Religious School

Special Message from Director Judy Alexander

April 4, 2021 by • Our Staff, Religious School, Temple News •

Shalom Chaveirim/Dear Friends:

Judy AlexanderWhen I came to Temple Sinai back in 1998 I had not lived in any one place longer than three years, at least not since I was a kid. So the fact that I’ve been here for almost 23 years is really astounding. But as Jerry Seinfeld said when he decided to end his TV show, “I wanted the end to be from a point of strength. I wanted the end to be graceful.”

And so it is that I have made the decision to retire at the end of this school year, while the Temple is strong, in good hands, and before I’ve reached my expiration date.

Temple has been a source of love, joy, inspiration, and strength to me over these years. I’ve made wonderful friends and connections, had great times, and above all, loved working with the many, many children over the years.

I’m not going anywhere, I’ll still be around. I won’t be the Education Director anymore, but I hope I will always be Morah Judy.

Chazak, chazak, v’nitchazek/May we go from strength to strength,

Morah Judy

Everything you Need for Young Families Seder

March 22, 2021 by • Religious School, Young Families, Youth Programming •

Singing, dancing, fun-filled seder!
Congregants and religious schools students lead!

Sunday, March 28, 4-5 PM
Join the Seder (passcode required)
Call Temple Office (802) 862-5125 for passcode

If you’d like to help lead, there are still parts available:
Sign Up to Help Lead

Get your Seder Resources here:
View/Download Kids’ Hagadah (PDF)

View/Download Passover Songs (PDF)

If you’d like to participate more fully at home, have the following items ready:

Holiday candles (any will do fine), matches
Matzah–3 pieces piled in the middle of the seder plate
Horseradish
Parsley
A bowl of salty water
Wine and/or grape juice
Hard boiled egg (some families like to have hard boiled eggs in salt water)
A bone  (I use a plastic sheep)
Cup of wine for Elijah
Cup of water for Miriam
Seder plate (any big plate will work just fine)
Whatever snacks you might need to keep the family engaged!

Charoset–Here’s a basic recipe:

2 C chopped apples
1/2 C chopped nuts
1/2 t cinnamon

2 T sweet wine

Mix together & chill.  You can add in whatever else you like.  The goal is to have a tasty, slightly sticky/gooey concoction that symbolizes the mortar the slaves used when they laid bricks for Pharaoh’s monuments.  Have fun–search online for recipes from all over the world!
Click the “Download the Hagadah” link above for more info.

You need not be a Temple Sinai member to attend the seder!

 

HELP LEAD Young Families Seder!

March 5, 2021 by • Passover, Religious School, Young Families •

The whole congregation is invited to help lead the Young Families seder!

Who may lead?  ANYONE!  Kids!  Parents!  Uncles, Aunts, Friends, Grandparents!  The more the merrier!
The more people in a household participating together = more fun for everyone!
(Temple Sinai membership not required)

Sunday, March 28, 2021,  4-5 PM
ZOOM meeting # : 854 7612 2464
Password: call Temple Office (802) 862-5125

3 Ways to PARTICIPATE:

  • Live on ZOOM. 
  • Via pre-submitted video.
  • Tech Support–we’d love help from people with editing skills, to help edit snippets people will submit into finished seder music videos! 

Sign up! Tell us which part you want & if you’d like to do it live or on pre-submitted video. Pls include phone #

Download the Young Families Hagadah

Download Additional Passover Lyrics

Here are the parts:
(Scroll down for the open parts)

Blessing—candles & shechechiyanu  BAER FAMILY

Blessing—wine-–  LORENTZ FAMILY
Baruch atah adonai eloheinu melech ha’olam, borei p’ri hagafen.
Thank you, G-d, for the grapes that grow to make wine and juice for our holiday celebration
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_qS8vY41HP0

Four questions–
Question 1–ARIELLE & MADELINE G.
Question 2–SYDNEY & LAILAH B.
Question 3–LUCY O.
Question 4–STEIN SISTERS
(“Four questions” words–download “KID’S HAGADDAH”)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fn3FNA4Ar40

