During T'filah on Monday, Mr. Barth's class drew 8 things to represent the 8th day of the Omer. They drew things they were thankful for, and who/what woke them up in the morning. |
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Dear Heilicher Parents,
Next week we have two important days we will be honoring/celebrating at Heilicher.
Yom HaZikaron (Israel's Memorial Day)
The fourth of Iyar, the day preceding Israel’s Independence Day, is a Memorial Day for those who lost their lives in the struggle that led to the establishment of the State of Israel and for all military personnel who have been killed while in active duty in Israel's armed forces. Joining these two days together conveys the message that Israelis owe the existence of the Jewish state to the soldiers who sacrificed their lives for it.
This is not a religious holiday per se, but is celebrated by religious and secular Jewish Israelis as a sacred day. There is hardly a home in Israel which does not have a photo of someone who was killed in one of the wars or conflicts. High schools also have a corner dedicated to fallen soldiers and citizens. Jewish graves are decorated with flowers, and there are ceremonies throughout the day to honor those who have fallen. There are two public sirens which sound during the 24 hours of Yom HaZikaron where all Israelis stop what they are doing and stand at attention for one minute.
Heilicher will commemorate Yom HaZikaron at a Zoom assembly on Wednesday, April 14, from 10:30-11:00 a.m. at this link. Students in Simcha Cohen's History of Modern Israel class will lead our ceremony. Please join us.
Finally, I'd also like to recommend the online Israeli-Palestinian Joint Memorial Day Ceremony, which aims to sow the seeds of hope between the two sides and to bring to an end wars that have taken the lives of our cherished loved ones. I attended this last year, and it was the most hopeful thing I've seen related to the conflicts between Israelis and Palestinians. This year's theme is: "Sharing Sorrows, Bringing Hope." You can read about it here and I would love to hear your thoughts on it, if you attend.
Yom Ha'atzmaut (Israel Independence Day)
From the sadness of Yom HaZikaron to the happiness of Yom Ha'atzmaut! Israel turns 73 on the fifth of Iyar, but because that falls on Shabbat this year, the holiday is celebrated beginning Wednesday evening, April 14, through Thursday, April 15.
Israel was declared a state on May 14, 1948, by David Ben Gurion, who became the first prime minister of Israel. Celebrations for Jews in Israel and around the world include hanging Israeli flags at homes, parades, Israeli dancing, and singing Hebrew nationalist songs. In Israel, the celebration begins as Yom HaZikaron ends, and also includes public sirens sounded twice during the 24 hours where people stop what they are doing and stand at attention.
We will celebrate Yom Ha'atzmaut at Heilicher next Thursday with Hebrew songs and dances, special foods, and the singing of HaTikvah, written in the 1890s as the hope of the Jewish people to return to the Promised Land and live in safety and security with our own government.
Please join us on Thursday, April 15, to celebrate Yom Ha'atzmaut beginning with an all-school Zoom assembly from 8:45-9:10 a.m. at this link.
Wendy Goldberg
Assistant Director of Jewish Life
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Mark Your Calendars!
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Tuesday, April 13 - Parent Virtual Cooking Class with Chef Liz and PTO, 7:00-8:00 p.m.
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Wednesday, April 14 - Yom HaZikaron, Zoom assembly details above.
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Thursday, April 15 - Yom Ha'atzmaut, Zoom assembly details above.
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Virtual Parent-Only Cooking Class with Chef Liz
Please join the PTO and new prospective parents for a fun night of cooking with our very own Chef Liz, Tuesday, April 13, at 7 p.m. Please use this grocery/supply list so you are ready for the event.
Please use this link for the class.
Please RSVP to Ali Berdass by end of day TODAY (April 8) so we know you are coming.
We hope to see you there!
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Mindy and Dan Ribnick Family Tuition Grant for Community Volunteers
Due to the generosity of Heilicher alumni parents Mindy and Dan Ribnick, the school will once again offer a tuition grant program for Heilicher students whose parents volunteer in the Jewish community.
The Mindy and Dan Ribnick Family Tuition Grant Program for Community Volunteers makes possible grants of 18% of total tuition (Chai) for approximately four Heilicher students per school year. Any parent or guardian of a newly-enrolled or re-enrolled student(s) for the 2021-2022 school year is invited to submit an application communicating their current Jewish community volunteer roles and involvement.
Grant award decisions will be made by a committee of Heilicher professionals after reviewing all applications. Awards are not financial-need based. Awards are guaranteed for one school year only.
Applications must be completed and submitted by Friday, May 14, 2021 to be considered for the coming grant cycle. ONE application will be accepted per family. Awards will be communicated to recipient families by Friday, May 28, 2021. Awards will be credited against owed tuition for the 2021-2022 school year, and will be in addition to any need-based financial aid awarded.
