Bet – Second Year – Wednesday (Eilian)

10/28: Today in class, we worked on:

  1. Today started with an all-school T’fillah led by Rabbi Prass, with help from Everett and Nathan in Kitah Daled. Rabbi Prass shared that Israel’s elections took place today, and that casting a vote is using your voice, just like praying is an expression of voice.  After t’fillah Rabbi Prass shared announcements and the word of the week, b-cheera, or elections. The students then made Heb-lish sentences with it.
  2. Today, we practiced the Hebrew letters and vowels
  3. Took a letter/vowel assessment to check progress
  4. We also reviewed the vocabulary words we learned last week to strengthen our understanding and help us remember the new words.
  5. Aleph – Daled students finished their day with all-school Hebrew Through Movement and Trivia led by Rabbi Prass.

Homework to be completed by next class:

  1. Great job, everyone!
  2. Practice the new words we learned
  3. Keep practicing at home!

10/21: Today in class, we worked on:

  1. Today we started with an all-school tefilah led by Rabbi Prass.  He shared a short teaching about the words metim vs. hakol in the gevurot. Before Hatikvah, he also reminded us that next week is Israel’s elections.  After t’fillah we did word of the week and heard about our many CBA youth/family friendly events coming up.
  2. Today in the classroom, we created sentences using the new words we learned. We walked together.
  3. We practiced looking at pictures and choosing the sentence that best described each picture.
  4. We also worked on a word search.
  5. Finally, we chose sentences from the story we studied and acted them out in front of the class. The other students had to listen and identify the sentence.
  6. Great job practicing Hebrew reading, vocabulary, and listening skills!
  7. Aleph – Daled kitot ended the day with Hebrew thru Movement with Rabbi Prass in the Sanctuary.  It included our weekly trivia.

Homework to be completed by next class:

  1. Practice the new words we learned.

10/14: Today in class, we worked on:

  1. We enjoyed an all-school T’Fillah led by Rabbi Prass.  He asked us to think about how we tell time.  The learners had some great answers.  He then pointed out that our prayers also tell time (insertion in Gevurot tells the season, which prayer for peace tells time of day, etc.).  After t’fillah we had announcements, and the always fun word of the week and our weekly trivia.
  2. Today in Hebrew class, we practiced our Hebrew letters and vowels.
  3. We read and translated the story מה בתיק? (What’s in the Bag?) and created our own sentences using the new vocabulary we learned.
  4. We also worked on a word search to reinforce our Hebrew reading and vocabulary skills.
  5. In addition, we looked at a map of Israel, explored different cities, and talked about their locations and what makes them special. 🇮🇱
  6. We had an all-school Hebrew thru Movement led by Rabbi Prass. We were able to learn new Hebrew words (and review earlier ones).  We also heard a report one of our 4th grade students did on October 7th for her secular school.

Homework to be completed by next class:

  1. Practice the new Hebrew words we learned in class.

10/7: Today in class, we worked on:

  1. We had an all-school t’fillah led by Rabbi Prass.  In addition to our growing number of prayers, Rabbi Prass showed us the now 1+ week-old lulav and his collection of etrogim from the last 21 years as we ended the 4 Tishrei Chagim.  He then reminded us that this is the 3rd yahrzeit of October 7th.  We lit a yahrzeit candle, and then he taught us about 2 Israelis, Hersh and Gabriel, who were part of October 7th.   What he read to us was a little about what they did on October 7th, and more about the way they lived. Finally, Rabbi Prass handed us literal footprints and asked us to write ways we can walk in their footsteps of how they lived. Today was a very meaningful and emotional day in Hebrew School. It was a very powerful and thoughtful conversation. It gave us an opportunity to remember, reflect, and talk together as a Jewish community. ❤️
  2. We also practiced our Hebrew letters and vowels.
  3. We did different exercises and answered questions about the story נוסעים לישראל (Flying to Israel). The children did a wonderful job practicing their understanding of the story and using the new words we have learned.
  4. Kitah Alef & Bet & Gimmel enjoyed Hebrew thru Movement led by Rabbi Prass, where he showed us the open sefer Torah since we just celebrated Simchat Torah. 
  5. On the way out, and since Sukkot is over, Rabbi Prass cut the Etrog into smaller pieces and offered each interested learner a piece to taste.
  6. Students did a great job today!

