Shanah Tovah (Happy New Year) and  G'mar Chatimah Tovah (May you be sealed in the Book of Life). This newsletter is filled with information about the holidays and the coming year. With the new year, we also have a new format for our newsletter. Please let me know what you think! Thanks.


Tzipi
Jewish Education Community Planner
CJL's  E-NEWSLETTER

A new look for a new year! 

This newsletter is published on the first day of every Jewish month. We welcome your feedback and invite you to join us as we explore the joys of Jewish learning in Milwaukee and beyond. Share your feedback  here.
CJL'S MISSION

The Coalition for Jewish Learning, the Education Department of the Milwaukee Jewish Federation, promotes and advances Jewish education in the greater Milwaukee community, provides a support system for the community's institutions of Jewish learning, and forges coalitions to ensure excellence in Jewish education.
 
Fall Holidays

Rosh Hashanah, October 3-4 

Fast of Gedaliah,  October 5
The day after  Rosh Hashanah is a minor fast day on the Jewish calendar. This year, the daylight fast is observed in Milwaukee from 5:27 am - 6:55 pm. The Fast of Gedaliah recalls the murder of Gedaliah, the Jewish Governor of Judea after the destruction of the First Temple. Gedaliah was murdered by a Jew. His death led to the Jews still living in the Land of Israel to flee because they feared reprisal from the Babylonians. You can learn more here .

Yom Kippur, October 12
Yom Kippur (the Day of Atonement) comes at the end of the Aseret Y'may Teshuvah (The 10 Days of Repentance). Yom Kippur is called the Sabbath of Sabbaths, the holiest day of the year. It is when Jews repent for our sins of the previous year and ask God to seal us in the Book of Life for the coming year. On Yom Kippur many Jews refrain from eating, drinking, bathing, wearing leather, and intimate relation s.   For more information, see these sites:

Yom Kippur Holiday Information

Yom Kippur Music and Videos

Yom Kippur Prayers, Recipes, and Art

Yom Kippur Teachers' Corner

Sukkot, October 17-23  
Shmini Atzeret / Simchat Torah, October 24-25
Sukkot is one of three pilgrimage festivals in the Torah. During this joyous holiday, Jews eat, study Torah, and sometimes sleep outside in huts called  Sukkot. It is also a mitzvah to wave the 4 species, referred to a Lulav and Etrog.

Shmini Atzeret and Simchat Torah are celebrated on the same day in Israel and in Reform and Reco nstructionist Congregations (on October 24), and as 2 separate days in the Diaspora by Conservative and Orthodox Jews (on October 24-25). According to tradition, God asked the Jews to continuing celebrating for an extra day ( Shmini Atzeret ) because God didn't want the joyous fall holidays to end yet. Shmini Atzeret is also the day when Jews start praying for rain, which is so vital in the Land of Israel. On Simchat Torah , Jews finish the annual cycle of reading the Torah and immediately read again from the beginning (Genesis), so that there is no end to our study of Torah . It is a day of great joy when we sing and dance with the Torah . For more information, see these sites:


Chag Sameach! Enjoy your holidays!

For Teachers Wanting to Increase in Jewish Knowledge:


Please join CJL for a Chai Mitzvah Group. This monthly class will enhance your Jewish learning and give you ideas to use in the classroom. Contact Tzipi for information about dates and times. Don't miss this exciting opportunity!

CSI  is CJL's Congregational School Initiative. The program includes classes for teachers, seminars for educational directors, grants, school assessments, curriculum writing, and consultation.  More Information.

2016-17 Classes
Times, dates, and locations subject to change.  Check the CJL Newsletter monthly for updates.
 
Project Based Learning: Creating Lessons
Wednesday, November 2, 6:30 - 8:30 pm,  Harry & Rose Samson Family JCC
Learn to create lessons and units for Project Based Learning. More Information.
 
CSI Book Club
Monday, November 7, 7:30 pm 
Harry & Rose Samson Family JCC
This book club will read books related to Jewish education. Our first book is Relational Judaism, by Ron Wolfson. More Information.

Global Day of Jewish Learning
Sunday, November 20, 2 - 5 pm
Harry & Rose Samson Family JCC
Join with Jews around the world studying the same theme on the same day:  Under the Same Sky: "The Earth is Full of Your Creations."  Presenters include: Rabbi Marc Berkson, Rabbi David Cohen, Rabbi Hannah Greenstein, Rabbi Yehoshua Landes, and Rabbi Rachel Marks. More information.
 
Project Based Learning: Technology
Monday, December 12, 6:30 - 8:30 pm
Harry & Rose Samson Family JCC
Explore how teachers and students can utilize technology to enhance Project Based Learning. Technology should be used as a tool, not as an end onto itself. More Information.
 
Love and Logic Part 2 with Trudy Sirkis
Sunday, January 15, 4 - 6 pm
Harry & Rose Samson Family JCC
Strategies and approaches for working with children in a nurturing and empowering way.  More Information.

Project Based Learning: "Real" Outcomes
Monday, January 30, 6:30 - 8:30 pm
Harry & Rose Samson Family JCC
How to create outcomes that are real and meaningful using Project Based Learning.  More information.
 
Winter In-service
Sunday, February 19, 9 am - 12 pm
Congregation Emanu-El B'ne Jeshurun
Join with teachers throughout Milwaukee for a second day of learning and inspiration about Project Based Learning. More information.
 
Purim Workshop
Wednesday, March 1, 6:30 - 8:30 pm
Congregation Beth Israel Ner Tamid
Text study, ideas about teaching the Purim through technology, and art projects. More information.
 
Teaching the Whole Child
Monday, March 27, 6:30 - 8:30 pm
Harry & Rose Samson Family JCC
Children cannot learn unless they feel safe, happy, and valued. Explore how to meet the social and emotional needs of our students. More information.

Online Courses 
Available through the NEXT program at Gratz College. Funding available.  More information.

Jewish Education Survey
It's not too late to provide valuable input. Hurry! The survey will close at the end of October.

The Milwaukee Jewish Federation has convened a Task Force on Jewish Education. We are exploring ways to strengthen Jewish education in Milwaukee for students from kindergarten through age 18. We are looking at formal Jewish education (such as day schools and religious schools) and informal education (such as Jewish camps and youth groups). Ultimately the Task Force will make a funding recommendation about Jewish education to the Federation board. 

We have created a survey that asks questions to reach as many people in the community as possible. We would appreciate it if you would share the survey social media. The survey should take no more than 15 minutes to complete. 

Take the survey  here.  If you have questions about this survey please  email  or call Tzipi at 414-963-2718 .
  
Save the Date: Sunday, February 26, 2017 3:30-5 pm
Harry & Rose Samson Family JCC
Join the community as we celebrate and honor the hard work of all our educators.
Nomination forms are available (click the title below). Please nominate someone you would like to see recognized this year.
Looking for a Job in a Local Jewish School or  Want to Substitute Teach?
  • For information about local job opportunities, please check out the  CJL Job Board . 
  • To add information about jobs, please contact Tzipi
  • Local day schools and supplementary schools are looking for substitutes. If you are interested, please fill out this  sub form  and your contact information will be shared with local schools.
Stay Connected



"Ben Zoma says: Who is the wise one? One who learns from all people, as it says, 'I have acquired understanding from my teachers.'"

- Pirkei Avot 4:1