TURNING THINGS AROUND

The students in Kitah Dalet have been talking about the basic tenets of the high holidays, specifically the laws, customs, and traditions associated with Rosh Hashanah.  Our discussions centered around tefillah, teshuvah, and tzedakah, the Jewish ways to move forward in the new year.  Students shared their thoughts and ideas on being being a respectful member of our Jewish community, and the importance of taking responsibility for observing the rules and laws in our Torah to ensure a safe environment for all learners. We talked about setting goals for ourselves, making amends to those we have hurt with our words or actions, and  fixing the wrongs we have committed.

After a brief introduction to new beginnings, we compared Rosh Hashanah to the secular new years we participate in as Jews in our community. We talked about the differences between goal setting in September, new year resolutions in January, and doing teshuvah at Rosh Hashanah. We talked about the importance of following through with our commitments as part of doing teshuvah, and accepting responsibility for our behavior as part of making the world a better place.  

We had a rather lively discussion on Tuesday afternoon, and we brainstormed ways to guarantee the continuity of Jews around the world and close to home, how to best get along with others, and the importance of taking responsibility for our behaviors.  Finally, we talked about making meaningful apologies and the three steps to true repentance.  Please ask your child to share these steps with you, and encourage them to do true teshuvah  with a family member they may have harmed.  

Wishing you a new year filled with peace, health and happiness, G'mar Chatima, Tova!  

BUILDING OUR CLASSROOM COMMUNITY

We are busy building our sacred community (kelillah kedoshah) in Kitah Dalet.  We have been talking about the importance of building connections with others to help make the world a better place and creating relationships that connect us to GOD and to each other.   Although we come from different families, schools, cities and neighborhoods, and we have different values, interests and talents, we are connected through many similar experiences and most importantly, we are connected as Jews. 

We tried our hand at webbing and talked about passing on traditions and customs from generation to generation. During the webbing exercise, students discussed the many different ways we actively participate in building our Jewish community.  We learned that our strength comes from action, and when we no longer practice our customs and traditions, our community slowly disappears.  This visual activity gave our students a unique way of seeing how we are all connected, and how when we lose our connections, our community ceases to exist. 

On Tuesday afternoon we extend our Sunday learning, and explore the mitzvot, middot, and holidays that make us one people.  We began a discussion on Rosh Hashanah, and we will continue sharing our experiences next week.  Please ask you child to share one goal they have for the New Year, and encourage them to work towards meeting their target.  

Wishing you an amazing Shabbat and an awesome weekend.  See you Sunday, Barbara

WELCOME TO KITAH DALET

Hi, and welcome to Kitah Dalet.  I am Barbara J Dworin, and I am honored to be your child’s Religious School teacher.  I am passionate about Jewish living, and I am excited to share this love with you and your family.  I have been planning all summer long, and I know your children will have a great time discovering how unique and special they are as we explore our theme of the year, Created in GOD's Image. 

My classroom objective is to provide a fun, safe, stimulating, and creative learning environment which will build a strong Jewish foundation and encourage students to be informed, knowledgeable and educated Jews, able to take personal responsibility for living a Jewish life in a non-Jewish world.  

I plan to do this through teaching integrated lessons on Torah, Jewish law, ethics and values, and praying together as a community.  This thematic approach encourages each student to recognize that being Jewish affects everything we do and helps to build a meaningful connection to our commitment to Israel and the Jewish community.  My expectation is our time together will serve as the basis for building lifelong connections in the community long after students have finished their religious school education. 

This year, I look forward to building a safe learning community while developing personal relationships with you and your children.   I invite you to visit our classroom whenever you are available, and encourage you to stop in and introduce yourself.   

Best Wishes for a new year filled with health, happiness, and peace, Barbara