Page 1 of 17 <Back Print November 20, 2009, 3 Kislev, 5770 Candle Lighting 4:18 PM, Shabbat Ends 5:16 PM PreK Grandparent Day The Behind the Scenes Story Table of Contents PreK Grandparent Day The Behind the Scenes Story Sports Update Rachel Imeinu Program Kristallnacht Commemoration Rosh Chodesh Kislev 7th and 8th Grade Girls Rosh Chodesh Program Bat Mitzvah Mother/Daughter Learning Program Veterans Day 2009 Science Enrichment Survival at Hillel Legacy Heritage Foundation Get Out and Vote! Each year in the fall, grandparents, parents and guests are granted the opportunity to attend Hillel Yeshiva's PreK Grandparent Day. They watch an adorable presentation, receive personalized gifts and spend quality time interacting with the children they love. Yet, to the trained eye, this event represents so much more, for it epitomizes the essence of a genuine, integrated program. As we know, words and concepts taught in isolation are not meaningful to young students. We can drill, test, pre-teach and review alphabet letters and word lists. But the reality is, only those facts that are connected to real life experiences will remain ingrained within our children's minds. PreK Grandparent Day is the perfect example of an educational unit that integrates Judaic and secular themes and incorporates "Emergent Literacy" in both English and Hebrew. At the same time, fine motor skills and social emotional development are Veteran's Day Flying South with Nursery Students 2010 MAH JONGG CARDS Contact Us **Sponsorships Sign Up Sign up to receive Happenings from Hillel Yeshiva! Quick Links Visit Our New & Improved Website! www.hillelyeshiva.org At Hillel Yeshiva, preparing your children for higher education is our mission. Making sure that

Page 2 of 17 being fostered, building a full, harmonious picture. The unit begins with a dramatization of the weekly Parasha with a focus on emulating the ways of Avraham Avinu. Zoom in on Hachnasat Orchim and watch the children develop independence within a community of learners as they first "meet" and decide who to invite, and then "vote" on the menu and other important particulars of the event. they arrive there with Torah values is our life's work. Hillel Yeshiva 1025 Deal Road Ocean, NJ 07712 hillelyeshiva@hillelyeshiva.org phone: 732-493-9300 www.hillelyeshiva.org Learning the letter "G" becomes meaningful due to the many "G" sounds found naturally in the environment: guests, grandparents, gifts, green and gold. The Hebrew vocabulary, music and choreography, orchestrated by Morah Yocheved, become a part of our daily discussions and preparations. Hillel Yeshiva's Grandparent Day, and the "behind the scenes" curriculum planning for each and every day, are a testimony of our school's commitment to provide its students with well-rounded, solid and meaningful educational experiences.

Page 3 of 17 Sports Update Congratulations to the girl's basketball team for winning their opening game against SAR. The final score was 40-25. Rachel Imeinu Program Come show your support at Sunday's home games against JFS November 29th Girls are scheduled for 3:30 pm Boys are scheduled for 5:00 pm The Yahrzeit of Rachel Imeinu was on the 11th of Cheshvan, October 29th, 2009. Here at Hillel Yeshiva, the 5th, 6th and 7th grades had a very special program coordinated and directed by Mrs. Devora Munk, about the ability to give in to another person. We began our program with an audio-visual presentation about Kever Rachel today. The armored busses that transport individuals to Kever Rachel within the enormous walls surrounding the sight came alive to the girls. They saw live prayers and the effort it takes to pray at Kever Rachel in 2009 - yet people still willingly flock to this special place of prayer. We then discussed why the tefillot that are prayed at Kever Rachel are so special to Hashem.

Page 4 of 17 The girls also wrote a personal prayer that will be mailed to Kever Rachel, through an organization that arranges for prayers to be sent. The program concluded with a beautiful story about a childless couple whose prayers were answered at Kever Rachel, whose son was born on the 11th of Cheshvan. We also watched the Torah Umesorah presentation about yearning for the Geulah - redemption, as Rachel was buried "on the road" where Jews have prayed for redemption on their way to exile. In the merit of our beautiful girls following in the ways of Rachel Imeinu, may we merit the Geulah speedily in our days. Kristallnacht Commemoration The mood was somber as students entered the Elementary School Midrash on November 9th to commemorate Kristallnacht.

