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Mark Your Calendar
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Wednesday, January 11th
PTO Meeting
8:45 am
Thursday, January 12th
Board of Trustees Meeting
7:00 pm
Monday, January 16th
Bring a Friend to School
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| Parashat Ha'shavua |
Parashat Vayechi
Genesis 47:28-50:26
יְשִׂמְךָ אֱלֹהִים כְּאֶפְרַיִם וְכִמְנַשֶּׁה
"May God make you like Ephraim and Menasheh"
Genesis 48:20
This last parashah of the Book of Genesis is all about blessings and promises. Jacob is dying and blesses all of his sons, including Joseph's sons, Ephraim and Menasheh. (It is Jacob's words that we use to bless our sons on Friday nights.) He makes his children promise to bury him in the cave of Machpelah in Canaan, an act of kavod (honor) which they performed. In speaking his last words, Jacob reminds his children that God will bring them back to Canaan, as it is the land that was promised to them. After his death, Joseph promises his brothers that he will continue to look after them and protect them in Egypt. As with all books of the Torah, we end our reading of Genesis with the words "חזק, חזק, ונתחזק" - "Be strong, be strong and we will be strengthened!"
"Quick Queries" 1. Imagine that you are Jacob, having lived a very full and complicated life. What lessons would you want to tell your children? 2. On Friday nights, when we bless our children, we use the names of Ephraim and Menasheh (for boys) and Sarah, Rebekah, Rachel and Leah (for girls). In your opinion, why do we use specific names, not just "like our ancestors"? 3. Why would Jacob's family need to be reminded about God's promise to bring them back to the land that God promised? 4. How does the completion of reading a book of the Torah make us strong? If you'd like to read more about Parashat Vayechi, consider visiting the following web site: TorahSparks/Vayehi
Heather Fiedler
Judaic Studies Coordinator
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Lifecycle Events
We extend heartfelt condolences to...
Marty Price and children Courtney, Elisia, and Ben on the passing of their beloved wife and mother
Eileen Price
on Sunday, December 25.
A memorial service will be held on Monday, January 9 at 6:45 pm at Beth El Temple. Eileen was a valued former staff member of SSDS.
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PTO News Welcome back from Winter Break. We hope everyone had a great vacation and a Happy New Year.
2012 brings new programs from the PTO. During the second half of the year we will be having more family programming, more en- richment programs, Purim Mishloach Manot Baskets, a
springtime book fair, as well as the merchant mart, the end of the year picnic, and so much more. Please join us for our next meeting on Wednesday, Jan. 11 - 8:45 am. The location has been moved to the Gershman Lounge (couches near the office). We are looking forward to working with everyone in 2012!
Have you ordered your Mah Jongg card yet? The deadline is Wednesday, January 11. For more information please email Thank you! Danielle and Jodi
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Community News
Beth El Temple Blood Drive, Sunday, January 8, 2012, 9:00 am to 1:45 pm
By donating a pint of blood you can help save a life. Please contact the Temple office at 860-233-9696 to make an appointment.
Two Part Mini Course on Israel January 8, 2012 9:30 am Beth El Temple Professor Avi Patt of the University of Hartford will begin a two part mini-course on Israel entitled, "Zionism: Origins, Evolution, Ending". Please call the Temple office at 860-233-9696 to reserve your spot. Get Organized and De-Clutter in 2012! January 12th 8:00 pm Beth El Temple Get motivational tips and step-by-step solutions on how to de-clutter and simplify from professional organizer Jennifer Alden. A raffle for a personal consultation will be awarded. RSVP or for more information please contact Barbara Samberg at sambergbr@yahoo.com. The 5th Annual Regina Miller Jewish Education Workshop Technology and Jewish Education "The People of the Digital Book: Technology and Distance Learning" Sunday, January 22, 2012 4:00pm - 6:00pm University of Hartford. Regina Miller Workshop |
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More Photos
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Helping Hands
As the weather turns cold, we all begin to think about how to stay warm. Each year, the 3rd, 4th & 5th graders use their hands to help others by making blankets. The team of students made twelve blankets, all of which will be donated to people in need. Fifth grader Arielle Kessler said that the project was "both fun and hard to do. Tying all of the knots was sometimes confusing. I feel really good about helping people in need." This annual tzedakah project is one in which the 3-4-5 students and teachers look forward to each and every year.
