Kitah Gan/Aleph

Dear Families,

Happy new year! I look forward to another fun and productive semester with our students.

*News Flash: The Shabbat Box has gone home today with our first student! He will celebrate Shabbat with his family next weekend, and then bring the box back to our class next Sunday so that another student can take the box home.

The box has everything in it that you need to celebrate Shabbat together, including a game that our students made. There are also instructions in the box that your child composed, which includes how to send me a photo or two of your family celebration. Please let me know if you have any questions.

I must emphasize how important it is for us to get the box back each week. So, if there's a week that you know your child won't be attending CJL, please let me know in advance so that he/she won't take the box home. Students' names are drawn from a cup to take the Shabbat Box home, so the order is otherwise totally random.

Thank you in advance for your support for this project.

Today we read one of my favorite books called Do Unto Otters. Please ask your child how that book explains the Jewish concept of "Derech Eretz," to treat others the way you want to be treated. With a song and a dance and a project that will find its way to our hallway bulletin board, I know your child can give you several examples of how they can be mitzvah-makers. By the way, our students are very respectful of others and are always willing to help each other.

Other news: We have a new madrich (assistant) in our classroom named Ben Kohan. He joins Ilana as another wonderful mentor to our students,and we're grateful for his help.

L'hitraot,

Cherie, Ilana, & Ben