mem, nun, samech, and ayin. They loving others and some ideas thrown learned what the new leEers look like. They sharing what makes out were recycling, also learned the sounds that these leEers picking up liEer, and make. They also have con nued to build their each of us unique.

The students learned taking shorter showHebrew vocabulary as we learn each leEer. about the importance ers. The students We took one week to review over all the of being honest made seed balls that leEers we have learned so far this year. The through the story of contained parsley kids did awesome and are really star ng to seeds that they took remember what the Hebrew alphabet sounds Jacob and Esau. They First graders created Shema pillowcases. then did a weight home to help plant. and looks like. measurement ac vity and we discussed how Next, the students learned the Shema. They In Judaics we have covered a lot of topics businesses have to prac ced reading the prayer as a class and and have learned be honest when they by themselves. As a fun ac vity we made about and disreport weights or Shema pillowcases that the students got to cussed lots of they get in trouble. decorate themselves. The pillowcases are a different mitzvot.

To wrap up January reminder for the students to say the Shema We learned about we learned the each morning and night. We also had a performing the Shehecheyanu praydiscussion about prayer and the different mitzvah of Shmirat er and why we say parts of a service. We also looked at the Ha'lashon which the prayer. Students prayer folders we made earlier in the year; tells us to be careprac ced saying the we prac ced our prayers and discussed why ful what we say. prayer together and we say these prayers. To wrap up March We played the following the words before spring break we talked about Purim.

First graders planted parsley seeds telephone game to show on paper with their fingers We have really enjoyed working with your in seed balls to take home. the students how we to the best of their abili es. children and seeing them learn and grow. need to be careful reWe'll see you when we come back!

Second Grade A6er winter break, we began studying about the Jewish life cycle, and we, of course, started by learning about how Jews celebrate the birth of a baby with a Brit Milah for boys or a Simchat Bat (or Brit Bat) for girls. We also talked about our Hebrew names and read a story about our name being the first gi6 we receive. The next week we discussed Bar/Bat Mitzvah, and two of our teen madrichim, Ben Rozen and Jadyn Grossman, talked with us about their Bar and Bat Mitzvah journeys. The students had the chance to ask the teens ques ons. We then talked about Jewish weddings and enjoyed looking at pictures of different examples of a chuppah. Then we looked at a ketubah, or a Jewish wedding contract. We talked briefly about Jewish tradi ons regarding end of life, and we read a story about a boy leaving a stone on his grandfather’s grave.

To conclude the unit, we enjoyed watching a video about the various stages in the Jewish life cycle.

Tu B’Shevat was fun, and we enjoyed reading The Lorax by Dr. Seuss and learning the valuable lesson of what happens if we do not

take care of our beau ful trees and plants.

The kids had a great me learning about Purim! They performed the play “The Purim Shpiel: The Purim Wax Museum” for the kindergarteners. It was an awesome performance by second graders, who read their parts with such expression. The play ended with them throwing bean bags at Haman. In addi on to the play, we decorated masks for Purim using various feathers, beads, etc. to create their individual styles.

In Hebrew, we have covered more leEers, including koof, tsadee, ayin, nun, and het. We con nue to prac ce each of the leEers with the vowels that we have learned.

I am looking forward to the rest of the year with the second grade!

Second graders prac cing their Purim play.

Second graders enjoyed decora ng masks for Purim.

Third Grade In Judaica we got a hands-on chance to learn about the Torah. Rabbi Morgen met with us in Shalom from 3rd grade; we have had a busy two months. In Hebrew, we are con nu- Freedman Levit Sanctuary and opened up a Torah scroll for us to look at. We learned that ing learning our leEers and vowels. The chilthe Torah reader must use a yad (pointer) when dren are doing a great reading from the Torah so job at blending them as not to smudge the words together. In class with the oils from our each child read a line hands. The Torah is wriEen that was med. Then on parchment which comes they read it from a Kosher animal. The again. They were parchment sheets are sewn excited to see how together. It can take over a their me improved year to write out a Torah. the second me We have also been learnaround. We learned ing about the lives of Abraabout the holiday of ham (Avraham), Isaac Tu B’Shevat. This is (Yitzchak) and Jacob known as the Birth(Yaakov). Abraham was 100 day of the Trees. The Rabbi Morgen showed the third graders years old when Isaac was Torah has laws about an open Torah. born. We discussed the when we are able to story of the "Akeidah" eat from a fruit tree which is when God tested Abraham by asking so it is important to know how old a tree is.

