Religious School Weekly Newsletters

          Note from the Director

​​​​​​​September 22, 2023 
Shalom Parents, 
It was nice seeing our students and families during Rosh HaShana services and programming. Thank you to Natan Fandel, Gila Yudewitz and Ezra Feder for leading our students with excellent meaningful services and learnings. 
Upcoming Holiday Information 
Yom Kippur 
·        Please drop your children at their age designated program. Students and youth should only be with their parents in Berger Hall or in the youth programs. 
·        Youth programs are from 10:45am-12:45pm. Grades K-4 will be in the Music Room with Morah Gila and Madricha Yael, and grades 5-12 will be founders with Natan Fandel and Ezra Feder. 
·        Snacks for the children will be served in the kindergarten room and food will not be allowed outside of that space. 
·        There will be a special activity at Neilah on Monday, September 25th in the evening.  Students may bring their own Shofar. We will hand out glow sticks at 7:18pm. Join us outside (if the weather permits), otherwise in Berger Hall to "light up" and "blast" us off into the New Year.   
Sukkot 
·        Please join us for our next event “Sushi in the Sukkah” on Friday, September 29, 2023. All are welcome.  Pasta and other food will be offered.  Please RSVP! 
·        We have a wonderful family program on Sukkot on 10/1 at 10am- please make sure to come and stay for a festive kiddush lunch! 
New Program!! 
·        Upon parent's request, we have created a program for early release day from Public School on the days we have RS.  Based on financial and logistical considerations, we are piloting this program based on the Sharon Elementary School calendar.  If interested, please RSVP! 
Other Events 
·        We will have a speaker on 10/24 at 6:30pm.  All of Temple Israel, including Hertz Preschool and the Religious School are welcome to join us as Jeanine Fitzgerald speaks about overcoming adversities and challenges in a post COVID world on October 24, 2023, from 6:30-9:00pm. Please RSVP. 
·        Summary: Childhood and adolescence are fragile periods in brain development and therefore children in early childhood and elementary school may have experienced long-term physical, social, psychological, and educational consequences during and after COVID.   Facility closures and social isolation resulted in the loss of deep connection.  The decreased physical activity and increased screen time heightened stress and the potential for mental health challenges.  Some children and teens were pushed to a state of crisis.  This session explores the fear circuitry of the brain and effective interventions that transform adversity to strength. 
  
On behalf of our teachers, staff and Madrichim I wish you and your family Gmar chatima tova (a good final sealing) and Happy New Year, 
Dr. Levy 

Natan's Corner

 I had such a remarkable Rosh Hashanah here at Temple Israel. I got to see so many of you at the family service on Friday evening. On Saturday we reviewed the service and learned a few additions for Rosh Hashanah. We also had a great time with the Parsha plays and enjoyed the customary apples and honey. We continued our education of the high holidays by giving the students an opportunity to read Aveinu Malkeinu.  I hope everyone had a wonderful Rosh Hashanah and a Happy New Year.

 Community Focus with Gila

 
The 10 days between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur have us uber-focused on being kind, fixing past mistakes, and being the best versions of ourselves. Sometimes though, as the last shofar blast is heard, (letting us know our fast and Yom Kippur are over) we think this focus can be over as well. So let us remember: 
“More important than focusing on kindness between Rosh Hashanah to Yom Kippur, is to continue this focus from Yom Kippur to Rosh Hashanah!” 
 
What do YOU think of this quote? How are you able to keep your High Holy Day intentions throughout the entire year? 

Teacher's Corner

Jewish Studies 
Shalom (hello) amazing families! 
Our students did incredible introspection today as we looked at another Michael Jackson song in preparation for Yom Kippur. 
Last week, for Rosh Hashana, we discussed the song "Heal the World". Today we dove into his song, "Man in the Mirror" 
What does this song have to do with Yom Kippur? 
Students highlighted the lyrics that were meaningful to Yom Kippur and then wrote them down to share on our Song of the Week bulletin board in our school hallway. 
Morah Gila 
Enrichments for Israelis 
Today in class we reviewed these letter names and their sounds: א,בּ,ב,ג,ד,ה 
We introduced these letters: ק,ר,שׁ, שׂ,ת 
Ask your kids what new games we played today. Which were they best at? 
Shana tova to all, 
(Morah) Joan  