Please note that 2021-2022 Heilicher Board members and current Heilicher faculty and staff who already receive an employee tuition discount are not eligible for this tuition grant program.
Volunteerism at Jewish schools qualifies, but priority will be given to volunteer roles that are not specifically associated with one's own child's(ren's) classroom(s) or experiences.
Fill out the application here.
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Count the Omer with Us!
Continue to count the Omer with us! Each night, beginning on the second night of Pesach, Jews throughout time have counted each night for 49 nights, until we reach the holiday of Shavuot (which begins Sunday, May 16, this year). You can read about many customs related to the Omer in this article.
Treat yourself to a spiritual counting during this season of the Omer. You may be counting towards something such as a Bar/Bat Mitzvah, the birth of a baby, a special birthday. You may be counting down towards something, such as when camp begins, or when you’re visiting family you haven’t seen during the pandemic. Or you might be counting on something, such as the return of warm weather when you can canoe or paddle board or bike. Whatever you are counting, take note of it during the Omer. Here is a chart for counting the Omer.
Some ideas to chart daily during the Omer:
- Take a photo of your plants growing.
- Record yourself playing your instrument every day and notice your improvements.
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Collect tzedakah each day and make plans to donate it before Shavuot.
- Study Torah or Talmud each day.
- Study something that interests you.
- Draw or paint each day.
Record what you do each day and email your chart to Wendy Goldberg. These will be shared at Kabbalat Shabbat on Friday, May 14, the Shabbat before Shavuot. Enjoy!
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Good Deeds Day 2021
PJ Library Minneapolis, the Heilicher Minneapolis Jewish Day School, and Talmud Torah of Minneapolis are partnering again this spring to bring Good Deeds Day to your home!
Families that register will be mailed a new spring-themed Kindness Kit with a focus on environmental justice, anti-racism, and honoring our elders. The kit contents can be completed on your time inside your home. The activities are designed to promote compassion and ignite important discussions with your family.
Half of your registration fee will be donated to PRISM food pantry, JFCS’s neighbor agency. PRISM is committed to responding to the needs of the community during these challenging times. Donations to PRISM help ensure food is available to our most vulnerable neighbors
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Clean Speech Minnesota
Have you heard about Clean Speech Minnesota? Heilicher is partnering with nearly 30 other local Jewish organizations to focus on mindful speech for the betterment of humankind, and to respect each other's differences. In doing so, we hope Minnesotans will find common ground to interact with civility instead of hostility.
Learn more about Clean Speech, and become a part of the Clean Speech community here.
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Collecting Heilicher Grandparent Email Addresses!
Heilicher prides itself on being a community school and a school for your entire family. We want to make sure we have all grandparents' current email addresses so we can keep them up to date with grandparent newsletters and emails about special events at school.
If you don't think your child's grandparents are currently on our email list, or if you are not sure, please email their contact information to Beckie Skelton.
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Drop Off Reminders
As a reminder, morning drop off is from 8:00-8:30 a.m. We have to keep the drive up circle open for the ECC families to use at 8:30 a.m.
If you arrive after 8:30 a.m., please park down by the pool and walk your child up to door 11. Please call the office when you arrive so we can meet you at the door.
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Spirit Wear
Make sure to check out our Heilicher online spirit shop. We have a lot of new and exciting items for children and adults.
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Covid-19 Updates from Nurse Katie
Testing
As you may have heard, the Covid-19 rate of infection is increasing in children. Sports and clubs contribute to this uptick. Fortunately, the rate in teachers has gone down as they have been getting vaccinated. The Minnesota Department of Health strongly encourages Covid-19 testing every 1 or 2 weeks if your family is involved in activities outside of school when social distancing of 6 feet is difficult to maintain and when children interact with others from different classes and schools.
Routine Childhood immunizations
If your child needs to have any vaccines this year, please consider doing it soon. When the Covid-19 vaccine becomes available for children, they cannot get it if they have had another vaccine within 14 days. Your child will not be able to get this at the same time as their other vaccines or the flu vaccine in the fall. Please plan ahead and share information with other families.
While the Covid-19 vaccine is becoming more available, please keep in mind that you are not considered fully vaccinated until 2-4 weeks past vaccination. Please continue to use all the precautions that we have implemented since the beginning of the school year. Please remember the vaccine lessens your symptoms if you get the infection, but it does not keep you from getting Covid-19 or spreading it. For more details, please see the CDC website.
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MAZEL TOV!
Mazel Tov to Heilicher staff member Rafi Forbush and his wife Gemma on the birth of their daughter, Mayim Milagro.
CONDOLENCES
Condolences to Rabbi Avi Olitzky and his children, Akiva, Aliza, Miryam and Yoni, on the passing of Rabbi Olitzky's grandfather, Melvin Rosenblatt.
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Heilicher Minneapolis Jewish Day School
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