Kibitzer September 14, 2018

1st/2nd graders practice Shofar blowing.

#akibacommUNITY

From the Desk of

I want to wish you all a Shana Tova (good year) and a "G'mar Chasima Tova" (May you be sealed in the Book of Life) as we approach Yom Kippur. While this was a short week, it was wonderful to see so many preschool and lower school parents at the back-to-school night yesterday. There was a palpable vibrancy in Loeb Hall and around the school. Thank you to all the staff and teachers who made the night such a success.

With all the Jewish holidays starting early this year, there is so much going on at once that many of us may feel it is challenging to pause and reflect. I was fortunate enough to be given the opportunity to reflect recently on the new integrated library/makerspace we designed this summer (with still much more to come) and I wanted to share with you my article The Maker Movement: The Gift of Creation published in Chicago Jewish Home. It gives some insight into the purpose of this space for our students.

Shabbat Shalom!

Dr. Eliezer Jones

Head of School

Registration is closed but cash or check will be accepted at the picnic.

Dvar Torah

Midd

Why Yom Kippur Comes After Rosh HaShana

by Rabbi Cohen, Director of Judaic Studies

Ten days after Rosh Hashana we arrive at the holiest day of the year, Yom Kippur, when God forgives us our past mistakes. But if you think about it, these two holidays seem out of order. Why do we first have Rosh Hashanah, considered the day of judgment, when ten days later we are forgiven anyway?

I found my answer six years ago at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. On Monday July 31, 2012, an urgent meeting took place, two days before the biggest Jewish event in America: Over 90,000 Jews were expected to come to MetLife stadium to celebrate the Siyum Hashas, the completion of the 12th cycle of Daf Yomi, a seven-and-a-half-year cycle of learning the Oral Torah and its commentaries. Unfortunately, the weather forecast predicted showers and thunderstorms for the day of the event. Postponing it would mean thousands of people would have to change their plans, so the event organizers felt this was not an option. Aside from ordering 50,000 ponchos, they did not know what to do. Wednesday morning arrived and the rain began. As the afternoon progressed, it became torrential. Highways were closed, flights were delayed and the roads were clogged.

As we pulled up to the stadium, it was still pouring. But, by the time we stepped into the stadium, a few minutes before the event would begin at 6 pm, the sun broke through the clouds and there was no rain at all.

The night was magical. People were ecstatic and the excitement was tangible. Not only was the program uplifting, but it seemed miraculous that the rain stopped immediately before the event began. Remarkably, it did not rain again until 12 am that night, one hour after everyone left the stadium.

During the program, I kept thinking, "If the Almighty wanted the show to go on without a hindrance, why did there need to be a storm in the first place? Why couldn't it have been a clear day from the start? When I asked my Rabbi, he responded, "It is the Almighty's way of showing us how much He loves us. Had it simply been a beautiful sunny day, we would not have been able to experience the miracle and God's display of love for us."

As the High Holidays approached that year, I realized that was also why our calendar is set up the way it is. On Rosh Hashanah, we go through the process of judgment. Although it is a joyous and holy day, there are moments when we feel uncertainty, doubt or even fear. But ten days later, God gives us the greatest gift: the gift of forgiveness, when any doubts we had regarding our judgment go away. Any ounce of fear we felt regarding how the upcoming year would turn out is transformed into feelings of comfort.

Yom Kippur is when the Almighty lets us know, through His compassion and forgiveness, that despite our imperfections, He loves us unconditionally and our year will be filled with blessings and success. This Yom Kippur, let's open our eyes and recognize God's love for us and reciprocate by showing our for love for Him as well.

Middle School performed Tashlich at the lake this week.

From the Preschool

by Carla Goldberg, Preschool Director

I love the first few weeks of school. The excitement and energy of beginning a new school year is in the air. Teachers, students and parents alike are anxious, happy and have trouble sleeping thinking about all of the changes and growth that will occur.

As teachers we take a deep breath, keeping the message of Rosh Hashanah in mind - a healthy, happy and sweet new year for all our families. We wish that for all of children this new school year will provide a place to feel safe, happy, part of a community and engaged in learning. Thank you for trusting us with your child, your most precious possession! It is a responsibility that we do not take lightly. We feel honored to be your child's teachers this year and look forward to a wonderful journey together.

Great to have so many families for Back-to-School Night in the Purple Room! We're looking forward to a great year!

Thank you to all the parents who joined us for Back-to-School Night yesterday. We hope it was a wonderful opportunity to get a window into the classrooms and learn how to get the most from your Akiba experience.

