Group Gimmel: May 12

Another exciting day at JUDA.

We began our lesson by learning about Commandment #9 - do not be a false witness.  While we discussed the severity of lying we also discussed, thought, how sometimes you can bend the truth if its to make someone feel good.  We learn this from Aaaron - who was champion of peace.

After learning about Shavuot and its customs, we made our own "Engraved Luchot" Bookends... with a wonderful result. 

Group Gimmel: May 5

We are making steady progress with our Ten Commandments curriculum and have covered two more this week.

After finishing our "Image of Hashem" mirrors, we learned about the commandment of "Do not committ adultery." We focused on what makes a family truly happy... its not a fancy home or lots of things.  True happiness in a family comes when everyone is committed to one another. 

We then continued onto the commandment of "Do not steal" and discussed how this does not only include robbery but also includes taking away someone's sleep, ideas and credit.  We talked about the many possibilities of being dishonest on line, i.e. downloading things that belong to other people and made a mousepad to remind us to be careful when online.

We began to learn about Shavuot with our Ten Commandments hunt and will continue the topic next week. 

Welcome to Racheli Tabib who is the new teacher for Group Gimmel. The children and Racheli seemed to have a great time this week. 

Group Gimmel: April 28

This week we nearly finished our special project... and hope for it to come home next week.

We learned about the special period of time of year that we're in - its called Sefirat Haomer. It was the time used for the Jews to leave their slave mentality and prepare themselves for receiving the Torah at Mt. Sinai.

We learned about how today, too, we use this time to figure out ways to improve our behavior. We examined many different emotions and through a game learned about how we can uese each of them (even anger and sadness) in the approrpriate ways. 

Group Gimmel:  April 21

This week we continued with the our Ten Commandments topic and learned about the 6th commandment - Do not kill.  I pretended to be an alien from Planet X where we are allowed to kill those who are in our way or bothering us.  The children needed to explain to me why you can't kill... If you can killl and animal or a tree... why not a human being?  After a bit of debate they finally convinced me with the argument that each person has a soul.  I was quite impressed that they came to this conclusion on their own.

I added the fact that we are all created as IMAGE of HASHEM and are, therefore, all equal - even if the other person bothers me.  The children then proceeded to write a sentence of two on this topic using word card.  See Photo Gallery.

We then discussed that the Mitzvah of Do Not Kill also included embarrasing someone.  We played the SHAME GAME and discussed many different ways in which people can embarrass someone else without even meaning to do so. 

We started an Art Project on this topic... the results will be revealed next week. 

Group Gimmel: April 17

We started our lesson by looking at a box full of stones and rocks in varying sizes, shapes and colors.  We discussed which one would be the most valuable.  The children chose the largest one.  We then opened another box in which we found a small 1 carat diamond.  Now which one is the most valuable.  Obviously the diamond! In spite of its small size, its value way supercedes any other stone.

We looked closed at a map of the world and compared the size of the large countries to Israel… a huge difference.  Nevertheless when G-d gave the Jews a land… he chose one for its value – not its size.  Israel has it all.

To prove this point the children sifted through a pile of photos to choose the ones that were from Israel and the ones that were not. There were photos of desserts, forests, streams, snow, old buildings and new buildings.  In the end we realized that they were ALL from Israel. What an amazing country indeed.

We also talked about the two seas in Israel. The Kineret is a “giver”… the Dead Sea a “taker.”  The Kineret is sweet and things grow around it.  The Dead Sea is salty and nothing grows around it.  The message is clear…. Being a giver makes you an attractive person. 

Each group also contributed towards the Israeli Feast that we had at the end of JUDA… Delicious Falafel in Pita with Israeli Salad and Tehina… all made by your wonderful children.

Click here for photos of last week's class.  

Group Gimmel: March 10

The movie production continues.. this week we began doing the photo shoots... We've got some really good models in our group.  Watch out for some "Oscars."

We are also working on a Guide to the Pesach Seder that we'll be distributing to the community.... stay posted.

 And, of course, the Mah Nishtana Contest is still on and we encourage the Group Gimmel children to learn the entire song.

Group Gimmel: March 3

Pesach is on its way and Group Gimmel has embarked on a huge project!! We will be producing a movie about the story of Pesach... Watch out for this "blockbuster" production due out just before Pesach.   This week we focused on recording the sound bites and next week we'll be doing the photography. The children are very excited about this project and we are sure that you will delighted with the results!!

Mah Nishtana Contest:
Please download the Mah Nishtana PDF and mp3 that you have been sent by email and encourage your children to learn the Mah Nishtana by heart. Any child in Group Gimmel that learns the entire song will receive a Mah Nishtana Award. 

Group Gimmel Update:  January 27

With Tu B'shvat in the air, we took a break from our regular topic and discussed this interesting holiday.  We started the class by deciphering the Torah verse, "For man is a tree in the field."  Although this did not make sense to the children we worked on the premise that if its in the Torah its got to make sense!  We discussed the different needs of a tree, i.e.  sun, water, roots, trunk and compared it to Hashem's warmth, our heritage, Jewish pride and Torah learning.

The children discovered some interesting things that come from a tree , i.e. gum, tires, balloons, medicine, etc. and how important these are to our existence.

By using the Chumash as our guide we were able to group people, names of trees and verses into groups. The children were suprised to see how often the Torah talks about trees.

Finally, we made a beautiful fruit bowl out of wooden sticks in honor of Tu' Bshvat.

Coming Up: PURIM!!

Group Gimmel Update:  January 20

This we explored the fifth of the Ten Commandments - a very important one - Respect your Mother and Father!

We discussed how our entire being is thanks to our parents and as a sign of gratitude we need show they appreciate and respect. We discussed the various ways of showing respect.

We also discussed a third partner in our existence - Hashem and how our Neshama is a part of him. We compared the Neshama to a candle and saw just the flame of candle is always moving upwards (even when turned upside down) a person's Neshama is always reaching for higher places.

Group Gimmel Update: January 13

This week we explored the fourth of the Ten Commandments: Remember the Shabbat and keep it holy.

We talked about a ship that finds itself in a stormy sea and how the people on board feel.  We then talked about the people spotting a lighthouse and making their way to shore.  How do they feel now?

We compared the lighthouse to Shabbat... and how it helps us calm down and relax after a tiring and face moving week at work or school.

Shabbat is Kadosh = holy = separate and special.  To welcome in Shabbat we talked about Kiddush and how that prayer is a statement about the holiness of Shabbat. We read through the Shabbat and explored the various subjects that it discusses through an outdoor hunt and code game.

We finished our lesson by starting our new art project - a hand painted glass kiddush cup.

Group Gimmel Update:  January 6

This week we began the third of the Ten Commandments - Do not swear and use G-d's name in vain.

We discussed the different relationships we have and how some are relationships of love, i.e. parents, friends and some are relationships of awe, i.e. president, principal.  Through discussion the children decided that our relationship with G-d is both. The third commandment focuses on the aspect of awe and how we need to revere G-d's name and be careful how we use it.

At first we talked about not swearing in G-d's name and then we extended this concept to discuss the Jewish custom of not throwing away papers and books with G-d's name and about how we need to treat a Torah and holy books in general.  The children decorated a "Sheimot" box for Chabad so that people deposit these types of paper and books there.