Chavurot Programming

We are pleased to have finally launched our new Chavurot program for sixth grade students and their families.

The Chavurot program is designed to strengthen families' connections to Temple Judea and each other.

Families are expected to be active participants in their B’nai Mitzvah Chavurah. The Chavurah (or plural Chavurot) is a small group of 8-9 families who will all be celebrating Bar or Bat Mitzvah within a few months of one another (or are close in age). There are four Chavurot for the current sixth grade class.

The word "Chavurah" refers to a small group of like-minded individuals who come together to discuss commonalities. The word "Chavurah" shares the same root as the Hebrew work for friend, "Chaver."

Organized Chavurot activities include Shabbat dinners, mitzvah projects, and social gathering that are scheduled over the course of the sixth and seventh grade years. Chavurot events will be held on Friday nights to avoid conflicts with youth group, sporting events, and other goings-on around Miami.

This first Chavurah event will follow Shabbat services at Temple Judea. During the service the participating child(ren) will be called to the Bimah to help lead the Amidah. We also host a potluck dinner where Temple Judea supplies the main course.

Below are photos from the first Chavurah. Families met on Friday, November 16th and came together to create Jewish Journey posters and did a spectacular job! Thank you to the Feinberg Families, Sheldon Family, Pelletier Family and the Morrison Family for your enthusiasm and for bringing such awesome items to our yummy potluck meal. 

V'ahavta Practice

First review the V'ahavta (Hebrew words and chanted by Gaby Enser-Tangir).
When you are ready to chant it for your teachers and Beth, click below, enter your name and phone number, and press 1 when your phone rings!

Religious School Updates: Here's what you missed!

There's always something fun to do at the Shir Ami Religious School at Temple Judea!

Students in Kindergarten enjoyed a fun filled family program. Families learned  to add a Jewish component to their child’s bedtime rituals.  

Third Grade reviewed the verbs the students learned earlier in the school year. Students also played a game to practice and reinforce their Hebrew commands.

Second grade started reviewing their Hebrew by playing bingo with the letters and vowels they learned earlier in the school year. In addition students learned more about Moses and when the Jews were slaves in Egypt.

On Sunday Fourth Grade spoke about allegories. Using the dictionary, two students shared the definition of allegory. After that the class read Genesis Chapter 3 verses 1-7. The class discussed how they can discipline themselves from temptation. Fourth graders discussed the two forces within them, the Yetzer Tov and the Yetzer Hara. 

Today in class Fifth Grade Judaic Studies reflected on their personal views of Tzedek and what it means to be just. The students wrote letters to themselves of how they can act with Tzedek in their daily lives and how they can teach others how to use this value as well.

Fifth Grade Hebrew is learning the Gevurot prayer. They are also having fun with Hebrew-using phrases to say “I want.....” “Here is.....”

Today Sixth Grade prepared for their first exchange with the students’ Israeli pen pals. The students created ID Cards to send to their pen pals and also recorded video introductions. We also took a virtual tour of the school in Israel, Revivim Ganey Tikvah.

Childcare had a visit from our music specialist Benny!

Remember there will be no Religious School this Wednesday, November 21st or Sunday, November 25th. We're looking forward to seeing everyone when we resume classes Wednesday, November 28th. 

Sunday Recap: November 11th

In Miss Mikki’s Kindergarten class students learned about G’Milut Chasadim (acts of kindness). The class discussed how acts of kindness do not cost us anything and can be done by all!! Students put what they learned into action and made get-wells card for their sick friends.

Mrs. Rodriguez’s Second Grade class enjoyed singing at Tefilliah with Benny. Students also read Hebrew words and reviewed letters and vowels from earlier this year.

Josephus (a Jewish general who joined the Romans in 66 CE as a historian) visited Third Grade on Sunday. Students learned about Masada and how the zealots took their own lives before the Romans could harm them.

