Kibitzer September 28, 2018

The 8th graders hosted preschoolers in the Sukkah this morning for a Chesed arts & crafts project as well as a chance to shake the Lulav and Etrog.

#akibacommUNITY

Every year, for as long as I can remember, I have given the "Sukkah is G-d's Hug" D'var Torah (words of Torah) in my Sukkah. Simply put, the idea is that after we have gone through a rigorous phase of atonement (during Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur and the days in between) we are exhausted and possibly unsure if our efforts were for naught. That is where Sukkot comes in. Right after Yom Kippur, we find ourselves leaving the comfort of our home and entering a temporary dwelling that is pure holiness. It is G-d's way of giving us a well-needed hug and saying, "I will take care of you. You are in my house now, and everything is going to be okay." This is why Sukkot is called Z'man Simchasseinu (time of joy) because we know we have achieved a strong connection to Hashem on Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, and now we celebrate that.

When I joined Akiba-Schechter last year as Head of School, I was excited about many things. Around this time of year, though, I was particularly excited about school during Chol HaMoed Sukkot. Coming from a school that had off all the days of Sukkot and Chol HaMoed, I was interested to see what these special days would look like at school. I was not disappointed. Besides the regular classes, we have special programming in and out of the Sukkah. These give children opportunities to learn first-hand about Sukkot, to daven Hallel together and, above all, experience this wonderful time together as one school. It is not often that we can experience aspects of holidays together as a school, since we usually take off and spend time with our families and communities over the holidays. However, Chol HaMoed Sukkot, which is still a holy time but with the usual observances of the holiday relaxed, allows us to celebrate together. It indeed is a time of joy, and one that is only heightened when we get to spend Chol HaMoed together as an #akibaCommUNITY!

I wish you all a Shabbat Shalom and a wonderful Shemini Atzeret and Simchat Torah!

Dr. Eliezer Jones

Head of School

Dvar Torah

by Rabbi Yaakov Cohen, Director of Judaic Studies

We have many worries in life. We worry about our health, raising a family or merely paying our bills.

The holiday of Sukkot reminds us that we are in safe hands and that we have nothing to fear. Yes, we have to earn a living. Yes, we have to try our best. But having made the effort, we can then sit back; feeling secure and at ease with the knowledge of whose hands we are in.

Consider, over 3,300 years ago, a nation of wanderers living in total desolation. No water, no food, no natural protection. According to the laws of nature, we shouldn't have existed for more than couple of days. A journey in the desert should have marked the end of the Jewish nation. Yet, we lived in total desolation for 40 years. Not only did we survive; but we thrived and multiplied. And not just a couple of people, but, millions of people. Men, women and children; young and old, traveled together while being protected by clouds of glory. One on each side of us; killing off snakes and scorpions and sheltering us from the wind. One above us making sure the sun didn't harm us and that no rain fell on us. And one below us cushioning us from the hot desert sand. We had every need and concern catered to; like a newborn baby in his mother's arms. Not a worry in the world.

The Succah helps us recall this incredible period of our history. We are told: leave behind your safe and solid house. Cast aside your man-made securities and learn the lesson of the Sukkah.

King David says in psalms,

" כִּי יִצְפְּנֵנִי בְּסֻכֹּה בְּיוֹם רָעָהיַסְתִּרֵנִי בְּסֵתֶר אָהֳלוֹ"

God will keep me safe in His Sukkah at times of danger, He will hide me in His tent.

Succot is a time when we are reminded that real security comes from God alone.

It is a time to strengthen our belief. In fact, the Kabbalists refer to it as the shelter of belief.

As we sit in the Sukkah, we have the opportunity to grow in our trust of God. A time to take a deeper look inside of ourselves and question our inner convictions. To ask ourselves, what is the source of our security? Is it our homes, assets or bank accounts? Or is the source of life itself? This is why the Schach, material used as a roof for a Sukkah, cannot come from something that is man made. That would contradict everything the Sukkah stands for. It would steer us away from the call of the Sukkah; which is to internalize that the Almighty alone sustains and protects us.

Yes, it is true, there are many challenges in the world and difficulties in our lives. But, from God's perspective, is our situation any harder than sustaining our ancestors in desert?

The stars that we see when we look up through the holes in our Schach, are those same stars that our ancestors saw when they looked up to the sky. Because the same God that watched over and protected them is the same God watching over and protecting us.

Chag Same'ach!

From the Day School

by Miriam Kass, Principal

After school ended last Friday afternoon, I sat beneath a tree on the Coleman Playground, surrounded by nearly all of our 8th graders. As representatives of their own homes and neighborhoods, they were about to embark on the first Akiba Shabbaton of the year. For many, it was their first such experience, and for me it was an opportunity to reflect on our values and to see our year's theme -- #akibacommUNITY -- come to life.

We gathered to review the rules and expectations. During that discussion, I couldn't help but notice the deep respect students had for one another and for the group. They listened to each other's questions with care and compassion: "In my family, I light candles; may I do that here, too?" (Yes.) "Is it ok to use a flashlight on Shabbat at Akiba?" (No.) "Will we leave a light on in the bathroom overnight?" (Yes.) "Am I allowed to flush the toilet?" (Yes.) "Will we be able to daven Mincha (the afternoon service)?" (Yes.) "What's for dinner?" (soup, chicken potatoes, vegetables, salad, cookies, fruit).