In the preschool we welcome our new teacher, Zoe Levin, who is co-teaching with Arun Srimani in the Blue room in the morning. Zoe is also one of the Afternoon Explorers teachers. She has an Early Childhood Teaching Degree from Columbia College, where she was specifically trained in Reggio Inspired Learning. Zoe traveled to Reggio Emilia and participated in the Early Childhood Study Tour two years ago when Akiba also had three teachers on the tour. Zoe learned about Akiba on that trip, and she joined us this summer as a teacher and immediately became part of the family. We are looking forward to a wonderful school year with all of our returning staff and Zoe as our new addition.

This year Akiba is focusing on community as a school-wide theme. We hope that you find many meaningful ways to be a part of our Akiba community. One of the first opportunities will be this Sunday at the All School Picnic from 11:00-1:00 at the Harold Washington Park. All are invited to join in the fun, socialize and have a wonderful time with your family. As we work on our community, we need your help as a volunteer. Please contact Jill Kohl, Director of Community Engagement and General Operations to learn more about volunteering opportunities on Sunday and throughout the year!

Preschool

The Blue Room has been busy exploring nature.

This week, the Green Room children created an extravagant drawing with black markers. At Back-to-School Night, their parents used colored pencils to embellish the picture. The children were happy to see finished artwork the next morning. What a wonderful collaboration by the entire Green Room!

Grades 1-8

Mrs. Brackman and Morah Dorit's class enjoyed a hands-on presentation about Shofars and the High Holidays from Rabbi Brackman.

Ms. Friedman's 1st/2nd graders write down their promises for good classroom Middot (manners).

The 3rd/4th graders in Mrs. Leonard's class learned to work collaboratively in a group. They had to complete a puzzle without talking to each other and without knowing what the puzzle was supposed to look like.

In Humanities, Ayalah, Benny, and Chana work to assemble a timeline of the events leading up the American Revolution in order to answer the question: Why did the colonists really want independence from Great Britain? Teams worked for three days to organize 25 events, dates, and descriptions.

Art with Debbie

Cray-pas oil pastels: The artists used mirrors to study the shapes of their faces and those of their classmates and thought about the proportions of their features. They used color to convey mood and sometimes humor.

8 Questions for an 8th Grader:

Ayala (center) with classmates

We continue our series of featuring an 8th grader in each Kibitzer; today it's Ayala, who it turns out is an Akiba "oldtimer:"

Since when have you been at Akiba? I have been at Akiba since I was four years old in the Peach Room (now the Yellow Room).
What neighborhood are you from? I live in Northbrook.
Is being an 8th grader different from your previous grades at Akiba? In 8th grade this year I hope to beat my record for the reading contest and do well in History Fair. 8th Grade is different from all the other grades because I've finally realized that there won't be another year and that I'm finally graduating.
What is your favorite subject at Akiba and why? My favorite subject is Science because I really enjoy learning about how the world works.
What do you think is special about Akiba? I think that the way everyone is friends with many people, regardless of whether they are in the same grade, above, or below is really special and unique about Akiba.
What did you learn from recently having your Bar Mitzvah? I had my Bat Mitzvah a year and a half ago now, and really I just enjoyed being able to celebrate with all of my friends by doing something I really enjoy. I had a rollerblading party.
When you're not at school or doing homework, what do you like to do? I really like to read and write when I have spare time.
Do you have any idea yet of what you want to be when you grow up? I would really like to be a veterinarian or an author when I grow up, or possibly both.

Akiba Parent Alex Turik Receives Award

During yesterday's Jewish Federation Annual Meeting, Akiba Parent Alex Turik, father of Noam (3rd) and Ari (1st), received the Davis, Gidwitz and Glasser Young Leadership Award for his work at the JUF Russian Jewish Division. Kol HaKavod!

Create a Jewish Legacy

Thank you to our donors who are already participating in Create a Jewish Legacy.

Find out more about making planned gifts and bequests here.

Condolences

...to Jill Kohl on the passing of her mother, Joan Kaye Cauthorn. May her memory be for a blessing.

Refuah Shleima

...to retired preschool teacher Sharon Vadeboncoeur, who is recovering from surgery.

Order Your Lulav & Etrog

Fill out this form and place your order by Monday, September 17!

Sukkah Hops

Monday, 9/24, there will be a Sukkah Hop in West Rogers Park and in Skokie, times TBD (watch next week's bulletin). There will be a Sukkah Plop (Potluck Hop) at the Baders in Lakeview from 2-4 PM.

Shabbat afternoon, 9/29: Hyde Park Sukkah Hop through Rodfei Zedek beginning at 1 PM, check their website for details.

Dates to Remember

Sunday, September 16

All-School Picnic

11:00 AM - 1:00 PM

Washington Park across from Akiba

Tuesday, September 18

Erev Yom Kippur

12:00 PM Dismissal Grades 1-8, all buses leave

3:30 PM Preschool Dismissal

Wednesday, September 19

Yom Kippur