Page 5 of 17 Students in Grades 5-8 listened to a touching story told by Mrs. Levovitz about a survivor who was 10 years old when his mother was taken to Auschwitz. The survivor never had an opportunity to do kibud av v'em and throughout his life, searched for opportunities to help others. Rabbi Blau, a survivor, spoke about the 1.5 million children who perished in the Holocaust and explained to the students how their prayer and their learning Torah is a merit to these children who never had those opportunities. The students also watched a PowerPoint presentation about the events that led up to Kristallnacht. Large posters about Kristallnacht and the Holocaust were displayed to create the solemn mood appropriate for this commemoration. In addition, the 8th grade Language Arts classes, under the direction of Mrs. Tallman, wrote poems and did art work depicting the essence of Kristallnacht. The projects were on display in the school library and the students had an opportunity to view them.

Page 6 of 17 Rosh Chodesh Kislev Hillel Yeshiva ushered in the month of Kislev with a beautiful breakfast for the 7th and 8th graders. Mr. Sammy Saka introduced the guest speaker, Rabbi Gheriani, a graduate of

Page 7 of 17 Hillel. The rabbi explained contrasted Eisav and Yaakov. Eisav, a hunter, spent his days trying to "conquer" animals and being proud of what he was able to do. Yaakov, on the other hand, was a shepherd, spending his days concerned about the safety of his sheep. He also "sat in the tent" learning Torah. He understood the importance of learning from others. On Chanukah we have the mitzvah of lighting the Menorah. This light symbolizes the light of Torah - the Torah which brings all Jews together. The rabbi told the boys and girls to utilize the opportunities which they have to learn from their rabbis and morat in the wonderful atmosphere of Hillel Yeshiva. The program concluded with lively dancing and true holiday spirit. Thank you Rabbi Davis for planning such a memorable Rosh Chodesh. 7th and 8th Grade Girls Rosh Chodesh Program

Page 8 of 17 In honor of Rosh Chodesh Kislev, the seventh and eighth grade Middle School girls participated in an exciting Chanukah game. Each of the girls held a blown up balloon and had to pass the balloon at various intervals in the story. They had to listen carefully to pick up the "clues." It was a great way to get the girls into a holiday mood. The program ended with lively balloon dancing.

Page 9 of 17 Bat Mitzvah Mother/Daughter Learning Program On Tuesday, November 17, the 6th grade girls and their mothers joined together for a Bat Mitzvah Mother/Daughter Learning Program. The program took place in the midrash and the theme was Prayer and Berachot (blessings). The girls performed a song about Chana, whom they have been learning about in Navi. The song was accompanied by music with Morah Dahlia. Afterwards, the girls, along with their mothers, learned about different aspects of berachot, which were later discussed in an open forum. The day concluded with a game-show style game, prepared by Meirav and Sagit, testing everyone on their knowledge of berachot. On display were the projects that the girls had made representing the berachot in the Amidah. There were also refreshments on each table - each food with a different beracha. Everyone enjoyed the event and we look forward to the next Bat Mitzvah Program.

Page 10 of 17 Veterans Day 2009 Upon entering Hillel Yeshiva on November 11th, students were greeted by an authentic World War II American flag. This flag was used by Dr. Katz's father, Lt. Col. Rabbi Katz, a"h, when he served as a chaplain in the Armed Forces. Attached to the flag were postcards that the Middle School students wrote to thank our country's soldiers. In addition, Grades 1-8 participated in a Veterans Day program. The students sang patriotic songs while waving their American flags. Dr. Katz proclaimed, "As citizens, we honor those who are

Page 11 of 17 leading our country. We may not agree with everything they do, but because they are elected leaders, we must respect them." She continued, "Similarly, we recite a prayer for Medinat Yisrael. Each of you has two shoulders - two responsibilities. One is for the United States and the other is the connection to the state of Israel. Today we honor all those who have fought and are fighting for our freedom." The students then watched a video clip about the significance of the day. Science Enrichment What is the coldest thing you have ever touched? Ice is very cold. In fact it is freezing. This week in Science Enrichment we experimented with something that is over 100 degrees colder than ice. Dry Ice, unlike regular everyday ice, is made from carbon dioxide, not water. We observed the physical change that dry ice goes through as it is changed from a solid to a gas. We also saw that carbon dioxide gas is much denser than the air around it. By adding a small amount of soap into our dry ice/water mixture, we were able to better understand the properties of surface tension. In honor of Rafi Flancbaum's birthday (1R), he was chosen to pop the large bubble that formed from the mixture. The boys and girls have a great time in Science Enrichment in addition to learning a lot.

