Religious School

Congratulations to our oldest students, 7th to 9th graders, who so magnificently ran our Model Seder, with a little help from teacher Saundra Dubin, as well as the Rabbi and Cantor. Our Pre-K to1st graders sang the BEST "Mah-NIshtanah" along with their teacher Jane Horwith and their teen teacher assistants Brittany Metzger, Pauline Fink and Kye Vatash. The tables were beautifully and deliciously set thanks to Chef Miche and her parent helpers Michelle Goldberg and Tracy Slotkin along with our 5th graders, their teacher Dina Shapiro and their teen teacher assistant, Danny Horwith. Our Model Seder was well attended by students, parents and guests. A special and fun introduction to Pesach was enjoyed by all!

I recently attended a workshop by a major Jewish textbook publisher, Behrman House. I’m excited to report that Behrman House has added a "Family Page" to the website: behrmanhouse.com/family.  It’s a wonderful resource for the entire family. On this website, one can practice reading Hebrew with the "professor" (Click-n-Read-Hebrew); learn and practice Hebrew prayers and blessings (look for the musical note and  learn to sing the tune); look up the date of Jewish Holidays through 2011; use the Aleph Bet resource page; and play interactive Hebrew games! This site provides enjoyable, challenging activities and is a safe computer site for our children. I encourage you to visit it. Our 2nd and 3rd graders are using an online interactive Hebrew workbook which they can access from home.

Our Youth Group delegation that travelled to help rebuild New Orleans over the February break continues to act as ambassadors for this devastated area. They gave a heartfelt presentation at our synagogue this past month as well as a presentation at Temple Adas Israel in Sag Harbor. To their credit, they have inspired involvement by others. We have begun to organize an adult trip. Please contact me or Margaret deRouleaux, our Social Action chair if you are interested.

We have a very special treat this summer, thanks to the generosity of Board member Millie Glimcher and her husband Arne. They will be sponsoring two Israeli Scouts to be with us from June 15th to August 15th. Shaked and Daniel (17 years old) will be hosted by our teens and will enrich our children, teen and adult summer programs. They will also be a part of Camp Karole.

As always, my door is open and I welcome you to stop by to say Shalom!

Shelley Lichtenstein

Director of Education