Dear friends
It's taken me a day or so, but I've now since reeled from an incredible weekend at TNS and out at the property. We really had so much going on - it was as beautiful as our TNS community continually proves to be. Thank you all for who took part, and we certainly missed any of you who couldn't make it! I hope all who have been sick regain health quickly! Truly a boisterous TODAH RABAH to Ari, Darren, Lazer and Ruthie Leva. They put heart, soul and work into this weekend and our gratitude is real. So much so that families who often don’t camp are now ready to do so next time!!!! It’s because they further opened our eyes to the beauty of our property and what it and family connections offer. Before the campout, we started last Shabbat with our Woman of Valor service led by yours truly. Many shared stories of mothers, grandmothers, and other inspirational females in their lives. At TNS we celebrate our female daven leaders, and are even so thoughtful as to give them flowers.... Saturday continued with a sweet baby naming for Simone (Eliana) Rutherford followed by dinner, Havdalah, and a bonfire. Community, college students, and TNS families all took part. Todah Rabah to the Rutherford family for the kiddush dinner and then to the Levas who really put together a beautiful campout experience. We had a few families, plus a girls and boys tent. First-time campers LOVED it! Stay tuned for more opportunities.... The feeling was so great around the bonfire that the next morning for Hebrew school we enjoyed Torah Talk out there too. The kids may have melted while I was trying to teach about Lag Baomer and the parsha, but I think they got a few nuggets of information :) Otherwise, our teachers focused on Hebrew review and lessons, and our kids showed just how much have seeped into their brains during kids service. It's been wonderful hearing them belt out L'cha Dodi, Sim Shalom, and Adon Olam. I hope they all carry on sweet memories of such times....(at least associate M&Ms with them). Lastly, please note we do NOT have Hebrew school next Sunday. And here's the plan for the beginning of June, which includes our last school session of the year:
In the meantime, see you over the coming weeks. Best Lauren
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 What a beautiful, engaging, and fun session on Israel we had as a Community School yesterday at CBD. This was our last one of the year, and I will be touching base with all of you to hear your thoughts on these all-area school sessions - to understand their successes and areas of growth.
Thank you to the teachers, Rabbi Matt, cantor Mark, and Tali Freed (Israeli dancing lead) for making it so successful. Between the conversations and understandings of Israeli geography, history, and reason for existence, I think we did it with honor for our children and parents. Also a thank you to Maxi and Sharon for helping with yesterday's Israeli shuk, where the kids enjoyed special Israeli snacks! Also thanks to Amber for making our Kotels where the kids put in special notes after singing Hatikva. Coming Up this Shabbat! We have such a full weekend at TNS - and I love how beautiful it is that we share this community together! Here's the rundown....please come for some or all of it!
Til soon (this Shabbat) Lauren  Hello!
You may have all just seen my update for the May 21 Campout, so I will start with that before TNS school news:
Yesterday honored Mother's Day - teaching the kids how to say "Yom HaEm Sameach," and we took out our Chumashim to read in this past week's parsha, the very first commandment repeated in Kedoshim is to honor one's mother and father! We read the "Woman of Valor" proverb (in the Sim Shalom Siddur, page 310), and reviewed the Hebrew words for members of our mishpacha (our family). Here's a picture of yesterday's guests during Torah Talk - Ima (mom), Abba (dad), Yalda/Bat (female child/daughter), Yeled/Ben (male child/son), and Tinok (baby) - please try to review this with your kids! - A big Todah Rabah to our newest student and Israeli guest, Assaf, who is living here in SLO for a short period of time, but will be a part of our TNS family until he returns to Israel. He speaks only Hebrew, so he is sharing his vocabulary with fellow kids and learning how we express Judaism here in America. Please introduce yourselves to his parents Idit and Baruch if you have the chance. Class time focused on Hebrew terms, Israel, and Kavod, or respect. Individual Hebrew review continued with Binah and Malca. We also had a beautiful kiddush snack hosted by the Hartless-Romero's and leftover cake from our TNS New Member Family Shabbat this last Friday (thanks to Dinah)! The kids all shared one thing they were grateful for to eat the cake....the majority of them said MOM! Upcoming TNS School Dates and Reminders:
Til soon, Lauren  Happiest of Mays, everyone!
I can't help myself - it's always been my favorite month, and it makes me happy hearing either The Temptations or Stevie Wonder croon about sunshine and love in the month of May. But, I'm biased....it's my birthday month, and Israel's too! Of course I'm focused on the latter here, but feel free to text a yom huledet sameach on cinco de mayo :). So Rabbi Micah led a spirited session to start the kids off yesterday tying together Yom HaShoah just commemorated and Yom HaAtzamaut to celebrate on Thursday. He allowed space for questions, took the kids on an imaginary tour of Israel, and ended with Hatikva. Kids service and class time reinforced learning about Israel and singing its song of hope. Below are a smattering of Hatikvah videos to play at home. Below that - a picture of (my) Isaac as part of the Youth Symphony playing Hatikvah at Congregation Beth David for a Holocaust Remembrance Service led by Rabbi Micah. Please try to take a moment this Thursday with your family to sing, discuss, tell stories, and answer questions. As we all know, Israel is beautifully complicated - as are all things so authentically Jewish.
And, here are a few snapshots of our classes - the oldest focused on an in-depth talk on Israel, the middle on the idea of Kavod, or respect, and our youngest on the letter "samech" and more on Israel. Please know we do have school this Sunday, May 8 on Mother's Day. PLEASE text me (805-295-0890) if you cannot attend, but know we will focus on family and Kavod (respect). There is MUCH more to come on learning about Israel at our Community Session on May 15. Please let me know if you can help out with that day or at least make sure to stay for the parent talk led by Rabbi Micah - it will be at Congregation Beth David. I know that's a lot to read through and link to, but, here's a few reminders, since we have so much going on this month!
In the meantime, have a great week, yom huledet sameach Israel, and I hope to see many of you this Shabbat at our Family Service. Lauren |
Religious School Director, Lauren BandariMom, educator, Jewish community advocate, Lauren Bandari, has the privilege of running the TNS religious school. She is passionate about teaching and connecting our kids, solidifying a strong sense of Jewish identity, and finding joy in our beautiful traditions. Archives
November 2022
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