Parashat Vayeshev Candle Lighting 5:08 p.m. Havdalah 6:09 p.m.

Parsha Talk Have you ever noticed that  those people who care passionately and work incredibly hard on a project always believe that they could or should have done even more, or tried even harder? Find out how this week's parsha and our very own middle school BIMA (Beren Innovation Made Accessible, our makerspace) students demonstrate this idea!

A Heartfelt THANK YOU to our parent volunteers Volunteers do not necessarily have the time; they have the heart Adi Arussi, Anat Chen, Rhoda Seplowitz, Sarah Kronman, Yosef Levenstein, Steven Plumb, Yaarit Saar, Neil Scheckter, Esther Shavitzky To add your name to the list, be sure to document your hours in our parent hitnadvut (volunteer) binder located in the front office.

One Text - Many Voices This week's One Text - Many Voices features Ariella Ruben, Jake Teller, Avidan Abramson, and Rabbi Alex Israel, a modern Israeli Torah scholar. Click here for their views on the following text: וַ אֵ֣לֶּה | תֹּֽלְד֣וֹת יַֽעֲקֹ֗ב יוֹסֵ֞ף בֶּן־שְׁבַע־עֶשְׂרֵ֤ה שָׁנָה֙ הָיָ֨ה רֹעֶ֤ה אֶת־אֶחָיו֙ בַּצֹּ֔אן וְה֣וּא נַ֗עַר אֶת־בְּנֵ֥י בִלְהָ֛ה וְאֶת־בְּנֵ֥י זִלְפָּ֖ה נְשֵׁ֣י אָבִ֑יו וַיָּבֵ֥א יוֹסֵ֛ף אֶת־דִּבָּתָ֥ם רָעָ֖ה אֶל־אֲבִיהֶֽם: וְיִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל אָהַ֤ב אֶת־יוֹסֵף֙ מִכָּל־בָּנָ֔יו כִּֽי־בֶן־זְקֻנִ֥ים ה֖וּא ל֑וֹ וְעָ֥שָׂה ל֖וֹ כְּתֹ֥נֶת פַּסִּֽים:וַיִּרְא֣וּ אֶחָ֗יו כִּֽי־אֹת֞וֹ אָהַ֤ב אֲבִיהֶם֙ מִכָּל־אֶחָ֔יו וַיִּשְׂנְא֖וּ אֹת֑וֹ וְלֹ֥א יָֽכְל֖וּ דַּבְּר֥וֹ לְשָׁלֹֽם: These are the generations of Jacob: when Joseph was seventeen years old, being a shepherd, he was with his brothers with the flocks, and he was a lad, [and was] with the sons of Bilhah and with the sons of Zilpah, his father's wives; and Joseph brought evil tales about them to their father. And Israel loved Joseph more than all his sons, because he was a son of his old age; and he made him a fine woolen coat. And his brothers saw that their father loved him more than all his brothers, so they hated him, and they could not speak with him peacefully.

Tell Us How You Really Feel

During winter break I am Going somewhere sunny Select Going somewhere cold Select Going to Israel Select Enjoying a staycation! Select

The results are in... RMBA communicates

#instaberen

From the desk of our S.T.E.A.M. Lab This week in STEAM we worked on making robots dance by coding them in patterns, learned about density during an olive oil experiment, and made art with olive oil and water. We also began gluing our plastic pieces onto the mural for the Houston Zoo. Please continue sending plastics of any kind to class. We especially need blues for the ocean. Thank you and Happy Chanukah to everyone! Grandparent & Special Friend Day Thank you to all the grandparents and special friends who came to visit today! Guests enjoyed Chanukah performances in our Early Childhood classrooms and learning the song Light One Candle by Benny Friedman (originally by Peter, Paul and Mary) with our lower school students. We can't wait to show you the final music video from this morning. Friends and family also had the opportunity to play student and create their own projects in our pop-up BIMA makerspace! Please click here for additional pictures!

