SIHA Newsletter for 6/24/2022

by admin | Jun 24, 2022 | Newsletter

Dvar Torah

Shelach
By Rabbi Dr. Richard Ehrlich

In this coming week’s Torah reading of Schelach, we read of the unfortunate story of the miraglim/ the spies who were sent on a mission to scout out the Land of Israel. Unfortunately, they returned with negative comments which disheartened and discouraged the Jewish people, with tragic results.

But apparently Moshe must have had an inkling, a premonition or a foreboding of disaster, because the Torah tells us that before he sent the group away he prayed and changed the name of Hoshea, adding a yud to his name to make it Yehoshua – which means yud, hey Hoshea – Hashem should help Hoshea. Moshe apparently foresaw the disaster that ensued and prayed that Hoshea should be spared from this catastrophe. The question that begs to be asked is, “Why then did he not pray for all 12 spies, why did he limit his prayers to Hoshea alone?”

The answer, I believe, is quite simple and very relevant to our gathering here tonight and it is based on a passage in the Talmud, Yoma 86A. The Gemara comments on the Mishna in Pirkei Avot ( perek gimmel, mishna yud gimmel) Rav Chanina ben Dosah omer . . . kol sheruach habriyot nocha haymenoo, ayn ruach hamakom noch haymenoo. Roughly translated this means, whoever is pleasing to his fellow man is pleasing to the Almighty and whoever is not pleasing to his fellow man is not pleasing to the Almighty either.

The Talmud elaborates further on this Mishna and says that if someone studies Torah, Misha, attends to Talmudei Chachamim (wise sages), honest in his business and speaks pleasantly to the others; people will say concerning him, “Happy are the teachers who taught him Torah and woe to the people who did not study Torah – for this man has studied Torah and look how pleasant, fine and wise are his ways and how righteous his deeds.” Clearly the Gemara is teling us that people will judge teachers by how their students act and conduct themselves. If they perform nobly, with proper derech eretz and conduct themselves honestly in business, thein it is a positive reflection on their teachers as much as it is on themselves. But if they don’t, this too, is a reflection on them and highlights their failure to direct them onto the proper path.

Going back to our story of the spies, I think the answer is now self evident; Moshe prayed for Hoshea alone becaus Hoshea was his disciple. If Hoshea would falter and join the others this would directly reflect back on Moshe. Concerning him they would say, “Woe to his teacher, Moshe who didn’t teach him properly,” Therefore, more than anyone else, Moshe prayed for his disciple Hoshea and because of his prayer Yehoshua merited to avoid this debacle.

Your children, our student, have hopefully internalized the many messages, Torah values, and proper behavior that has been taught to them each day by you, the parents, and our Rabbis, Morot and teachers here at SIHA. Let us hope they have learned these lessons well and will be a source of pride to you and our school.

Special Announcement!

Congratulations to our Noetic Math Olympics winners!

Second Grade – Brianna Sanders
Third Grade – Ryan Yakobzon
Fourth Grade – Joshua Applebaum
5B – Brandon Sanders
5A – Liam Zbarsky
Sixth Grade – Ruti Applebaum
Seventh Grade – Asher Hecht

Congratulations to our 2022 SIHA Spelling Bee winners!

Kindergarten: Emmy Garber
First Grade:  Liad Hanuka
Second grade: Sloane Garber
Third Grade: – Ella Hanuka
Fourth Grade: – Leah Yakobzon
Fifth Grade: Taila Badalov
Seventh Grade:  Asher Hecht

SIHA wishes all students and their families a wonderful summer!
Have a great time, do your summer homework, and we will see you in the fall!

SIHA Newsletter for 5/17/2022

by admin | Jun 17, 2022 | Newsletter

Dvar Torah

Parshat Bihaalotcha
By Rabbi Dr. Richard Ehrlich

The parsha ends with the story of Miriam and Aharon who “complain” against Moshe, their brother, “Why did Moshe separate from his wife? Just because he received prophesy? Don’t we also speak with G_d and we did not separate from our spouses?” Miriam is smitten with leprosy and Aharon beseeches Moshe’s intervention. Moshe, of course, acquiesces and prays a short prayer on behalf of Miriam, his beloved sister.

Mohe cries out to G_d and says, “Please G_d, heal her now.” Just five words. “Please G_d, heal her now.”

Rashi asks a very simple question: “Why did Moshe offer such a brief and shortened prayer?” Why not a much lengthier prayer on behalf of his sister? Rashi offers two explanations. First, he suggests that it was so that people should not say, “His sister is sick and all he can do is stand and pray?” Rashi then offers a second reason for why he did not give a lengthy prayer, he was afraid that people would criticize him and say: “For his sister, he prays a lot but for us he wouldn’t pray nearly that much.”

These two answers seem to contradict each other. Was Moshe opening himself up to criticism because his prayers were too short or was he opening himself up to criticism because his prayers were too long. Was the complaint against Mosher that he cared too much about hi sister or that he cared too little about his sister? Clearly, whatever moshe would have done would have been criticized. Despite the fact that Moshe was the greatest prophet who ever lived and despite the fact that Moseh was the greatest leader the Jewish people ever had, there was nothing that he could do that wouldn’t elicit complaints and criticism from the Jewish people.

Rav Yakov Kanievsky, the Steipler Gaon, references a famous fable attributed to Aesop to explain this phenomenon. A father and a son are traveling on a road. The father was riding a donkey and the son was walking beside him. They came upon a person who saw them and he told the father, “How cruel you are, you are riding the donkey and making your son walk? What kind of a father are you? The father then got off the donkey and put his son on the donkey in his place. They walked a little further and again came across someone who attacked them. “What kind of a son are you raising, how can you let your son ride like a prince while you walk along in the hot son? What kind of an education are you giving him, allowing him to do that?” He then took his son off the donkey and they both walked alongside the donkey. They met a third person who again attacked them. “What a bunch of fools you are, why doesn’t someone ride on the donkey?” They both got on the donkey and traveled and met a fourth man who again attacked them, “How cruel are you both, riding on this poor donkey. Don’t you have any concern for the welfare of animals?” They, therefore, decided to get off the donkey and they began carrying the donkey when they met a fifth person who laughed at them and just called them fools.
Nothing has changed. The Jewish people are still criticizing their leaders and complaining whatever they do as the famous adage goes, “damned if they do and damned if they don’t.” The constant criticism of Rabbis, Principals, Morot and teachers continues to erode the respect that the Jewish people should have for their leaders. Because of this, children growing up will, unfortunately, hear these criticisms, internalize them and a new generation of complainers will develop ready to take their place alongside their parents.

Let us learn from the mistakes from our past and resolve to appreciate the very difficult job our Rabbis, Principals, Morot and teachers have. They work long hours, dedicated to teaching your children, and deserve your support and backing. As we take leave for the summer let us look back with thankfulness and admiration to our wonderful Staff.

Have a wonderful and restful summer.

Special Announcement

Happy Friday everyone!

The PTA wants to thank all the parent volunteers and staff that have worked hard to make the events of this month happen (chumash and siddur plays, graduations of our little ones and big ones, and Father’s Day Sale).

The Father’s Day sale was as successful as ever and this year we had a $50 raffle.

We want to congratulate Madison Graham from 7th grade for winning the raffle! Please see the pictures attached. Special thank you to Israel (Issie) Hanukkah for selecting the winner.

The video for the winner selection can be found here and the video for Madison getting the good news about being the winner can be found here!

Shabbat Shalom,

Your friendly PTA Crew

Judaics

Kindergarten and First Grade
We had a super week in Judaics and can’t believe that the year is almost over.
The first graders are getting really quick at reading. They are working on splitting up big words and reading them accurately. I’m so proud of them!
The kindergarteners did a fantastic job on their graduation! They showed the incredible amount that they learned this year and are ready to become big first graders!
They also really wanted to begin learning how to read Hebrew, so they began learning the first nekuda, kamatz.

Second Grade

Wow, it’s hard to believe the school year is over. Even though it was the second last week of school the 2nd graders were so excited to learn Chumash,work on Kriya skills and learn the Parsha. As this was our last Friday in school,this week we had a full Shabbat Party with challa grape juice and treats. We hope you enjoy the Shabbat package that was sent home. Have a wonderful weekend. Shabbat Shalom

Dear Parents,

Wow,what a great week,what a great year.

There is no slowing down in our class.The Davening this week was really amazing. The Students tried hard to get points and do a very good Davening.

In our Chumash lessons we reviewed the famous story of the 4 Kings against the five Kings. The Students wrote beautiful notes which we will put together next week. It was really good how everyone participated.

We did a great job with our kriah. We had Partner learning.The Students learnt with each other and it was great practice.

Happy birthday to Ben. May Hashem give you a long and Happy life.

Happy Fathers day to all the wonderful fathers of the class. We have great role models for our Students.

Students of the week: Ariella,Sarina, and Tanya.

Shabbat Shalom
Rabbi B.