Song—“Building Cities”  HALEVY FAMILY
(“Building Cities” words–download “KID’S HAGADDAH”)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Tb5cbrZ-Ng

Song—“Listen King Pharaoh”  BENJAMIN FAMILY
(“Listen King Pharaoh” words–download “KID’S HAGADDAH”)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tMpUTHoIzM4

Song—“One Morning”  BAER FAMILY
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WmZAk3CE-pA

Activity—taking 10 drops of wine/juice from cup and saying the 10 plagues in Hebrew and/or English

Song—“Avadim Hayinu”  LORENTZ FAMILY
(“Avadim Hayinu” words–download “KID’S HAGADDAH”)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TViQBBG1wKU

Song—“Miriam’s song”
The whole congregation is invited to make a music video of Debbie Friedman’s “Miriam’s Song”  

To participate:
  1. Video you & your family dancing, playing, being silly to this soundtrack: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QZdSEsZ8bMo
  2. Submit video & headshots by March 21
  3. Enjoy the video during our Young Families seder, March 28, 4-5 PM!

Please submit videos & headshots by March 21!

Families/people who have sent video snippets:

HALEVY FAMILY
STEIN FAMILY
GREENBLOTT FAMILY
BENJAMIN FAMILY
VALASTRO FAMILY
ORRINGER FAMILY
LORENTZ FAMILY
We still need more families, couples, singles!  All ages!  The more the merrier!  This will be an ongoing project.  At this point, the sooner I get the material the better, but feel free to submit even after Passover.

Blessing—matzah—read or chant–MALCOLM S.
Baruch atah adonai eloheinu melech ha’olam, Ha motzi lechem min ha’aretz
Baruch atah adonai eloheinu melech ha’olam, Asher kidshanu b’mitzvotav, V’tzivanu al achilat matzah
Thank you, G-d, for the blessing of bread, and for the special matzah we eat on Pesach.
Brachot Matzah.aifc

Blessing—parsley–read or chant RYAN S.
Baruch atah adonai eloheinu melech ha’olam, borei p’ri ha’adamah
Thank you, G-d, for the vegetables that grow in the ground.

Blessing—maror (bitter herb)–read or chant  TRISTAN S.
Baruch atah adonai eloheinu melech ha’olam, Asher kidshanu b’mitzvotav, V’tzivanu al achilat maror
Thank you, G-d, for maror.

Showing—show egg & bone  VALASTRO
Read: There are 2 other symbols on the seder plate. The egg is another reminder of spring, the time when the Jews were freed from slavery in Egypt. The bone recalls the first celebration of Passover when the people roasted a lamb and ate it with matzah.

Song—“Eliyahu & Miriam Ha’Neviyah”– LORENTZ FAMILY–“ELIYAHU”,  MADELINE & ARIELLE–“MIRIAM HA’NEVIYAH”
(“Eliyahu” words–download “KID’S HAGADDAH”)
(“Miriam” words–download “ADDITIONAL PASSOVER LYRICS”)
“Eliyahu” video:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l30lgVThQyE
“Miriam Ha’Neviyah” video:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PFDfByeSan4

Song—“Dayenu” (“Dayenu” words–download “ADDITIONAL PASSOVER LYRICS”)
1st verse—mi-mitzrayim  GABERT FAMILY
2nd verse—natan lanu et ha’torah  SOMEONE VOLUNTEER!
3rd verse—natan lanu et ha’shabbat  SOMEONE VOLUNTEER!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8p1pabOX3fc

Song—“Who Knows One Rap”  —7th GRADE CLASS, TS RELIGIOUS SCHOOL
(“Who Knows One” words–download “ADDITIONAL PASSOVER LYRICS”)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CkfGdm1WBh4

Song—“Chad Gadya”–This song will be presented LIVE.  A family will sign up for an animal/character.  They will have a sound for their animal/character, activity it out and/or make a mask for it, and we’ll go around on ZOOM doing the song.
(“Chad Gadya” words–download “ADDITIONAL PASSOVER LYRICS”)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MQBpEmrrIZ8
Goat–SYDNEY B.
Cat–LORENTZ FAMILY
Dog–STEIN/GREENBLOTT FAMILY
Stick–ARIELLE G.
Fire–WENDY VALASTRO
Water–MALCOLM S.
Ox–MADELINE G.
Butcher–JAMES VALASTRO
Angel of Death–GABERT FAMILY
G-d–SARAGAIL

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Religious School Update – 11/30/2020

November 30, 2020 by • Ma Nishma Blog, Religious School •

Shalom Mishpachot/Dear Families:

I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving, albeit different from years past.

