This week at Bet Sefer was filled with learning and a whole lot of fun! We started the day with Hebrew in our classroom, carefully reviewing all of the letters and vowels that we have learned so far. We then added one more letter and vowel to our list:

We then headed to the social hall for our annual Purim Carnival, where kids played Purim-themed games for prizes! Hot dogs and cotton candy completed the whole experience, and the kids had a blast (see the photos below or our photo album)!

It was a whole lot of well-deserved fun, and we look forward to next week as always!

Eugene & Zephira

Last Tuesday we began our day in the Sanctuary, singing and dancing along with Rabbi Bloom (see the photos below or our photo album).

Once back in our room, we reviewed all of our Hebrew vocabulary and letters, going around the room getting answers from each child until we had reviewed them all. We then proceeded to add one more letter and one more word to our list:

Since it was raining, we spent our break inside, completing Hebrew worksheets, word searches, and coloring sheets. After break and snack, we turned our attention to the day’s art project: mishloach manot. Out of paper cups, popsicle sticks, and other materials, the kids created their very own mishloach manot for Purim. Once completed, we filled them with hamentashen and other goodies. The kids seemed quite proud of their work!

Next week we have our Purim carnival, so we’re looking forward to seeing everyone on Tuesday!

Eugene & Zephira

We had quite a busy day this week, adding a letter and our a new vowel sound to our ever-expanding list:

After completing music, this week’s portion of our workbooks, and a Purim word-search, we went out for a well deserved break. Once back in our classrooms, we continued our unit on Purim as each child made and decorated their own mask of a character from the story (see the photos below or our photo album).

Next week we will continue our arts and craft work as we get closer to Purim, which is on Sunday, February 28th. We would like to remind all of the parents to please print, fill out, and return the Purim Carnival flyer Susan sent out, including $5.00 for your child. You may either mail it to the synagogue, Susan’s attention, or send the form and money in with your child. If you have any questions, please contact Susan directly.

See you next week!

Eugene & Zephira

We began this week in the Sanctuary as always with Rabbi Bloom, singing and dancing to our Hebrew songs. Once back in our classroom, we reviewed our Hebrew letters and words, and added a new letter to our list:

The kids seem to really be grasping the material, finishing their Hebrew workbook assignments in record time. They understand how the vowels modify the sounds that the letters make, and can recall their ever-growing vocabulary list!

After break and snack, we split into teams and played Jewpardy, Kitah Alef’s take on Jeopardy, with the categories ranging from Hebrew vocabulary to the Purim story. It was a very close game with Team Gimmel scoring the most points, but all of the kids were winners (see the photos below or our photo album)!

It was quite a fun and educational day, and we look forward to seeing you all next week!

Shabbat Shalom!

Eugene & Zephira

Music was first up on the agenda this week, letting us start our day by singing along with Rabbi Bloom. From the sanctuary we headed to our classroom, where we reviewed our Hebrew letters and words, adding one more to our list:

With a list this long, we encourage all of you to go over the vocabulary and letters with your child in order to reinforce what they’re learning in class.

After break and snack, we started our Purim unit, playing a game with the kids that tested their knowledge of the Purim story & characters. After the game, Zephira treated the class to a finger-pupper rendition of the entire Story, which the kinds greatly enjoyed. Most of them knew the Purim story very well, and those that didn’t were excited to learn (see the photos below or our photo album).

Have a great weekend!

Eugene & Zephira

This week we had our Tu B’Shevat Seder, and thanks to all of the parents (and kids) who volunteered to bring in items – it was a great success! We really appreciate it, and the kids greatly enjoyed learning about Tu B’Shvat & eating the delicious food (see the photos below or our photo album).

Done with the music and the seder, we went out for break and came back to review our Hebrew letters and words. We added not one but two letters to our ever-growing Hebrew knowledge.

We have now learned two different vowels and 16 letters! The word of the day – Etz (tree) – was also quite fitting for continuing our unit on Tu B’Shevat.

It was quite a busy day but the kids had a great time.

See you all next week!