5th and 6th Girls

Dear parents.
Thank G-d, we had a wonderful week!
And wow, the year is almost over! It was wonderful teaching your amazing daughters this year. You should have lots of Nachat from each of them and please be in touch! If you’re ever in New Jersey (Lakewood) area, please let me know and stop by. I’ll be so excited to see every one of my students.
We’ve learned lots and lots over the year.
Sefer Shemot – the Jews in Egypt and their miraculous freedom, many many Mitzvot, Shemoneh Esrei, Ani Maamin, Parsha, Shomrei Halashon, Megillat Esther and Rut.. and much much more.
I hope that the girls continue becoming better and better like they are doing each day in Judaics class.
May you have much Nachat from them.
I’ll miss them all tremendously.
Love,
Mrs. Perlstein

5th and 6th Boys

This week we have “wrapped up” Perek Rishon-the first Perek in Mishna Suka.
This is a nice accomplishment, especially “coming on the heels of” also learning the first Perek of Baba Metzia, earlier in the year.
The boys now have substantial knowledge in many Halachot of a Suka.
1 Needs at least 3 walls
2 Walls must be at least 7 Tefachim-handbreadths wide and 10 Tefachim high.
3 The Schach must have grown from the ground
4 The Schach must cover the majority of the Suka
5 There is an idea that even if the Suka is covered with non kosher Schach for a large part of the Suka, the Suka can be Kosher if the non kosher Schach is at one side and not more than 4 Amot-Cubits wide/from the wall. and there is still the minimum amount of Kosher Schach and Suka. This is called Dofen Akuma-literally a bent wall. We look at that part as if the wall stretches and is bent over the Suka.
6 We really learned so much more..Please feel free to discuss and review with your son.
In Parasha we covered about thirty Parashot!
In Chumash we covered in depth and detail Parashat Va’eira and part of Parashat Bo.
In Halacha, we covered all the Chagim,Hilchot Brachot, and Sefirat Haomer.
We plan to cover Hilchot Kibud Av V’eim, this week, as well.

Shabbaton!
ALL boys in grade 5 and 6 were invited to Rabbi Kuritsky’s home for Shabbat.
Hopefully, by the time you are reading this they will have been already enjoying their time at the Rabbi’s house.
In general, it has been a terrific year full of accomplishments.

I am so happy I had the opportunity to teach these wonderful boys!
Shabbat Shalom

7th and 8th Girls
This week, although the last full week, we accomplished a lot!
We studied, in detail, the laws of Tzniut and Yichud. We also covered many detailed laws of Kibud Av V’em – respecting Father and mother.
We sincerely hope that the students will put these Halachot in their daily practice.
This year has been a fantastic year. I thoroughly enjoyed every day with these fantastic girls. We accomplished so much.
We studied in depth, Parashat B’haalot’cha.
We studied the 13 Ani Ma’amin – the 13 principles of Jewish faith.
We studied the Halachot of ALL the Chagim.
We studied Hilchot Berachot, in great detail.
We studied and mastered so much more..
More than anything, we had a fantastic and inspiring year!
Thank you, wonderful girls!
Shabbat Shalom

7th and 8th Boys

What a terrific week we had.

A beautiful Davening is always the way
to start each and every day.

With a smile on each student’s face
with lessons going at a great pace.

So many great lessons we did learn
for learning more Torah is something we always yearn.

A final we had, covering what we accomplished in class
we cannot believe the year went so fast.

In Pirkei Avot we learnt when you are with two people in Torah you should talk
you must be careful in the right path you should walk.

In Halacha we learnt Honoring parents is the right thing to do
with all the Mitzvot, we have the pleasure to be a great Jew.

Students of the week: Yisroel Friedman Doron Glickman

Shabbat Shalom
Rabbi Berelowitz

Elementary School

Kindergarten

I can’t be more proud of kindergarten! They did a wonderful job at their graduation. They had an amazing year! They always tried their best, made good choices, and they were kind to their classmates. In between all the excitement for graduation they also learned about adjectives and played a writing game using adjectives, They learned how to visualize when reading by listening to funny poems. They also did a great job reading a play. In math they did excellent on their addition and subtraction test. They learned how to add and subtract ones from 0 all the way to 100 using mental math. They also learned how to add 3 numbers by first making ten and then adding on using mental math. In science they were so excited to see that their butterflies had come out of their chrysalises. After watching the butterflies for a few days they let them fly away outside. In social studies they learned how to read a map key and find places on a map.

First Grade

I am proud to announce that our first grade students are now published authors! We created an informative picture book of animals entitled “Down By the Pond.” Students researched, drafted, revised, and edited their own individual pieces. Then we sent them off to the publisher to put them together in a book. The resulting product is amazing!

This last week of school has been both challenging and fun. The first graders completed the SATs and finished remaining workbooks. We emptied out the desks, cleaned up the classrooms, and packed up all of our first grade belongings. It is amazing to see how much they have grown and matured this year. Students are now writing paragraphs, telling time, multiplying, dividing, and reading all kinds of books.

Students also created beautiful ceramic plates and cards in honor of Father’s Day. You can see how much effort was given to each project.

Third Grade

This week was bittersweet. We began to wrap up the school year by taking our Stanford test. Each day the students worked hard to demonstrate all the skills they learned this school year. We made up for some of the testing anxiety with plenty of recess time :). Grade 3 continued to practice for the Spelling Bee next week. We cleaned out our classroom, desks and cubbies. We continued our read aloud of “I Survived the Nazi Invasion,1944” and we took time to have heartfelt class discussions about the topic. We also made Father’s Day cards to honor all the dad’s this Sunday.

Fourth Grade

This week in math kids finished reviewing all of the material that was taught this year and completed multi step word problems.
Continued to work on reading comprehension, short and long response questions. Completed a book report on the last class chapter book that we just finished reading.

Fifth Grade

Fifth grade had a busy week!
Students worked very hard to demonstrate their learning by taking the Stanford SAT-10 achievement tests. After the test, they wrapped up their book cube projects and presented them to the class. In math, students were working on a cumulative review.

Middle School

Middle School ELA and Social Studies

Middle school had a very busy and anxious week!
Students were taking their Regents, Finals, and Stanford Tests.

Middle School Math

Middle school took their finals and regents.

Middle School Science

Middle school took their finals and regents.

Jewish History

7th grade took their Jewish History Final and did an absolutely fantastic job. I am very proud of them. They really demonstrated their retention and knowledge.

SIHA Newsletter for 6/10/2022

by admin | Jun 10, 2022 | Newsletter

Dvar Torah

Parshat Naso
By Rabbi Dr. Richard Ehrlich

In Parshat Naso, it discusses the sacrifices that the Nesiim (Princes) brought on behalf of their respective tribes. The Torah comments and tells us (Bamidbar 7:3) that they (the Princes) brought their offerings before Hashem; identical sacrifice; with the identical accompaniments; (large silver bowls and basins, one ram, one sheep, one he goat, two cattle, five rams, five he-goat and five sheep.) Clearly an elaborate offering, and yet, when it came to wagons, it says they were commanded to bring 6 wagons; a wagon for each two leaders? The obvious question that can be raised is why if there were 12 princes, were there not 12 wagons brought? Could it be that they were over budget and needed to cut back so they halved the number of wagons? Obviously not! Therefore, why only six wagons??

The answer, I believe, can be found in a verse in Parshat Vayigash when Yaakov is informed that Yosef is alive and a ruler in Egypt and not dead, as Yaakov had assumed these past 22 years. The Torah tells us that Yosef sent wagons to help transport Yaakov and family to join him in Egypt. Rashi comments that there was a subtle hint to convince Yaakov that he (Yosef) truly was alive and well in Egypt, since the last Torah portion studied between them was the Portion of Eglah Arufah, the decapitated calf, and Eglah (calf) and Agala (wagon) are similar, thus serving a dual purpose; to transport the family and serve as a hint that Yosef indeed was alive and well.

Interestingly, though, is the comment of the Daat Zikaynim M’Baalei Hatosfot, who give a completely different interpretation to this message of the wagons sent by Yosef. The reason they offer for how these wagons were able to lift Yaakov’s spirits was actually an allusion to our story of the Princes. Yaakov saw that in the future, 12 Princes would bring offerings, but only 6 wagons would be used, indicating that they would not fight or compete with each other, but rather, would cooperate and work together to insure unity and respect. This message was so important for Yaakov to hear as this would show him that in the future, the problem which caused them to go down to Egypt (hatred, jealousy, sinat chinan) would eventually be resolved and brothers would work together to mutually bring G-d’s presence upon us.

This concept of peace is still one that we Jews find elusive. We know that in Israel especially, there is conflict and strife between the various factions. Let us hope that we will put those differences aside and work together to build a better world. No doubt there is more that binds and unites us together as a nation/people than divides and splinters us.

