CJDS Ma Koreh Weekly Newsletter

Ma Koreh /What’s Happening?

Weekly CJDS Newsletter

D’var Kesher from Katie Feldstein

First Grade Jewish Studies Teacher

December 6, 2018/ 28 Kislev, 5779

(5th Night of Hannukah)

Parashat Miketz, Genesis/Bereshit 41:1- 44:17

D'VAR KESHER: A Window into Our Pride

Greetings!

For three more days, Jewish people around the world are celebrating Hannukah. It is the most celebrated Jewish holiday with over 70% of Jews reciting the blessings and lighting candles of the hannukiah to remember the miracles. First, there was the miracle of the Maccabees’ victory over the Hellenistic King Antiochus, who attempted to forbid the Jews from those things that defined their very identity as Jews: eating Kosher foods, praying, speaking Hebrew, observing Shabbat, and studying Torah.

Then there was the rabbis' miracle. Careful to infuse Jewish holidays with spiritual courage, and not let them be claimed by a narrative of militaristic might, in their wisdom and foresight, the rabbis layered on a miracle about rededication, or “ Hannukah,” about a little jar of oil lasting for eight days instead of one which allowed the Temple to be cleaned and restored.

Then there is a contemporary miracle. The rabbis also established a practice after lighting, for Jews to place their lit hannukiah in the window, for all to see. This custom is called Pirsum Ha Nes, or “publicizing the miracle.” Essentially, Pirsum HaNes is about broadcasting our unabashed pride in our long Jewish tradition, its values, and its symbols, which we have had to struggle to maintain throughout history.

This year, I taught our first grade students about Pirsum Ha Nes, and asked them the question: “If you could make public something Jewish that you are most proud of, what would you put in the window?” Students responded with a rich variety of powerful symbols that are at once personal and communal, such as:

“My stuffed Torah.”

“Pomegranates and a shofar for Rosh Hashanah.”

“My tzedakah box.”

“My kippah.”

“The dreidel I made in Art.”

“My dad (Rabbi Hillel Skolnik, of Tifereth Israel).”

I was struck and inspired by how quickly our six year olds could identify their points of Jewish pride. Are adults as ready and able to make our Jewish pride public? What would you put in the window? Today, as Jews everywhere sadly find ourselves hesitant to publicize the dignity of our Jewish heritage to a world that has too many times tried to destroy it, it is as important as ever for Jews to ask ourselves this question and to put symbols of Jewish pride in our actual and figurative windows.

So, I asked myself what I would I put in the window, and realized it is CJDS. Our school, itself, is at the center of my Jewish pride, and I would put photographs of all my students in the window. I am proud of the impact that I, as well as all the amazing teachers at CJDS, have made in the lives of our students and all of the diverse and bright contributions of light that they bring to the world, as Jews. They are all figuratively in my window, along with my actual lit h annukiah, to publicize, for all to see.

Chag Urim Sameach and Shabbat Shalom,

Katie Feldstein

ALL SCHOOL KABBALAT HAG HANUKKAH

TOMORROW!

Friday, December 7 at 1:40 p.m.

We warmly invite you to join us for a very festive Kabbalat Hag Hanukkah tomorrow. CJDS will celebrate Hanukkah as a community. The CJDS dance club, Ketzev, will perform two dances. Doors open at 1:30 p.m.

CJDS KETZEV Dance Club performing...

at the ZOO!

Sunday December 9, 4-6pm

LOOKING AHEAD

DECEMBER

Friday, December 7: All School Kabbalat H ag H anukkah 1:40 p.m.-2:20 p.m.

Sunday, December 9: Dance Club at the Zoo Wildlights! 4:00 p.m.-6:00 p.m.

Friday, December 14: All School Kabbalat Shabbat (6th Grade Leading) 1:40 p.m.-2:20 p.m.

Monday, December 24 - Friday January 4 Winter Break NO SCHOOL

JANUARY

Classes Resume Monday, January 7, 2019

Friday, January 18: All School Kabbalat Shabbat 1:40 p.m.-2:20 p.m.

Monday, January 21: (Tu B’Shevat) Martin Luther King Jr. Day NO SCHOOL

Thursday, January 24: 2nd Grade Siddur Ceremony 8:30 a.m.-10:30 a.m.

