This week we are preparing your children to lead the Passover seder.
One of the experiences we ask of our students in the year leading up
to their bnai mitzvah is to lead (or take a big role) in their family
seder.

Please send your children with the haggadah that your family uses so
that I can review it with them on Wednesday. I have several and will
bring some extras so that everyone has one – but best if you can send
your child with the one they will be leading from next week. First
night of Passover is March 29th.

As we speak, they in the JCP Cafe with Jacob and Toby singing all the
songs and prayers in the haggadah – and they sound just great.

Good luck prepping for your seders’s this week and Happy Holidays -
Chag Sameach,

Darren

Related posts:

1. Plan your B’nai Mitzvah – meet with Darren Oct 21, 2009 Dear B’nai Mitzvah families, It’s time to...
2. B’nai Mitzvah – Materials, Important Dates Upcoming Dear B’nai Mitzvah Families, It was good to see you...
3. Passover with Nitzanim (2nd & 3rd Grade) Maayan and Naama In preparation for Passover, Nitzahim learned about some of the...

We had an educationally successful and morally inspirational visit to the Jewish Home and Hospital yesterday.

We: Eli, Gabe, Josh, Julia, Lilly, Zach, Owen, Noah, Zoe, and Callie, together with a few parents (thank you Lilly, Josh, Rachel and Howard), and Toby, our song leader, took the train to the UWS, and spent time with about 15 senior citizen residents of the facility.

Upon arrival, we handed out the Mishloach Manot (Purim gift baskets) to the senior residents. These gift baskets, which the students helped assemble on Monday, included hamantashen, juice boxes, pretzels, chocolate, groggers and the Purim story. Once the we were settled in, I introduced JCP and the Bnai Mitzvah students went on to introduce themselves individually (name, age, and one ‘cool’ thing about themselves). Toby led all of us in song, together with the residents, who clapped and sang, and joined us happily. We sang “Hine Ma Tov U’ma Nayim” and “Salam”. We then took requests from the residents, who asked for a couple of Passover songs. Lastly, we went around the room and asked the residents to share their name, age (if they wished) and one ‘cool’ thing about themselves. One of the ladies was 97 years old (may she live to 120!!!!).

Overall, we spent about 45 min there, and it seemed that it not only brought much joy to the residents, but also a sense of fulfillment for the students.

We hope to continue on this path of Tikkun Olam (Social Justice) and doing good to those less fortunate around us. We invite you to share any ideas you have for Tikkun Olam projects, with either myself or Talia, and we’ll be happy to bring the Kesher community together to make them happen.

Thank you and Shabbat Shalom,
Maayan

–
_______________________________________
Maayan Fogel :: Assistant Director, Kesher and Mechina Programs
JCP Downtown :: 212 334 3522
146 Duane Street :: Tribeca
jcpdowntown.org

Related posts:

1. Jewish Ethics of Government and Politics Dear B’nai Mitzvah Parents, YES, there will be class this...

It’s great to see the children back after the holiday break – they all
seem more mature and that much bit older. Some upcoming dates that you
should know about:

Wednesday, Jan 20, 4-5 PM: Students will be demonstrating to me and
Jacob that they have a familiarity with the Alienu, Amida, and
Mourner’s Kaddish. These are prayers 9, 10, and 11 on the CD and we
have been reviewing/teaching these prayers for the past 6 weeks. The
students should likely be spending 10-15 minutes per non kesher day
practicing at home. What is your feedback and how can I be helpful?

Wednesday, Feb 3, 8-9:30 PM: Parents only with me and Dr. Logan
Lefkoff Cortes on Body Image/Sex Education life of the Tweens. We will
review the curriculum the students will be engaged in and discussing
ways for parents to be helpful and supportive at home.

Sunday, March 28th, 3:30 PM: Family B’nai Mitzvah workshop CANCELED
due to the Spring Break.

Wed, April 21, 4:30-6:30: Class field trip to the museum of Jewish
Heritage in Battery Park City. Can we have 4 parent volunteers? Subway
travel. Thank you.

Sunday, May 9, 9 AM-12 PM: All Family end of year trip to Ellis
Island. Do we have any volunteers to help plan this? Thank you.

still trying to find a time for a bnai mitzvah shabbat dinner this
spring and group bnai mitzvah planning for Sept 8th coming soon.

Thanks everyone, hope you’re 2010 is starting off great.

My best,

RDL

Related posts:

1. B’nai Mitzvah – Materials, Important Dates Upcoming Dear B’nai Mitzvah Families, It was good to see you...

It was good to see you yesterday – here’s a brief follow up:

1. “Caring for the Body” workshop for parents with Dr. Logan Levkoff
Cortes will be Feb 3 at 8 PM. We will introduce the learning framework
and respond to all of your questions that evening re: the content your
children will be introduced to and how to support them at home.

