Sunday, February 24, 10:15 am to noon in lobby, 710 Pandora Avenue — Come hang out with other parents in a warm & welcoming environment: feel free to bring along any young children in tow. We look forward to engaging conversation, laughter, reflection, support, and, of course, caffeine. Everyone is welcome, including non-members. NEW LOCATION: We’ll be meeting in the lobby of 710 Pandora Street (the new building at Pandora & Douglas) beside Sherwood Cafe.
November 30, 7:00pm — Kabbalat Shabbat Service: Come join the Hebrew School and experience a joyful, spirited Kabbalat Shabbat service with our amazing Kabba Shabba Band. Services are spirited, interactive, and family oriented. If you are looking for intergenerational Jewish fun replete with singing, dancing, storytelling, great food and company, this is the place in Victoria. Services followed by a dessert Oneg at 8 pm.
November 30, 5:45 pm — Hebrew School & Community Shabbat Dinner: Before the Kabbalat Shabbat service, join Hebrew School families and friends for an eco-pot luck vegetarian dinner. Bring a vegetarian/dairy main course or salad and a small dessert along with your own dishes and cutlery (because many folk don’t have kosher kitchens, we can’t use the Shul’s dishes). Label your dish with ALL ingredients. Please RSVP to info@congregationemanuel.ca if you plan to attend dinner so we know how many tables to set up.
Noise-alert: there will be an element of frenetic kid energy at this dinner. Feel free to come just for services.
Looking forward to an evening full of joy and connection!
Last week seven Congregation Emanu-El Hebrew School students travelled to Vancouver to compete in the National Bible Contest. They wrote three separate exams on over 25 chapters of Exodus; no easy feat for people of their age. When the finallists were announced, we were thrilled that we had three students in the mix: Ephrem Boyarim, Tillie Stanger-Ross and Sam Roubini. Then they wrote the final which had a question in honour of Israel’s 70th birthday – when and in what context was the land of milk and honey mentioned in Exodus? Not easy, right? Anyway, when the winners were announced Sam Roubini took 1st prize and Tillie Stanger-Ross took 3rd prize.
We are proud of all the students who wrestled with the material all year, wondering why God stiffened Pharaoh’s heart and made the Egyptians suffer so much and why wasn’t Aaron punished for making the golden calf.
Mazal Tov to everyone!
Many thanks to those of you who supported this trip financially and to the Jewish Federation of Victoria and Vancouver Island (JFVVI) who continues to support Hebrew School activities.
Todah Rabah,
Leah Levi and the students.
What’s new at the Hebrew School? Lots of amazing learning is happening (in Hebrew with a smidgen or two of English)!
We have seven Hebrew School students scheduled to compete in the National Bible Contest in Vancouver on May 12-13 weekend. During the past year among their many other Hebrew School activities, they have studied more than 25 Exodus chapters for this contest.
After Havdalah on Sunday April 15, in celebration of the upcoming Yom Ha-atzma’ut (April 19), Leah told students the story of the modernization of Hebrew started by Eliezer Ben-Yehuda in the late 19th century after 2000 years during which Hebrew was exclusively a liturgical language of Torah and prayer.
Leah asked students to name other languages exclusively spoken by Jews, such as Yiddish, Ladino and Judeo-Arabic. The students (and a few parents who were in attendance) were fascinated by the remarkable story of Hebrew’s reinvention in the context of early Zionism. Leah ended the story with the establishment of the State of Israel, but we know that modern Israeli Hebrew speakers continue to expand the language – so let’s remember this as we break out the עגבניות (tomatoes), מלפפונים (cucumbers), פטרוזיליה (parsley), בצל (onion) and מיץ לימון (lemon juice) for a tasty “Israeli salad” snack!
In late April, we said goodbye to some of our beloved Hebrew School teachers who are UVic students; these students are now out of school and off to partake in their own summer activities. So, goodbye and thank-you (להתראות ותודה) to Sarah Friedman, Etz Greenfield, and Hannah Faber, and a very warm welcome to our newly minted Hebrew School teachers Grace Gardner and Carolyn Blum! ברוכים הבאים (welcome)!
Finally, we say many thanks to the volunteers who helped and to the shoppers who supported the Hebrew School by purchasing Passover supplies and other goodies at our Pesach Market. תודה רבה (Thank you very much)!
Lincoln Z. Shlensky
Wednesday, March 21, 6-8 pm, Sunday & Monday, March 25 & 26, 11 am-2 pm — Our Pesaḥ Market is a Fundraiser for Emanu-El Hebrew School. The Hebrew School thanks you for your ongoing support. We are pleased to announce that we have received additional goods and have extended our market hours. Continue reading Pesaḥ Market Open for Extended Hours
There have been lots of fun activities happening at Hebrew school through February and March. On February 25, there was a Purim spiel with costumes and a talent show. Many of the children and families also attended the Purim party and carnival later in the week.
On March 25 the children in Leah’s grade 4-6 class wrote the Regional Bible Exam. The class worked really hard and learned Exodus inside and out. The group will travel to Vancouver in early May to participate in the National Bible Study competition, as well as some fun activities as a group.
Finally, March 11 was the last class before Spring and Passover break. Parents were invited to stay for a family workshop with activities including a ḥametz hunt and making matzah. The class is now on break until April 8.
