Today, we learned about Sukkot.  We build “Sukkot” (booths) to remind us of the huts the Hebrews lived in during their trek through the wilderness. Our farmer ancestors also lived in sukkot to collect the harvest more quickly. We saw pictures of different sukkot, etrog and lulav.  We shake the lulav in all directions to show that G-d is everywhere.

Next week, weather permitting, we will enjoy a snack in the sukkah. PLEASE GIVE YOUR CHILD A SNACK AND A BOTTLE OF WATER WEEKLY, IN A TOTE OR BACKPACK, FOR CARRYING HOME PAPERS.  THANK YOU.

We start at 9 a.m. with breakfast and a discussion about the day’s activities.  If your child is late, he/she may miss this important element of class.  Then to the sanctuary, for tefillah, community questions, and songs with Robin and Cantor Ken Richmond.

Today our class made a list of guidelines to make the class a safe and happy place—including full-body listening, handling scissors etc. safely, and as one student said, “Treat others as you want them to treat you.”

I read The Mysterious Guests.  Two brothers Eben and Ezra each built a sukkah.  Mysterious guests—Ushpizin–Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob–visit each brother and leave behind unusual gifts that reward not the beauty of the sukkah, but the generosity of the heart.

CRAFT:   We made decoration including ushpizin (guests) to hang in your sukkah.  The Hebrew reads “Baruchim Ha’baim” (welcome).  After class, there will be sukkah decorating for Temple Israel’s sukkah.

HEBREW: Cheryl and I each lead a Hebrew group.  Our letter for today is  בbet, which is the first letter in “bayit” house, Bar/Bat Mitzvah, bet knesset, and “banana,” the same word in both languages.  The letters in the book are not in order. Soon, students will be able to read simple syllables and words.  I am keeping the Hebrew books in class until the end of the year.  Each week students will take home a reinforcement paper.  Please help your child remember the letters through a mid-week review.

At the end of the class, we sang some Sukkot songs.  Then, we shook hands to reinforce the day’s letter, and I put a sticker on each child’s hand.

Esther and Tzipporah (Judy and Cheryl)