Eugene & Zephira

The rain may have been pouring hard outside this week, but that couldn’t keep us from our learning and fun. After music with Rabbi Bloom, we returned to our classroom to review the letters we have learned so far and add a new one to our list:

Since we couldn’t go outside for break, we spent it in our classroom playing games and doing Hebrew coloring sheets. During snack, we read a Tu B’Shevat story, which served as a nice transition to the day’s art project: a Tree of Life. After splitting up into two groups, we discussed the different ways that we as humans hurt the Earth, and more importantly, the sorts of things that we can do to help the Earth. Then the kids decorated trees of their own with the ideas they came up with. We finished the day by working on a class tree, which the kids decorated with leaves containing their ideas about improving the world around them (see the photos below or our photo album).

The kids were really excited about the project, and the tree turned out beautiful!

In honor of Tu B’shvat, we are going to have a Tu B’shvat seder for our January 26th class. Part of the seder involves tasting a variety of fruits. We would love it if you could send with your child one of the items below. Please email us by Friday the 22nd to let us know what you can bring so we can make sure we have all of our items. For the fruits, we just need enough for each student (there are 13) to have a taste.

What we need:

• Two (2) kinds of grape juice – red and white – enough for each student to have 4 mini cups
• Fruit with outer shell – like a nut
• Fruit with an inner pit – dates, olives, cherries, plums
• Fruit with both an outer shell and inner pit – carob, avocado, pomegranate, orange
• Fruit that is entirely edible – figs, raisins, strawberries, grapes

As always, please let us know if you have any questions.

Thank you, and have a great week,

Eugene & Zephira

It was great to see and meet you all for our Share-a-Shabbat! The kids seemed to really be proud of the work they have done so far in class.

We began this week in the Sanctuary with Rabbi Bloom, singing our holiday and regular Hebrew songs with the other classes. Once back in our room, we reviewed all of the letters and words we’ve learned so far, and added one more to our list:

We then went out to the courtyard for break, and came back to our classroom to have snack and hear a story called Joseph and the Treasure. We finished the day by catching up on our Aleph-Bet Books, which we have been working on throughout the year. Some of the kids finished early, and worked on Hebrew coloring sheets or a Kitah Alef vocabulary word-search (see the photos below or our photo album).

See you next week!

Eugene & Zephira

It was good to be back at Bet Sefer after what seemed like quite a long break! This week we began in the Sanctuary, singing songs and practicing for our Share-A-Shabbat this Friday (01/08) with Rabbi Bloom. Please remember that in addition to the dish you said you would bring, each family is requested to bring a beverage for our Shabbat Potluck Dinner. If you have any questions, please contact Ronna (Amelia’s mom).

After music, we stayed in the Sanctuary in order to rehearse our explanation of the Torah portion story boards we made. Since we split the class into groups, Zephira and I worked with each group individually. Some of the kids took this opportunity to pick up a siddur and look at the Hebrew words in it, trying to recognize the letters we’ve learned this year. Needless to say, tomorrow’s Shabbat should be very fun (see the photos below or our photo album).

We then went on our break, coming back just in time for snack and a story. Only then did we start our Hebrew review and worksheets. This week’s letter was Vav, and the corresponding word was vered (rose).

Our list sure has grown since the start of the year! We spent the rest of the day working on Hebrew coloring sheets and listening to another great story. It was a busy day, and all of the kids were excited for their Share-A-Shabbat this week. We hope to see all of you there!

Eugene & Zephira

We jumped right into Hebrew review this week, singing our Alef-Bet song while doing the accompanying dance. We didn’t have music in the Sanctuary this week because it is Hanukah, and we had our Bet Sefer Hanukah party to attend later in the day.

Because of all of the hard work the kids have put in so far this year, we took a break today from learning a new letter and word, opting instead to review our past vocabulary. After break, we read a few Hanukah stories, and headed to the social hall, where the Hanukah party awaited.

There we sang songs with Rabbi Bloom and the Mechina and Kitah Bet classes. We also enjoyed latkes, gelt, and quite a fun dreidel competitions (see the photos below or our photo album)!

We wish you all a Happy Hanukah, and will see you on January 5th, when Bet Sefer resumes again.

Eugene & Zephira