Sh'mini Atzeret, the Eighth Day of Gathering

If you’ve ever planned a family reunion and reached the final day only to wish you could stay a little longer, you have experienced the emotional tug of Sh’mini Atzeret. 

Tishrei is filled with the majesty of Rosh Hashanah, the solemnity of Yom Kippur, and the rejoicing of Sukkot. Practically, the month brings the Jewish people together as a family to worship and celebrate. The family metaphor is supported by the liturgy, which refers to God as avinu malkeinu (our father, our king). All that’s missing are the “_____ Family Reunion” T-shirts.

It’s not surprising, then, when Rashi (acronym for Rabbi Shlomo Yitzchaki, the preeminent 11th century Jewish commentator) uses the family metaphor to explain why God’s command to the Israelites to observe Sukkot for seven days is followed by a command to make a mikra kodesh (a holy assembly) and an atzeret (gathering) on the eighth day (Lev. 23:36). According to Rashi, God is like a parent who, when the children reach the end of the planned visit, says, “Nu, stay one more day; I don’t want you to leave.” 

Rabbi Samson Raphael Hirsch (1808-1888; German rabbi considered the father of modern Orthodox Judaism) interprets atzeret to mean storing up and says Sh’mini Atzeret is when we store up the connection to God acquired throughout the holiday season to last us through the month of Mar Cheshvan (Bitter Cheshvan), which contains no holiday save Shabbat. 

In Jewish mystical thought, the number seven represents wholeness and completion, and eight represents a step into the infinite. After the wholeness of Sukkot, Sh’mini Atzeret asks us to reflect upon the infinite possibilities of the coming year. 

Gut Yontif/Chag Sameach/Happy Holiday

Dr. David Ackerman (Doc)

Torah Thoughts from Doc

Read a brief message about this week's Torah portion, Parashat Sukkot: Shabbat Chol Hamoed. Sukkot is z'man simchateinu, the time of our rejoicing.

Mark Your Calendars!

• Sunday, October 16 - Gradewide Sukkah Parties (locations/times below)
• Friday, October 21 - Annual Fund Kickoff, 8:15-9:15 a.m., Sabes JCC Lobby
• Thursday, October 27 - PTO Kickoff Meeting, 8:15 a.m., Lieberman Library at Heilicher
• Wednesday, November 2 - Picture Day
• Thursday, November 3 - NO SCHOOL: Conferences, 8 a.m.-7 p.m. (sign-up below)
• Friday, November 4 - NO SCHOOL: ISACS Conference for Faculty
• Sunday, November 20 - Heilicher Annual Benefit, 5 p.m., Beth El Synagogue
• Tuesday, November 22 - Yom Dor l'Dor Grandparents/Special Persons Day, 1:30-3:30 p.m., Heilicher

View the full Heilicher calendar online

Key Dates for 2022-2023

This Weekend: Gradewide Sukkah Parties

Throughout the day on Sunday, October 16, Heilicher families will host sukkah parties by grade. See the Roar in your inbox for details regarding each party. Many thanks to the hosts for inviting us into their sukkot!

First Grade: please note a new host and address.

Sign Up for Fall Conferences

Heilicher Fall Conferences will be on Thursday, November 3, 8-11 a.m., 12-4 p.m., and 5-7 p.m. Note: No conferences 11 a.m.-12 p.m. or 4-5 p.m. to allow teachers to have a lunch and dinner break.

Sign up for fall conferences. If you have K-5 students, please make sure to sign up for a 20-minute block with your child(ren)'s General Studies teacher and a 10-minute block(s) with their Hebrew and Jewish Studies teacher(s). Those with students in grades 6-8 should sign up for an hour time block with the “6-8 Middle School Team,” not with individual teachers. The Middle School conferences will be in the auditorium, and you will rotate through your child(ren)’s teachers.

Specialists will be in the auditorium for drop-in conferences. Please be sure to meet with them.

Reminder: If you are signing up for conferences with more than one teacher or for multiple children, be sure to look for the “Register for multiple conferences” button to help coordinate your times.