It’s almost December. Tomorrow. Don’t forget to look up to the sky tonight to see a beautiful full moon (that is if it isn’t too cloudy).

Just a few things to keep on your radar.

Saturday, Dec. 12 from 4:00-5:00 our own Saragail is leading a family-fun Hanukkah extravaganza program for families. Online, so check the weekly email for Zoom links etc.

December 17 our school is having its annual Hanukkah party. We are modifying school times that day so watch for updates and a different Zoom link. Additionally, one of our activities includes making sufganiyot (donuts). Don’t worry, it’s an easy microwave recipe, but you will need to have the ingredients ready ahead of time. We will send them home.

There’s lots more going on for Hanukkah, as you may have seen in the weekly messages already. If you’re ever uncertain, another great place to check is the Temple’s website and calendar. Or shoot me an email, text, or phone call. Happy to talk to you. 802-598-7975

Thanks to the parents and students who gave me feedback on how classes are going. All things considered, they seem to be doing very well.

Kol tuv,

Morah Judy

Religious School Update from Morah Judy

September 22, 2020 by • Religious School •

Shalom Horim/Dear Parents:

I hope everyone had a good New Year. I know some of you heard that my husband, Bruce Chalmer, had a subdural hematoma and landed in the hospital this weekend to have a brain drain. Thank God it went well and he’s home now. It wasn’t how we planned to spend Rosh Hashanah, but, as I recall from one of my emails, I did say man plans and God laughs.

More

Important Announcement – School Opening Delayed

September 14, 2020 by • Religious School, Temple News •

Shalom Mishpachot/Dear Families:

“The best-laid plans of mice and men often go awry'”

We had a run through with the teaching staff and things did not go well. Rather than begin a new school year with technical problems, we are going to take more time to work them out.

This week we will work on the tech issues and next Thursday (Sept. 24), we will have a technical run through with all of our Religious School families to make sure everything is working. We won’t have regular class, just a chance to see if you can all get into the assembly and your classes. It will be a great opportunity for you and your child to meet your teachers and iron out all the glitches.

Then, if everything is good, we will begin school in earnest on October 1st.

Watch your email and the weekly announcements for all the updates. And, as always, feel free to call, text, or email me with any concerns or suggestions.

Shanah tovah,

Morah Judy

Religious School Update – September 11, 2020

September 12, 2020 by • Religious School •

Shalom Mishpachot/Dear Families:

I can’t believe school begins in less than a week! We’re just about ready – I hope you are too.We will be using Google Meet for our video platform. I believe it’s easier if you have a Google/Gmail account, but not totally necessary. However, you may want to set up a Google account just for this purpose – and ease.

We have also set up Google Classroom. I will be posting all school announcements on the ALL SCHOOL page. Individual teachers may choose to put their own announcements up on their pages. All Religious School families should receive the links via email. You can also contact me for these.

Please note. There are two assemblies; one for the lower school (grades K-3 from 3:30-3:45) and one for the upper school (grades 4-7 from 4:30-4:50). Your child need only attend the pertinent one, or may choose to attend both. Classes have separate links.

GIFT BAGS

Sisterhood was kind enough to give the school a monetary gift. With this money we put together some gift bags for all the children. I will be at Temple on Sunday, Monday & Tuesday (Sept. 13, 14, 15) from 4:00-5:00 p.m. in order that you may pick them up. If none of those times works for you, call or email to arrange an alternate time. Included in the bag is a family Scavenger Hunt. You may want to get a head start so here is a link to it.