Homework to be completed by next class:

  1. Please read for 5 minutes each night and continue practicing the Hebrew letters, vowels, and new words.
  2. Thank you for helping your children continue practicing Hebrew at home! 💙

9/30: Today in class, we worked on:

  1. We had an all-school t’fillah led by Rabbi Prass.  He asked us, “What do you notice that is beautiful inside the sanctuary?”  Then Rabbi Prass pointed out that we are in the middle of the holiday of Sukkot, which helps us notice that which is beautiful outside, and how prayer/t’fillah helps us notice that which is beautiful both inside and outside.
  2. We also practiced our Hebrew letters and vowels and read and translated the story “Flying to Israel” (נוסעים לישראל). 🇮🇱✈️ The children learned new Hebrew words and had fun using them to create their own sentences.
  3. For our fun work, we practiced the new words we learned and reviewed our letters and vowels.
  4. It was a wonderful and busy Hebrew learning day! 💙
  5. Kitah aleph, bet, gimmel went outside for a special visit to the סוכה (Sukkah) with Rabbi Prass. The children enjoyed learning about the אתרוג (etrog) and לולב (lulav) and practicing the blessings for Sukkot. 🍋🌿They each had the opportunity to shake the lulav and etrog.

Homework to be completed by next class:

  1. Practice your Hebrew letters and vowels.

9/23: Today in class, we worked on:

  1. Today started with an all-school T’fillah in the sanctuary led by Rabbi Prass. Rabbi Prass started the t’fillah asking the learners, “Why is it important to fast on Yom Kippur (if you are both healthy and post B’nai Mitzvah age)”  The children had some really deep, interesting answers.  
  2. We practiced our Hebrew letters and vowels.
  3. We learned the four seasons of the year in Hebrew.
  4. We played Hebrew Bingo, which was a fun way to practice the Hebrew words we have learned.
  5. We circled the correct form of the verb in each sentence. Then, we read each sentence aloud and added the Hebrew word represented by the picture at the end of each sentence.
  6. We also drew lines to connect words that are opposites or matching pairs.
  7. We practiced all the Hebrew we have learned so far.
  8. Aleph, Bet, and Gimmel went outside for Hebrew through movement led by Rabbi Prass. This is a fun activity where the students learn verbs by doing the action of the verb said in Ivrit.

Homework to be completed by next class:

  1. Practice your Hebrew letters and vowels.

9/16: Today in class, we worked on:

  1. Today started with an all-school t’fillah led by Rabbi Prass.  He introduced what T’fillah will be like for the school year, including that all the students will be wearing kippot during this time together. If your student would like to wear their own personal kippah, they are more than welcome to do so.  We also practiced the word/letter of the week and heard some announcements.
  2. Today in Hebrew school, we practiced our Hebrew letters and vowels.
  3. We read and translated the story we learned last week, “Shalom,” and learned new Hebrew words:
    • אני – I
    • את – you (female)
    • אתה – you (male)
    • כן – yes
    • לא – no
    • מי – who
  4. We also practiced writing in Hebrew and continued building our confidence with the Hebrew alphabet and vowels.
  5. Kitot Alef, Bet, Gimmel gathered in the sanctuary for Hebrew thru movement led by Rabbi Prass. Rabbi Prass taught them how to blow a shofar. It was fun to listen to. I hope the students had fun and learned they can do it!

Homework to be completed by next class:

  1. Practice the Hebrew letters and vowels at home! 😊

9/9: Today in class, we worked on:

  1. Today was a wonderful first day of Hebrew class! 🌟
  2. We enjoyed a brief all-school assembly with Rabbi Prass.  The students were very curious about the sanctuary remodel.
  3. We began by greeting one another in Hebrew and practicing how to ask, “How are you feeling?”
    • שלום. מה שלומך?
  4. Students practiced responding with:
    • טוב, לא טוב, ככה ככה, סבבה, עייף.
  5. We also reviewed Hebrew letters, focusing on recognizing and reading them.
  6. Next, we read and translated the story “שלום” (Shalom), learned new vocabulary, and practiced using the words in context.
  7. It was great to meet the parents and explain the curriculum and the year-in-review.
  8. Aleph – hey enjoyed participating in the Hebrew thru Movement with us and learning about the class in the year-in-review and hearing the sound of the shofar for Elul.

Homework to be completed by next class:

  1. Please review the Hebrew letters and new vocabulary words from the story.
  2. It was a fantastic start to the year! I look forward to learning Hebrew together.