LIVING OUR MISSION

KINDERGARTEN

FIRST

SECOND

THIRD & FOURTH

FIFTH

SIXTH

CJDS CLUBS

NEW TZEDAKAH CLUB PROJECT

CJDS's Tzedakah Club is excited to be starting a new project, as we will be creating "Blessing bags" to hand out to those in need throughout our Columbus community.

In an effort to create beautiful, full bags, we are looking for donations of the following items in as large quantities as we are able to collect:

Socks (adult)
Granola/protein bars
Hand warmers
Toothbrushes and toothpaste
Soap
Hand sanitizer
Ziploc bags

Thank you so much for any and all donations that you are able to make - this will help our children use their hands to make change and experience the feeling of bringing light and warmth to those who are most in need in our community.

Lunch & Recess Clubs

MONDAY RECESS: Dance Club with Ms. AG & Katie Feldstein
TUESDAY LUNCH: Israel/Hebrew Club with Lin Raveh - Israeli Shlicha
WEDNESDAY LUNCH: Tzedakah Club with Susan Couden & Rabbi Sharon Barr Skolnik
THURSDAY RECESS: Journalism Club with Dr. Denae D'Arcy
FRIDAY RECESS: Choir with Angelo Dunlap

After School Clubs

(Click on the images below for more information, associated fees and registration forms.)

MONDAY: Chess & Board Game Club with Jeremy Arcus-Goldberg!

WEDNESDAY: Giving Garden with Rabbi Iah Pillsbury.

Available to 4th-6th grades only.

THURSDAY: Lego Robotics with Jeremy Arcus-Goldberg.

SHARE YOUR NEWS WITH CJDS HERE

LIFECYCLES In our community, at every point, our families are perpetually entering new stages in their lives. In keeping with the tradition of living Jewishly, CJDS acknowledges, honors, and celebrates these moments: Births, B’nei Mitzvah, graduations, marriages, and in moments of illness, healing and loss.

HAKARAT HATOV

The Hebrew term for gratitude is הַכָּרַת הַטוֹב (Hakarat HaTov), which means "recognizing the good."

To Monica Silverstein for creating such a festive atmosphere by decorating the Faculty Lounge for Hanukkah.

To Stefanie Zelkind for the delicious sufganiyot she brought for all the staff and faculty. YUM.

To Dr. B. For the clarity and depth of his session on the social /emotional life/growth of a child and how it can be illuminated in student work examples.

To Gayle Smyres for diving in to her debut role on the CJDS stage at our Hanukkah Kabbalat Hag.

MI SH'BERACH When a member of the CJDS family is ill or in need of healing, the entire community lends its support and its prayers for a full and complete recovery.

We wish our CJDS dear friend and community volunteer, Steve Shkolnik, a speedy recovery.

ZECHER TZADIK LIVRACHA/ MAY THEIR MEMORY BE A BLESSING

Micki Lando Brown

We send our love to Kindergarten Teacher, Annelyn Baron and family, in memory of their dear relative Micki. Annelyn remembers Micki's beautiful smile, and how she loved horses, line dancing and dancing at family celebrations. Most of all, Micki was such a strong, positive force in the lives of her children, Jamie (Eric), Jonathan (Kendra) and Andrew. Micki will also be missed by her sisters, Stephanie (Preston) Gurwin and Cheri Lando, and also by her three loving granddaughters, Casey, Abra and Hannah. May her memory be a blessing.

KESHER: CJDS Parent Organization

Volunteer to serve lunch HERE

HOT LUNCH

As in the past, we are so grateful to all the help from the community members - grandparents, friends, parents, and others – on whom we rely to serve hot lunch to our students. Our volunteers bring such a warmth and love to our students and we love having all of you! In order to make this sign-up process even more smooth this year, we would love each family (any family member or friend) to sign up for two dates during the whole year to serve lunch. It can be a parent, a grandparent, a special friend - anyone who is interested in spending time with our wonderful students and serving them food.

KESHER

CJDS is proud to have a Parent Organization called Kesher (Hebrew for "connection"). Kesher has a team of grade representatives led by a president.

Kesher is responsible for the CJDS Hot Lunch program, social gatherings outside of school, teacher appreciation, the CJDS Chesed committee and more! To get involved, please be in touch HERE.