Savlanut!Word of the day: Savlanut - Patience

My father used to say that to me quite a lot. It means PATIENCE in Hebrew. I am going to ask all of you for your savlanute as we iron out all the kinks of this strange new school year.

Guaranteed there will be:

  • Confusion with the links and technology
  • A learning curve with the technology
  • Getting used to the new schedule
  • Not being able to get onto your computer
  • Batteries running low or running out
  • And I’m sure a million other things that I cannot even anticipate

On your child’s first day of school, the teachers will walk you through some of the technology that has to do with our new curriculum, ShalomLearning. Heck, I’m still learning it!!!

Kindness… savlanute/patience …not being so hard on ourselves and our kids and/or other family members is key.

If you haven’t registered your child… please do so ASAP. I have submitted our current roster to the folks at ShalomLearning, who will email you your child’s log-in information.

School Registration Information

And, if you know of any families who are interested in our school, please send them to me. We already have six new families in our school!

Have a peaceful Shabbat, and great weekend, and I’ll see you when you come to pick up your gift bags,

Shanah Tovah/Happy New Year,
Morah Judy

Email Morah Judy

Religious School Update 2020-21 School Year (UPDATED)

September 2, 2020 by • Religious School •

Shalom Mishpachot/Dear Families:

There is an old Yiddish adage: Mann Tracht, Un Gott Lacht: Man plans and God laughs. I know a lot of folks are not laughing these days, but there are plenty that are as we’re all adjusting to the new normal. At Temple and Religious School, we’re trying to create interesting and engaging programs for everyone*.

Over the summer we had wonderful guest speakers, singers, and performers. The most recent, Evan Traylor, was an amazing young man who had much to say about racism, Black Lives Matter, Judaism, and where we are today. We heard the beautiful music of Dan Nichols and Ellie Flier. The Rabbi’s weekly Havdalah services are meaningful and soulful. We also had a concert and Brunch & Learn with Joe Buchanan and his “Americana with a Jewish Soul.”

I’ve been busy learning a lot of new technology this summer. With our new curriculum through ShalomLearning, we will be using the Schoology learning platform. All of your children will be getting login information which is why I need you to register your child. The sooner we get your registration, the sooner I can send the info to ShalomLearning for your login credentials.

We are also setting up Google Classroom, which I know many of you already use through your child’s school. If you’d like to check out the sample classroom I set up, contact me for the class code. We are hoping to use Google Meet for the classes, but there’s also a possibility we may use ZOOM. Please have patience as I try to iron out all the tech kinks.

Here is a quick update of some new developments in our school.

We are staying online. At least for the fall semester. As things progress, we can reevaluate. So I want to give you information on what will happen this fall.

First Day of School is Thursday, September 17th

We will begin our fall classes on Thursday, September 17th. This will be a virtual gathering for everyone, a time to come back together, check in, meet the teachers, and do a little High Holiday stuff (after all, Rosh Hashanah begins the following day).

Here is what a typical school day will look like:

3:30 – Assembly for grades K-3 (Saragail Benjamin is leading this Assembly)

3:45-4:30 – Grades K-3 have their virtual classes, 3rd Grade Hebrew and 4th Grade Judaic Studies*

4:30 – 4:50 – Assembly for grades 4-7 (Rabbi Edleson is leading this Assembly)

4:50-5:35-ish (depending on the class) – Grades 4-7 have their virtual classes; 4th Grade Hebrew and 3rd Grade Judaic Studies*

5:35-ish – Torah Chanting (October 15-April 1 for students in grades 6 & 7)

*Hebrew Instruction

We are using JLearnHub, part of the ShalomLearning program, for our Hebrew instruction. Hebrew will begin in earnest in Grade 3. I have hired a wonderful master teacher in Florida, Terri Friedman, who has much online teaching experience. She will teach both 3rd & 4th grade Hebrew, on Thursdays, a change from our previous schedule.

Students in grade 5-6 will have more individualized Hebrew instruction which will be set up according to your schedules. Originally it was going to be on Wednesday, but there is greater flexibility here.

