This coming Sunday, Nov. 23rd we try to pull off yet another miracle for our neighbors at the Ark.  Please do your best to bring at least one toiletry item, although more are certainly appreciated.  Our Heh Class will package these items which will then be delivered as Chanukah gifts.  The Jewish Reading Challenge continues as our students continue to read both Jewish-themed books and improve their Hebrew Reading Skills.  Tonight at 6:30 p.m. our Dalet and Heh Classes join Cantor Simon and the Friday Night Live band The Shabbatones on the bimah to help lead several prayers that they already know very well.  We ask them to come a few minutes early and sit in the first few rows on the Cantor’s side of the Sanctuary.  As always, please take a moment to check out what is going on in your child(ren)’s classes, by checking out the quick links above. Our teachers are extremely diligent about documenting the SJS experience for you, including parent prompt questions that spark excellent conversations. We hope that many from our Gan through Bet (K through 2nd) community will enjoy their Youth Group Field Trip this Sunday!  We wish everyone a Happy Thanksgiving and will resume classes on Wed. Dec. 3rd following this Sunday’s classes. Mazal Tov to Mia Strubel Iram and her entire family as she will be called to the Torah this Shabbat as a Bat Mitzvah.  Shabbat Shalom!

All Gan through Zayin SJS students are in the midst of reading Jewish-themed books and keeping track of their minutes. We will celebrate with the winners and with all of our Jewish learners at an ice cream social on Sunday, Dec. 14th. Extra copies of the forms can be found HERE.

A magical weekend took place at the Perlman Retreat Center at our Family Retreat.  In my weekly collage are just a few glimpses of the pictures that were taken following Shabbat at the retreat.  Thanks so much to the adults, teens and tweens who planned and helped the Rabbi and I in so many ways.  It was truly a community effort.  In addition, thanks to the nearly 100% participation at Parent Teacher Conferences this week for the Bet through Zayin Classes.  This Shabbat, the Rabbi, Cantor, Nancy and I will be presenting at the annual B’nai Mitzvah Worshop for 6th Graders and their families, as the students will help lead services from the bimah.  We also have two separate field trips for 7th through 10th Graders listed below.  Finally, please pay very close attention to the request for toiletries, as our SJS community will be donating them as Chanukah gifts just 9 days from today.  As always, please take a moment to check out what is going on in your child(ren)’s classes, by checking out the quick links above.  Shabbat Shalom!

All Gan through Zayin SJS students are in the midst of reading Jewish-themed books and keeping track of their minutes. We will celebrate with the winners and with all of our Jewish learners at an ice cream social on Sunday, Dec. 14th. Extra copies of the forms can be found HERE.

The learning continues at Am Yisrael SJS this Sunday.  Our team will be reaching out to schedule a Parent Teacher Conference if you have yet to sign up either in person at Parent Orientation or via the recent Doodle email that I sent out.  If you have a student in Bet, Gimel, Dalet, Heh, Vav or Zayin your student(s) teachers will be in the upstairs classrooms looking forward to speaking with you at the assigned times.  This weekend Rabbi Newman Kamin and I are leading a retreat to the Perlman Retreat Center in Mukwanago, Wisconsin.  Together with over 20 families we will build on the momentum from last year’s family retreat with several families returning and lots of families who did not attend in the past.  We are so looking forward to building new positive Jewish memories and watching friendships develop in the beautiful camp setting.  I hope that you will take a moment to check out what is going on in your child(ren)’s classes, by checking out the quick links above.

Shabbat Shalom!