The Great RMBA A great time was had by all who attended The Great RMBA - a Gatsby themed Casino night raising vital funds for RMBA's Tuition Assistance Program. The wonderful evening, held at Evelyn's Park Conservancy was co-chaired by Bella Morgan, Rick Guttman, and Steven Mitzner. The evening included a poker tournament, raffle prizes, a wine tasting, a scotch tasting, an amazing jazz quartet and lots of fun! Thank you to Amalya Shandelman Photography for the wonderful pictures! Click here to see pictures from the event! Holocaust Museum Houston Middle school made a field trip to Holocaust Museum Houston on December 17, when students had the opportunity to study photographs that documented the work of the Student Non-Violent Coordinating Committee during the Southern Civil Rights Movement. The students then examined the museum's main exhibit on the history and lessons of the Holocaust. During the visit, they also spent time in a classroom, discussing points of intersection between the Holocaust and the Southern Civil Rights Movement. Thank you to parents who helped provide transportation and helped chaperone our field trip to HMH.

Reptile Art 1st grade completed their dinosaur sculptures this week in art and were so excited to finally get to take them home! Bright like a Light Students in Morah Gila's 3rd grade Hebrew class enjoyed a class activity in which students shared descriptive words in Hebrew about their peers and what makes them shine bright!

Jeopardy Students in Ori Friedmann's middle school Hebrew class enjoyed playing a Chanukah-themed Jeopardy game. Throughout the class the students learned about the traditions, mitzvot (good deeds), and history of the holiday. Forest Fungi While learning about fungi and plants in science class, 6th grade went out to the magical forest to collect leaves and fungi. They used a special app that identified which plants the leaves came from, then sorted and classified the leaves. They also looked at the fungi under a dissecting microscope to see the spores.

Mix It Up Students in lower school enjoyed a Mix It Up lunch this week! When Mix It Up lunch takes place, students in all grades are mixed together at the lunch tables and get to know one another by playing games. The 4th and 5th grade boys coordinated ice breakers to help conversation flow, and the students enjoyed playing a favorite classic, Rock Paper Scissors! Standing Up Ms. Stacey, our lower school counselor, visited the 2nd grade to discuss peer pressure, standing up for ourselves, and confiding in trusted adults. The students enjoyed a story and discussion.

Save the Date

PTO Pizza Lunch - Spring Semester Orders due by 4:00 p.m. on Tuesday, January 7, 2020 Sign up here

Calling all RMBA Moms: Join the RMBA PTO for a Mom's Night Out enjoy wine and cheese as we kick off the Spring semester! Thursday, January 16, 2020 7:30 p.m. - 9:30 p.m. at the home of Sigal Yeudai

Athletic Updates

Please see the Beren Academy Calendar as your most up to date source for information. The  Week at a Glance  is a snapshot, but does not reflect any changes made after that date.  All teams will be off next week for winter break. Please check the calendar for practice and game times in January.

Accessing the current schedule https://www.berenacademy.org/apps/events/2019/9/?id=5 Please re-sync your calendars weekly If you have any questions, please email Coach Cole at  chriscole@berenacademy.org.

Mazal Tov

Mazal Tov to Gabrielle Brown and her family on the occasion of her Bat Mitzvah!

Community Events

Manhigut Dinner and Oneg Friday, December 20, 2019 6:30 p.m.. At the Shlichim Home

Snif this week Parashat Vayeshev 12/21/2019 4:00 - 5:00 p.m. at UOS for Grades 1-12

Seudat Shlishit with Rabbi Gelman December 21, 2019 5:10 p.m. at UOS for grades 9-12

Tinyan! December 21, 2019 9:30 a.m. Friedmann Home

Join UOS for a special Pre-Chanukah Extravaganza Kids Breakfast Minyab December 22 at UOS 9:00 a.m.

Join UOS for Family Candle Lighting December 22 at 5:15 p.m. at UOS Come enjoy presents and sufganiya decorating!

Join UOS for A Taste of Chanukah December 22, 2019 8:00 p.m. featuring Trivia Night! $5 members, $10 non-members

Chevraya Bet Shabbaton in Silver Spring, MD January 9- January 12 See flyer for details

CYJ is Coming to Houston! Parlor Meeting with Camp Director Frank Silberlicht Sunday, January 12, 2019 4:00 p.m. At the home of Neil and Annie Scheckter Please email Neil or Iris Toth to RSVP and for address

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