Special Announcement

Shabbat Week Campaign:
Dear parents.
Thank G-d, we had an awesome Shabbat week at school!
The students all took home their Shabbat contest sheets and amazing Shabbat packages.
We’re looking forward to an exciting Raffle Auction on Tuesday where all the students will put in a ticket into a raffle prize of their choice with every check on their contest chart. There are tons of exciting raffle prizes!
Delicious donuts will be given out to all students who completed their charts.
We’re looking forward to receiving many many completed contest charts on Monday.
Shabbat Shalom U’mevorach!
Enjoy your weekend.
Best regards,
Mrs Perlstein (Miss Dershowitz)

WOW!!! What a week our amazing seniors had! We went on our fantastic senior trip that the students spent all year anticipating and raising money for. We boarded the vans nice and early on Wednesday morning and headed to Six Flags for a day filled with rides and fun. The children enjoyed going on Superman, Nitro the water log and many other exhilarating roller coasters! We then had a delicious dinner at Dougies followed by a beautiful walk/hang out on the boardwalk.
We woke up bright and early the next morning and headed to Lakewood where we enjoyed a yummy breakfast at Bagel Nosh. The girls then headed to the home of Mrs. Miriam Bracha Glantz who shared her inspiring story of conversion. The girls were really touched by what she had to say.
Overall, the senior trip was a great success filled with lots of laughs, fun times and memories that will last a lifetime!!!
Thank you 8th graders for being so amazing!!!

Boys learning in BMG

In front of one of the ten buildings of BMG

Boys are astounded by over one thousand Jewish men studying Torah in partnership in one large room.
There are seventeen of such rooms

Judaics

Kindergarten and First Grade
We had a great busy week!
Mazel tov to the first graders upon receiving their siddurim!!! They did a great job on their siddur performance and were so excited to begin davening from a real siddur!
Mazel tov to the kindergarteners upon their aleph bet party to celebrate learning all the letters of the aleph bet! We made aleph bet crowns (and one for Parpar too!), played a game of aleph bet darts, and had a party cake!
We were busy preparing for Shabbat this week! Both classes made beautiful napkin rings for Shabbat. We also had a model Shabbat meal on Friday with real challah, grapejuice, candles, and even havdala in the end!
Please enjoy your complete Shabbat packages this week and try to get as many checks in your green chart as possible!
We can’t wait for another great week!
Morah Chavi

We had an exciting week as SIHA is all ready for the Shabbat Experience. We made delicious cherry pies on Wednesday to save for Shabbat, we heard stories about variousShabbat themes. In one story a family was very poor and couldn’t pay their rent. The husband and wife both refused to work on Shabbat therefore, they were fired. This particular family couldn’t pay their rent and were told they could live in the furnace room of the building. The children were outside in their old torn clothes when a wealthy Jewish businessman saw them, he approached the parents and offered to help the family out financially. The family thanked the wealthy man but, said since he works on Shabbat they didn’t feel comfortable accepting any monetary gifts. The wealthy man went home to his wife and told her about this meeting. His wife said”remember we used to observe Shabbat when we lived in Poland, it was so special eating with our family, singing zimros(songs)together and going to pray together. Maybe we should also start observing Shabbat again.” The wealthy family became Shomer Shabbat and really enjoyed the sanctity of this special day without the use of phones. The wealthy man went back to tell the family he had met outside and told them what transpired. The wealthy man said he was inspired by the poor family’s devotion to Shabbat and his wife had fond memories of past Shabbosim when they lived in Europe.” The poor family now very much appreciated the generous offer the wealthy man had given them. Many years later the rich man’s son married the poor family’s daughter. As a Shabbat treat this week the class enjoyed some hot potatoe kugel which Morah Spiegel brought in. The children began learning Chumash this week and are so excited to delve into the holy words of our Torah. Shabbat Shalom!

Matthew and Josh Davened beautifully this week.
Leah, Lia, Sarina and Ariella did great on their Chumash review.
Ben, Alivia and Zohar played very nicely with their friends.

Let us all enjoy the beautiful Shabbat.
Keep up the good work.
Rabbi B.

5th and 6th Boys

This week, we began another new Mishna. We learned about a Suka that has 4 walls and Kosher S’chach, but the S’chach is in the center of the room and does not reach the walls. We learned that the suka will be kosher as long as there is less than 4 Amot [less than approximately 7 feet] – cubits from the S’chach to the walls.
This is based on the idea that the “wall is bent” = “Dofen Akuma”, and therefore does reach the kosher S’chach. The same would be true in other similar cases.
In Parasha, we covered many ideas;
Every 7 years is Shmita , just as every 7 days is Shabbat.
On Shabbat we do not work, so too for the entire year of Shmita, we do not work the fields in Eretz Yisrael aka Israel. This year 5782 is Shmita , in Israel, many many farmers are respecting the Torah and keeping the laws of Shmita. Jews around the globe are making it easier for them to keep Shmita by raising money for them as they may not sell/profit from this year’s crops.
We also learned that every 50 years is Yovel the Jubilee year.In our times we are not able to celebrate the Yovel.
We learned about not jipping people monetarily, and about not hurting people’s feelings. We also covered that everything that we have is from Hashem.
We are to use His gifts for what He wants us to use them for,i.e. $ for Tzedakah charity.
WAR breaks out in SIHA… color war.
Blue team versus Green team.
We enjoyed some real school spirit!.
Thank you to Miss Esther Klahr and all of our beloved generals for running such a fun program.
Refua Shleima to Gavriel ben Bilha, and Yonah Dovid.
Shabbat Shalom

7th and 8th Boys

I hope everyone had an excellent Shavuot. We came back to the classroom with a thirst to learn and accomplish.
In Pirkei Avot class we learnt that if you have 3 people that are sitting and there are not words of Torah between them, this is a sitting of Leitzim – joking people. It is extremely important that when we are with our friends we need to talk about Torah.

In Halacha we spoke about the great Mitzvah of Honoring our Parents. Yes, you have to give your Parents a drink, and not only that, but it must also be done with a smile.
The boys did their worksheets beautifully.

Oren, Etai, and Asher Davened beautifully with their Tefillin this week.
Mark and David worked hard together on their Kriah.
Doron said over part of a Lesson like a Pro.

Keep up the good work!
Have a great Shabbat
Rabbi B.

7th and 8th Girls

This week;
In Parasha, we covered a few ideas;
About a Nazir, like Shimshon aka Sampson, one who separates himself to/for G-d. He/she may not become impure to a dead person, may not drink wine or hard drinks and may not cut their hair.
We also learned about a Sotah a wayward wife. While on that topic we discussed the very important and very relevant Halachot of Yechud-man and women not related not being secluded together.
Finals!!
We did a major review and ALL the girls are very ready to review at home and score really well on the upcoming Judaic final!
Shabbat week!
We enjoyed decorating our napkin holders with rhinestones and putting together our Shabbat packages. We are going to try go keep Shabbat this week as much as we can!
Shabbat Shalom

Elementary School

Kindergarten
This week kindergarten continued to work on independently writing a nonfiction book about an animal. They learned to read and spell words that end in ER and EST. They read many nonfiction books and identified the text features. In math they took their math test on the analog
clock. I am so proud of the class. The entire class got a 92 or higher on the math test! They used place value blocks to add and subtract large numbers such as 30+8 and by the end of the class they were all able to add and subtract these large numbers using mental math! They are all amazing! Some students were even able to add and subtract numbers such as 36-3 using mental math. In science they were so excited to see that all 5 caterpillars made a chrysalis. They learned about how butterflies have special adaptations to hide from predators and they painted butterflies. In social studies they learned which country they live in, which state they live in, and how to find it on a map.

First Grade
This week the first graders explored life cycles. We discussed how some animals like salamanders, grow quickly while others like elephants take up to 20 years to become adults. Students wrote about the life cycle of the butterfly
They were amazed at how quickly it changes from a caterpillar into a butterfly.
First graders also learned about government and citizenship. They now know the names of our mayor, governor, and president. They recognize that thw mayor leads the city while the governor leads the state. They even built a model of the president’s home, better known as the white house. Students were excited to learn that the citizens of the United States have the right to vote for their leaders.

Second Grade

This week in math, 2nd grade finished up our unit on fractions, and started learning how to tell time. In ELA, we are learning about parts of a short story, and we began writing our own short stories! We also had the science symposium this week! 2nd grade’s projects were beautiful, and the students did a great job presenting their projects to their peers, and answering questions about their experiments.

Third Grade

In math this week grade 3 reviewed skills that needed to be strengthened before we make our way to grade 4. We worked in small groups on multi-digit multiplication and division, multiplying with zeros and we also continued to build fluency in addition and subtraction with Number Talks.

In ELA this week we practiced each day for next week’s Spelling Bee. We also began our historical fiction class read aloud of “I Survived the Nazi Invasion, 1944”. We have been taking time for class discussions to answer many questions students have. We also wrote letters to the characters in the text, Max and Zena.

Fourth Grade

This week in math we continued to work on measure unit and reviewed previous topics.
In ELA kids identified adverbs and completed writing activities.
We are almost finished with our last class chapter book The Tale of Despereaux.
In Social Studies we are learning about the North American Neighbors. Kids also memorized the fifty states and capitals.

Fifth Grade
Greetings and salutations!
This week has been brief but busy for the 5th grade.
The 5th graders started their new novels. I am happy to see that both classes are enjoying their new novels! I enjoyed our discussions in class over both City of Ember and Coraline.
They also began their projects for the previous novels.

