September 30, 2013
Good evening,
Just wanted to let everyone know what we did on Sunday.  We started the class by talking about this week's parashat, b'reshit.  We didn't have music as the music teacher came later.  We did have our first art class.  Students made a drawing that will be sent out to be printed on various items that parents may wish to purchase--this is a fundraiser for the youth group.  You are under no obligation to purchase anything.  We spent the rest of the class on Israel.  I mentioned several inventions and asked if they had been invented in Israel.  Some of the things were:  drip agriculture, desalinization techniques, cell phones, instant messaging, a camera small enough to swallow and microprocessors.  We looked at a map of Israel and labeled different regions.  Students then had to come up with 4 or fewer words to describe each one.  For example, Negev was described as "dry", "desert", "hot".  We then voted on which region to study first.  Tel Aviv was the hands down favorite so next week we will begin looking into that region of Israel.  Rabbi Alan dropped by to see what we were doing.
Have a good week.  I'm not exactly sure how this blog works--feel free to email me if you have questions or concers karenray86@gmail.com
Karen S. Ray

CLASS WELCOME

The sixth grade will have three main themes. The first focus will be on Israel. Students will learn about the history of the modern state of Israel and the Israeli culture. They will learn about different historical figures and events such as Theodore Herzl and the Zionist movement, the Balfour Declaration, the Camp David Accords and the Gulf War. Students will also become familiar with different parts of Israeli culture and society. They will learn about life in the big city, such as Jerusalem and Tel Aviv, as well as life on a Moshav or Kibbutz. While learning about the different lifestyles in Israel students will be exposed to modern conversational Hebrew. Students may learn many vocabulary words as it relates to shopping in an open market, making their way through a bus station, and hanging out on a beach. The second major theme for the sixth grade is the study of Reform Judaism. Students will learn about the history, founders, and current philosophy of the Reform movement as it effects current Reform practice. They will look at how the Reform movement has grown in Israel and what obstacles it faces there.  Students will reflect on their own personal beliefs and family’s beliefs toward Judaism. The final theme is the study of Jewish values. Many values may be explored with a focus on Tzedakah, Klal Yisrael, Tikkun Olam, Shmirat Hateva, Shmirat HaGuf, Pikuah Nefesh, and Zachor. During the year, students will also review and celebrate the holidays as they occur. They may discuss topical current events as they happen.