Grade 6 Weekly News: October 12, 2010

Grade 6 Weekly News
October 12, 2010

I hope you all had a wonderful long weekend! Be sure to read our weekly newsletter and class blog (please bookmark this site and check it every week: http://katemonge6thgrade.blogspot.com). These are great ways to keep up to date on assignments and important reminders about both ARS and TOS.



JEWISH STUDIES

This week, we focused on the Jewish value of S’mirat ha-Teva (“guarding the environment”) and how the ideas of preservation of land and reducing waste reach back to the Torah and Talmud. While the words “S’mirat ha-Teva” come from an Israeli organization dedicated to guarding the newly formed country’s open spaces, protecting its coasts and beaches and promoting sustainable development to protect natural resources for generations, the true meaning of this week’s Jewish value is to protect the environment not only for Israel but all over the world. We read about David Ben-Gurion (Israel’s first prime minister) and his passion for making the Negev Desert bloom. The challenge of working with the difficult terrain of the Negev has led to many scientific advancements by Israeli scientists. We read a story about a tired, hungry, thirsty man who came upon a tree and then acted out our own renditions. We started to run out of time as we began to learn about Kibbutz Lotan and how that community is committed to living a green lifestyle and teach others to do so as well. Click here to read this week's chapter (it begins on page 11).

JEWISH STUDIES HOMEWORK (due Tuesday, October 19):

To prepare for next week’s chapter on Shmirat ha-guf (“guarding the body”), each student should complete the activity on the reverse of the hardcopy newsletter and be ready to discuss your answers. If you have misplaced your newsletter from this week (or missed class), a copy of the homework can be found on the right of this blog.

HEBREW – B’nei Mitzvah Skills
This week, we continued our study of the Blessing Before the Haftarah. Mastering this short, but tricky, blessing will be a huge accomplishment on our B'nei Mitzvah checklist. Cantor Schloss joined us for our weekly Trope Game Show and continued to teach us the skills we will need to chant Torah.

HEBREW HOMEWORK:

Each week, students must practice reading Hebrew at least 5 minutes every night. Each student must complete and turn in a Reading Raffle Card to prove that they completed their Hebrew Practice. This week, students should practice reading and chanting the entire Blessing Before the Haftarah (included in their blue folder). An audio file of the tune of the blessing can be found to the right of this blog (see T'filah Recordings section)! Students should also sing through what we know of the Trope Anthem a few times a day. A copy of the colorful Trope Anthem can be found in the blue folder as well.

REMINDERS:

• MITZVAH DAY is on Sunday, October 24. Be sure to register for your project asap! Visit www.ohabei.org for more information.
• If you need to contact me with any questions or concerns, please send a message to my new email address: monge.kate@gmail.com
• As always, visit www.ohabei.org for more details and to see what else is going on at Temple Ohabei Shalom.