Wednesday morning a few of our 7th/8th graders taught the 1st/2nd graders about Tefillin. |
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October 16, 2020
Volume 17, Issue 4
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Candle Lighting: 5:47 p.m.
Parasha: Bereishit
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Building Community Inside and Outside of the Classroom |
by Miriam Kass, Principal
With the fall holidays now behind us, this week felt a bit like another first week of school. While we navigate these school days with masks, hand sanitizer, and distance to keep us safe, it is heartwarming to see the myriad of ways we are able to be very much together. This week was full of community-building experiences, both in and out of the classroom.
Thanks to Covid, 8th grader Sam Nagorsky is unable to have his Akiba family with him at his synagogue Bar Mitzvah this Shabbat. We found a way to come together to honor the occasion in what we hope is the start of a new tradition at Akiba. Yesterday morning the 7th/8th graders sat (safely distanced) on the playground as Sam led us in the Shacharit service and chanted from the first chapters of the Torah.
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The 5th/6th graders joined in via Zoom from the warmth of their classrooms, and the 1st/2nd graders looked on from their big windows. |
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The Lower School and Middle School Back-to-School Nights this week gave parents an overview of the learning and routines in the classrooms. While we certainly missed having the halls buzzing with parents, a few parents told me that it was wonderful to see and hear from each teacher without the stress of running from class to class. If you missed the presentations, do check out the LS Agenda and MS Agenda for important links to syllabi and the like.
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Also this week, using the same supplies and instructions to build the longest paper chain, two classes (a 7th/8th grade class and a 3rd/4th grade class), at two ends of our long hallway, learned the same thing: working together and sharing responsibilities and ideas can be the key to success.
We look forward to seeing you out and about on the Virtual Akiba-Schechter 5K Shuffle this Sunday!
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School under COVID-19 - For Your Reference |
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Is the Torah within our Grasp?
by Rabbi David Bauman, Head of Judaic Studies and Community Engagement
This Shabbat we begin a new cycle of publicly reading the Torah in synagogues around the world. Thus it is appropriate to learn some passages from the Talmud (Tractate Eruvin 55a) that interpret the popular expression from the Torah "Lo bashamayim hi- The Torah is not in Heaven" (Deuteronomy 30:11-14):
כי המצוה הזאת אשר אנכי מצוך היום לא־נפלאת הוא ממך ולא רחקה הוא
לא בשמים הוא לאמר מי יעלה־לנו השמימה ויקחה לנו וישמענו אתה ונעשנה
ולא־מעבר לים הוא לאמר מי יעבר־לנו אל־עבר הים ויקחה לנו וישמענו אתה ונעשנה
כי־קרוב אליך הדבר מאד בפיך ובלבבך לעשתו
Surely, this instruction which I enjoin upon you this day is not too baffling for you, nor is it beyond reach.
It is not in the heavens, that you should say, “Who among us can go up to the heavens and get it for us and impart it to us, that we may observe it?”
Neither is it beyond the sea, that you should say, “Who among us can cross to the other side of the sea and get it for us and impart it to us, that we may observe it?”
No, the thing is very close to you, in your mouth and in your heart, to observe it.
The simple meaning, the peshat, of this passage has always struck me as being: The Torah is meant to offer a system of laws and practices that we, ordinary humans, are capable of understanding and carrying out.
You don't need to be an Einstein or Rav Feinstein to keep the Torah, nor is it intended for the angels in "the heavens." You shouldn't be put off by its size or difficulty; you've got this.
Not surprisingly, the rabbis of the Talmud saw it differently and offered various interpretations. According to Avdimi bar Hama bar Dosa, this passage is telling us that "if it were in heaven, you would have to ascend after it, and if it were beyond the sea, you would have to cross after it." His interpretation is nearly the opposite of the peshat: It is not that the Torah is doable, within our grasp, but instead that if it were far away we would need to do everything in our powers to retrieve it, to study it. No matter the obstacles, no matter how hard it is or how far we live from teachers of Torah, we are obliged to exert all we have to obtain its knowledge for ourselves.
Subsequent interpreters focus on frames of mind that are not conducive to Torah study. For example, Rabbi Yohanan teaches that the Torah cannot be learned by the "haughty" (גסי רוח, today meaning vulgar, rude), nor by "merchants and traders," who presumably are too busy pursuing their business to make time for it.
As we start all over learning the Torah with Bereishit, From the beginning of Genesis, what frame of mind do you find most conducive to enable you to receive, conceive, absorb and retain the polysemous nature of Torah? What do you do in your home, as preparation, for the study and engagement of the Torah?
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Preschool & Kindergarten Back-to-School Night on Zoom
by Carla Goldberg, Early Childhood Director
A lot of thoughtful planning went into preparing for our first ever virtual back-to-school night. We wanted to stay true to what we would do in the classroom, as well as share what school actually looks like these days. Teachers took pictures of the different classroom centers and of what happens there on a daily basis. They also photographed various parts of the school day, such as snack time or morning meeting, so parents could also visualize what this looks like in person.
Parents shared with me that these visuals were tremendously helpful to understand what it looks like inside Akiba this year.
During our Zoom back-to-school night, teachers also played the same community-building games with the parents that they play in the classroom. This gave parents a chance to get to know each other a little better while also demonstrating how we build a community of learners at school.
Finally, as we have done in other years, some classrooms prepared projects for parents to do at home. The Kindergarten parents wrote about their hopes and dreams for their child that year and sent these letters back to be displayed in the classroom. In the Upstairs Preschool, parents received a curated bag of natural loose parts, which they used to create a portrait of their child. These will also be showcased at Akiba for the children to see.