Third grade continued to reinforce the vocabulary that they learned earlier in the year. Student used the Twister game to practice their colors and sang The Aleph Bet Song to review their letters.

 Mrs. Bulbin’s Fourth Grade Hebrew class began their scrapbook project by illustrating Hebrew sentences. Students led the opening exercises by asking questions in Hebrew and singing The Aleph Bet Song while pointing to the Aleph Bet chart.

In Mrs. Waldman’s Fourth Grade Judaic Studies class students prayer for their country and for our new administration. Children created a prayer for Veteran’s Day after they learned about the history of Veteran’s day and its meaning. Fourth graders also read a portion of “Being Torah.” Students also read the second creation story in Genesis. The class had a blast enjoying a music program with the Benny.

In Tefillah B’Kitah Fourth graders continued to learn the Avot V’Imahot prayer in Hebrew and English and searched for the many names of God within the text.

Sarah’s Fifth Grade class continued their discussion of Hachnasat Orchim by making welcome brochures for students who are new to Religious School.

Mrs. Goldberg’s Fifth Grade class learned new Hebrew vocabulary words and practiced the Avot V’Imahot prayer.

Miss Maya’s Sixth Grade class read a dialogue about a plane ride to Israel and the food and drinks that were offered during the flight. After that, the students wrote a song about a specific food or drink using as many Hebrew words as possible.

Lara’s Sixth Grade Judaic Studies class talked about the different prayers we say throughout the day. We focused on what we say when we wake up. The children talked about what prayers could be said when we open our ties or tie our shoes.

Shoshana’s Sixth Grade class learned about David Ben Gurion and the Parliament’s Declaration of the Jewish State, Israel. Students also reflected on what it would have been like living during that time and the e motions that could overcome those coming form the Holocaust and those finally making it back home. We learned about the different wars, ranging from the War of Independence, the Sixth Day War, and the Yom Kippur War. At the end of class everyone stood up and read Hatikvah, the Israeli National Anthem, in honor of the State of Israel.

We're looking forward to seeing everyone this Sunday, November 18th! 

Here's what we did: Sunday, November 4th

Each week at the Shir Ami Religious School at Temple Judea brings something new and exciting!

Miss Mikki's Kingergarten class focused on Havdallah. They learned Shabbat ends when there are three stars in the sky on a Saturday night. Kindergarten also enjoyed a visit from Benny, our Music specialist.

Mrs. Rodriguez's Second Grade class read the word Shalom in Hebrew. Shalom is the Hebrew word for hello, goodbye, and peace. Students also enjoyed a special snack to help learn the blessings over food. 

Rabbi Young and Morah Rachel's Third Grade class learned the Hebrew words for "window," "door," and "on." Students enjoyed singing the Aleph-Bet song to review their Hebrew letters. Third Grade also had fun learning about King Solomon. 

Mrs. Bulbin's Fourth Grade class played a maze game with their Hebrew Vocabulary words.  This week the class focused on letters Tsadee and Final Tsadee. Students also began working on Hebrew Sentence scrapbooks.

Mrs. Waldman's Fourth Grade class learned about the sweetness of studying Torah. Students ate honey off plates featuring the Hebrew letter Bet.

Both Fourth Grade classes enjoyed a Tefillah B'Kitah (Prayer in the Classroom) lesson that focused on God's many names. 

On Sunday our Fifth Grade students enjoyed a Family Program. Families decorated wimples, pieces of cloth traditionally used to bind the Torah during a Bar or Bat Mitzvah. Everyone had a great time!

Our next family program is set for Sunday, November 18th. We're looking forward to seeing all our Kindergarten families there!

Miss Maya's Sixth Grade class read from their Hebrew books and made flashcards with vocabulary words. Students enjoyed working on a Hebrew crossword puzzle and completing a game of Hebrew bingo. 

Sixth Grade students also enjoyed a Tefillah B'Kitah (Prayer in the Classroom) activity with Shoshana and Lara.

We're looking forward to another awesome week!