MOSTY & BOSTY Shul-In

Pictures from the MOSTY/BOSTY Shul-In



The MOSTY/BOSTY shul-in was a blast!  Parents always ask me what happened at the shul-in and now that we are learning how to better utilize technology, you can have a glimpse of some of our exciting programming and fun events.  Below are a few quick videos of songs that our students wrote about each of the different books of the Torah.  See if you can guess which book of the Torah each is about!







(These videos are on youtube and are private (only available to those who have this link).  As we do not yet have a video release form for the ARS, please email me (schurwin@ohabei.org) if you want to discuss our technology policy or if you do not want a video of your child(ren) published on our ARS blog.)

Oprah Winfrey and our Ohabei Shalom Educational Philosophy

As a sophisticated working mother in the 21st century I am quite reticent to admit that I am an Oprah Winfrey fan. But there is something so appealing about her—a woman who has truly accomplished EVERYTHING that she has set out to do.  Oprah has a philosophy, “Live Your Best Life.” This philosophy has truly resonated with me—not only because I believe in it, but because I see it as a motto that I would like for us to adopt at Ohabei Shalom (with one small addition, ie… “Live your best Jewish life.” I believe that this motto is an expression of who we can become.  

Our educational philosophy at Ohabei Shalom is one of experiential education. John Dewey, the American philosopher, psychologist and educational reformer,  teaches us that education should consist of experiences that lead to positive growth. He also teaches that an educator’s job is to use his/her greater insight to help to create and facilitate such experiences.  Dewey believed that, ““Education is not preparation for life; education is life itself.”

It is with this philosophical foundation that we are (re)creating and growing our new education programs.  At our schools we teach through experience. In the Trust Center for Early Education our youngest students do not simply learn about Shabbat through stories or pictures.  Rather, they experience Shabbat each week with a school wide celebration.  Together they taste, touch and feel what a warm community Shabbat experience can be.  

In the Ansin Religious School many of our new programs have been inspired by Dewey’s philosophical approach to education. This year, our third graders are involved in a pilot project: an experiential education curriculum that allows them to learn through living the Jewish calendar. Additionally, our Shabbat B’yachad program is allows our children and families to LIVE their education through participation in our vibrant community.   What could be easier than coming to the synagogue for a few hours on Shabbat morning, eating, praying, learning and living our Jewish traditions together?

No matter our philosophy, our task is not easy.  We all struggle to keep up with the many, many demands of modern life.  Let’s begin by making the choice to be proud of our Jewish traditions so that they will be passed down from generation to generation.  Exposing our children to a vibrant Jewish community is another important step in giving each of them the tools to participate in their Jewish community, as both children and adults.  Come visit our schools, recommend them to your neighbors and friends, join a committee, pray with us on Shabbat. Embrace our tradition and make it yours! As Oprah says, “Live Your Best [Jewish] Life!”

Shalom,

Shari

Shabbat B'Yachad

Shabbat B’yachad – Shabbat Together

We are striving to create new and engaging, authentic expressions of Judaism on Shabbat morning.  We are seeking to integrate community, learning, culture, as well as prayer. We are trying to provide a multitude of ways to participate in Judaism and Jewish life; bringing our congregation together in Jewish "prime time”, that is, in the synagogue on Shabbat.

We believe that this is a way to reach new people and to engage congregants and families in ways that sitting in services might not do.  For people who are new to religious ritual, it’s an entrance into the community that doesn’t demand knowledge of Hebrew and basic prayer tunes.   Our new Shabbat B’yachad will “have something for everyone!”  We encourage you to come as you are (even if that means a soccer uniform) and to come and go as suits your schedule. 

If you don’t see something on the schedule that is for you or if you have an idea to expand our Shabbat offerings, please feel free to call or email me.

No ARS on Tuesday, November 2!

As the Brookline public schools are not is session on Tuesday, November 2, the ARS will also be closed. Our students should use this opportunity to catch up on their ARS homework and reading raffle work so that next month, they can have a chance to join our reading raffle winners circle. Mazel tov to our grade 2 for winning the pizza party, to all of our individual winners and to our Yarok, Green, group for having the highest percentage of reading raffle cards in the box this month.

Thanks to the many families and students who participated in Mitzvah day on Sunday. It was a very inspirational day of giving back to our community. And speaking of inspiration, please mark your calendar for our first Shabbat Mishpacha, family Shabbat, led by JOSTY (grades 7 & 8) on Friday, November 19, 2010.

~Shari

Mitzvah Day

Did you know that there is a special blessing for Tikkun Olam?

Baruch Atai Adonai Eloheinu Melech ha-olam shenatan lanu hiz'dam'nut l'taken et
ha-olam.

ברוך אתה יי אלוהנו מלך העולם שנתן לנו הזדמנות לתקן את העולם.

Blessed are you, Eternal God, Ruler of the universe, for giving us the opportunity to mend the world.

Join us on Mitzvah Day, THIS Sunday, October 24, anexciting day of volunteerism, activism, and unity that benefits the entire community. Mitzvah Day offers a great opportunity for our community to come together for the purposes of social justice and tzedakah. Together we can turn our individual actions into a powerful collective response, proving that we are indeed much greater than the sum of our parts.

