Parents,

we had a small class last Sunday, 3/2, with Lia, Kayla, Rachael, Maya, Jake, and Emma G, with Noah joining us after his Bar Mitzvah prep session for the last hour.

Discussion on Community
We talked about community and what that looks like for each person.  We started with a circle designating each student as YOU in the center of the hub, then connecting like spokes out to Family, Friends, School, Sinai Temple, Enemies (yes, suggested by several of the students!), and Teammates.

The Teammates aspect became a good basis for the rest of the discussion.  Emma G brought up the following elements in fellow teammates, based upon her volleyball activities:

1)  Positive attitude
2)  Responsibility
3)  Encouragement

We added that Responsibility = The Ability to Respond.

Hence, the ability to respond to the needs in the community, to our family, friends, teammates, etc.

We went over a few aspects of Jewish responses throughout a lifetime of events:  birth, celebrations, illnesses, financial need, tzedakah, other situations where people can assist one another, and ultimately, funerals, and being there for families.

We revisited Rabbi Hillel's phrase:  If I am not for me, who will be?  If I am only for myself, what am I?  We talked about the balance between self-advocacy, taking care of oneself, and the responsibilities, connections, and obligations we have toward others.

We talked about the different sports experiences, team, music, theatre experiences of working together.  How it all has an effect on one another, and the whole, team, or ensemble.

We talked about taking in the positive and the negative, and weighing things out. Who has your back?  Parents, and family and some really good friends.  As Kayla pointed out, you really find out who your friends are when you've gone through a difficult time.

We talked about friendships, and social technology, and how important it is to them to communicate with their friends, as well as how important their friends are to them.  The discussed how texting and chatting or skyping helps with their busy schedules,  staying in contact, and creating that sense of community, getting help on schoolwork, etc.

Through all this, we reaffirmed the essence of the sense of community in Judaism.

With Lia's suggestion, and generous offer to use her phone, we facetimed with Ilana Gersten near the end of the class to say hello and to stay in touch with her in England while she's there with her family for the semester.  Another point in keeping in touch with a sense of community.

Music Class and Concert
We had a great session with the Music Teacher, Mark Hafter, with both Lia and Kayla playing guitars.  The other students are invited to bring their instruments any time!

Mark and I talked to the kids about putting on a concert of Jewish music for Sinai Temple with their teacher.   They are very interested in this.  If the interest continues, we will work out logistics, and see what works with their schedules.  We have a list of the kids and their instruments.

Rachel - viola
Bryn - violin
Lia - guitar
Kayla - guitar
Jake - piano, trombone, drums
Noah - trumpet, piano
Isaac - tambourine, percussion
Ethan - guitar

Passover Seder
We talked about an upcoming Passover Seder for the class on Sunday, April 6th.  Of course, we'll cover the basics: the seder plate, the meaning, some songs.  We will also have a theme of liberation, and what that means, while having fun.  Parents are invited to attend, and participate, and we'll tell you how you can.

Video on the Jewish Resistance During The Holocaust
We watched a video on Jewish Resistance during The Holocaust, whcih described the many ways in which active resistance took place.  Examples were staying alive, maintaining elements of Jewish culture and the arts, joining with the partisans in armed resistance, uprisings in camps, paying for documents on the black market to leave the country, and going into hiding.  Though we woudl normally consider committing suicide a way of giving up and giving in, this was presented as a form of resistance, which agitated the German military and government.

If you are interested, here is the link: 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-qHYfrEvgVg

Upcoming
Next Sunday is the Purim Carnival.

Loren Israel, Kayla's Dad, will come and present another ethical, situational legal case to the students in the near future.

Thanks
Thanks to  Zoe Goldenfeld for her assistance and participation in helping the classroom.

Sinai Temple Religious  School Calendar
http://www.sinaitemplecu.org/13-14school-calendar.pdf