Middle School

Middle School ELA and Social Studies

6th
Greetings and salutations!
This week has been brief but busy for the 6th grade.
In ELA, students wrapped up their novel study of the Outsiders and their persuasive writing unit. We are preparing for a debate next week!
In social studies, the 6th graders were learning all about the fall of the Roman empire. We have a few fun projects coming up in the coming weeks. I know the 6th graders are looking forward to them!

7th Grade
In ELA, the 7th graders continued their novel unit on The Giver. Students are doing an amazing job in class discussion, and are ready to finish the novel next week. Students practiced writing wonderful paragraphs, and learned about writing structure in class.
In Social Studies, students wrapped up our unit of the Civil War.

8th Grade
Eighth graders concluded their final novel study, and practiced for the final.

Middle School Math

5th grade finished learning about angle, quadrilateral, and triangle properties.

6th grade finished learning about circumference and area.

7th grade finished learning about systems of equations.

8th grade has been reviewing for their regents.

Middle School Science

6th
Students started a new Unit: Energy and Motion.
Students described balanced and unbalanced forces; define acceleration; calculate net force; explained how the forces of friction, magnetism, and gravity act in our daily lives.

7th Grade Science

Students are investigating how our body systems work together to maintain homeostasis. They are currently taking a journey through the digestive system and discovering how nutrition and circulation play an important role in supplying our body with the nutrients it provides and how it actually gets through our bodies.

8th Grade Science

Students are preparing for the Living Environment Regent by taking practice exams and working through various aspects of this regent. In addition, students are investigating how energy flows through ecosystems, how biotic and abiotic factors affect those ecosystems and the importance of interdependence within each system.

Jewish History

7th grade continued our discussion on what is fair and what is equal as we learned about Korach and how he felt it was unfair that he was not appointed the leader of his tribe. We learned how each person gets exactly what they need and what is good for them. We read a funny story about what would happen if everyone was treated exactly the same. We also had a side discussion on how to make a non-Kosher kitchen kosher and the merit of even a small amount of kosher food.

8th grade had our very last lesson for the year! We discussed the 21 prophecies in Tanach that were said about the entire Jewish people. We saw how 16 already came true and 2 are true until today. Based on that, it is 100% certain that the final 3 will come true: in ingathering of the exiles, the coming of Mashiach and the building of the third Bais HaMikdash and the Revival of the dead.

SIHA Newsletter for 6/3/2022

by admin | Jun 3, 2022 | Newsletter

Dvar Torah

A Shavout Theme
By Rabbi Dr. Richard Ehrlich

The last two weeks we read the Sedrot of Behar and Bechukoty and this week we begin a new Sefer, Bamidbar, at which time we also usher in the Holiday of Shavous. The commentaries searched for connections for these readings and many are offered. (For example, Rabbi Samson R. Hirsch’s explanation at the outset of Sefer Bamidbar.)

I’d like to suggest that the connection between the readings of Behar Bechukoty and Shavout lies in our understanding of the Shemitta laws in Parshat Behar. The Torah discusses the obligations of the Jewish people regarding leaving the land of Israel fallow during the Seventh, Shemitta, Year. (Chapter 25 Verse 20) “And if you say, what will we eat in the Seventh Year, we did not plant and didn’t gather the harvest? I will command My blessings upon you in the Sixth Year and the harvest will be abundant for 3 years.” We see a number of very interesting things from these verses. Firstly, we see that the Torah acknowledges that Man often times doubts the words of Hashem, and the inclusion by the Torah of this question within the laws of Shemitta, in itself, is tacit approval and acknowledgement that man, without sinning, may question and doubt his responsibilities. On the other hand, the Torah also answers those doubts by proclaiming that, nevertheless, these doubts are unfounded and unnecessary. Hashem will provide the necessary sustenance and nothing is being overlooked or forgotten.

We find a similar event at Mount Sinai. Although in the Torah narrative the Jewish people clearly answered “naaseh venishma – (we will first accept and comply with all of Hashem’s laws even before we are fully cognizant of all our responsibilities) nevertheless, the Medrash quotes a very different account of what took place. According to the Medrash the Jewish people actually wavered, and to some degree, were coerced into accepting the Torah.

I think these two ideas really convey the same message. Yes, the Jewish people were not totally without doubts when the Torah was presented to them, but ultimately, they saw the wisdom and the benefit in accepting Hashem’s Torah and made the proper choice. So too, in parshat Behar portion, the Torah actually asks the question that it knew ultimately was being pondered int he minds of those who were not totally convinced of the wisdom of Hashem’s laws: “What will we eat if we do not plant?” The answer though is the same for both instances: if you will trust Hashem and leave your fields fallow you not only will not lose, but you actually will gain. It doesn’t say you will receive twice as much in the Sixth Year, but actually promises enough for “3” years. So, too, when the Jewish people eventually accepted the Torah, they recognized that not only were they not going to lose, but that they would gain immeasurably. This, I feel, is the connection to these two events. Shemitta is only one example, a microcosm, of what what happens with all 613 mitzvot. Each one may seem to present a hardship, or entail a loss, but in reality they make our lives easier and return rewards far beyond any imaginable. They bring purpose to a world filled with questions and confusion and they enrich us more than any investment can ever return.

As we prepare to accept the Torah on Shavout let us keep the message of Shemitta uppermost in our minds because this is just one of 613 ways that convince us to lead a Torah true life. Chag Samayach.

Special Announcement

Please come join the simcha!

Judaics

Kindergarten and First Grade

We had another great week in kindergarten and first grade Judaics!
The first graders are very busy practicing for our siddur play! We can’t wait to perform next week and receive our very own siddurim!
The kindergarteners are practicing for their graduation!
MAZEL TOV! The kindergarten class finished learning all the letters of the aleph bet! We can’t wait to celebrate next week!
On Tuesday, we made Har Sinai cupcakes in honor of Rosh Chodesh! We also learned about the holiday of Shavuot. We learned how lucky we are to have received the Torah and how the Torah is so good for us! We also learned how we learn from Har Sinai how important it is to be humble and not to brag! The first graders also saw how a real Torah is made!
We hope you enjoy the Shavuot flowers that we made for our parents!
Chag Sameiach!
Morah Chavi

Mazel Tov to the 2nd graders upon receiving their Chumashim. The children are so excited to be able to learn Chumash. They realize the Chumash =Torah is the same exact Torah the entire Jewish nation (over 2 million people) received on Har Sinai over 3,000 years ago and that they are the next link in this beautiful golden chain. They also realize this gala celebration took place right before all Jews celebrate the festival of Shavout-also known as Zman Matan Torosainu which means the “Time of the Giving of the Torah.” A special thank you to Jaiden’s mom Carmit Cohen and all the dedicated mothers that volunteered to transform the gym into an elegant simcha hall as well as for the little Sefer Tehillim(Psalms)and beautiful pictures and frames.

Fourth Grade

Dear Parents,

What a great week we had at School. Loads of learning. Loads of fun.
Our Kriah was top notch. The children are very excited to keep on reading those Hebrew letters.
In Chumash we did our major Chazarah of the year. It is amazing that after many months of learning the Parsha it is still fresh in their memory. The children wrote really beautiful notes.
We are very excited for the Holiday of Shavuot. We learnt many Halachot and we are excited to learn the Torah.
Students of the week: Josh, Matthew, Zohar, Alivia, Sarina, and Ariella.
Have a great Shabbat and Chag
Keep up the good work.
Rabbi B.

5th and 6th Boys

What an accomplishing week we had in class.
In Pirkei Avot we learnt a Mishna that says names of Scholars. The question we spoke about was, why is there a Mishna that says names. The answer we said was, that saying the name of a Righteous person is a great thing. It reminds us of their life and what they accomplished.
In Halacha we started learning about the laws of Honoring Parents. We are thankful to our Parents for all they do for us, and we must know how to honor and fear them. We started with the famous Story that Damah Ben Netinah who was asked by the Sages for stones for the Choshen. The key to the chest where the stones were was under the pillow of his father and he did want to wake him up. Hashem gave him major reward for that.
The trip to the Yeshiva of Staten Island was a trip to remember. It was amazing how Reb Chaim addressed us all, about the topis of Shavuot. We got Blessings from the Rabbi and it was very inspiring.
Students of the week: Tyler, Doron, and Asher.

Have a great Shabbat and Chag
Keep up the good work.
Rabbi B.

7th and 8th Girls

This week we reviewd Chapter 6 in Hilchot Berachot! Our Head of School Mrs. Uzhansky, visited us and quizzed us on these Halachot. The girls were very impressive with thier knowledge.
We focused on Hilchos Mezonot that changes to Hamotzi when eaten in large amounts.
We completed Parashat B’haalot’cha in depth. We enjoyed a gala siyum celebration with delicious food contributed by all gorls and Mrs. Uzhansky!
We learned alot about Hilchot and Minhagei customs of Shavuot, including “why do we eat dairy on Shavuot?” and “why do we decorate our Shuls and homes with plants, grasses and flowers on Shavuot?”.
Wishhing all a Shabbat Shalom and a Gut Yom Tov, Chag Sameach and an uplifting Shavuot!