We also learned about the "Shivat Haminim" - him to sacrifice his son. Abraham was prepared to do this, but at the last minute, Isaac was these are the 7 species of produce that the spared and an animal used in his place. Isaac Torah talks about: grapes, barley, olives, had twin boys, Jacob and Esau. We learned that wheat, dates, pomegranates, and figs.

Esau sold his birthright blessing to Jacob for a bowl of len l soup. Then when it came me for Isaac to give the firstborn blessings to his sons before he died, he was tricked into giving Jacob the blessing that was meant for Esau.

Our art projects included: decora ng kippot as we discussed Shabbat; plan ng parsley to celebrate Tu B’Shevat; making Abraham and Sarah popsicle s ck puppets; making coupons for siblings in conjunc on with learning about shalom bayit (peace in the home).

The next few weeks we will be very busy learning about the holiday of Passover.

Third grade students had fun decora ng no-bake “hamentashen”.

Fourth Grade In class, we had a In prepara on for the year-to-date review family Havdalah service, day, where we the 4th graders cra6ed played fun games their own Havdalah sets! and revisited holiThe students skillfully days and Bible stopainted their individual ries from past clasKiddush cups, candleses. We learned holders and spice boxes. about Tu B’Shevat They rolled beeswax and and the importance twisted them to create a of conserving the classic Havdalah candle environment. At the Fourth grade students raced to locate Hebrew end, we got to enjoy as well. In prepara on, words that the teacher called out. the students learned the yummy cups of Havdalah blessings in dried fruit! class as well as with Mrs. Grinberg, and they We watched the story of “Honi and the Carob learned the Birkat Hamazon (blessing a6er the Tree” and talked about the futures we’d like to meal) as well! We enjoyed a fantas c night see for us and our families. We also discussed with our families full of food, schmoozing, and ways in which we talk to God - whether as a singing. The students’ artwork looked fantasfriend, in mes of need, when we need to c, and the atmosphere was incredible. We apologize, etc. were glad to have Rabbi Rosen and Rabbi We had the treat of having Rabbi Morgen Morgen join us to lead Havdalah. come and speak to us! He spoke to us about

Fifth Grade Wow! What a way to start off a new semester!! Fi6h grade has been on point in their Judaics and Hebrew! We dove right in to where we le6 off. The 5th grade spent several weeks learning more about the Jewish life cycle. We discussed birth and the covenant every Jewish person enters into when they are born - B’rit Milah for boys, and B’rit Bat for girls. We learned about choosing Judaism, B’nei Mitzvah, and the importance of con nuing Jewish learning throughout life.

The 5th grade learned about Jewish weddings and its rituals. We learned news words like ketubah (a marriage cer ficate), mikvah (ritual bath), and simcha (joy). On top of ge9ng to learn about different wedding customs with pictures, videos and books, we got to do an amazing art project! We split up into four groups and each group got to make their own wedding scene with a chuppah (wedding canopy)! Everyone got materials like a base, poles, flowers, sequins, and much more! Not only that, each group received clay to make their own chatan (groom) and kallah (bride).

The results were beau ful! Everyone did an amazing job. The groups assigned roles and worked together; you could really see it in the outcome!

Rabbi Rosen helped us conclude our learning about the Jewish life cycle by talking with us about death and Jewish customs related to death and burial.

As much as we enjoyed learning about the

the Jewish holy books, and how they relate to each other. He helped us further our knowledge of the Tanach and its composi on of Torah, Prophets, and Wri ngs.

We have been making great progress in our Hebrew; it’s becoming much easier for the students to hear a word in Hebrew and be able to write it using the correct leEers and vowels. We also have the students prac ce turning Hebrew wri ng into English translitera on, so that they have a fuller understanding of the language. During our Sunday services, we have seen a great improvement in prayers that seemed unfamiliar to the students at the beginning of the year. It’s clear to see that the 4th graders have made much progress on many of the prayers, including the Ashrei, arguably the most difficult prayer in the service.

We’ve had a great semester so far!

Horsin’ Around Hav’dalah For CBY 3rd - 5th graders

Jewish life cycle, we got to move on to something even beEer, the Land of Milk and Honey!

We have just started, but we are all very excited to learn about Israel and each of its ci es.

We began with an overall look at the beau ful Jewish country. Every week we will learn about a new city in Israel. There are so many art projects to do and fun facts to learn about all the amazing places. The kids were very interested in the Israeli Defense Force as well as the Kotel (The Western Wall).