I have participated in and served the #akibacommUNITY as a student (I went to Akiba-Schechter for 2nd grade!), a neighbor (I've lived in Hyde Park for most of my life), a parent (both of my daughters are Akiba graduates and "lifers" - Parent/Tot through 8th grade!), a Board member and officer, a donor, a preschool teacher, a grade school teacher, the Director of Teaching and Learning, and now the Grade School Principal. In all my various roles, I have been proud to be a member of the #akibacommUNITY. But sitting under that tree last Friday was definitely one of my proudest moments. It gave me hope that these 8th graders, who will one day be leaders in their communities, will carry with them their Akiba experience of learning from and living among people from across the broad Jewish spectrum. They will have felt respected, embraced and appreciated for who they are, and they will have had practice doing the same for others. I am grateful to be a witness to their journey.

Preschool

Simchat Torah is coming up and so the Yellow Room visited Congregation Rodfei Zedek and learned about the Torah from Rabbi Minkus.

The Blue Room visited Congregation Rodfei Zedek on Wednesday to learn all about the Torah. Here Talia is holding one of the special decorations for the Torah.

Sukkot project in the
Purple Room

The Afternoon Explorers have been practicing observational drawings.

Grades 1-8

A popular activity in Mr. Salk's 1st/2nd grade class is doing a survey. Here Stuart is asking Raanan to respond to his survey about favorite reptiles.

Mr. Esse's 3rd/4th grade class has been getting into the swing of things, establishing routines and practicing making good choices. One such opportunity is Choice Time, when students can decide how to spend their time. Some choose to play games, some like to read, others like to write up stories or even make paper airplanes.

8th graders hosted younger students in the Sukkah today for a Chesed project.

Chesed Projects in the Sukkah

Today, the 8th graders planned a fun celebration in the Sukkah in honor of the holiday of Sukkot. Younger students were invited to gather in the Sukkah for two meaningful Chesed projects and a chance to shake the Lulav and Etrog. One project was creating bookmarks for the residents at the Self Help Home, who we were told love to read! The other project was decorating squares that will be sewn into a quilt for Project Linus and then distributed to children in Chicago area hospitals.

7th and 8th grade Humanities students are learning about American ideals and the Revolutionary era. They are creating posters that analyze and criticize songs from the Hamilton musical. See example below.

Insights on the Holidays from Rabbi M's Classes

Rabbi M's 3rd-8th grade classes have been focused on the holidays in the month of Tishrei (Rosh Hashana, Yom Kippur and Sukkot). Did you know that on Rosh Hashana we do not ask Hashem for forgiveness; instead the whole day is geared towards the re-coronation of Hashem as our King? Also, on Rosh Hashana we blow the Shofar 100 times, but we never use a cows' horn as this would be a reminder of the sin of the golden calf. Students also learned that there is a Mitzvah to eat on Erev Yom Kippur (the day before Yom Kippur), and so the middle schoolers enjoyed eating snacks during class. And finally, Hoshana Raba is actually the last day of Sukkot; Shmini Atzteret and Simchat Torah are separate holidays.

Questions for an 8th Grader: Izzy Blair

Izzy in the Sukkah today, making bookmarks with the Purple Room kids.


	Izzy rock climbing

We continue our series of featuring an 8th grader in each Kibitzer; today it's Izzy Blair, who is an Akiba "lifer" but also a rock climber!

Since when have you been at Akiba? I started Akiba before I was born (since my mom worked and still works here) but my first classroom was the Downstairs Green Room with Kelli and Sharon when I was two.
What neighborhood are you from? I live in Lincoln Park now but I lived in Hyde Park most of my life.
Is being an 8th grader different from your previous grades at Akiba? I would like to get into a good high school.
What is your favorite subject at Akiba and why? I don't have one.
What do you think is special about Akiba? I think Akiba is special because it such a tightly knit community.
When you're not at school or doing homework, what do you like to do? When I am at home not doing homework, I love to watch Netflix. I also love to rock climb with my team.
Do you have any idea yet of what you want to be when you grow up? I would like to be an engineer.

Art with Dara

7th grader Anna drew 8th grader Jonah.

PE Update

The 1st graders have been doing obstacle courses where they are learning about spatial awareness.

Hyde Park Sukkah Hop

Shabbat, September 29

1:30 to 2:30 PM
Bartom -- 5488 S. Everett (turn north from 55th St. into alley west of S. Hyde Park Blvd. Enter yard at first gate on right)

2:40 to 3:40 PM
Sanders/Mark -- 5464 S. Cornell (in the courtyard)

4:00 to 5:00 PM
Friedman-Parks -- 5134 S. Greenwood (turn north from 52nd St. into Berkeley alley west of Greenwood. Enter at first gate on right)

5:15 to 6:15 PM
Hozinsky -- 5707 S. Kimbark (enter yard from 57th St, east of the bookstore)

6:15 to 7:30 PM (Havdalah at 7:20 PM)
Brackman -- 1236 E. 57th Street (enter on Kimbark for Sukkah at the blue corner house, not the Rohr Chabad Center)

Makerspace Grand Opening & Open House

Volunteers Needed for Picture Day!

Tuesday, October 9 ( Siblings & Grades 1-8) and Wednesday, October 10 (Preschool & Kindergarten), 8:30 - 12:00. Please contact Jill Kohl if you can help out. Thanks!

Lunch & Learn

Rabbi Cohen is hosting our first Lunch & Learn next Thursday, October 4, 12:15 - 1:00 PM. Click here for more info.

Kol HaKavod

...to 4th grader Daphna Tesher, who completed the North Shore Century Bike Ride on September 16, racking up a total of 104.73 miles for the day!