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Oct. 24, 2017
Dear Parents,
"More than Jews have kept Shabbat, Shabbat has kept the Jews."
-Asher Tsvi Ginzberg*
How wise and relevant is this adage, particularly in our times. We are so busy running to and fro, taking our children to this or that activity, catching up on our shopping, our cleaning, and our weekend tasks that we sometimes forget to pause every so often to share with our children an appreciation of Jewish life and tradition.
This can be the beauty of the Sabbath for you and your family. We ask in this new Jewish year for you to help us help you make the Shabbat significant by bringing your young ones to our monthly Shabbat junior congregation. This is a free, hour-long program that incorporates stories, games, songs and Shabbat Torah discussions. It is a warm, safe and non-threatening environment where your children, between the ages of seven and 11 years of age, can joyously learn aspects of the Shabbat service, rituals and traditions. At the end of each junior congregational programme, the children will join with the rest of the congregation in the chapel. There they will have the opportunity to not only be a part of the adult service but to share what they have learned with us.
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Ella Gladstone Martin |
In the next week or so, our experienced, creative and talented junior congregation leader, Ella Gladstone Martin, will be contacting you to tell you more about this new program and answer any of your questions. She will offer to make your Saturday mornings easier, by greeting your children at the entrance of the MNJCC, in case you cannot make the services yourselves.
We truly look forward to seeing you and your children at our next junior congregation on November 4th, at 10:30 a.m,. and in subsequent months.
Sincerely, 
Rabbi Goldberg
Ella Gladstone Martin
P.S: If you have younger children, please bring them to our vibrant Shabbat morning program for ages three to seven years, led by our new teacher, Leanne Stevens, and full of crafts, stories and games. Their adults are welcome to join them too.
PPS: And don't forget about our exciting
Shir Libeynu School, our weekly supplemental program for ages eight through 11 years, with its innovative modular approach to Jewish learning.
Session #2 starts on Sunday, Nov. 19.
*Ginzberg is one of the most famous philosophers of the 20th century. He wrote under the pseudonym Ahad Ha'am, literally "one of the people."
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