We first learned about the city known for its beau ful beaches and delicious food, Tel Aviv. Then we studied Jerusalem and the Fi6h grade students enjoyed holy sites found working in groups to create there. a Jewish wedding scene.

We know our Sunday mornings sound amazing and you bet our Wednesday a6ernoons are too! Learning Hebrew can be a lot of fun, and our 5th grade can tell you something about that. We are learning the blessings in the Amidah. We have

Saturday, March 25 5:30—8:45 pm (Parents are invited to join us at 8:30 for Hav’dalah)

RSVP’s needed!

so far studied the Avot V’imahot and Gevurot. Following Gevurot is Kedushah, which is what we just finished, and we will now begin Hoda’ah. We are always doing a different ac vity. Our favorite is using Legos and flashcards. Each group gets a bag of Legos with Hebrew leEers and vowels on it, a set of flashcards with Hebrew words from the blessings we are learning, and a marker.

First, they have to use the word given on the flashcard to make a word out of the Legos.

A6er that, they have to make sure everyone in the group knows the word from Hebrew to English and English to Hebrew. Then they have to write the word on the board under their team name. Fi6h grade absolutely loves it!

As you can see we are having such a good me and learning so much. We hope to con nue to get such a large turnout of students. I love seeing each and every one of our students and cannot wait to see what the rest of the year brings!

A Picture Is Worth a Thousand Words

Sixth Grade

exhibited Joseph reuni ng with his brothers. Addi onally, the It has been another very students had the opportunity successful and exci ng learning to watch Godcast clips and, experience for the sixth graders together, we discussed the during these past few months. In various values that were porregard to our Sunday lessons, in trayed by our ancestors. The which we focus on learning the students truly excelled in linkTanach, I am very thrilled to ing the various Torah themes share that we have culminated that we learned in the beginthe first book of the Torah, ning of the year to the new B’reishit! During this journey, the material. students really enjoyed par ciOn Wednesdays, during our pa ng in several interac ve Hebrew lessons, we have covac vi es that reflected the stoered several of the prayers that ries and values that they learned are recited during a Shabbat from the parshiot. During one Sixth grade students learned morning Torah Reading serpar cular ac vity, the students how to e the knots on a tallit vice. A strong emphasis has u lized their ar s c skills in been placed on this area of in a Living Legacy program. designing their very own social learning, as the students are media page depic ng the life of Joseph. The approaching their B’nai Mitzvah. The students students really demonstrated incredible creaprac ced reci ng the prayers and learned the vity by this project and they are on are disbeau ful meanings behind them. Addi onally, play in Beth Yeshurun. The students also enthe students have learned several new Hebrew gaged in an entertaining skit in which they words and they have been prac cing them

through interac ve ac vi es, which has been really fun and s mula ng. For example, the students were challenged to compete against their classmates by quickly finding the correct index card somewhere in the classroom with a Hebrew word on it that matched to the English transla on that was announced. The students also played a challenging Lego game, in which they worked in groups and competed against each other. The task involved composing specific Hebrew words with Hebrew Lego pieces while rapidly working to be the quickest group to finish, which was super exhilara ng.

Once again, the sixth grade students have demonstrated impressive understanding of the material they have learned. Furthermore, their mo vated and enthusias c par cipa on has truly enhanced the quality of their learning. I am so proud of the students’ achievements and eager to con nue teaching this terrific group of students!

Sixth & Seventh Grade Volunteer at Hermann Park

Sulam - Seventh Grade It has been a very busy few weeks for 7th grade Sulam students.

In January, students learned about the mitzvah of wearing tefillin from Rabbi Strauss.

Students then created their own set of model tefillin and later par cipated in Beth Yeshurun’s World Wide Wrap, a day in which par cipa ng synagogues teach the mitzvah of wrapping tefillin.

To end the month, we joined other religious schools at the Beren Academy for Limmud B’Yachad, a community day of learning for 6th and 7th grade religious school students throughout the greater Houston area that has become an annual tradi on. This year Hebrew language was the focus of instruc on with students par cipa ng in a Jeopardy game

which tested their Hebrew knowledge. collect trash, raked leaves, moved landscape Some of the games turned into a fierce commaterial, and had a great day in the sunshine – pe on. The day ended with an amazing all while doing a mitzvah! drum workshop as stuWith Purim apdents and teachers alike proaching, stupar cipated by drumming dents spent me and created quite the crea ng ar cles, community rhythm! want-ads, and To celebrate Tu B’Shemore for a Purim vat, we spent me at the newspaper. This Hermann Wetlands. What crea ve way to is that, you may ask? It is learn about the an area of Hermann Park holiday had stuon its eastern boundary dents engaged and that is inten onally le6 in energized as they its natural habitat which learned about this Rabbi Strauss taught the Sulam seventh celebra on of Jewish is part wetlands, and part graders about the mitzvah of tefillin. coastal prairie. We helped survival.

