Dvar Torah
Parshas Vayikra/Parshas Zachor
Candlelighting: 5:41
This week, once again, a second Sefer Torah is removed from the Ark and an additional portion is read. This portion speaks about the obligation to eradicate the memory of Amalek from this earth.
What did Amalek do that was so terrible? Why are we obligated to erase every trace of their memory?
The Torah tells us clearly what the nation of Amalek did. The Torah tells us “Asher Korcha BaDerech.” The nation of Amalek happened upon the Jews after they left Egypt. Amalek was a nation that believed in happenstance.
When the Jews left Egypt, the entire world was terrified of them. No nation dared attack them. Everyone heard about the 10 plagues that Hashem sent upon the Egyptians and how Hashem punished them by drowning in the Red Sea. The entire world realized that this was the work of Hashem.
Amalek alone pushed all the logical evidence and miraculous proofs to the wayside. They chose to ignore that it was from Hashem. They chose to believe that all the miracles Hashem did for the Jewish people were simple happenstance, the work of nature and not coming from Hashem.
Therefore, they were the only nation that dared attack the Jewish people after they left Egypt.
A nation that can deny Hashgocho Pratis, that dares to think that Hashem does not control the world, such a nation cannot live on this earth.
Even their memory needs to be eradicated. Purim is the time of overcoming the attitude of Amalek, of happenstance and recognizing that Hashem controls everything that happens.
Purim reminds us that Hashem controls every aspect of our lives, even when we cannot see Him. Hashem’s presence is hidden in our exile, yet Hashem is still there, loving us, protecting us now and in the future.
Have a Gut Shabbos and a Happy Purim
Mrs. Rosskamm
Judaic Studies Coordinator
Special Announcement
Dear parents,
We are all getting ready for Purim and working hard making beautiful Migilot. Our trip day is drawing closer and we truly can’t wait. Looking forward to seeing everyone dressed up and enjoying themselves.
We have another exciting announcement!
4 Mishloach manot raffles!
If you’d like to buy raffle tickets, please bring in money for Monday or Tuesday morning. The winners will be announced on Wednesday.
Special announcement for our 4th grade!
They were the first to complete their class chain of including each other!
We are so proud of you!
Judaics
Kindergarten and First Grade
We baruch Hashem had another great week in kindergarten and first grade Judaics!
In kriah, the first grade finished learning the nekuda kubutz and began to learn the very last nekuda, shuruk! Soon they’ll know how to read any Hebrew word!
The kindergarteners learned the letter “pay” and were pleased to realize that the upcoming holiday of Purim begins with the letter pay!
The children are really gearing up for Purim! We were very busy learning and reviewing the Purim story. We are so excited to bring home our very own megillas to read on Purim and act out the story with our puppets! We know the story really well!
On Friday, we continued learning about the mitzvah of Challah for Shabbat and made a special card for our mothers with the blessing we make when we separate the challah dough. We also learned about the special Shabbat this week – Parshat Zachor- where we remember how the nation Amalek tried to kill us after we left Egypt.
Looking forward to another great week!
Second Grade
What an exciting week we had in 2nd grade. On Wednesday we had a ball acting out the Purim Story in class and learning Purim songs.. A special thank you to the entire cast of actors and actresses. Thursday we made hamentashen, hope the children enjoyed the fruits of their labor. Our Hebrew word bank keeps growing as we are learning so many new Hebrew words and are familiar with many prefixes as well. We know this Shabbat we begin reading the third book of the Five books of the Torah. Sefer V’yeikra. This weeks Torah reading is the first Parsha in Sefer V’yeikra Parshat V’yeikra which discusses various offerings which were brought during the time in history when the Jews used the Mishkan and the Beit Hamikdash-the Holy Temple. Today we do not bring offerings, we pray to Hashem (G-d) through our daily formal prayers as well as being able to talk to Hashem anytime of the day or night in any language. Shabbat Shalom!
Third Grade
Third grade is almost ready for purim!
our Megillot are coming out beautifully. We are learning phrases from the Megillah and answering questions.
The students are even writing a short summary for each chapter.
They can’t wait to show you!
This week Ella Hanuka was chosen to take home the third grade siddur. Keep on davening beautifully to Hashem!
This week Shabat we read an extra Parsha. Third grade learned that it will always fall out the Shabat before Purim.
We told the story about which nation Haman comes from and why we need to remember them.
We can’t wait for next week!
Happy Purim prep, and
Shabbat Shalom!
Morah Ferber
Fourth Grade
Dear Parents,
It is very accomplishing to reflect on what we did this week.
We continued our lessons of being careful how we speak. We asked the students for examples how to express your feelings well when you are not happy. The Torah teaches us how important it is to speak positive and look at the good.
In Chumash we started moving at a quicker pace. We learned that the shepherds of Avrum got into a fight with the Shepherds of Lot. Avram then told Lot we need to separate ways. It was a great lifelong lesson how careful we need to be about other people’s money.
We spoke about the Purim Story. It was tons of fun learning about the story. We are sooo excited and counting the days.
Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi Berelowitz
5th and 6th Boys
This week was an academically loaded week.
We reviewed, solidified and were quizzed on the 4th Mishna in Masechet Sukkah, which discusses the rules of kosher s’chach, and gives a few interesting cases of kosher s’chach. Some of the examples of kosher s’chach were;grape vines,gourd vines and soft branches. The rules are pretty simple. The materials must have two criteria: 1 It must grow from the ground and 2 it must not be susceptible to impurity [Tumah].
In Parasha, we covered, in outline fashion, Parashat Vayikra, which discusses the korbanot-sacrifices that were brought in the Mishkan and in the Beit Hamikdosh.
We completed our study of Hilchos Purim, and we will be quizzed on them this coming week, in preparation for the holiday of Purim. We now know that the Mitzvah of Mishloach manot requires us to give two food types to one person, and that Matanot la’evyonim, requires us to give tzedakah to two poor people.
We have been reading the Megillah-Mgilat Esther, in English, so we can be familiar with the story and the text. We also have been privileged to watch some Purim videos, which are informative and entertaining.
In our daily T’filah, we have added more Brachot to Amidah-Shemoneh Esrei.
We look forward to another exciting week, next week!
Shabbat shalom.
7th and 8th Girls
This week was an academically loaded week.
In Parasha, we covered, in outline fashion, Parashat Vayikra, which discusses the korbanot-sacrifices that were brought in the Mishkan and in the Beit Hamikdosh. We discussed the concept of a Karban-sacrifice and tried to understand it. We also discussed the three types of Caret.
In Navi Yehoshu, we discussed and filled in our workbook about the different kings and provinces captured by Yehoshua on his odessy conqering eretz Yisroel.
We completed our study of Hilchos Purim, and we will be quizzed on them this coming week, in preparation for the holiday of Purim. We now know that the Mitzvah of Mishloach manot requires us to give two food types to one person, and that Matanot la’evyonim, requires us to give tzedakah to two poor people.
We have been reading the Megillah-Mgilat Esther, in English, so we can be familiar with the story and the text. We also have been privileged to watch some Purim videos, which are informative and entertaining.
The girls have been preparing a skit about the Purim story…Let’s see how it works out. Stay tuned.
In our daily T’filah, we have added more Brachot to Amidah-Shemoneh Esrei; Slach Lanu =forgive us, R’eina b’anyenu-see in our affliction and Refaeinu=heal us.
We also incorporated a “haleluka”
7th and 8th Boys
This week was amazing in class.
We started lessons talking about the Beginning of Davening. The Students wrote terrific writings We spoke about Modeh Ani and Ma Tovu.
In Gemara class we spoke about the concept the Gemara says that the way a person wants the go, that is the way he is led. The Gemara brings proofs from the Torah, Nevi’im, and Kesuvim. It was an important lesson how we need to try to do our best.
Many boys said over the Gemara and explained it vey well.
We spoke about Purim and the Brachos of the Megilla. We are super excited about the upcoming Purim.
Keep it up,
Shabbat Shalom
Rabbi Berelowitz
Elementary School
Kindergarten
This week kindergarten wrote friendly letters to their parents, teachers, and friends. They learned how to write a persuasive letter by listening to a story about a boy writing letters to his mom to ask for a pet and a story about farm animals writing letters asking for blankets. Then, they did a fabulous job writing their own persuasive letters to their parents asking for a pet and why their parents should get them that pet. They also learned how to read and spell words that
follow the FLSZ rule. In math they reviewed for their math test on adding, subtracting, and solving word problems. They also learned how to write their own addition and subtraction word problem. They did an excellent job creating their own word problems and their friends were
even able to solve their word problems! In science they reviewed facts about magnets and they learned what makes something living or nonliving. In social studies they learned about what the president does, they learned how to vote, and they had a mock election to vote for the best type of cookie. They also learned about the different types of communities and which community they live in.
First Grade
Students have also learned about two-digit addition and place value in Math. We have concluded the Unit about matter in Science. The first graders were surprised to learn about matter in the states of solid, liquid, and gas. In Reading, we explored the concept of folktales by reading “Abuelo and the Three Bears”, a variation of Goldilocks and the Three Bears. We discovered that this folktale has been told in different t versions around the world. The first graders are learning how to summarize stories by focusing on the main idea.
Second Grade
This week in math, 2nd grade is diving back into multiplication! After completing our unit test on mental math, which the class did very well on, we are now mastering our 4,5, and 10 multiplication tables. In ELA, we are editing and completing a piece of explanatory writing, and learning about helping verbs in grammar. In social studies, we completed a quiz on the three branches of government in the United States, which was our topic for the social studies fair.
In science, What a fun week for 2nd graders. Learning about the Solar System was a blast!
From Phases of the Moon created with “Oreo cookies” to “long banner of the Planets”. Students were able to identify the planets in the Earth’s solar system; determine the position of the planets from the sun.
