Jewish education is a partnership between families and the Torah School. Communication is the key to this successful partnership. We will always try to inform you of what we are teaching in the school so that you can reinforce these lessons at home. We also need feedback from you. What are your children’s reactions to what they have learned and our school’s teaching methods? It is important to us to know what is and is not working. So, please send an e-mail and let me know what’s going on for your child. We especially need to know if your children are not understanding or are upset by the material. As a Reconstructionist community, we constantly engage the students to think about Judaism, and its place in their lives. Please assure your children that it is OK to question. In fact, we encourage it.
Speaking of reinforcing Jewish concepts at home, I want to share some thoughts about Chanukah. We teach about the miracles of Chanukah at the Torah School. Children learn about the Maccabees’ struggle for Jewish independence and their miraculous victory as well as the miracle of the oil. How can you reinforce this at home? Consider devoting a night of Chanukah to giving tzedakah. Instead of getting gifts, you give gifts. And by all means give and receive gifts, but also, celebrate with driedels, latkes and sufganiyot (jelly donuts). Get a Chanukah story book and read it while the candles are burning. Learn a new Chanukah song. Watch the candles burn and light all the chanukiot (menorahs) all you own including the ones the kids made when they were tiny tots. It is great when we are able to celebrate together and tell the story of Chanukah and what it means to the family. The list goes on and on, take a chance and try one of the suggestions or create one of your own suggestions.
Remember that we are a team, I look forward to continuing to keep communication open. Please call on me, Rabbi Fred or Cantor Sue, if you have any questions for how to make a Chanukah celebration even more special in your home.
As you step into the next holiday season in a Jewish cycle, may you be blessed with peace, love, and health for you and those you love.
Toni Bloomberg Grossman
Education and Youth Director