Teachers

We’ve been very fortunate at Temple Sinai to have committed, caring teachers over the years. Unfortunately we have lost several teachers this past year due to other commitments. Fortunately, we have some new (and some returning) teachers. Let me introduce you to them.

Saragail Benjamin – K/1

Sara has been leading our family programs the past two years and also has taught in our Religious School. She is back teaching our K/1 class and leading the lower school assembly.

Holly Issenberg – Kitah Bet/2nd Grade

Holly taught in our school several years ago while still a student in high school. She spent a year in Israel and is currently a student at UMass-Amherst. Holly had her Bat Mitzvah and was Confirmed at Temple Sinai. We are thrilled to have her back.

Danielle Levine – Kitah Gimmel and Kitah Dalet/ 3rd and 4th Grade; these are two separate classes except for Hebrew**

Many of you know Danielle from her years of teaching at Temple, first in our Chai School and this past year in 3rd grade. When not at Sinai, she is a teacher at The Schoolhouse.

Terri Friedman – Hebrew for Kitah Gimmel and Kitah Dalet/ 3rd and 4th Grade

I am so excited to have Terri join us. She has many years of teaching in Hebrew schools and recently she was the recipient of the 2018-2019 Gerald Legow Outstanding Achievement in Jewish Education award from South Palm Beach County Jewish Federation that recognizes and honors skilled and innovative educators in Congregational Schools.

Jessie Finklestein – Kitah Hey-Vav/5th-6th Grade (combined class)

Some of you may have met Jessie this past year. She was a volunteer in our school as she was completing her senior year at UVM. She completed her studies and is now a nurse working at the UVM Medical Center. She impressed me with her great skills in working with children and we’re very fortunate to have her with us this year.

Genay Cohen – Kitah Hey-Vav/5th-6th Grade Hebrew

Genay has been with us for many years and really gets those kids reading, especially important for the years leading up to Bnai Mitzvah. She will be working one-on-one or with small groups of students in grade 5-6.

Rabbi Edleson – Kitah Zayin/7th Grade

A man who needs no introduction. Our 7th grade this year will concentrate their studies on the topics of Zionism, the Holocaust, and the creation of the modern State of Israel.

Judy Alexander – One-on-one Hebrew with 5-6th graders** and Torah Chanting (Torah Chanting begins October 15 for students in grades 6 & 7)

In addition to me, Genay & Holly, some of our post-Bnai Mitzvah students will be working one-on-one with students in order to supplement instruction.

I hope this makes sense. And if it doesn’t, let me know. Of course, if you have any questions or concerns, feel free to call or email me; 802-598-7975.

Shanah Tovah/Happy New Year,

Morah Judy

*Subject to change/flip-flop

**Hebrew will not begin right away for 5-6 grade. I will need to do some assessment for grouping and check your availability

A High Holidays Glossary

September 2, 2020 by • Continuing Education, Ma Nishma Blog, Religious School •

The High Holidays are upon us! Here is a handy guide to words and phrases you may encounter over the High Holiday Season. Thanks to MyJewishLearning for providing this.

Akedah  — Pronounced ah-keh-DAH. Literally “binding,” the Akedah refers to the biblical story of the binding of Isaac, which is traditionally read on the second day of Rosh Hashanah .

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News from Morah Judy

March 18, 2020 by • Ma Nishma Blog, Religious School, Temple News •

Shalom Horim/Dear Parents,

By now you should have received communications from all the teachers about their ‘classes’ tomorrow and the various meeting times and ways to ZOOM in.

We have reached the final letter of the Alef-Bet that we haven’t covered, the letter VAV, which is our letter of the week.

Please share these words with your child. Our Value of the Month is still Tzedek/Righteousness. Now would be a great time while you’re all spending a lot of time together, on brainstorming ways your family can help those less fortunate.

Please read the Weekly Newsletter and Temple Calendar to see all the great online opportunities Temple is still vibrant and alive, from music videos, to classes, services, Tot Shabbats, etc. We may not physically be together, but let’s keep connected virtually during this trying time.

If you have concerns, suggestions, ideas, and other things to share, by all means, let us know.

Shalom u’vracha,

Morah Judy

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