7th and 8th Boys

What an accomplishing week we had in class.
In Pirkei Avot we learnt a Mishna that says names of Scholars. The question we spoke about was, why is there a Mishna that says names. The answer we said was, that saying the name of a Righteous person is a great thing. It reminds us of their life and what they accomplished.
In Halacha we started learning about the laws of Honoring Parents. We are thankful to our Parents for all they do for us, and we must know how to honor and fear them. We started with the famous Story that Damah Ben Netinah who was asked by the Sages for stones for the Choshen. The key to the chest where the stones were was under the pillow of his father and he did want to wake him up. Hashem gave him major reward for that.
The trip to the Yeshiva of Staten Island was a trip to remember. It was amazing how Reb Chaim addressed us all, about the topis of Shavuot. We got Blessings from the Rabbi and it was very inspiring.
Students of the week: Tyler, Doron, and Asher.

Have a great Shabbat and Chag
Keep up the good work.
Rabbi B.

Siha, grades 5-8 visit, reb Chaim Mintz in yeshiva of staten Island. Students are enthralled by rabbi Mintz’s explanation of Shavuot and receiving the Torah. Rabbi Mintz also explained that, every time we learn Torah, we are connecting to Hashem. This epic trip was arranged, coordinated and run by rabbi Shlomie Berelowitz.

Elementary School

Kindergarten

This week kindergarten got their class books back in the mail! The class was so excited to see their work inside of a real book and they kept asking to read the book again! I am so proud of them and the hard work they put into making their book. The class read a very funny story about different things that made a child late to school. In math they learned how to tell time to the hour and the half hour. They loved getting to make their own clocks to practice with. In social studies they learned all about maps, globes, the names of the 7 continents, and about North America. They learned a fun dance to practice the directions north, south, west, and east. In science the class learned how to record their observations of their class caterpillars like a real entomologist. Kindergarten is very excited that the caterpillars are getting ready to make chrysalises very soon and they can’t wait to see them become butterflies.

Second Grade

This week in math, 2nd grade finished up our unit on fractions, and started learning how to tell time. In ELA, we are learning about parts of a short story, and we began writing our own short stories! We also had the science symposium this week! 2nd grade’s projects were beautiful, and the students did a great job presenting their projects to their peers, and answering questions about their experiments.
Third Grade
In math grade 3 spent this short week reviewing and preparing for our unit test today. We used peer assessment and self assessment to find errors and correct our mistakes for our multi-step word problems. We took our test today and the students all did very well.

In ELA we finished up our last writing piece in response to our shared reading of James and the Giant Peach. We edited our work by giving peer feedback to each other. Students identified something their peers did well and something their peers can improve on in their writing. We also closed this week by watching the James and the Giant Peach movie. We highlighted some similarities and differences between the text and the movie.

Fourth Grade

This week in math we completed unit on Volume and continued to solve multi step word problems. In Social Studies we started a chapter on United States Government and kids are memorizing states and capitals. In ELA we are working on adverbs, prepositions, and expository writing.

Fifth Grade

Greetings and salutations!
This week has been brief but busy for the 5th grade.
The 5th graders started their new novels. I am happy to see that both classes are enjoying their new novels! I enjoyed our discussions in class over both City of Ember and Coraline.
They also began their projects for the previous novels.

Middle School

Middle School ELA and Social Studies

6th
Greetings and salutations!
This week has been brief but busy for the 6th grade.
In ELA, students wrapped up their novel study of the Outsiders and their persuasive writing unit. We are preparing for a debate next week!
In social studies, the 6th graders were learning all about the fall of the Roman empire. We have a few fun projects coming up in the coming weeks. I know the 6th graders are looking forward to them!

7th Grade
In ELA, the 7th graders continued their novel unit on The Giver. Students are doing an amazing job in class discussion, and are ready to finish the novel next week. Students practiced writing wonderful paragraphs, and learned about writing structure in class.
In Social Studies, students started our unit of the Civil War.

8th Grade
Eighth graders continued their novel study of the Book Thief. We discussed character motivation and story structure. In Social Studies, students started our unit on Imperialism.

Middle School Math
6th grade is learning about circumference and area of a circle.
7th grade is learning about systems of linear equations.
8th grade is learning about linear regression and finding the line of best fit.

Middle School Science

6th
Students started a new Unit: Energy and Motion.
Students described balanced and unbalanced forces; define acceleration; calculate net force; explained how the forces of friction, magnetism, and gravity act in our daily lives.

7th Grade Science

Students are investigating how our body systems work together to maintain homeostasis. They are currently taking a journey through the digestive system and discovering how nutrition and circulation play an important role in supplying our body with the nutrients it provides and how it actually gets through our bodies.

8th Grade Science

Students are preparing for the Living Environment Regent by taking practice exams and working through various aspects of this regent. In addition, students are investigating how energy flows through ecosystems, how biotic and abiotic factors affect those ecosystems and the importance of interdependence within each system.

Jewish History

7th grade continued our discussion on what is fair and what is equal as we learned about Korach and how he felt it was unfair that he was not appointed the leader of his tribe. We learned how each person gets exactly what they need and what is good for them. We read a funny story about what would happen if everyone was treated exactly the same. We also had a side discussion on how to make a non-Kosher kitchen kosher and the merit of even a small amount of kosher food.

8th grade had our very last lesson for the year! We discussed the 21 prophecies in Tanach that were said about the entire Jewish people. We saw how 16 already came true and 2 are true until today. Based on that, it is 100% certain that the final 3 will come true: in ingathering of the exiles, the coming of Mashiach and the building of the third Bais HaMikdash and the Revival of the dead.

SIHA Newsletter for 5/27/2022

by admin | May 27, 2022 | Newsletter

Dvar Torah

Bechakoty
By Rabbi Dr. Richard Ehrlich

This week’s parsha contains the first of the two Tochachat [Chastisements] that are present in the Torah. G-d warns us about what will be if we do not keep the Torah. The curses enumerated are very graphic – and if one, after hearing of all the terrible tragedies which have befallen the Jewish people, now has doubts about Emunah [faith (in G-d)], all he has to do is read this chapter and he will realize that everything that has been warned of in these curses has, unfortunately, been fulfilled. Unbelievable description such as women having to eat their children in order to survive are things that have, unfortunately, occurred in our own lifetime.

But, before the Tochacha begins, there is a relatively small parsha of Bracha [blessing] – what will be if we keep the mitzvos. The Torah enumerates many wonderful things. We will have plenty, there will be peace in the land, we will be able to conquer our enemies, we will become populous and prosperous – all wonderful things.

And then G-d promises us that He will live with us: “And I will place my Mishkan in your midst..” [Vayikra 26:11] (This is a blessing, that, unfortunately, after 2000 years of not having a Beit HaMikdash, we cannot even contemplate; but it is a tremendous blessing to be able to feel G-d’s holiness in our midst.) However, that same pasuk which begins by speaking of G-d placing His Mishkan in our midst, ends with the words “…and I will not detest you” (v’lo sig-al nafshi eschem.)

The commentaries are bothered by this pasuk; it does not seem to make any sense. When G-d is telling us how much He loves us and He is promising us all the Brochot, is this the place to conclude with the sentiment, “I will not despise you?”

Imagine a fellow proposes to a girl. After going out on a number of dates, he is finally ready to “pop the big question.” He begins, “I am going to love you, I am going to cherish you, I am going to take care of you..” and then he concludes, “…and I am not going to be disgusted by you either.” Imagine… How far would that get him?

That, at first glance, would seem to be what this pasuk is saying. The words, “si-al nafshi” have connotations of being nauseating and despicable! What does the pasuk mean?

I saw a beautiful insight in the Shemen HaTov, a sefer written by Rabbi Bernard Weinberger (1935 – 2010). The Shemen HaTov explains that it is a wonderful thing when two people love each other. However, unfortunately, we know that when two people have loved each other and then they fall apart, there is no greater hatred than love spurned.

In general, people who divorce are, unfortunately, the best example of people who hate each other. People who loved each other and shared everything, but Heaven Forbid get divorced, are at war with each other. Too often, they get down in the gutter and try to destroy each other. Nothing is worse than former lovers who now hate each other.

This pasuk is saying that G-d is promising he will love and cherish and take care of the Jewish people. However, G-d prophesizes that He Knows that they will not be faithful and He will have to exile them and chase them out of Eretz Yisroel. The Sages and Medrashim use the analogy of a husband and wife who have to separate to explain G-d’s need to drive the Jewish people out of their land.

G-d informs us that when He splits with us – it will not be a bitter divorce. Even then, I will never come to hate you. I will never detest you. Even when I have to send you out and we need to – so to speak – divorce, I will always love you, and I will never detest you. This is truly a great blessing.

The Gemara in Sanhedrin [7a] gives a powerful description: “When our love was strong, we could have slept on the blade of a sword, but now that our love is not strong, there is no bed in the world that is big enough to hold us both.”