2. Resources on the Jewish Body: “Jewish Choices, Jewish Voices: BODY”
edited by Elliot Dorft and Louis Newman.

3. Resources on Jewish Prayer: “Entering Jewish Prayer” by Rabbi
Reuven Hammer. And Understanding Jewish Prayer by Rabbi Larry Kushner.
- Mat
4. If you need additional copies of the JCP Mitzvah Checklist or the
Family Tree Project guidelines, you can now download them from the
bnai mitzvah page on the website.

5. For more information on the Jewish Ethics curriculum, please start
with the website.

PLEASE MARK THESE DATES:

Wed, Feb 3, 8 PM Parents workshop with Logan Levkoff Cortes

Sunday, March 21 and 28th Family Workshop #3 CANCELLED. NEW TIME TBA.

Wed, April 21, Students field trip to Museum of Jewish Heritage, 4-6
PM during the regular Wednesday class time.

Sunday, May 9, 9AM Family Trip to Ellis Island

If you ever want to talk further about any of these topics OR should
issues come up at home that you think I can be helpful with, call or
email and we can set up some time to talk.

Wishing you all a continued Happy Hanukkah,

RDL

Related posts:

1. Important dates, etc for 2010 Hello B’nai Mitzvah families, It’s great to see the children...
2. Plan your B’nai Mitzvah – meet with Darren Oct 21, 2009 Dear B’nai Mitzvah families, It’s time to...
3. Bnai Mitzvah Students Lead Passover Seder Dear Parents, This week we are preparing your children to...

The students continue to do well in class and they seem to be gelling
as a group in a very nice way – I hope you get the positive feedback
at home that I see in the afternoons at JCP.

This last week has been a focus on the Jewish Ethic, Ometz Lev
(courage of the heart) and how it relates to their lives during this
season of Hannukah. At first, the students were thinking only about
physical courage but by the end of the session, we were talking of the
expanded nature of emotional and social courage.

The literal translation in hebrew for courage – Ometz Lev – cues the
hebrew speaker into seeing the source of courage as from within in the
heart. An interesting nuance on the word.

I’m looking forward to seeing you on Sunday afternoon, Dec 13th, for
the second B’nai Mitzvah Family Session. Some students asked if they
could miss it, but as we discussed from the beginning of the year, it
is mandatory.

Our Agenda:

3:30-4:00  Students and Parents Study on Jewish Ethics as inspiration
for the Family Tree Workshop

4:00-5:00  Students: Jewish discussion and film – surprise TBA

4:00-5:00  Parents: Teen-age transitions, Sex education workshop
planning, stage development and Jewish life-cycle, tefila practice at
home, field trips.

5:00-5:30  Students and Parents discuss Students’ Mitzvah Project as
part of the process of becoming Bar/Bat Mitzvah

This is the second session for both parents and students. As we’ve
agreed to from the beginning of the year, please make other
arrangements for siblings as these curricular sessions are designed
for parents and their b’nai mitzvah students only.

PLEASE BRING ON SUNDAY:

1. Blue Bnai Mitzvah Folders
2. Mitzvah Checklist for our review
3. Your child’s Hebrew name

I hope to see you earlier in the day at the Downtown Hannukah Bash at
PS 234 from 11-1 on Sunday and in the afternoon at the family session
at JCP.

As the first night of Hannukah is this Friday, let me wish each of you
and your families a very Happy Hannukah,

Many best wishes,

RDL

Related posts:

1. Rishonim Update – Sunday Program (Josh) Wow.  Have these past few months flown by, or what?!...
2. Rishonim, Sunday Class, Update (Josh) It’s hard to believe that Purim has already come and...
3. Passover with Rishonim, Sunday Mechina (Josh) There is always so much to learn about and create...

YES, there will be class this Today (Monday) AND Wednesday. Monday
will be a normal schedule, Wednesday will be a two hour session with
me on Jewish Ethics of Participating in Government. We will be doing a
letter writing campaign on hunger and homelessness and learning about
the social responsibility we have to be involved in government and
politics.

PRAYER LEARNING . . . your children did well in demonstrating that
they were learning the prayer material. Most of the students still
need time with the Kiddush and V’havtah. They should be working about
10-15 minutes daily with their CD’s.

Signing your name to the Prayer Checklist tells me that you have
reviewed the prayers with them (circled on your child’s list) that
needed a bit of extra help. Please send the sheets back with them on
Monday. Thanks for your participation, even if you don’t know the
prayers, encouraging your children to learn is often enough positive
reinforcement to show your support and love.

