Grade 1 - Yom Kippur and Jonah

     September 25, 2016

שלום:  

Today we began with tefillah with the kindergarten and grade 2.  Then I showed pictures of the various animals whose horns can be used to make a shofar, and those that can’t, like a bull (because of the golden calf.)

Then we talked about Yom Kippur, which comes at the end of the Ten Days of Awe:  making amends for past misdeeds, the synagogue in white, fasting.  We discussed starting over after missing the mark.  As part of this effort, we signed a poster on the classroom guidelines we discussed at the last session.

STORY:  We read about Jonah and the big fish (the Bible does not call it a "whale"). We don’t actually know what kind of creature it was. This story, which is read the afternoon of Yom Kippur, concerns Jonah's efforts to escape G-d's will, and his eventual understanding that G-d cares for everyone, not just Jews. Jonah cannot run away from G-d.  G-d gave Jonah and Nineveh a second chance.

G-d told Jonah to warn the people of Nineveh of their impending doom if they did not repent.  Afraid, Jonah took a boat in the opposite direction.  After G-d made a storm, the sailors threw Jonah overboard, and he was swallowed by a big fish.  After three days in the belly of the fish, Jonah decided to follow G-d's instructions.  Because the people repented, G-d did not destroy the city. We sang the songs “Jonah.” And “where is Jonah?”

CRAFT:  We made Jonah and the big fish.  Look inside the origami fish to find Jonah.  Then we had time for puzzle pages—word pages and the hidden picture.  During break, the children read or played learning games.

HEBREW: Our letter today is ת “tav.”  Some ת words are Torah, tefillin, tapuach (apple)  Each week, we also review the previous letters.  Thank you for reviewing each week with the reinforcement page I send home.  At the end of class, each child shakes hand with me with the mnemonic of the week, like “Tav has a toe,” and gets a sticker.

THERE IS NO SCHOOL ON THE NEXT TWO SUNDAYS BECAUSE OF ROSH HASHANAH AND THE COLUMBUS DAY WEEKEND.  OUR NEXT CLASS IS ON OCTOBER 16, WHEN WE LEARN ABOUT SUKKOT.

SHANAH TOVA!

Judy and Cheryl (Esther and Tzipporah)