G-d however, says, that is not the way it will be when He finds it necessary to discipline the Jewish people. He will never detest us. We will always be special. This is a special Bracha. That is why it appears in the Brochot and not in the Curses. Clearly, Hashem still loves us or we would not be around 2,000 years after our exile, with millions of Jews living in our Holy Land of Israel.

Special Announcement

This week, our students participated in a science fair!

Congratulations to our K-4 Science Fair Winners!

Kindergarten – Ava Schwartzman!

First Grade
First Place – Ethan Mihelson
Second Place – Aaron Elkaiev

Second Grade –
First Place – Sophie Braun
Second Place – Joseph Cohen
Third Place – Jaiden Rebibo

Third Grade
First Place – Amos Amit and Abe Grego
Second Place – Ryan Yakobzon
Third Place – Mira Elkaiev

Fourth Grade
First Place – Ben Shindelman
Second Place – Leah Amos, Zohar Zadok, Alivia Clift, and Mayaan Malka
Third Place – Ethan Elkaiev, Jacob Khaimov, and Matthew Kipnis

Please stay tuned next week for the winners of the grades 5-8.

Judaics

Kindergarten and First Grade

We had a fabulous week in kindergarten and first grade Judaics!
In kriah, the first graders are getting really good at breaking up words into syllables. The kindergartners learned the letter taf this week. Only one more letter until we know them all!
The first graders are busy practicing for their upcoming siddur play! We can’t wait! The kindergarteners are also practicing for their graduation!
We are also learning lessons from our Rabbis about the proper way to treat each other. The kindergarten is making an album with the stories and lessons learned!
Can’t wait for another great week!
Morah Chavi

Second Grade

We had a wonderful week as we reviewed the entire Book of Vayikra. Sefer Vayikra is the 3rd of the 5 Books of the Torah. In the synagogue this Shabbat we complete the entire Book as we say together Chazak,Chazak V’nischazaik. (Be strong! Be strong! And May we be strengthened!) We are working very hard preparing for our great celebration of receiving our very own Chumashim this coming Thursday. We are so excited to receive our Chumashim and study Torah as our forefathers have done for generations. We are the next link of this beautiful golden chain. Looking forward to seeing all of you there G-d willing. Shabbat Shalom!
Fourth Grade
Dear Parents,
4th Grade
What a great week we had at School. Loads of learning. Loads of fun.
Many children got many points for the Davening contest. The Davening was truly inspiring to listen to.
In our Chumash class we started the week with our weekly Quiz. The students did wonderful on the Quiz. The topic was the Brit that Avram Avinu had.
We started a major review of what we accomplished this year. We started with the beginning of the Parsha of Lech Lecha. We reviewed that Hashem told Avram to leave his land and to go to the land that Hashem will show him. The students answered the questions well and remember very well what we learnt in class.
Yes, we continued our “Kriah Pro” contest. Many children are reading much better.
Let’s keep it up.
We started this week to have the great opportunity that in class everyone wears Tzitzit. The importance of Tzitzit is so important and the Torah says, it is to remind us of the Mitzvot. Let us all try to do as many Mitzvot as we can.
Congratulations to Sarina, Jacob, Ben, and Zohar on being the “Students of the week.”
Keep up the good work.
Shabbat Shalom
Rabbi B.

5th and 6th Girls

Dear parents.
Thank G-d, we had a wonderful and packed week!
Over the last few weeks, the girls have been doing many many many Mitzvot. They’ve been filling out Mitzvah cards, earning scratch-off cards with exciting prizes and placing their cards in that particular Mitzvah’s raffle envelope.
The raffle envelopes were full of the girls’ Mitzvah cards and we are so so proud of them!
On Tuesday, as each girl presented their Mitzvah project, we chose the raffle winner for that Mitzvah.
Congratulations to all the raffle winners!
The girls did a spectacular job on their Mitzvah presentations.
You should have lots of nachat!
We began to learn all about the holiday of Shavuot which starts Saturday evening June 4 (The 5th and 6th of Sivan.)
We learned about the Jews receiving the Torah on Shavuot and about how lucky we are that we got the Torah.
We learned all about how happy and kind the Torah makes people who keep it properly.
We’re in middle of learning all about Megillat Rut (Megillah of Ruth) which we read in Synagogue on the 2nd day of Shavuot.
We learned all about this week’s Parsha, Parshat Bechukotai and the many blessings that Hashem blesses those who keep the Torah with enthusiasm and joy.
Most of the girls did very well on the Parsha quiz we took after class.
Shabbat Shalom U’mevorach!
Enjoy your weekend.

Best regards,
Mrs. Perlstein

This week we are inching ever closer to completing the first Perek-chapter of Masechet Sukkah!
We learned about a suka that had no walls and no roof !!
It is a machloket whether it will or will not be kosher. The idea is; the walls can also be the roof and the roof can also be the walls!
Some boys were able to equate this idea of a slanted roof to a previous Mishna where there was a two post bed with a canopy over it forming a tent. Rabbi Oren Yitzchok Hecht, brought these ideas together. Just as in the case of the bed in the suka, where the bed was covered by a tent shaped canopy it did not have the law of a roof and therefore was not a separation between the person and the S’chach, so to here, the slanted roof[might] would not be considered a roof.
We learned about this week’s Parasha, Parshat Bechukotai. We are told that if we learn Torah energeticallythen HAshem will give rain in the proper time etc. and vica versa.
We also learned that the best reward is Hashem’s presence dwelling amongst us.
We also learned about the important Mitzvah of giving Maaser- 1/10 of our crops, and animals etc.
We learned many intricate laws and customs related and applicable to Shavuot.
We began a new section in Halacha-Hilchot Berachot.
We are anticipating the upcoming, uplifting visit to the Yeshiva of Staten Island and meeting with Rabbi Chaim Mintz Shlit”a, on Tuesday, arranged by Rabbi Berelowitz.
Thank you, Rabbi Berelowitz
Shabbat Shalom

7th and 8th Girls
This week we completed Chapter 6 in Hilchot Berachot!
We focused on Hilchos Mezonot that changes to Hamotzi when eaten in large amounts.
We also completed Parasha t B’haalot’cha in depth. We are looking forward to a siyum celebration this coming week, after Memorial day.
We learned alot about Hilchot and Minhagei customs of Shavuot, including “why do we eat dairy on Shavuot?” and “why do we decorate our Shuls and homes with plants, grasses and flowers on Shavuot?”
We also covered many details in this week’s Parasha, Parshat Bechukotai.

Batya Visits!
Girls were entertained and inspired by a visitor from Batya. Stay tuned for more excitement.

Taylor Dinar Inspires!!!
We, the girls and I-Rabbi Kuritsky were extremely inspired by Taylor Dinar, daughter of our devoted administrator, Mrs. Ilanit Dinar, who came to our class and spoke about one of the most important Mitzvot- keeping Shabbat!
Taylor described to us her journey to keeping Shabbat and all about what it means to her and how it has lifted her spiritually and as a person in general. The girls and especially myself, were inspired. Some girls even stated that they may keep Shabbat/more than they have until now.
Thank you, Taylor Dinar!

7th and 8th Boys

What an accomplishing week we had in class.
We start off our class with the boys putting on their Tefillin and Davening. The beautiful sight of the boys Davening is something to be very proud of.
In our Pirkei Avot lessons we spoke about that the Mishna says Hillel said, the more property the more worry. We have to realize how special it is to live a simple and happy life. We spoke about the importance to know the purpose of life. Th Mishna says “Lekach Notzarta” for this reason you were created. To learn Torah.
In Halacha class we learnt about how to put away the Tefillin. We also learnt what do you do if the Minyan is starting, and you can’t get your Tefillin.
We started this week to have the great opportunity that in class everyone wears Tzitzit. The importance of Tzitzit is so important and the Torah says it is to remind us of the Mitzvot. Let us all try to do as many Mitvot as we can.
Congratulations to Doron Etai, Oren, and Asher on being the “Students of the week.”

Keep up the good work.
Shabbat Shalom
Rabbi B

Elementary School

Kindergarten

This week kindergarten continued to learn about nonfiction books. They listened to many read alouds of non-fiction books and practiced identifying the text features. They read a nonfiction book about sharks and learned how to fill in a graphic organizer of all the different facts they learned from the book. Then, they used their graphic organizer to independently write a paragraph all about sharks. They were super excited to pick a nonfiction book about animals to read and write about. They also learned to read and spell long E vowel words. In math they took their math test on counting and identifying money. They got a 95 or above on the test. I am so proud of them! They began learning how to read an analog clock. They can now identify time to the hour. In science they presented their science fair projects. They all did an AMAZING job teaching the class about their experiment and how to stay healthy. In social studies they learned about supply and demand. Then, they watched a cartoon to review everything they have learned so far about wants, needs, saving, spending, goods, services, producers, suppy, and demand,

Second Grade

This week in math, 2nd grade finished up our unit on fractions, and started learning how to tell time. In ELA, we are learning about parts of a short story, and we began writing our own short stories! We also had the science symposium this week! 2nd grade’s projects were beautiful, and the students did a great job presenting their projects to their peers, and answering questions about their experiments.

