Spring is on the Way

In spite of the cold weather and the piles of snow around us, we know that spring is on the way. The days are getting longer and the clocks are about to change (remember to move your clocks one hour FORWARD this Saturday night!). Purim is coming up quickly, and Pesach comes just one month later.

Last weekend, we discussed the end of the book of Shemot (Exodus), and also began to hear the Purim story. Our third through eighth grade students have been working on a play they will share with the community at the beginning of the Purim carnival on March 24th.

Our kindergarten through second grade students spent some time on Sunday assessing what they have created so far for their Shabbat bags. They added to pieces they hadn’t had a chance to complete, and some of them also worked on pieces for students who had missed the chance to make candle sticks or a tzedakah box for their own bags!

Our oldest students have completed their part of the Purim play, and have already begun to work on the haggadah we will use in Masa at our model seder in April! They have also been combining learning trope (the tune to which Torah is chanted) with learning the Ve’ahavta (the paragraph that comes right after the Shema in the Siddur). I have been impressed with their dedication to learning. Several times when they have arrived early for Friday Masa, I will hear them in Ellen’s office chanting the tune--before Ellen has arrived to teach them!

This week’s journal topic: The Purim story teaches us some different things about bravery. Esther saved her people, but she could only do it with support from other people. When have you been brave? How did other people help you to be brave? When have you helped someone else to be brave? What did you do to help them?

COMING UP:

Friday: Masa at 4:00, Mini Minyan at 5:30, Kiddush and potluck at 6:00, Shabbat services at 7:00

Remember to set your clocks one hour ahead on Saturday night! (Example: Change from 10:00 to 11:00.)

Sunday: Masa at 9:30.

March 21st (Purim): Kids’ Megillah reading at 6:00. Bring a box of pasta to shake, and bring some other non-perishable food to donate to the food pantry.

March 24th: Purim Carnival. Children’s Purim play at 11:00, carnival to follow. We will be selling semi-nutritious food as well as tickets for the booths and the raffles!