Family Programs and Celebrations

 

Bereishit - the New Beginnings

This year, Heritage school will open its doors for students who are eager to come to their school after the long summer vacation. Our mission is Jewish education for families from Former Soviet Union and we are proud to be an integral part of life for the Russian speaking community.

 

The value Jewish families place on Education - Chinuch - dates back to biblical times. "He who teaches a child is as if he had created it" (Talmud Sanhedrin 19a) We are proud that we were able to continue offering this inspiring program that was part our community as Shalom Sunday for more then 15 years, opening the hearts of so many Jewish children to their wonderful heritage.

 

We will be concentrating on our grade level curriculum - Torah and Bible stories, Jewish symbols, and Jewish values, teaching in a "hands- on" format, utilizing the arts, storytelling, and family celebrations.

 

The Days of Owe

Rosh Hashana  and Yom Kippur programs at Heritage Family school will give you an opportunity to teach even your youngest children  that "Great is repentance, because for the sake of one who truly repents, the whole world is pardoned" (Talmud Yoma 86b)

We use easy to understand stories and every day situations as our springboard to learn and practice behaviors that make a difference in people lives.

 

This year we are planning to offer a special Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur services at Ezra Habonim synagogue in Northbrook. We will also be teaching children and their parents to find the nearby stream to perform the mitzvah of Tashlich, letting go of last year mistakes and getting ready for a better year.

 

For our Yom Kippur program we will help children understand the meaning of "T'shuva", repentance. As they listen to the stories and role-play, they will begin to understand the importance of acting upon good intentions and reinforcing promises and resolutions in every day relationships. Drama and Music are our useful tools in learning this important concepts.

 

While children are studying in their classrooms, parents will be invited to study Torah, History, Hebrew in our new classes led by members of Heritage synagogue.

 

Rosh Hashanah program with it's storytelling about Gershon Monster will come alive with the help of our students to teach everyone about the importance of the Tshuva.

 

Sukkot will let us enjoy meeting Abraham, Sarah and other ushpizin and have a hot dog feast in the Sukkah. To celebrate the historical nature of this holiday, children will act out scenes about leaving Egypt and wondering in the desert, crawling through the hula-hoops to cross the Red Sea, eat marshmallow manna in the desert and dance the harvest dance thanking God for the land of the milk and honey.

 

A Special Sukkot Event for Bar/Bat Mitzvah Families

Welcoming our Bar/Bat Mitzvah students, we would like to invite B'nei Mitzvah families for a special meeting, to an open Sukkah to share a warm intimate celebration of this ancient yet so contemporary holiday.

In a time when the news coverage is so terrifying it was spiritually uplifting to feel a protective qualities of G-d's presence in the Sukkah. As one of the last year participants  put it, "We feel united both as Jews and as Americans and we are grateful for this day and G-d's Blessings in spite all problems we face today".

 

Simchat Torah program  will teach us how the Torah is written, dressed up and studied. Every child will have his/her role in the creation story and would need to listen carefully when their character would be called out. The seventh day little Shabbat Queen will come out to give us a gift of true paradise - gift of being who we are and being able to make a choice to celebrate our special holidays.

 

Mezuzot for Russian Jewish Homes

Heritage Family school will be focusing on learning to read and speak Hebrew next year.  We will start with the Hebrew Alphabet and learning how to put together simple words as they appear in the Shma, the essential prayer of the mezuzah parchment.

In the spirit of Hiddur Mitzvah (beautifying the mitzvah) we are planning to invite Betsey Fidler, the Jewish artist to teach our students how to make bayit (mezuzah cover).

 

After this special project will be over, we will explain what are the requirements for the kosher claf (parchment) and encourage the families to visit a few local Jewish stores to choose the parchment for their new treasure.

 

Shabbat Queen Visit

This year we are planning to celebrate Shabbat as a big family. For some of you this may be your first step toward creating a new family tradition - Shabbat. The challah covers, kiddush cups, and beautifully decorated candles will be made by the little hands during a month of study.

 

After learning by doing, baking and decorating, we will invite parents for grade level Shabbat celebrations. B'nei Mitzvah will discuss the concept of this famous proverb: "More than Israel has kept the Shabbat, the Shabbat has kept Israel." and learn that although our modern lives often downplay the importance of a "holy day," observing Shabbat in some form is enriching to our lives, physically, emotionally and spiritually.

 

All that the kids will make and learn will be presented to the parents on the last day of semester filled with Shabbat rituals, songs, and peace.

 

Never take time off from Jewish living

Even though there will be vacation times when the regular classes will not meet, we are planning on offering wonderful choices to continue your Jewish learning while on vacation. We will extend our invitation for a special four-day Shabbaton adventure at St. Lois annually provided through Heritage Congregation.

 

Let's start from the beginning -The naming Ceremony

What a fascinating experience that is for a child to discover where his/her name comes from, what does it mean, and what is the Jewish traditional equivalent to it. We are planning to create a special program to facilitate a process of re-connecting with the lost generation of Russian Jewish great-grand parents and their heritage and hope to help our families to re-vive their family history.

 

This learning will be culminating in a Jewish Naming ceremony.

 

Almond tree is blooming in Israel

With all what is happening in Israel today, people feel deeply connected to their friends and family there. Learning about Israel will remain an important part of the curriculum. During Tu B'shvat students will have an opportunity to share their stories and pictures, talk about their trips to Israel, and discuss how Israelis care about their country.

 

In their art class they first will create pictures of Chicago winter landscape and then start their new artwork - The birthday of the Trees in Israel to remind us that spring is a time of re-birth, hope, and opportunity for contributions to JUF.

 

Meet Her Majesty Queen Esther and be Happy - It is Adar!

Silly king and wise Mordechai, beautiful Esther and a wicked Haman - what is new about that story? Look at the history made today and you'd see - everything is new! We write our own story and give it our own twist. We will create new dances and songs so every single child in school will be participating.

 

The Purim story comes alive teaching us so ancient yet so important lessons in Jewish identity, Jewish solidarity and Jewish survival! Visit our Royal Court  for an event to be remembered!

 

Tikun Olam

One of the themes of this year is Repair the World by Helping Others.

We will use art, music and drama to help children understand the concept of unity and responsibility for each other and for the world. The program will culminate with the community projects suitable for children of different age groups. 

 

Marching With Israel

Overwhelming number of Russian Jewish families has participated in Israel Solidarity Day over the years to show their love and support for Israel. Big and small, every contribution helps. Understanding this, Heritage Family School is planning a special parade to help Russian Jewish families proudly join in community efforts to collect funds for JUF-Israel Terror relief campaign. We are truly one people -Am Israel Chai!