Mr. A. Ferrera B.S.Ed
Generalist Teacher, 2nd grade
SIHA
Third Grade
This week Grade 3 students completed their board/report presentations on American patriots. They shared the accomplishments and great deeds these men and women achieved that made this country independent and stronger standing apart from the British rule. During their Grammar lessons, students worked on identifying and writing possessive nouns in both singular and plural forms. They also continued to practice concepts towards the English and Math portions of the S.A.T. During their Math lessons, students practiced converting, adding, and subtracting units of measure for length. They used inches, feet, meters, and kilometers to solve word problems and identify the perimeter of shapes. They had also practiced solving word problems that involved money.
In science, 3rd graders started a new chapter” Forces shape the land”
Students identified and compared Earth’s surface land and water features.
Miss Sasha
Fourth Grade
In science, students explored the science of weathering and erosion to understand how Earth’s surface changes; understood that most mountains form as a result of the movement of sections of Earth’s crust.
This week in math we were adding, subtracting, multiplying and solving words problems with with decimals.
Prepared for noetic and state tests.
In Social Studies we started a new chapter called Living in the Midwest. Read and discussed about the Great Lakes State.
Fifth Grade
Fifth graders had a busy week! In ELA, students learned all about the direct object and the indirect object. They also learned new word roots. Students continued their novel studies and wrote some beautiful paragraphs!
In science, students defined an earthquake, as well as its epicenter and focus. Explain the relationship between earthquakes and faults. Explain the occurrence of earthquakes according to elastic rebound theory. Describe where (in a Plate Tectonic sense) different types of earthquakes are generated. Students were able to explain the theory of continental drift; describe how features of Earth’s changed over millions of years.
In math, 5th grade continued learning about decimals and started learning unit conversions.
Middle School
Middle School ELA and Social Studies
6th grade
Sixth graders had a busy week!
In ELA, students continued their novel study of Watsons go to Birmingham. They also learned all about linking verbs and verb phrases in grammar. In social studies, students started their unit on Ancient Greece.
7th grade
Seventh graders had a good week!
They continued preparing for the state test and writing long responses. In grammar, students started their unit on verbs and verb phrases. They also continued their novel study of Night by Elie Weisel.
In social studies, students started their unit on the constitution.
8th grade
Eight graders had a great week!
Students continued their novel study of Fahrenheit 451. In Grammar, this week was all about preparing for our vocabulary unit test. Students worked very hard!
In social studies, students started learning about the end of the Vietnam War and wrapping up our unit on the Cold War.
Middle School Math
6th grade finished percentage and began learning algebra.
7th grade finished their module on nonproportional relationships.
8th grade finished learning how to factor.
Middle School Science
6th Grade
Students understood the important role that water plays in wind systems, weather patterns, and weather events; during an activity students were able to classify shapes and types of clouds according to elevation and their associated weather conditions and patterns. A unit Test was assigned.
7th Grade
As students learn about the nervous system and the brain, they are conducting research. Each student was assigned an organ of the nervous system and/or a part of the brain that they had to investigate. Students researched the importance of their organ and identified the role of their organ, where it is located, what it’s special function is and how it interacts with other parts of the body. Once this was established, students had to investigate using two of the five questions, or create their own question. These were some sample questions provided: How does trauma affect the cerebellum? How does poor diet choices affect the cerebellum? How do toxins affect the cerebellum? What body systems or organs are affected if the cerebellum is damaged? Students plugged their part into the question and investigated various sources to complete a summary. Students then had to state their claim and provide evidence that supports their claim. As they continue to work hard, next week I will publish some of their results. Excellent Job, 7th Grade.
8th Grade Science
8th graders just completed their Diffusion Through Membrane state lab. Students investigated which molecules were able to diffuse through the membrane. Students created a model cell and filled it with glucose and starch solutions. They placed this cell into a beaker with water and iodine and waited 20 minutes to investigate exactly what took place. Students were able to make the conclusions that the iodine diffused into the cell and created a chemical reaction with the starch solution. This was evidenced by the color inside the cell, as it turned a blue/black color. Then students had to investigate even further to determine what happened to the glucose solution, if anything. Students had to undergo a few tests to determine if the glucose did in fact diffuse out of the cell. They had to place water from the beaker into a test tube with Benedict’s solution and Iodine to determine if it did in fact diffuse, but they discovered that this was not the way to test for glucose. So, upon further investigation, they placed water from the beaker that the cell was placed in a test tube and added Benedict’s solution, then they placed their test tube into a bubbling beaker and waited five minutes to determine if glucose did in fact diffuse out of the cell. Upon completion of their investigation they determined that glucose did in fact diffuse out of the cell, as this was evidenced by the color change. Once the test tube liquid was heated in a water bath the color changed to green, then to orange which is indicative of the presence of glucose. This was the conclusion of their lab.
Jewish History
7th grade began learning about the Egyptian exile and how Hashem clearly demonstrated that He created the world, controls the world, and cares about the world.
8th grade continued learning about how the Sages prepared us for the long and bitter exile after the Second Bais HaMikdash was destroyed and the steps they took to make sure the Torah would not be forgotten.