Welcome to the 2014 - 2015 7th Grade Class

Parents,

I enjoyed meeting with all the students today.  We had a good time.

We went around the room with some introductions, finding out what schools the kids attend, some of their involvements, what instruments they play, sports they participate in, or simply like.  We then went to the all-school assembly, welcoming everyone to another year at Sinai Temple, led by Rabbi Jody Cook, and in song by Larry Adelston and Mark Hafter, their music teacher.

When we returned, we learned more about some of the family histories, geographic locales of the family roots, blended family backgrounds, and more.  It was all fascinating.

We had an engaging discussion on what the idea of being Jewish means to each of the students. There were answers such as:

• loyalty to God
• doing right/doing good in the world
• acknowledging one's Jewishness through participation such as holidays, events, ritual
• a debate as to whether or not there are levels of Jewishness, whereas some may "be" or "feel" that they are more Jewish than others

We asked is one more Jewish than another if one:

• keeps Kosher
• engages in parayer and ritual
• keeps Shabbat

Or, is it about:

• how one lives
• following Jewish ethics
• doing right in the world with a Jewish perspective on humanity 

We also talked very briefly about Yiddish and the Ashkenazic (German, Western and Eastern European) roots and Ladino with the Sephardic (Spanish, Mediterranean, Arabic) roots, as languages, cultures, and geography as we looked to a map.  We also touched base on 1492, when Columbus set sail, the day after the Spanish Inquisition, noting that Jewish people came to the new world at that time.

At 11:30AM, we went to Art class, where their teacher, Leah Bella had them do a Rosh Hashanah New Year's greeting card.  We will have Art every other week at this time.  We then went to Music class, which will meet each week at 12PM.  Mark Halter led them through some lively songs, where they had a great time.  We are in a combined class with the 6th graders for Art and Music, with their former teacher, Karen Ray.

I will do my best to keep you posted each week.  If you have any questions or would like to contribute to the class, please let me know.  You are welcome to stop on by.  I can be reached by e-mail at stationmanager59@gmail.com, or by phone at 328-4021. 

Great meeting your kids today!--Mick (Woolf)