Third Grade

This week in ELA we completed our James and the Giant Peach novel. We ended it with some fun and did a bit role playing and musical theater. Students also began a final writing piece in response to the text by telling their favorite part of the story from the perspective of another character besides the main character James.

In math, we also completed our unit on pounds and ounces. Students mastered converting pounds into ounces by using mental math strategies. They tackled tough real world problems and did fantastic on the quiz of adding and subtracting pounds and ounces.

This week in math we completed unit on bar graphs and line plots. Continued to solve multi step word problems.
In ELA we completed writing activities and identified adverbs. Worked on reading comprehension and answering long response questions.
We are continuing to memorize states and capitals and take weekly quizzes.

Fifth Grade
Greetings and Salutations!

This week, the students continued their vocabulary and root word study. In grammar, we learned about superlative and comparative adjectives, as well as proper adjectives. We finished our novels and wrote reflections on the novels we read.

In math, 5th grade is learning about quadrilaterals and angles.

Middle School

Middle School ELA and Social Studies

6th Grade
In ELA, we finished our persuasive writing unit. We also practiced being critical readers and evaluating arguments. Students continued their novel study of the Outsiders.
In social studies, this week, the 6th grade learned about the Roman Empire and the Five Good Emperors. We also learned how the Five Good Emperors helped the Roman Empire thrive. This week I would like to commend Charles for taking point in class discussions.

7th Grade
In ELA, the 7th graders continued their novel unit on The Giver. Students are doing an amazing job in class discussion, and are ready to finish the novel next week. Students practiced writing wonderful paragraphs, and learned about writing structure in class.
In Social Studies, students started our unit of the Civil War.

8th Grade
Eighth graders continued their novel study of the Book Thief. We discussed character motivation and story structure. In Social Studies, students started our unit on Imperialism.

Middle School Math

6th grade is learning about circumference and area of a circle.
7th grade is learning about systems of linear equations.
8th grade is learning about linear regression and finding the line of best fit.

Middle School Science

6th
Students started a new Unit: Energy and Motion.
Students described balanced and unbalanced forces; define acceleration; calculate net force; explained how the forces of friction, magnetism, and gravity act in our daily lives.

7th Grade Science

Students are investigating how our body systems work together to maintain homeostasis. They are currently taking a journey through the digestive system and discovering how nutrition and circulation play an important role in supplying our body with the nutrients it provides and how it actually gets through our bodies.

8th Grade Science

Students are preparing for the Living Environment Regent by taking practice exams and working through various aspects of this regent. In addition, students are investigating how energy flows through ecosystems, how biotic and abiotic factors affect those ecosystems and the importance of interdependence within each system.

Jewish History

7th grade learned about the sin of the spies and its result. We explored the concept of mob mentality and how hard it is to separate yourself from a group. We learned how a college professor successfully convinced 400 students that 2+2=5. Everyone followed along until 3 students together opposed him. One alone did not work. Even two was a challenge. Three people together were powerful enough to go against 400 other people and stand up for what they believed in. We discussed the importance of associating with good people and asking advice from the right people.

8th grade began discussing the great personalities of the 1400s and how they shaped our lives today. We also discussed the different methods of learning history and how history is defined by the people who lived through it. We also spoke about how I researched at least 5 primary sources for each person I discussed and why I chose to do so.

SIHA Newsletter for 5/20/2022

by admin | May 20, 2022 | Newsletter

Dvar Torah

Parshat Behar
By Rabbi Dr. Richard Ehrlich

The Torah portion of Behar introduces us to the laws of Shemittah, which this year is presently. For six years we are to work the land but on the seventh year, the Shemittah year, we are enjoined from working the land.
“And if you shall say, what will we eat in the seventh year, for we have not planted or gathered in our grain [due to the restrictions of Shemittah, I will appoint my blessing to you in the sixth year, and it will yield enough rain for the three year period [the year before the Shemittah, the Shemittah year, and the following year, until you can plant and reap the harvest]”[Vayikra 25:20-21).
Ovadya Sforno (1470-1550), writes that the nature of Hashem’s miracle varied according to the quality of bitachon (faith in Hashem) shown by the Jewish people. If their bitachon was great, the miracle was that a year’s quantity sufficed for three years. If not, they received three years quantity of grain in the sixth year. The first was a hidden miracle; the second obvious to everyone.

Why, we might wonder, did the lower level of bitachon evoke the more obvious miracle, i.e., the threefold quantity of grain?

The traditional sources explain that Hashem avoids doing open miracles. Such miracles seem to imply that the natural order Hashem created, and which He described as “very good,” is not complete and needs adjustment from time to time.

In reality, there is no difference between nature and miracles. Both are expressions of the Divine will. The Splitting of the Sea, our Rabbis/Chazal say, was already decreed from the creation of the world. It and other miracles are merely natural events which occur infrequently; nature is miraculous events which occur regularly.

From our vantage point, however, miracles appear as exceptions to the natural order. As such, they can diminish God’s honor in our eyes by implying an imperfection in His creation. Therefore, we do not pray for miracles or derive benefit from the products produced by miracles.

The hidden miracle of being satiated with smaller portions, so that one year’s yield would last for three years, however, did not serve the needs of those whose faith was weak. Seeing a normal yield in the sixth year, such a person would grow worried that his crops were insufficient for the coming years. He needed to see the grain for three years in front of him to feel secure.

And now for the amazing point: Hashem responded to that need to see the grain in front of him, and provided a threefold quantity of grain, even though the need to do so was engendered by a lack of faith and trust in Hashem. How astounding is Hashem’s kindness.
Rabbi Chaim of Volozhin (1749-1821) once asked the Vilna Gaon (1720-1797) what the Talmud means when it says that one of the attributes of Hashem is the fact that “He is somayach bechelko,” content with His portion. By definition, Hashem is complete unto Himself and needs nothing. The Gaon explained that the Jewish people are referred to as Hashem’s portion. Although he would like us to be on a higher level, nevertheless, He is content with us at whatever level He finds us.

We are enjoined to imitate G-d in all his ways, and the manner in which He relates to us contains many valuable lessons in how we should relate to one another. Many times our friends, spouses, or children are not on the level we would like them to be. We must learn from our Creator that despite our hopes for their growth, we must accept the reality of the present situation and deal with them at their present level. With ourselves, too we must not confuse our aspiration for higher levels with our present level. We must accommodate our present level and that of others, while always striving for greater and greater perfection.

Special Announcement

Mazal Tov to Rabbi and Mrs. Ferber upon the birth of their baby boy!
May he grow from strength to strength and be a source of true yiddishe nachat.

Congratulations to the Green Team, our Color War Winners!

This week, SIHA hosted a special day to celebrate Lag B’Omer! Students participated in a school-wide Color War, and were divided into the Green and Blue Teams. The captains for the Blue Team were Anna Gershkovich and Doron Glickman. Blue Team General was Oren Dery. Captains for the Green Team were Noga Sayag and Noah Garber, while the Green Team general was Noam Tisona. Both teams competed in a series of challenges.
Both teams were impressively organized by their leadership!
Mrs. Hazen would like to call out the Blue Team Members, especially Elior Factor and Ariella Shindelman for showing kindness and great sportsmanship while cheering younger students on no matter what team they were on!

A special mention goes to the Green Team Cheer, which included a song and a dance that all students from grades K-8 participated in!

Finally, a big thank you to Ms. Klahr and Alex Ortiz for their time and energy in organizing and making our Color War happen despite the rain!

Judaics

Second Grade

We had a wonderful week in 2nd grade as we are are practicing our Kriya skills daily. Many of the students are now able to distinguish between a Shva Noch (quiet Shva) and Shva noh (loud Shva). We are learning the meaning of our daily morning Brochot. We are up to the brocha of “Ozer Yisroel b’gevura.” We have been discussing gevura all year. The children know gevura means having inner strength to make the right choices. Chava(Sophie), Aaron Schwartzman and other students told the class of personal experiences they were in, and rose to the challenge using their gevura muscles. Shabbat Shalom. Morah Spiegel

Fourth Grade

What a beautiful week it was in our amazing class. Each day was very exciting.
The Davening, the learning, the friendships, and the color war. It was an action-packed week.
We started our week with a quiz on what we learnt last week in Chumash. The students knew it very well. In our lessons of the week, we learnt about that Hashem told Avraham to have a Bris Mila. It was very interesting that Avraham who was an old man, Hashem made a miracle that he should have a child. We have to realize all the miracles that Hashem does for us each and every day.
In Halacha we learnt about Lag Ba’aomer. We learned that the Students of Rabbi Akiva did not get along with each other and were killed. We have to make sure it doesn’t happen, and we have to get along very well with our friends.
Color war was loads of fun. The cheering, the races, etc. it was amazing how nicely the teams performed.
Students of the week are Sarina, Ariella, and Alivia.
Let us all enjoy a beautiful Shabbat.

Keep up the good work.
Shabbat Shalom
Rabbi B.

