ב״ה
TORAH TEA Charlotte Rohr Middle School Judaic Studies Newsletter
December 2021 Tevet 5782 Vol 1 Issue 1
Inside the Issue
INTERVIEWS
CHESED CLUB
BRINGING THE LIGHT OF CHANUKAH INTO THE REST OF THE YEAR The middle school celebrated Chanukah throughout the week with various programs and activities in the classrooms and beyond. They made latkes, built solar-powered menorahs in science class, learned the history of the Chanukah story during social studies, wrote poems about dedication during Language Arts, and even built replicas of the Beis Hamikdash to scale during math. During Talmud class they discussed how the miracles of oil and war are publicized according to rabbinical sources. May the light of Chanukah continue to reach students' hearts and homes form many years to come, with G-d's help.
AWARENESS OF HASHEM
BUILDING THE BEIS HAMIKDASH TO SCALE USING MATH SKILLS
Chesed club
By Aviva Ettelson In Chesed Club, they have been working on many things to contribute to the kids in the hospital. They have been learning how to knit. Soon they will be making hats for the babies. They just finished making blankets, and bracelets for the kids. Also, they are working on puzzles and mirrors. There are 14 participants in Hands-On Chesed Club. One of the students wanted to share how much she loves the club. “I love chesed club so much. We always do fun stuff to give to the kids in the hospital. I recently just learned how to knit.” The Chesed club is sending its creations to the Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital.
December 2021 | Tevet 5782
Issue 01
ABOUT ROSH CHODESH
By Ayelet Berkower
GLUTEN-FREE BANANA BREAD By Ruthie Assaraf
What you need: 2 medium spotty bananas 2 eggs 1 ⅓ cup of almond flour ½ cup of oats blended into flour ⅓ cup honey ¼ cup coconut oil 1 tspn baking soda ½ tspn baking powder 1 tspn cinnamon 1 tspn vanilla extract ½ cup chocolate chips Preparation: Blend or whisk together the wet ingredients until smooth. Add in the dry ingredients and mix well until combined. Stir in half of the chocolate chips. Pour into greased bread pan and top with remaining chocolate chips. Bake on 350 F for about 30-35 minutes.
Rosh Chodesh means “head of the month,” and we celebrate the new moon. Rosh Chodesh symbolizes the beginning of every Hebrew month. For the months that have 30 days, Rosh Chodesh is observed for 2 days. During the months that have 29 days, we observe Rosh Chodesh for 1 day. Rosh Chodesh starts at nightfall of the proceeding day. Rosh Chodesh is a special holiday for women. In the three daily prayers, we add a paragraph on Rosh Chodesh in which we ask G-d to favor us in hard times. The Shabbat before Rosh Chodesh is known as Shabbat Mevarchim. On this day we recite special prayers to bring us health and happiness and only good things. It is a custom to wish people “Chodesh Tov,” a good month. Rosh Chodesh is a holiday we all should commemorate and take part of because it means so much to us Jewish people.
AWARENESS OF HASHEM The 7th and 8th grade Lamdanam students learned Chapter 1 of the Shulchan Aruch. When we awaken in the morning, we must immediately recognize and appreciate the kindness G‑d has done for us. Not only has G‑d returned the soul which had been entrusted to us, He has returned our soul refreshed and rejuvenated, unlike the tired and weary soul that had been given over the previous night. Hence, while still in bed, even before we wash our hands, we should say Modeh Ani - "I offer thanks to you..." Since the Modeh Ani does not contain G‑d's name, one is permitted to say it before washing our hands. By saying Modeh Ani immediately upon awakening, we will realize that G‑d is in our midst and will immediately get out of bed and prepare ourselves for the service of G‑d.
continued on page 5 December 2021 | Tevet 5782
Issue 01
STUDENT INTERVIEWS BEN HOFFMAN, 6TH
MICHAEL HAKMON, 7TH
By Ruthie Assaraf
By Abigail Eliav
What is your favorite Jewish holiday and why? Chanukah because I get a lot of presents and it lasts 8 days What are you most thankful for? My family and my friends. Which school event are you looking forward to the most and why?