Upcoming Events

September 23, 2023           Jr. Congregation 10:00am-12:00pm 
September 25, 2023           Yom Kippur Programming 
September 29, 2023           Sushi in the Sukkah 6:30pm 
September 30, 2023           Sukkot-No Jr. Congregation 
October 1, 2023                  Sukkot- No RS. There is a special family program at 10:30  please join us in the Galleria. 
October 7, 2023                    Shmini Ateret- No Jr. Congregation. Join during the evening to march around with our Torahs and sing as we celebrate the completion of reading Torah and starting all over again! 
October 8, 2023                   Simchat Torah-No RS. Special family program 11:00 for Simchat Torah, Dancing, treats.  Celebrate and stay for a GREAT kiddish (light meal) 
October 9, 2023                    Indigenous People’s Day- No RS 
October 11, 2023                  Early Release Day- No Bus 
October 15, 2023                  Madrichim in Training 11:15-12:00pm 
October 21, 2023                  Jr. Congregation 10:00am-12:00pm 
October 22, 2023                  Open HouseGrades K-4 10:00-11:00am  
                                             Camp Ramah presentation 12:00pm 
October 24, 2023                  Overcoming Adversities and Challenges in a Post COVID    World.  6:30-9:00pm 
October 25, 223                    Open House  Grades 5-7 4:30-5:30pm 
October 28, 2023                  Jr. Congregation 10:00am-12:00pm 

Temple Israel of Sharon
125 Pond St
Sharon, MA 02067

Note from the Director

September 7, 2023 
Shalom, Parents, 
The first week of school was a great success!  We loved seeing everyone again, and the students were excited to be back and to meet their friends, teachers and Madrichim.  
Please note that during the next two month the entrance and the dismissal will be through the front door until the new chapel is completed. 
We are hoping to see all our families and students this Sunday, September 10th at the orientation and High Holidays Workshop. We will meet in the sanctuary at 9:00am for a short Havdalah service with Gila, community prayers with Natan, introduction of the program, teachers and Madrichim for the year. Following the orientation, you are invited to have breakfast and social time in the Galleria. At 11:00am at the High Holiday Workshop, you will be able to move from one station to another and learn about the High Holidays through board games, art, food and blessings, story, music and more. The popular Shofar Factory will be held in Founders. There are a few more spots for the Shofar Factory. Please RSVP. ​​​​​​​   
Shabbat Shalom, 
Dr. Levy 

Natan's Corner

 I am so grateful to be back and see all your children again! To see them happy to come back and share stories about their summers warms my heart. The new schedule seems to be an overall positive switch to allow kids to move around rather than stay in one room.  
A few reminders:
This year Junior Congregation is for all students from TIRS which will start together with the service. We will then split, K-4 will do the Devash parsha booklet and Shabbat programming. 5-8 will continue with prayers and practice the Torah service. We will then gather to conclude in the sanctuary. 
I also want to encourage all 8th-12th Grade students to join our first Kehillah High program on 9/10 where we will be starting to brainstorm the Mitzvah projects will be doing. 

Upcoming Events

September 9, 2023           First day of Jr. Congregation 

September 10, 2023   
TI Religious School Opening Day and High Holidays Workshop 
9:00am-9:20am           Havdalah and community prayers, meet our teachers and Madrichim (Sanctuary) 
9:30am-11:00am         Breakfast and Social Time for parents; students will be in classes 
High Holidays Workshop (Berger Hall)  
11:00am-12:00pm 
Art, Music, Shofar Factory, Food & blessings, Story, Board games and more... 
9:45am-10:45am Shofar Factory Session 1 (RSVP required for Non-RS Students) 
11:00am-12:00pm Shofar Factory Session 2 (RSVP required for RS students) 
  
September 16, 2023          Rosh Hashanah Program 
September 17, 2023           Rosh Hashanah Program (second day) 
September 25, 2023           Yom Kippur 
September 29, 2023           Sushi in the Sukkah Please RSVP ​​​​​​​ 

Temple Israel of Sharon
125 Pond St
Sharon, MA 02067