November 21, 2018 /13th of Kislev 5779 /  Parash a  t Vayishlach /Candle lighting: 4:14 pm
Hakarat HaTov is a central value that is taught throughout JKHA/RKYHS. We take every opportunity to acknowledge and thank those who help us and who contribute to our daily lives. This Thanksgiving in particular we can be especially thankful for, and show gratitude towards our school community. We have shown this past week how we can come together and be there for one another - we are one school family.  
We would like to share with you just some of the ways that our school prepared
for Thanksgiving and demonstrated the values of appreciation and the importance of offering thanks. May we continue to appreciate and value those around us and
give thanks for all of our blessings.  

Wishing you and your families a wonderful and meaningful Thanksgiving holiday!
All of JKHA and RKYHS came together for a "Thanks for Giving" assembly to say thank you to JKHA/RKYHS Associate Principal Mr. Howard Plotsker for all that he does for every aspect of the school, and to pay tribute to all of the many individuals who ensured that our JKHA and RKYHS students were safe, warm (and fed) during the events of last Thursday’s storm.  Click here to read more.


It was an unbelievable sight to see the mountain of gifts that JKHA and RKYHS students brought in for a school-wide "Give Day." The school partnered with Chai Lifeline to collect Chanukah gifts for children with serious illnesses. Students were excited to perform this meaningful act of chesed.
Lower School classrooms were filled with learning and creativity to prepare for Thanksgiving. For example, the Second Grade celebrated Thanksgiving this week with a “Turkey Trot.” They recreated many authentic Pilgrim experiences in their classroom for the students to enjoy. The students rotated through four different groups. They baked cornbread, weaved baskets, made bracelets with beads, "built” a turkey with fact and opinion statements about turkeys as feathers, and wrote about something atypical to be thankful for; for example, baby wipes! The students and parent volunteers had a great time trotting through the classroom! Earlier, the Second grade students were fortunate to use the MakerSpace in our library to build different types of Native American shelters that they had studied in class. Each group was given a few supplies/natural resources like the Native Americans had. They all did a wonderful job collaborating, being creative and presenting.
All of Early Childhood (grades N3, Pre-K and Kindergarten) and parent and grandparent visitors had the opportunity to get together and share in our annual Thanksgiving Feast. Each class brought a special Thanksgiving food they had prepared in class to share with the rest of the students. Students came in Native American and Thanksgiving themed headdresses they had made, sang Thanksgiving songs and heard a Thanksgiving story. They were all thankful to have this special opportunity to spend time together and enjoy in the Thanksgiving festivities. The feast was the culmination of each grade’s learning about the story of Thanksgiving at an age appropriate level. In addition, each grade cultivated an environment in their classrooms which centered around hands-on experiences which incorporated literacy, math, science, and physical social and emotional development.

The three-part theme for JKHA this year is to “Remember the Past, Live the Present, Look to the Future - Be the Link.” Each portion of this theme is connected to a tzedakah. The tzedakah selected for the first theme is to provide Holocaust survivors with much needed assistance through JFS. Representatives from JFS came to talk to Middle Schoolers this week about the services that their organization provides for Holocaust survivors in our Greater MetroWest area. 
As part of their advisory program, all sixth graders discussed the concept of Hakarat HaTov and having an “Attitude of Gratitude” working off of biblical and Talmudic sources. The sixth graders then wrote thank you cards to people that they appreciate in their lives.
The RKYHS Homeless Awareness Club went out into the streets of Newark to hand out food and clothes just days before Thanksgiving. They brought with them cornbread baked by our JKHA Second graders, and food was also donated by our school caterer Shimon Nissel.  Several students baked brownies that they handed out in decorated bags, and many of the students collected various items on their own such as blankets, winter coats, socks, scarves and much much more.
Kushner Torah Videos (KTV)
In this week’s edition of Kushner Torah Videos (KTV), RKYHS Judaic Studies faculty member Mrs. CM Gerson discusses how we can look to Parshat Vayishlach to find the message of Thanksgiving and showing appreciation for all that we have.

We are grateful for the value of the Jewish education our students receive at JKHA/RKYHS.  The ATID SOCIETY Concert kicks off the school’s Annual Campaign, which enables JKHA/RKYHS to continue to deliver academic excellence in Judaic and General Studies while ensuring that the school remains accessible to school families. 
ATID means future – and our students are the future of the Jewish community. 
Supporting our annual campaign and ATID can make a difference in developing the next generation of the Jewish people.

to the ATID SOCIETY Concert featuring the music of Rami Kleinstein
on Sunday, December 2 .