IMPORTANT:

• Grades K-2 Conferences are PARENTS ONLY.
• Grades 3-8 Conferences should involve both parents and children. 

Note that there will be NO SCHOOL on Thursday, November 3, or Friday, November 4.

Questions? Contact Mel Newman in the Heilicher Office.

Join Us for a New York-Style Bagel Breakfast

Enjoy REAL New York bagels and schmear after drop-off on Friday, October 21, 8:15-9:15 a.m. in the JCC Lobby, to kick off Heilicher's 2022-23 Annual Fund. We will enjoy breakfast and share ways to support the school we love!

Yehuda Gruenberg and Orlee Tatarka

Cantor Joshua Fineblum and Andrea Golden

Heilicher Parent Annual Fund Co-Chairs

Register for Winter Extracurriculars

Registration for winter 2022 after-school activities and athletics is open on Jumbula.* Check out all the enrichment classes and sports, as well as HaBonim after-care information, on our website. Swimming is also available through the JCC on a monthly basis.

Three extracurriculars have yet to meet the minimum registration requirement to run:

• K-2 Puppet Theater needs four more students.
• 5-8 For the Love of Art (with Kidcreate Studio) needs three more students.
• 5-8 Fencing needs five more students.

Registration is first come, first served. Winter registration closes Friday, October 21, or as soon as the registration maximum is reached.

*On the payment page, DO NOT click the acknowledgement box shown here, as it may interfere with your registration.

**The background text may say "TEST MODE," but your payment and registration will go through.

Please reach out to Athletic Director Lee Metzger or HaBonim and After-School Activities Coordinator Rivka Buchbinder with any questions about specific classes.

PTO Kickoff Meeting

Join the Parent-Teacher Organization for coffee after drop-off at 8:15 a.m. on Thursday, October 27, in the Lieberman Library. Hear from the PTO chairs about opportunities to get involved this school year.

Register for School's Out This November

School's Out is Heilicher's programming and childcare for nonschool days. Registration for November 3, 4, and 23 is open on Jumbula.

Please help us plan ahead to arrange onsite entertainment and field trips by letting School's Out Director Jeremy Savran know if you plan to sign up your child(ren) for School's Out throughout the year — see School's Out dates.

Spread the Word About Heilicher!

Know someone who might be interested in Heilicher? Please have them reach out to Admissions Director Deborah Getsug at dgetsug@hmjds.org and tell them about our Information Evening on Wednesday, November 9, at 7 p.m.

We are also excited to announce that we are waiving the $100 application fee for all applications submitted by December 1, 2022. Learn more and apply today!

Join Us for the Heilicher Annual Benefit

Celebrate with us as we dance the night away and reconnect as a community. The Benefit honoring Wendy Lovell-Smith and Colin Smith will take place Sunday, November 20, at 5 p.m. at Beth El Synagogue. It promises to be a fun evening with a DJ, ’80s video games, food stations, and a chance to celebrate our school together. 

RSVP by Friday, November 4, for a night of entertainment and inspiration, while supporting our school.

Before Care is Available

Don't forget that before care is available as a free, drop-in program!

Before-care drop-off will be from 7:30 to 7:45 a.m. No drops-offs will be allowed from 7:45 to 8 a.m. (Heilicher’s normal drop-off window begins at 8 a.m.)

To drop off your student, use your parent access card to enter the building, walk your child to the Dining Room, and sign them into before care. You may not drop your child off outside the building, as we will not have staff at the entrance to ensure they get to the Dining Room.

As a reminder, we will not provide food during before care. However, you are welcome to send a dairy or parev (nondairy/nonmeat) breakfast for your child to eat before school begins.

Please email beforecare@hmjds.org if you have any questions.

Volunteer Opportunities

Sign up to help with All-School Lunch and/or All-School T'filah.

• All-School Lunch: Help set up and clean up our all-school lunch on Wednesday(s) in the auditorium 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m.

• All-School T'filah: Help us set up for all-school t'filah (prayer) Monday(s) in the theater 8:15-9 a.m. 

Grade-level volunteer opportunities will be sent out by room parents.