GRADE 1 SHAVUOT JUNE 5, 2016

Dear families:

Today we began learning about Shavuot, which actually begins next Saturday evening, continuing for Sunday and Monday.  In class, we colored more of our Omer chart; today is 43 (week 6 plus 1 day). We talked about several aspects of Shavuot.  We celebrate the giving of the Ten Commandments to all the Jewish people. We also discussed the need for rules to keep a society running in a fair way.  We celebrate the first harvest and being a gleaner—someone who picked up what was left during the harvest. This was an ancient method of tzedakah.

STORY:  We read the story THE PRECIOUS GIFT.  Before G-d gave the Jews the Ten Commandments at Mt. Sinai, He wanted the most precious thing the Jews had as a guarantee that they would keep the Commandments.  After thinking of gold and money, the people decided that what G-d really wanted was the children.  After the Jews promised to teach the Commandments to their children, G-d gave Moses the two tablets.

CRAFT:  Our project is Moses going up and down Mt. Sinai to get the tablets.  He looks different on the way down, as he is carrying the Commandments.  Since G-d gave the Torah to Moses for ALL the Jewish people, the children could put themselves among the people at Mount Sinai.

HEBREW:  We finished the book, and we signed the certificates in the back.  One Hebrew letter this week is ג.  Some  גwords are “geshem” (rain), “gamal” (camel), and “g’lidah” (ice cream). We also learned the sound “oo” represented by three diagonal dots under a letter or a vav with a dot in the middle, as in “boobah,” doll, sukkah, lulav.  The last letter in the book is  ז“zion,” the first letter in  z’ayv” (wolf), and the cognate “zebra.”

After a break, we sang several songs, including “Torah Torah,” “Tree of Life,”  “David Melech,” and “Yom Rishon Avodah.”

I gave the children the pictures I took in September—see how much they have grown, physically and intellectually.  We are so proud of how well everyone works together.