Wow, I can't believe the year is almost over! We have just a couple weeks le6 of our third and final trimester for this year. This trimester classes meet at Congrega on Brith Shalom. The 10th grade spent a Shabbat together in Galveston February 24-25. The students had a great me engaging in Jewish learning, ea ng and hanging out with each other, clergy and educators.

The 12th graders will aEend AIPAC Policy Conference in Washington D.C. March 2628. They choose their own breakout sessions to aEend, meet with state representa ves to discuss issues of importance to the US-Israel rela onship and work on forming their own Jewish based network. The students all look forward to this experience and are able to beEer connect to one another and those staffing the trip.

Kehillah High helped to organize and par cipate in the teen night at the ReelAbili es Film Fes val. The teens watched the film, Do you Dream in Color? There was also a discussion following the film. The film followed the journey of four different high schoolers who were all blind.

The film also served as the kick off for JServe registra on, the interna onal day of Jewish youth service. Many of the Kehillah High serve on the steering commiEee. One of the steering commiEee members spoke following the film and encouraged everyone in aEendance to par cipate in J-Serve on Sunday, April 2. This year J-Serve is on Sunday, April 2 from 12:30-5pm. The theme of the day is InVisible Differences. Kehillah High and Beth Yeshurun are both community partners in the event!

We are looking forward to our next community program on Wednesday, March 29.

Claire Bernstein with the Jewish Coali on Against Domes c Abuse (JCADA) in Rockville, MD will be facilita ng a workshop for the 10th - 12th grade on healthy rela onships called It's Not Love.

For teens unable to meet on Wednesday evenings, Kehillah High has launched a new program, Making Connec ons through Music, in partnership with the Evelyn Rubenstein Jewish Community Center (ERJCC). This program meets once a month on Sundays a6ernoons from 1- 3 pm at the ERJCC and brings teens and senior ci zens together for conversa on and meaningful engagement around music and memory.

We will celebrate the conclusion of our second year and the gradua ng class of 2017 on Wednesday, April 26!

For more informa on or to register, contact Danielle Alexander at 713-271-7369 x334 or Dalexander@KehillahHouston.org.

Kehillah High is a mul -denomina onal partnership with Congrega on Beth Israel, Congrega on Beth Yeshurun, and Congrega on Brith Shalom, partly funded by the Jewish Federa on of Greater Houston and Houston Jewish Community Founda on.

Go to www.kehillahhouston.org to learn more about Kehillah High.

Kehillah High teens and staff enjoyed the 10th Grade Shabbaton. Pictured here on the beach house deck (right) and on the ferry on the ride home (below).

Kehillah High teens roamed the halls taking pictures for their class.

To Beth Yeshurun’s 2017 Graduates: Benjamin Bresalier Rachel Lootens Aryeh Gruber Bailey Slawin

William S. Malev Schools for Religious Studies Congregation Beth Yeshurun Rhona and Bruce Caress Family Campus 4525 Beechnut Houston, Texas 77096 Phone: 713-255-8034 Fax: 713-481-9800

Education Director - Sheryl Eskowitz Administrative Assistant - Lauren Federow Youth Program Coordinator - Sarah Goldberg

Please take me to LIKE our page on Facebook, so that you will get to see more pictures of events that are happening throughout the school.

ISRAEL-A-PALOOZA: Faces of Israel Sunday, April 30 We are excited to announce that ISRAEL-A-PALOOZA: Faces of Israel will be held on Sunday, April 30 at 11:00 12:30! The fun-filled event is for all kindergarten - sixth grade Religious School families and will feature many

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new sta ons and ac vi es this year!

We know you won’t want to miss it!

This year’s focus is on the people in Israel who make it such an incredible place. Come celebrate Yom Ha’Atzmaut, Israel Independence Day, with us - it will be a morning filled with food, music, and lots to do for children and parents!

As in the past, we ask that every family make arrangements to have at least one adult there with their children. Classes will meet that morning from 9:30 - 11:00, and then parents will join their children at 11:00.

We’re looking for many volunteers from our Sulam and Kehillah High students and their parents. Contact sgoldberg@bethyeshurun.org to volunteer.

This program is again being generously sponsored by Arthur and Joyce Dauber, and we are so grateful for their support.