5th and 6th boys
This week, we began another new Mishna. We learned about a Suka that has 4 walls and Kosher S’chach, but the S’chach is in the center of the room and does not reach the walls. We learned that the suka will be kosher as long as there is less than 4 Amot [less than approximately 7 feet] – cubits from the S’chach to the walls.
This is based on the idea that the “wall is bent” = “Dofen Akuma”, and therefore does reach the kosher S’chach. The same would be true in other similar cases.
In Parasha, we covered many ideas;
Every 7 years is Shmita , just as every 7 days is Shabbat.
On Shabbat we do not work, so too for the entire year of Shmita, we do not work the fields in Eretz Yisrael aka Israel. This year 5782 is Shmita , in Israel, many many farmers are respecting the Torah and keeping the laws of Shmita. Jews around the globe are making it easier for them to keep Shmita by raising money for them as they may not sell/profit from this year’s crops.
We also learned that every 50 years is Yovel the Jubilee year.In our times we are not able to celebrate the Yovel.
We learned about not jipping people monetarily, and about not hurting people’s feelings. We also covered that everything that we have is from Hashem.
We are to use His gifts for what He wants us to use them for,i.e. $ for Tzedakah charity.
WAR breaks out in SIHA… color war.
Blue team versus Green team.
We enjoyed some real school spirit!.
Thank you to Miss Esther Klahr and all of our beloved generals for running such a fun program.
Refua Shleima to Gavriel ben Bilha, and Yonah Dovid.
Shabbat Shalom

7th and 8th Girls

In Parasha, we covered many ideas;
Every 7 years is Shmita , just as every 7 days is Shabbat.
On Shabbat we do not work, so too for the entire year of Shmita, we do not work the fields in Eretz Yisrael aka Israel. This year 5782 is Shmita , in Israel, many many farmers are respecting the Torah and keeping the laws of Shmita. Jews around the globe are making it easier for them to keep Shmita by raising money for them as they may not sell/profit from this year’s crops.
We also learned that every 50 years is Yovel the Jubilee year.In our times we are not able to celebrate the Yovel.
We learned about not jipping people monetarily, and about not hurting people’s feelings. We also covered that everything that we have is from Hashem.
We are to use His gifts for what He wants us to use them for,i.e. $ for Tzedakah charity.
WAR breaks out in SIHA… color war.
Blue team versus Green team.
We enjoyed some real school spirit!.
Thank you to Miss Esther Klahr and all of our beloved generals for running such a fun program.
In Halacha we really moved full speed ahead.
We covered a lot of pertinent and practical Halachot. If we change our locations this usually will require another Bracha, We also learned that if we eat a lot of Mezonot baked food, this will be treated as bread i.e. [this will not apply to cooked foods i.e. noodles.] and we would be required to wash, as we would prior to eating bread, say Hamotzi, and Birkat Hamazon.
We finished Parashat B’haalot’cha! We have been studying this Parasha, in depth, in addition to the weekly Parasha.
We look forward to celebrating this milestone!
Shabbat Shalom

7th and 8th Boys

What an accomplishing week we had in class.
We started off with the beautiful Davening. The boys put on their TefiIlin.
We learned our Pirkei Avot lessons. One of the important lessons that we learnt was that if there is no leader, you should be a leader. Everyone has the chance to be a leader and do good things.
In halacha we learnt very interesting Halachot regarding the Tefillin we are very privileged to wear. We learnt about how long the Straps of the Tefillin should be.
We watched a great video about Tefilla. Tefilla is something that we always need to work on to improve.
In Parsha class we learnt about Shimttah. It is amazing to have the beautiful Mitzvah to care about the fields that hashem gives us.
Noah, Noam, Doron, and Deri were great heads of color war. Color war was loads of fun.
Students of the week are Asher, Oren, and David.

Shabbat Shalom
Rabbi B.

Elementary School

Kindergarten

This week kindergarten learned how to read and spell words with the vowel teams AY and AI. They learned all about nonfiction books. They learned about text features, read nonfiction books, and they began writing a nonfiction book about bears. In math they continued to review how to identify and count pennies, nickels, dimes, and quarters. They also worked on adding and subtracting within 20 using different strategies to increase their speed. In science they did a fun experiment to learn about the parts of a seed. They were very excited to find a little baby inside their seed. They hung their seeds in a bag on our class window to see if they will grow. In social studies they reviewed needs and wants. They learned about saving and spending and the differences between goods and producers.

Second Grade
What an exciting week for 2nd grade! In academics, we finished up our KWL essays and our fractions unit. We also played a really fun game during math class! We opened up a 2nd grade store, where you can buy various items, like pencils and markers. Sophie Braun and Brianna Sanders were the cashiers. They had to assess their inventory and see how much money they started with. Then, each student was able to purchase things (I know the money looks real in the pictures, but it is play money, courtesy of Zachary Kipnis). In the end, Brianna and Sophie had to add up their remaining inventory and their money, and make sure their books were balanced. They did a great job, their books were balanced in the end, meaning they gave everyone the right amount of change! In other news, COLOR WAR!!!! On Thursday we had color war! 2nd grade was on the green team. In one of the the pictures below, you can see Brianna Sanders celebrating with the green team after she won the relay race! The green team won in the end! The blue team showed excellent sportsmanship, and made the contest really close! Great job everyone!

In science, students discussed specific energy types and practical energy sources. Associated hands-on activities help them identify energy types in their surroundings and enhance their understanding of the concept of energy.

In ELA, grade 3 used RACE writing strategy to develop well structured writing pieces. We critiqued our responses by peer editing and provided each other with constructive feedback to make our writing better. We continued our shared reading of James and the Giant Peach and used quotes from the text to create illustrations rich with details and imagery.

Our Color War was a hit! Grade 3 Green Team demonstrated their school spirit by making posters to support our team. We discussed what it means to have good sportsmanship. We gave examples of how to win well and how to lose well.

In science, students reviewed chapter concepts about Cycles on Earth. Students enjoyed being a “Meteorologist” and announcing the weather prediction.

Fourth Grade

This week in math students completed unit on funding area and perimeter, worked on multiple step word problems, reviewed multiplying by two digit numbers and long division.
In ELA students worked on story writing and presented them to class.
We are continuing to read and enjoy our class chapter book, The Tales of Despereaux.
In Social Studies we read about locations of Pacific states and kids are memorizing names of States and capitals.

In science, 4th graders were so excited to learn about “Electricity”. Students learned and observed electric charges in matter; identify positive and negative charges. I can not wait for their amazing science fair projects!!

Fifth Grade

Greetings and Salutations!
This week has been busy for the 5th grade.
They continued their vocabulary and root word study. They also learned about adjectives- articles and demonstrative adjectives to be precise.
The 5th graders practiced analyzing the poem of the week. I am happy to say that this week the students found the poem quite entertaining. Lastly, they continued their novel study.
This week I would likr to send a big kudos to Izzy for his amazing sportsmanship and caring during color war.

In math, 5th grade finished learning about average, line plots, and graphs.

In science, 5th graders finished the last chapter of “Building Blocks of Matter”. They enjoyed and learned a lot about different chemical formulas, and tried to figure out different kinds of solutions using indicator strips. Way to go 5th graders!!!

Middle School

Middle School ELA and Social Studies

6th Grade
In ELA, we continued our persuasive writing unit. Students researched, created an outline and wrote drafts. They also continued their novel study of the Outsiders.

Greetings and Salutations!
This week in 6th grade we learned about the decline of the Roman Republic. The 6th graders also learned about the formation of the Roman Empire and Caesar’s role in it.
This week I would like to commend Ruti for taking point in class discussions.

7th Grade
In ELA, the 7th graders continued their novel unit on The Giver. Students are doing an amazing job in class discussion, and are ready to finish the novel next week. Students practiced writing wonderful paragraphs, and learned about writing structure in class.
In Social Studies, students learned all about the presidency of Thomas Jefferson.

8th Grade
Eighth graders continued their novel study of the Book Thief. We discussed character motivation and story structure. In Social Studies, students wrapped up their lesson on the French Revolution and started learning about the Napoleonic Wars.

Middle School Math

6th grade learned about the area of polygons.
7th grade learned how to solve systems of equations with elimination, substitution, and graphing
8th grade learned about arithmetic and geometric sequences.

Middle School Science

6th
Students started a new Unit: Energy and Motion.
Students described balanced and unbalanced forces; define acceleration; calculate net force; explained how the forces of friction, magnetism, and gravity act in our daily lives.

7th Grade Science

Students are investigating how our body systems work together to maintain homeostasis. They are currently taking a journey through the digestive system and discovering how nutrition and circulation play an important role in supplying our body with the nutrients it provides and how it actually gets through our bodies.

8th Grade Science

Students are preparing for the Living Environment Regent by taking practice exams and working through various aspects of this regent. In addition, students are investigating how energy flows through ecosystems, how biotic and abiotic factors affect those ecosystems and the importance of interdependence within each system.

Jewish History

7th grade had a very eventful week. The class did beautifully on their quiz and is really demonstrating their knowledge of what we are learning. We focused on the Mishkan, how it was central to Jewish life in the desert and what it meant to the Jewish nation. We also learned how the Jews camped in the desert.

8th grade learned about the times of the Rishonim and the different customs of different groups of Jews.