Kitah Zayin

Kitah Zayin families,

*Last night was all about Hanukkah in the CJL!

*After beautiful designs were created on the YAD website and we waited for the product to arrive, the students finally got to assemble their yadayim! Their designs were creative and personal and will be a special addition to their b'nah mitzvah ceremony. All yadayim will be held in the temple office till a week before their bar/bat mitzvah.

*The students looked deep into the story of Hanukkah. We looked at the Sh’ma and the V’ahavta with the intention of understanding what the Maccabees were fighting for in our Hanukkah story. We read the prayers, discussed their meaning in terms of differentiating the Jewish people from the Greeks in terms of monotheism and polytheism, how the V’ahavta reminds us to live a moral life and began a discussion of, in what ways can you remind yourself to be a good person every day, just like the V’ahavta reminds us to be.

*Kitah Vav and Zayin gathered for a fabulous Hanukkah drumming session with Jessie from Musical IQ. He had djembe drums for everyone and brought us together for the Festival of Light. He explained that achdut/our unity in drumming and the essence of kavanah/ the power of purpose and commitment, were the foundations of the Maccabees. We too could then emulate those intentions for drumming and in our lives, spreading joy, goodness and peace. (See attached photos.)

*Everyone shared a delicious dinner of latkes, apple sauce, sour cream and chicken strips! All were happy to share the festive meal!

*We finished the night in the sanctuary with Cantor Lauren and Rabbi Pein as the CJL community sang Hanukkah songs and lit the candles for the 4th night of Hanukkah.

Hag Orim Sameakh/ Happy Festival of Lights to you and your families,

Betsy Deckert and Stacy Shapiro