' K ITA G IMEL

This Week Tzedaka

We had a great discussion about the meaning of Teshuva that connected beautifully to the Parasha and Rosh HaShana. We discussed the idea, expressed in this weeks parasha, that we all have bechirah, the Hashana.

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Newsletter 9.14.12 Volume 1, Issue 3

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Seattle Hebrew Academy, 1617 Interlaken Drive East, Seattle, 98112 Rabbi Yehuda Rapoport // shagimel.wordpress.org // YRapoport@sha613.org // 206.323.5750

We learned that we do teshuva (repentance), tefilla (prayer), and tzedaka (charity) to get ready for Rosh Our class will be raising money for the

ability to choose to do good or bad.

This week we made kartisei brakha (=cards of blessing) for Rosh HaShana. The students made one for their families and one for SHA. In the card for SHA they wrote what they mvakesh/et (=request/wish) for SHA in the year to come. Their wishes for SHA ranged from lots of money to a basketball court. This trimester we are focusing on identifying the shoresh (=three letter Hebrew root). Every Hebrew noun and verb is built from these rootsknowing the root of a word often gives us insight into its meaning. For example, the root of teshuva (=repentence) is sh.u.v. (. ,)..which means to return. Use the Shabbat Table question (#2) to see if your child can tell you what a shoresh is; see if they can identify the shoresh of teshuva (no worries if they cant remember). See what ideas they can come up with for connecting teshuva with returning.

Jewish Family Services Food Bank Program. Maybe there is a chore your child(ren) can do around the house to earn a quarter or two to give to this tzedaka. I will set up a pushka (tzedaka box) in the classroom and they will have an opportunity to give tzedaka during Tefilla.

For the Shabbat Table

Here are some questions to ask your child(ren) on Shabbat:
1. What Parashah do we read this week? 2. What is the ( shoresh=root) of (teshuva)? 3. What were some of the things that Hashem promised Avra(ha)m? In this weeks parashah: 4.What will happen if Bnei Yisrael serve/pray to other gods? 5. If Bnei Yisrael get kicked out of Eretz Yisrael what do they have to do to get back? 6. What two things do we use to do Teshuvah? 7. What are three ways we get ready () for Rosh Hashana?

Homework
Since we do not have school on Monday and Tuesday and Wednesday is a fast day I am not sending homework home this Friday.

Wishing you all a Ktivah Chatima Tova, you should be blessed with a good, happy, healthy and prosperous year. We have gotten off to a great start. Your children are going to achieve great things this year!

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