Do you have any special Chanukah traditions? “Every boy at my house lights the Menorah.” What school event are you most excited about and why? “Color war because it’s fun and you play a lot of sports. Are you on any of the sports teams? “I didn’t try out for any, but I will be trying out for basketball.” How are you doing in school? “Good, I’m actually passing.”
Color War, It's gonna be fun, we
What is an important thing that’s happening for you right now
won’t have work for a few days, and
in school? “Cadena, I moved on to the next stage.”
we don’t need to wear uniform. What are you most thankful for? “I’m most thankful for my life
SHANA STROHLI, 8TH By Lily Reinberg Which school event are you looking forward to the most? Color War. “I’m very athletic and I enjoy testing my leadership roles” “I have had color war twice and enjoyed both times." Fav Sport Season: girls football with Coach Mallory Advice for future volleyball players: Try your hardest, have fun, and listen to Coach Steven. Shana Stroli is an athlete in our middle school. She was a starter on volleyball and helped her team win the championship. Now she is starting on the girls basketball team. When asked what advice she has for future athletes she said to work with your teammates and practice all the time. Shana has a fun plan for Thanksgiving. She said that she is going on a family trip to Philadelphia. Her favorite school activity is color war and her favorite holiday is chanukah because as she mentioned she loves getting gifts. One sport she is looking forward to is flag football.
and my family.” What are you excited about in seventh grade? “Playing basketball on the basketball team with the eighth graders.”
Latkes and donuts to celebrate the miracles of Chanukah
TEACHER SPOTLIGHTS MRS. JUDY NEUFELD By Eliana Bensoussan
MRS. MINDY RUBENSTEIN
Where were you born? In Miami at Mercy Hospital How many children do you have, what are their genders and how old are they? 3 boys, 1 girl. They are 43, 42, 39 and 33. How is living with your father? Challenging but joyful. How do you like teaching here at Hebrew Academy? I love it; it feels like home. I love the staff and I adore teaching middle school. What is your favorite thing about teaching? Establishing relationships with students What are your hobbies? Reading, baking challah and going for walks on the beach.
RABBI ARI KARP
Where are you from? I was born in the Tampa Bay area and have lived in Atlanta, D.C., Virginia and Jacksonville. Tell us about your career. I joined Hebrew Academy as a middle school Judaic studies teacher in November 2021. I have worked as a journalist, writer and editor since 1998, including for Chabad.org, and publish Nishei Ora, a quarterly arts and literary magazine for Jewish women. I taught at Jewish schools in Virginia and Atlanta; as well as an online school for Russian students. Why do you love teaching? I'm passionate about Judaism and serving Hashem, I chose to live an observant Torah life as an adult. Since 2007, I have studied with chavrusahs in Monsey, NY, and Lakewood, NJ, as well as rabbis and rebbetzins through Chabad and Oorah. I love taking the text and ideas of our holy seforim (books) and bringing them to life. Tell us about your family. My husband Daniel and Iive in Surfside and have four children, including a daughter who recently joined Hebrew Academy's sixth grade class.
Where are you from? Brooklyn, NY
What are your roles at HA? Middle School Judaic Studies Director and Talmud teacher What do you like about teaching? Nurturing the curiosity of students to apply Jewish values to their lives! What is your favorite Gemara discussion and why? Shabbat 88a: holding the mountain over Israel like a barrel (the validity of the covenant). This unit/Sugya explores the result of the Jewish peoples response to Hashem when asked to receive the Torah. First do, then listen. This lesson is timely, for we know that in life whether in business, or in communal work we need to take the plunge into action, and have faith that we will be successful!
Making fried latlkes to commemorate the miracle of the oil
Mesorah
Tehillim
Mesorah is "the transmission of Jewish religious tradition". Mesorah has been passed down from generation to generation throughout my family, and it is something that my family and I cherish.
Tehillim is more than simply a phrase; it's a way of life.
