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Leadership Blog - Shehecheyanu at Hanukkah

Dear Parents,

At my house last week, we recited the Shehecheyanu prayer at our Thanksgiving dinner, and we will do it again each night of Hanukkah.  I felt blessed for all who gathered in my home on Thursday. As the decorative candles burned, we felt safe, and warm and free.  For the moment, we were insulated from feeling vulnerable; from sickness, brutality, and nature's fury.

“How close were the fires?” the out-of-towners asked.  

“Too close,” we replied.

Soon we will gather again watching different kinds of candles burn. The candles on the Hanukkiah will also make us feel safe and warm and free.  For eight days, we will feel insulated from vulnerability; from tyranny, brutality, and prejudice. We will take our strength from the story of the Maccabees, and teach our children to stand for what is right.      

“How close were we Jews to annihilation?” our children may ask.

“Too close,” we reply.

With much gratitude for all that is good and for bringing us to this season, let's take strength from our traditions and our beliefs by reciting the Shehecheyanu each night of Hanukkah.

�'ָּרוּךְ אַתָּ�" אֲ�"ֹנָי אֱלֹ�"ֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ �"ָעוֹלָם, שֶׁ�"ֶ�-ֱיָנוּ וְקִיְּמָנוּ וְ�"ִ�'ִּיעָנוּ לַ�-ְּמָן �"ַ�-ֶּ�"

Baruch atah, Adonai Eloheinu, Melech haolam, shehecheyanu, v'kiy'manu, v'higiyanu laz'man hazeh.

Blessed are You, Adonai our God, Sovereign of all, who has kept us alive, sustained us, and brought us to this season.

May we all be safe and warm and free.

B'Shalom,

Sari

80 years of Adat Ari El....

Come join us for a fabulous Celebration

Inside The Classroom

Click below to view the classroom pages:

TK

Kindergarten

1st Grade

2nd Grade

3rd Grade

4th Grade

5th Grade

6th Grade

 

In the Community

Annual Fund 2018-2019

We're at day 69 of our 100 days, 100% participation 2018-19 Annual Fund campaign. And, if the numbers were to tell a story, it would tell one of community, strength, “firsts”, and so much gratitude for all of you!

The numbers speak for themselves:

Faculty, Staff, and Administration - 100%
Governing Board - 100%
TK - 88%
Kindergarten - 87%
1st Grade - 100%
2nd Grade - 93%
3rd Grade - 87%
4th Grade - 71%
5th Grade - 100%
6th Grade - 100%

Whole School - 91%

It's important to me that I reiterate the WHY of the Annual Fund. There are so many benefits for our school if we can get to 100% participation:

• Our accreditation from CAIS (California Association of Independent Schools) will be stronger if the visiting team sees 100% participation from our families
• We will be able to approach outside donors - including foundations - more easily to ask for support
• More funds will be available for programming, facilities, curriculum enhancements and professional development, to name a few.

Remember that “community” does not only refer to you, our parent community, but also to the Board, faculty, and administration. We are filled with appreciation that our Board members are so deeply committed to what an investment in ADAT means - not just of time, but of financial resources, that they have come together with 100% participation. Then, there is our administration and faculty. Whether they have been here for 30 years or 3 months, they have come together in solidarity with ADAT and 100% participation and alignment with our Annual Fund goals.

Now, it's your turn. Help us reach our goal by stepping up to complete the remaining 24%. We are almost there and we have made incredible strides thanks to our Board, faculty, administration, and nearly three-quarters of our community. Together, let's prove how strong we are by making your gift to our Day School Annual Fund.

100 days, 100% participation, 100% commitment to our mission. Together, let's discover the power of giving.

 

Winter break is coming and that means time for mini camp at ADAT!

From the Synagogue

Family Chanukkah Fest

Bring the whole family and join us for songs, dinner and a festival!

6:00 - 8:00pm

Chanukkah N'ranena 12.07.18

Join the N'ranena Band for a festive, dynamic and musical Erev Shabbat experience, followed by a bring your own picnic dinner! Meals are also available for purchase. 

Click here to RSVP 

12.09.18

Sunset Healing Service

A calming, spiritual, emotionally healing way to connect to Shabbat and the community.

12.14.18

L.A. Zimriyah Chorale Dinner & Service

6:45 pm - Dinner 

8:00 pm - Musical Tefillah

Click here to RSVP for Dinner 

 

 

Havdalah Highlights

We start each week gathered together as a school for a Havdalah ceremony, during which we highlight students who we have noticed acting in ways that carry out our mission. Because we are so proud of our students, we wanted to share their stories with you!

William S. in TK helped Debra find a friend's backpack.

Tav P. in TK shared Tzedakkah with his friends on Friday

6th grader Ori B. was on the yard playing tetherball with children much smaller than him.  While he could have played very competitively, he chose to play at their level so that they could enjoy the game.

Hannah W. said she saw 2nd grader Zoe W. cleaning up the lunch area after recess.  Zoe saw trash and went to help make our lunch area closer to how we found it.

In TK, Dylan W., Daniella D. and Ava S. picked up paper that had fallen on the floor.

In first grade Guy M., Emma L., Oriel L., and Hannah W. went the extra mile to clean the room for our special visitors without being asked. They even put away pillows and other items they did not even use. 

Emma R., Liv M., and Mazzy F. in Kindergarten included friends on the Kindergarten yard that were playing alone and wanted to join.

6th grader Gabe Z. invited his buddy's grandparents to come sit with his buddy at Kabbalat Shabbat. He moved over to make room for them, and welcome them as well.

Calendar

Mark your calendars for these important dates:

• November 30: 4th grade Shabbat dinner & service
• December 1: Synagogue 80th Anniversary Gala
• December 4: Family Chanukkah Fest - 6:00 - 8:00pm
• December 5: Daytime parent-teacher conferences - no school - day care available from 8:00 - 3:20pm - no charge
• December 6: 6th grade parlor meeting - 8:15am
• December 12: Evening parent-teacher conferences

*click here to view the full calendar

Jewish Trivia question of the week

Each week, we'll pose a Jewish Trivia question of the week and will reveal the answer in the following week's newsletter! Here's this week's question: True or false according to Jewish law, wine or grape juice must be used for Havdalah?

a. True

b. False

ANSWER from last week's question:  In the Synagogue discovered at Masada, which direction does the arc face?

b. West