Page 12 of 17 Survival at Hillel By Debra Greenstein, 6th Grade On Wednesday, October 28th, Mr. Dowling came to our 6th grade Language Arts classes to speak about survival. We are currently reading novels with a survival theme. He brought axes, hatchets, branches, and a book bag filled with other survival items. Some of the things that were in the bag were strange. I thought the strangest one was the orange party ribbon. He told us the party ribbon could actually make a trail so you wouldn't get lost if you left your camp to explore. Another thing he told us was that if you were lost and you flashed your flashlight 3 times quickly, then 3 times slowly, and again 3 times quickly, someone might see your signal and rescue you. He also showed us how to make fire, a spear and arrows using only a hatchet and wood! It was pretty cool seeing and learning about these things. Thank you, Mr. Dowling. Legacy Heritage Foundation Thanks to a grant from the Legacy Heritage Foundation, Hillel Yeshiva High School is the recipient of two SMART Boards. The boards have been permanently installed in Mrs. Mercuro's English classroom and in our computer room. The SMART Boards have added to and enhanced the success of student learning and the success of our curriculum through technology in the classroom.

Page 13 of 17 "A SMART Board is an interactive whiteboard that has a touch sensitive screen and connects to a computer. It is an interactive tool that is easy to use and invites student participation in the learning process. A SMART Board facilitates the use of graphics, video, sound and images which can be manipulated on screen and engage the students in the educational process. The user's finger is the mouse, and by touching the screen, the teacher or student controls information on the screen. SMART Boards make class time more efficient and focused, allowing the teacher to instantly display information or diagrams... SMART Boards positively affect learning by helping to raise the level of student engagement, motivation, and enthusiasm within the classroom." Our teachers, administration, and especially our students are very appreciative of this generous gift. Get Out and Vote! In a hotly contested race, the kindergarten students got a chance to participate in democracy in action. Following civics lessons on the three branches of government and how we choose our elected officials, the kindergarten classes held their own day-long election day. Resplendent in red, white and blue "Cast Your Vote" hats, the children set up a private voting booth, and then had a chance to privately cast their votes for their favorite flavor of ice cream. With no hanging chads, and no voting machine breakdowns, the children then graphed the results easily. The races (complete with electioneering by each flavor's supporters) came down to the wire! Each class celebrated with an ice cream party featuring their class's winning flavor on Friday. What a sweet introduction to a very grown-up privilege!

Page 14 of 17 Veteran's Day

Page 15 of 17 This past week, ELC students spent time discussing Veterans Day- the day when we say thank you to the soldiers who help keep our country safe. We talked about why we love living in America, and what is so special about our country. The children came up with a long list: getting to vote, being allowed to keep the Torah and going to Florida were all mentioned. The Kindergarten students are in the process of creating thank-you cards that will be forwarded to soldiers currently serving overseas in the Armed Forces, through the offices of Rabbi Menashe Miller, a chaplain in the U.S. Air Force, based at McGuire Air Force Base! Students of grades Pre-Nursery, Nursery and Kindergarten waved American flags as they marched through the hallways accompanied by the song, "You're a Grand Ole' Flag". PreK students dedicated their final segment of the "Grandparent\Guest Day" program to honoring our country's heroes. Parents and grandparents sang and waved their flags enthusiastically. Mayor Harry Franco, Samuel and Eli's grandfather, was honored to lead the crowd and later expressed his gratitude to Hillel Yeshiva ELC for imbuing its young students with ethics and morals that are crucial to the success of our community and country! Flying South with Nursery Students

Page 16 of 17 Hillel Yeshiva Nursery students learned about migration and the fact that some birds head for warmer weather before the winter sets in. The classes donned streamers for 'wings' and feathered headbands. They sang the song, 'Come Birds, Come Fly with Me', and 'flew' around the halls searching for someplace warm. The children were very enthusiastic birds and they thoroughly enjoyed 'flying' to Florida! 2010 MAH JONGG CARDS It's time to order your new 2010 MAH JONGG CARDS For each card ordered through me, the National Mah Jongg League will donate a portion to Hillel Yeshiva STANDARD CARD $7 LARGE CARD $8 Order for yourself and for your friends Kindly drop off orders with cash (no checks please) to my home before Jan. 20, 2010 Valerie Tabush, 4 Tulip Court (Off Old Farm Road), Oakhurst, NJ 07755 (732) 229-8969

Page 17 of 17 The Mah Jongg League will mail your card(s) directly to you in early April 2010 Contact Us We welcome your suggestions, corrections, or comments about our "Happenings". Please direct any communications to Elizabeth Beckerman at 732-493- 9300 x 350 or by email to ebeckerman@hillelyeshiva.org **Sponsorships To sponsor the Happenings and a week or month of Hillel Yeshiva's learning, contact Elizabeth Beckerman at (732) 493-9300 ext. 350 or Rabbi Saul J. Kassin at ext. 303