A fresh start.

A Fresh Start for a Fresh New Year 

From Rosh Hashanah until Yom Kippur we prepare and clean our Neshama (soul) for a new year. We want to start fresh and clean. Every day is like climbing a ladder. Each step we climb brings us closer to Hashem. The work is serious. During these days we focus on doing Teshuva, Tefillah and Tzedakah. Teshuvah (returning) is fixing our mistakes by saying sorry and being extra careful with our friends. Tefillah is Davening (prayer) to Hashem with extra kavana (concentration) and asking Hashem for forgiveness. Tzedakah is giving extra charity.

In class the children were invited to practice Davening (praying) in "Shul". We also took turns being a Chazan.

We had Taleisim (prayer shawl) and slippers for the children to dress up in. 

We learnt a Yom Kippur song to remind us of all the important things we do.

"On Yom HaKipurim no eating, no drinking no leather shoes no washing, until after Neila the locking of Tefila".

Ask your child to sing the song.

Last week we celebrated Morah Davina's birthday. Morah Davina taught us that on your birthday it is a mitzvah to taste a new fruit. We all got to taste a very interesting fruit. The children wished Morah Davina sweet birthday wishes. We are so lucky to have the best Morah in the whole world!!!

Trash /Treasure

One of the ways in which we helped the children prepare for yomkippur was by sorting through many pictures that reflected different characteristics or situations they might experience, and giving them the opportunity to decide which ones they would "throw away" and which ones they will "treasure" and keep! 

 As they cut out each scenario, the children had to decide if it will go in the trash or place it in their special "treasure box" that they made, to use for the new year! Some of the pictures described having patience to take turns, sharing toys, using manners/nice words  etc...

This was a very concrete way to help the children appreciate what Yom Kippur is all about!

Lekach- Asking for Honey Cake

It is customary to ask for and receive "lekach" (sweet cake- signifying a sweet year) from someone (usually one's mentor or parent) on the day  before Yom Kippur. One of the reasons given for this custom is that if it had been decreed, G-d forbid that during the year we should need to resort to a handout from others, the decree should be satisfied with this asking for food.

We took turns asking Morah Davina for "lekach" and wishing each other  sweet year!

Kindergarten 

The past two weeks we began learning our English sounds. The children enjoyed learning in an interactive way! 

Sprinkling blue sand on a lowercase letter b.