While meeting on Zoom was different than being in person, we felt we were able to give families a window into our classrooms in a meaningful way, and we are glad so many parents were able to join us.
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"I LOVED back-to-school night. It was beautiful and reassuring to hear the teachers report back so positively about how the kids are doing at school. I could only marvel at the thought and care that goes into keeping everyone safe by rotating toys inside and outside etc. I love how things are going this year. Thank you for accommodating my need for a slow start."
Susanne Neckermann
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In our Teva Means Nature Program, the children observed a tree in the park that has no leaves. They created observational drawings and were intrigued by the shadows this tree made on the ground.
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The Purple Room children are having fun playing and coming up with lots of ideas for their big box. |
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In the Downstairs Blue Room, "Sleeping Bunnies" is a popular game and movement activity. Parents were hearing some version of the song at home and asked if teachers could share the song with them, so here it is.
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On Wednesday, Moreh Maor's Hebrew class practiced "birthday" vocabulary. So they decided to celebrate a fake birthday. They had a party with music in Hebrew, handed out refreshments, wrote greeting cards and spoke to each other in Hebrew, following a text that each group received before (this included reading practice, conversation, and reading comprehension).
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7th/8th graders switched to new IDL groups this week. This new IDL A did a group dramatic reading of David Mamet's play Revenge of the Space Pandas, worked solo on monologues, and split into two groups to act out a whole scene of the play. Students also drew characters and scenes. As they were adjusting to their new IDL, they worked on quickly learning new material, speaking in front of a group, managing working in new groups, and learning about their own strengths as they explored this fun, wacky play. Some essential questions they explored:
Is time travel possible?
Are all casseroles the same?
Can sheep talk?
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In Art, 5th/6th graders worked on origami animals and rewrote instructions. |
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In P.E. students are currently playing soccer. |
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Mazal tov, Sam Nagorsky! Your Akiba-Schechter Family was honored that you celebrated your bar mitzvah with us this Thursday! |
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8 Questions for an 8th Grader |
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In each issue of the Kibitzer, we feature one of our 8th graders. In this edition, it is Meira Lebowitz:
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Since when have you been at Akiba? I have been at Akiba for 9 years.
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What neighborhood do you live in? I live in West Rogers Park.
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What do you hope to accomplish in 8th grade? How is being an 8th grader different from your previous grades at Akiba? I don't know that it is different because I'm in the oldest grade.
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What is your favorite subject at Akiba? Art, because I like art.
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What do you think is special about Akiba? What do you particularly like and why? Everyone looks out for each other.
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If you have had your bat mitzvah or are preparing for it, what did you learn from it? Some things are annoying to do but in the end they are worth doing.
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When you’re not at school or doing homework, what do you like to do (hobbies, special interests)? I like doing art and playing my guitar.
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What do you want to be when you grow up? I want to be an art therapist.
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It's Not Too Late to Participate in the Akiba-Schechter Virtual Shuffle!
Here's what to do:
- Register here.
- Tell your friends and family, too!
- If you want a Shuffle sticker, make a gift of $10 or more to Akiba.
- Plan your route. Run near your home, at a nearby park, wherever you’d like! If you want to try someplace new, Openlands has a great list of locations all around the Chicagoland area.
- Post about your run on social media using the hashtags #asjdsvirtualshuffle2020 #akibashuffle #asjds5k #asjdstogetherapart #akibacommUNITY or send pictures to [email protected].
- On the day of the event, make sure to snap a selfie at Akiba, at one of the selfie stations throughout the Akiba community (see below) or wherever you are:
Selfie station locations:
- Akiba-Schechter: Snap a pic at the pomegranate!
- South Loop: The Goodman family will have theirs at the Chicago Women's Park at 18th and Indiana between 9am and 11am
- Northside: The Benson family will have theirs out from 9am to 3pm at 2042 W. Fletcher St
- Skokie: The Cantz family will have theirs out from 9am to 11am at 9444 Keeler Ave
- Skokie: The Burgher family will have theirs out from 9am to 3pm at 3821 Enfield Avenue
A special thank you to Emily Schoenberg for designing our logo!
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Preschool Informational Zoom Coffees
Please tell family, friends and neighbors about these virtual meetings to learn more about the early childhood programs at Akiba-Schechter:
Tuesday, October 27, 9:00 a.m.
Tuesday, November 10, 12:30 p.m.
Tuesday, December 1, 9:00 a.m.
Tuesday, December 15, 12:30 p.m.
Personal Zoom tours and conversations are available upon request.
Drop-in Zoom Family Shabbat Celebrations
Friday, November 13, 3:00 p.m.
Friday, December 11, 3:00 p.m.
RSVP links will be available soon!
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Condolences
...to Director of Student Services Heather Waitzman and Education Consultant Bryna Towb and their entire family family on the passing of their uncle and brother Rabbi Aaron Goldsmith. May his memory be for a blessing.
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Sunday, October 18
Virtual Akiba-Schechter Shuffle
Thursday, October 29
Picture Retake Day
Wednesday, November 4
PTO Parents Zoom Night
9:00 p.m.
Monday, November 23 & Tuesday, November 24
Parent-Teacher Conferences/
Professional Development Days
No School
Wednesday, November 25 - Sunday, November 29
Thanksgiving Break
No School
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Affiliated with the Associated Talmud Torahs and supported by the Kehillah Jewish Education Fund |
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