The world depends on three things: Study, prayer, and acts of loving kindness. Mitzvah Day is your opportunity to put these values to work and experience the immense satisfaction that comes from repairing just a little part of our world. Please join me and my family for Mitzvah day, THIS Sunday, October 24, 9:00 am.

Back to School Night and Judaism in Motion Shabbat for ARS families

Dear ARS families,

During our snack break on Tuesday, the children and I were talking about the Hebrew month of Cheshvan. We discussed how it is one of the few months in the Jewish calendar that has no holidays other than Shabbat. I think that we are all looking forward to some quiet time to really focus on our classroom studies before Chanukkah comes next month.

At Back to School Night this past Tuesday, parents, students and teachers had a great opportunity to meet each other. We discussed our ARS core text, AlShlosha Divarim, ARS homework policies and Shabbat participation. You can find links to the handouts in the “Quick Links” section of our newsletter. This week we have added a new “Quick Link” to a Google calendar with all of the ARS events included.

I look forward to seeing many of you at Shabbat services this week as this is the first of our Judaism in Motion services specifically for ARS families. The service, featuring our Mahkela children’s choir and our Judaism in Motion band, is appropriate for children of all ages. I hope that you plan to join me for what will prove to be a wonderful start to Shabbat and the weekend.

~Shari

Get Connected with the ARS

At the Ansin Religious School it is our mission to provide a range of exciting educational and social opportunities for our children and their families.  Through our experiential learning approach, children of all ages live the joys of Jewish life, while connecting with each other and the world.

Studies show that you, the parents are the single biggest Jewish influence on your kids.   Please take our new mission to heart so that, together, we can educate the next generation of leaders in our community. We will all benefit by joining in this journey together. 

This week provides several unique opportunities beyond our regularly scheduled ARS classes on Monday and Tuesday (which will feature special Sukkot celebrations).   I urge you to find a way for your family to participate and connect with our community:   

Wednesday:   Erev Simchat Torah Services, 6:00 pm

Friday:             Tot Shabbat, 5:45 pm (for children ages 6 and younger) followed by a community dinner

Shabbat Rishon, 7:15 pm featuring Allan Rodgers, Executive Director of the Massachusetts Law Reform Institute and MAZON grant recipient. This Shabbat will connect to Temple Ohabei Shalom getting ready for Mitzvah day and our new Telem (gr. 11 & 12) curriculum focus, Hunger & Homelessness (special ARS high school honors at the service).

Saturday:         Shabbat B’yachad

Join us for our new TOS Shabbat experience with something for everyone.  Come as you are for the entire morning or for just one part of the day, but please join us . . .

9:15 AM

·      Torah Study with Rabbi Franken in the Berenson Library

·      Chug Mishpacha (Jewish Parenting): It's Self-Esteem Stupid with Mark Lipof, LICSW Click here for a link to Mark’s recent article about self-esteem in the new 2^nd Floor Conference Room

·      Youth Activities with Stacy in the Chapel foyer

9:45 AM

·      Youth Service led by Cantor Schloss:  Geared for children of all ages. Parents are invited to join the youth service or one of the other morning options.                 

10:30 AM

·      Shabbat Morning Services led by Rabbi Franken and Cantor Schloss

11:00 AM

·      Youth Activities with Stacy and Shari in the 2^nd Floor conference room

11:45 AM

·         Children and adults come together for the end of our Shabbat morning services with a festive song session led by Cantor Schloss and members of our high school. Everyone is invited to come together for Kiddush Lunch following services.

Why an ARS blog?

This is the inaugural post of our new ARS blog!  I hope this will be a new and exciting part of ARS and a contemporary way to build real community in virtual space.  By sharing our thoughts and comments, we can create an amazing online dialogue between parents, teachers, and others, providing community growth along the way.  

We are constantly working to improve our communication so that it meets your needs. This includes thinking about the best format and forum to do so. In recognition of how you, today’s parents, get information and engage with the world of ideas, we felt that this would be a useful avenue. We can share thought provoking material and give fodder for meaningful conversations, both online and off.

By getting you thinking and talking about the subjects addressed in this blog, you will not only bolster your own spiritual journey, but you will ultimately be strengthening your children’s Jewish education. By modeling engagement with Jewish ideas and Jewish subjects you demonstrate the value of engagement with Jewish life. This is the same sort of modeling you do for your children when you come to TOS for services, celebrations, or other programming. Although it may be less immersive, it certainlly is no less important.

Having a blog enhances our ability to share ideas and allows us to invite others into the conversation. We will be able to give a taste of who we are and what we are about to those who are not currently part of our community. In this way we will be able to invite many more people into an ongoing conversation about Jewish education and actually Jewish life in our times.

Each ARS class will also have a blog so that teachers can share class news and homework assignments.  By updating their blogs on a weekly basis, teachers can keep parents informed of progress in our curriculum and provide week to week continuity for students.

Comments will not be immediately posted in order to ensure that they are relevant and productive additions to the conversation. In this spirit we request that you keep comments to the topic of the post to which you are responding. This is not meant to be a forum for commenting on the Hebrew School itself. As always, my door, phone, and inbox are “open” for just such feedback. Therefore, we ask you to please use this blog as a kind of “town square” for the sharing of ideas.

I look forward to hearing your thoughts, sharing my own, and building the ARS community with you!

~Shari