I am a Jew, and I take a lot of pride in that. Every Shabbat, my mom, my sister and I all light the candles. We also follow the Jewish traditions such as eating kosher, observing Shabbat, celebrating holidays, davening, etc. Going to a Jewish school plays a big part in being a Jew.
Every passuk (verse) is a tool that teaches you how to treat others and how to treat yourself in life.
By Eliana Bensoussan
By Orlie Elharar
It's something you say when you want someone to improve, but it also has to transform you.
Going to school and learning about your religion and history helps you carry on Mesorah. This way you can carry Mesorah with you forever and pass it down to your descendants.
Soul Power By Simona Folk
It takes crushing circumstances to reveal soul power Once our soul powers are revealed we can overcome our challenges
FATHER / SON PRE-CHANUKAH LEARNING & BREAKFAST
No matter our choices our soul is always holy and connected to G-d Sometimes it takes the crushing of our ego to develop a good relationship with someone else Once we form that relationship it penetrates all areas of our lives (continued from page 3)
AWARENESS OF HASHEM
By Sophia Shapiro
Modeh Ani מֹוֶד ה ֲא ִני ְל ָפ ֶניָך ֶמ ֶל ְך ַח י ֶׁש ֶה ֱח ַזְר ָּת ִּב י,ְוַק ָּים ַר ָּב ה.ִנְׁש ָמ ִת י ְּב ֶח ְמ ָל ה . ֱא מּוָנֶת ָך
Modeh ani lefanecha melech chai vekayam, she-hechezarta bee nishmatee b’chemla, raba emunatecha.
I offer thanks to You, living and eternal King, for You have mercifully restored my soul within me; Your faithfulness is great.
MAKING MENORAHS AND SPREADING LIGHT Showcasing sustainability and Israel pride, middle-school students utilized recycled and found materials to create menorahs that represent cities in the Holy Land.
Tel Aviv menorah includes seascape matierias like sand, shells and foliage
FIrst Place: Tel Aviv (above) Ayla Wasserman, Ava Fertig, Sophia Strohli, Joel Behar, Cole Benveniste-Plitt, and Simone Weinberg
2nd Place: Tzfat (right) Daniel Cohen, Matan Zagory, Aviva Ettelson, Yalya Winer, Rafaela Cohen, and Ayelet Friedman
Strategizing, planning and building
Third Place: Eilat (above) Adrian Gibly, Shirel Krigsfeld Fincheltub, Adam Malayev, Sarah Rothman, Maely Levy, Benjamim Caplan-Bernstein, and Claudia Ohana
SCIENCE: MAKING SOLAR-POWERED MENORAHS
MORAH JUDY’S CHALLAH 1TBSP sugar ½ cup warm to touch water 1pkg quick rise yeast ½ cup oil ½ cup warm to touch water ½ cup sugar 2 tsp. salt 2 eggs 4-4 ½ cups bread flour Egg yolk for top of challah after braiding Dissolve sugar in the first ½ cup of warm water in a large mixing bowl. Sprinkle yeast on top and let stand for 5 minutes. Stir in all of the other ingredients in order that they are listed. Add flour and knead dough until it is not sticky. Pour a small amount of oil at the bottom of the bowl and place kneaded dough in the bowl covered with damp cloth for 2 hours until the dough doubles its size.
Ivrit: Learning to be a tour guide in Yerusalyim
Braid dough whatever size challah you want. This is not a large amount of dough. You can make a large challah or 3 small ones. Bake at 400’ for 30 minutes, or less depending on the size of your challah and the accuracy of the temperature of your oven. For the cinnamon challah, I divide the dough in 3 and flatten each piece. On top of the piece I spoon on a mixture of cinnamon and brown sugar that has been premixed. I then roll the piece of dough making sure the cinnamon mixture is tightly secure , not coming out on any end and make 3 snakes. I then braid the challah.
Davening Shachrit
Welcome to the fist edition of Torah Tea, produced by the eighth-grade girls! Please send photos and ideas to mrubenstein@rasg.org.