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A Celebration for Young and Old
The second grade class visits the Hebrew Home every month during the school year. During the December visit the children assisted the residents in making friendship picture frames which will hold photos taken of them together. The festivities included lighting the Chanukiah, singing, dancing, and eating levivot (latkes). The atmosphere was magical as both the residents and the children bonded with each other. Everyone is looking forward to the next visit.
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Tea for Two
The Chinese elective classes at SSDS recently visited the Green Teahouse in West Hartford Center, where they identified the five major types of Chinese teas and were given an introduction to the art of brewing tea, including tea pots and brewing temperatures. They also sampled tea using both smell and taste. This year, Chinese 1 has learned to give self-introductions, order food in a restaurant, tell time in Mandarin and read sentences written with basic characters, while the students in Chinese 2 have developed the ability to form more complex sentences to express reasons, give directions, and make suggestions. Both classes had the opportunity to make zhuanke (Chinese stamps or seals), jianzhi (paper cuttings), and to see pictures of common scenes one can expect to find in a Chinese city. The students are off to a good start and are on their way to using language to promote cross-cultural understanding and build a global future. "Mr. Albertson, our Chinese language teacher, will soon be leaving for Japan to continue his work and studies. We wish him success in his future endeavors and thank him for his time here at SSDS." 
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Basketball Shorts... The Lady Scorpions made the journey down the Merritt Parkway to visit Ezra Academy for renewed rivalry games. The Junior Varsity girls, powered by 5th- grader Lian Wolman, overcame a pesky comeback in the 16-11 victory. Sossi Bykoff (6th grade) and Rebecca Gold (6th grade) each added a basket, late in the 4th quarter, to secure the game. Seeing the smiles on the faces of the Lady Scorpions was worth the price of admission! Lindsay LeBlanc (5th grade), Gia Curran-Lopera (5th grade), Claire Peikes (5th grade), Hannah Pliskin (6th grade), and Ariel Bykoff (6th grade) all played well in helping the JV girls to their 1st win of the year! The Varsity team, controlling the pace of the game, played very well in Game Two. Rachel Fiedler (7th Grade), game MVP, was a monster on both ends of the court, pulling down over 10 rebounds and scoring 4 points. Emily Gershman (8th grade) lead the Lady Scorpions with 11 points in the 25-19 victory over Ezra. Lillie Pinette (6th grade) chipped in with 4 points, and Abby Selig (8th grade) was tremendous on the defensive side keeping a much taller Ezra team out of the paint (3-second box). Next week, the boys travel down to the JCC of New Haven on Tuesday for a doubleheader; JV starting at 5:00pm, Varsity at 6:15pm. Wednesday is a boys/girls Varsity doubleheader at East Granby Middle School with the girls beginning at 3:15pm and the boys to follow. On Thursday, January 12, come cheer on the boys' team as they host Hebrew Academy. JV play begins at 4:15pm and Varsity plays at 5:30pm. With over 20 boys and 20 girls in the program, which travels all over the state to compete, the "Scorpions" are a great sight to see. Be sure to check out the schedule on the SSDS website at www.ssds-hartford.org under the "quick links" to enjoy watching the "Scorpions" play at a gymnasium near you! If you have any questions or would like to make a donation to the program, please contact coach and athletic director Mike Cunningham at MCunningham@ssds-hartford.org.
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Thank You to WHPL
Solomon Schechter Day School extends thanks for the gift of magazines from the West Hartford Public Library. Carol Waxman, the children's librarian at the Main Street branch, has given us boxes of magazines that are distributed to our classrooms. The youngest students have some BabyBug or Animal Baby magazines, Your Big Backyard and Ranger Rick are enjoyed by K, 1 and 2. Grades 3, 4 and 5 use the Zoobooks, Kids Discover, Muse, ASK, Calliope, Hopscotch and other titles, while sixth graders have received some magazines, too. We thank the West Hartford Public Library for these additions to our classrooms.
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Tikkun Olam
SSDS students Rebecca Gold and Jason Buckman participate in Tikkun Olam on Christmas Day at Rein's Deli. They help feed the hungry in conjunction with the Hockanum Valley Community Council, Inc.
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Shabbat Shalom
Susan Kurtis, Editor
Solomon Schechter Day School of Greater Hartford
Deadline for submissions: Wednesday @3:30
All photos must be submitted in jpeg format
skurtis@ssds-hartford.org
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