Reminder: Dec 13th, 3:30-5:30 Mandatory session #2 for students and
parents at JCP focused on what to expect in the next quarter of
learning, how you can help your child succeed at the prayer learning,
the body ethics segment (sex, drugs, personal hygene) upcoming in
Jan/Feb, tutoring and Torah learning process, and a family learning
session on Hannukah.

If I don’t see you this week, wishing you a wonderful Thanksgiving. We
always have extra seats at our table and we love guests. Come by if
you are able.

Any questions, just ask.

Warmest wishes,

Darren

Related posts:

1. Visit to Jewish Home & Hospital Dear BM Parents, We had an educationally successful and morally...

Midnight Run is this Saturday night from 8-11 PM. This email will give
you everything you need to know. This program is for b’nai mitzvah
students (no siblings, friends, or cousins please as this is part of
the curriculum).

We need 5-6 chaperones and more is always welcome. Thus far, Patricia,
Josh, Liat, and Alice have volunteered. Please let me know if you will
be coming.

8 PM Meet at JCP
8-8:45 PM Group Learning: Jewish Response to Hunger and Homelessness
8:45-9:30 Make Sandwiches, dinner bags, and depart.
9:30-11 PM Delivering Food around Lower Manhattan.
11 PM Pick Up at JCP

This experience is about being witness to the experience of
homelessness in New York City. The students will not be approaching
homeless people to engage them in conversation. The students will
assist an adult in asking someone, “would you like a sack dinner?” The
parent will hand over the dinner and say good luck and move on.

Our purpose is not to befriend the dinner recipients or to inquire
about their general sense of well being and if they need help in other
ways. While giving tzedaka is a valued jewish ethic, we will not be
giving money to homeless people so please do not send tzedaka with
your children or give them this expectation.

Students should dress warmly, bring umbrellas as we are going rain or
shine, and wear good shoes for walking the streets at night. Please
also send a subway card with your child as we may hit the tracks if
time permits.

Please bring or send with your child the following:

Zoe – 3 loaves of sandwich bread
Gabe – 3 loaves of sandwich bread
Eli – 30 apples
Dylan – 30 apples
Lilly – 80 brown lunch bags
Callie – 30 juices – cardboard with straw
Felix – 30 juices – cardboard with straw
Owen – 30 nutrition bars
Zach – 30 nutrition bars
Josh – 3 bags of halloween candy
Julia – 2 lbs of thin sliced turkey
Frances – 2 large jars of skippy peanut butter
Noah – 2 large jars of skippy peanut butter
Milo – 2 large jars of grape jelly
Justin – 100 ziplock sandwich bags
Boaz – 2 lbs of think sliced turkey

Even if you are not able to join us, please have your child bring
their assigned item to JCP on Friday so they can contribute to the
group experience and feel part of it.

Remember to send your child with a metro card, 2 rides minimum.

Things continue to go well in class and it’s truly an honor to be
guiding your children this year. They are doing great.

Please let me know if you will be joining us and do plan to come for
the entire evening, including the learning session at 8 PM.

Thank you,

No related posts.

November 16th and 18th will be the first prayer demonstration
quiz/exercise where your children will be asked to show proficiency of
the following prayers. This will take place during normal Kesher hours
and it is for the students only.

1. Blessing before and after Torah reading
2. Barchu
3. Shema
4. V’havtah
5. Kiddush (blessing for shabbat wine)
6. Motzi (blessing for grains of the earth)
7. Candles (blessing for shabbat light)

They are learning these prayers in class on Mondays and Wednesdays,
not only the words and melodies, but equally important, their meaning.

These 7 blessings should correspond with the music on your CD’s that
you received at the first B’nai Mitzvah Family session.

We’ve shown your children how the CD’s work and how they can learn
from them using the prayer sheet in the blue folder and the
prayerbook. You’ve got all the tools.

If I can be helpful, please let me know.

Hope to see you this Friday night at the Kesher Shabbat dinner, JCP 6
PM.

My best,

RDL

No related posts.

It’s time to start planning your B’nai Mitzvah ceremony. Each family
is requested to choose one of the following dates and times to meet
with Darren so that we can better understand how to prepare for your
child’s ceremony and help you give shape to the experience.

Please click the link below and find and reserve your time. Due to our
busy JCP schedule, these are the only times we have available that
will accommodate the typical work day schedule and our students school
day.

Click the link, add your name in the window, and pick a time. It’s
very easy. One family per meeting slot please.

http://cts.vresp.com/c/?JCPDowntown/9f04544be7/4da6e3ca69/cd185d320b

If I can be helpful, please just say the word,

Thank you,

Maayan Fogel
Hebrew School Project
Assistant Director

Related posts:

1. B’nai Mitzvah – Materials, Important Dates Upcoming Dear B’nai Mitzvah Families, It was good to see you...
2. Bnai Mitzvah Students Lead Passover Seder Dear Parents, This week we are preparing your children to...