From Robin Meyerowitz 

Dear Parents,

The 3-year-old class trip to Brookline Fire Station #1 was a big success. The students were enthusiastic and fascinated, and we learned a lot!

 

The whole ECC came together this morning for our Rosh Chodesh Adar Shabbat Party. The happiness of Adar infused the party with fun and excitement. We were grateful to have such a good time together.

 

After we return from vacation, Wednesday, February 28 is an early 3:00 p.m. dismissal for Ta'anit Esther. The next day, Thursday, March 1, there is no school due to the Purim holiday. When we return to school on Friday, March 2, we will have a Purim carnival with the Elementary School!

 

Have a great vacation! We look forward to seeing the children when we return.

 

Shabbat Shalom and Marbim BeSimcha,

Robin 

Thoughts of the Rav    

by Rabbi David Saltzman  

The Rav asks what he calls an obvious question: Why was the Mishkan necessary? Why did G-d need a home? The Rav answers that G-d does not need a home. On the contrary, G-d contracts Himself - He limits Himself from infinity down to a finite small house, and resides between the keruvim.
 
The Mishkan is really for man. It's a home for man, who is a homeless being. Being homeless means that man is exposed to nature and to a future which he cannot foresee. Humans have the ability to anticipate the future, but that sometimes causes endless suffering, as we constantly think about an event that might happen or which is destined to happen.
 
A bayit - a home in which man lives - can never offer man total security. There is only one home that can truly provide security. That is Hashem, who is called makomo shel olam - that is to say, the universe is within G-d. The only home where man can find security is within G-d.
 
The Mishkan therefore was built to provide man with a home, offered by the Almighty, where he can be close to G-d and feel that he is protected by His guiding hand. 

 

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

On Thursday we celebrated Shoshana's third birthday! Her brother Yosef joined us for singing, cupcakes, and birthday wishes.

 

 

    

 

Dear Parents,

We concluded our firefighter unit this week. On Monday, the children brainstormed questions that they wanted to ask the firefighters during our field trip to the fire station. In addition to asking about how fires are put out, the children were very interested in where firefighters cook and eat their food when they work a 24-hour shift.

Wednesday was our big trip! We walked to the Brookline Hills T stop and rode one stop to the Brookline Village stop. We then walked to Brookline Fire Station #1. When we got there, we met firefighter Tommy and firefighter Bryan. They showed us their ladder truck, and the children even got a chance to sit inside. Tommy and Bryan also showed us the many tools they store in their fire truck, as well as the gear they wear. Bryan even put his gear on for us to see! The children were excited to see the flashing lights, and even rang the bell on the front of the truck! We then went into a room and asked Tommy and Bryan questions. The firefighters told us that on the second floor of their firehouse there are 11 bedrooms and a kitchen where they cook their food. When we were done with our tour, the children gave our new firefighter friends a thank-you note that they had made. Our trip was a great way to conclude our firefighter unit!

Here are some things that the children said they enjoyed about our trip to the fire station:

• I loved seeing the fire truck
• I liked seeing the ladders
• I liked that the lights flashed
• I liked going in the seats in the fire trucks
• I liked the flashlights that Bryan was holding
• I liked the tools they showed us
• I liked taking the train

We started learning about Purim this week. After looking at pictures of Persian palaces, the children brainstormed how we should transform our loft into a Persian palace. It looks beautiful! In the dramatic play area under the loft, the children have been enjoying dressing up as kings and queens and acting out the story of Purim. It's so nice to see how they show how much they've learned about Purim through their play. Earlier in the week the children were asked what they know about Purim. They created a picture in their journal after a teacher wrote their answer. We have been learning about the story of Purim, and have been singing Purim songs in class and with Morah Linda during Music. After vacation, we will continue getting ready for this fun holiday!

 

Purim Questions :

1. In what Hebrew month is Purim celebrated? (Adar)
2. Where did the story of Purim take place? (Shushan)
3. Whom did King Achoshvaros choose as his new queen? (Esther)
4. What was her secret? (She was Jewish)
5. Who wanted people to bow down to him? (Haman)
6. Why didn't Mordechai bow down to Haman? (Because Mordechai was Jewish, and Jewish people only bow down to Hashem)

Have a restful vacation!

Shabbat Shalom,

Morot Leisa, Shayna, and Sara

 

 

        

The kids had fun being a train in music class with Morah Linda.

   

 

 

 

 

We even had music outside for a little bit this week. The kids thought it was amazing!

 

 

 

 

The students--and teachers--had a great time playing outside this week!

 

 

 

 

Teamwork!

 

 

 

 

 

During provocation time, the kids practiced their triangles while learning about Purim and Haman.

 

 

 

For our journals this week, we asked the students what they knew about Purim.