 Hi everyone
Thank you for a pleasant Hebrew school session today. I’m seeing our students stretch and grow themselves as leaders, learners, and daveners. It’s beautiful and heartwarming. A few things. One is we ended today with lots of lost and found. See the picture below. You can claim these either at Shabbat services or after the Thanksgiving break. I left them on the couch in the Gan room. We will not have school next Sunday. Also in case you’re not on my Rosh Chodesh text chain and can get away (please lmk if you want me to add you), join us today at Sycamore Hot Springs at 430! We’re restarting our regular “mikvah” and Rosh Chodesh talks. I’ve kept last week’s message below since the playground project is still ongoing and needs your attention and support. The kids are excited to see us taking care of the area and rebuilding. Please reach out to help and definitely please use the link below to donate. We’re excited to host a new playground party once it’s all done! I’ll be sending another message with teacher summaries and pictures when I receive them. Many were focused on the holiday to come and the concept of Todah, thanks. Enjoy yours and see you soon. Todah! Lauren On Fri, Nov 18, 2022 at 10:00 AM Lauren Bandari <laurenbandari@gmail.com> wrote: Dear TNS families and friends - A tremendous TODAH RABAH to the work team who started the exciting process of a new play area for TNS last Sunday! A huge thank you to Cece, Raul, Joel, Eric, Ari, and Sharon who really made progress on the demo process. We still have yet to level the area with a mini-excavator, and resurface the ground. Of course too we have the new play structure assembly and new fence installation to come. Please know the new fence is paid for with a grant I procured for the synagogue. But the new play structure is coming out of the school budget. Please chip in to help pay for this newer, safer, fun play structure for our kids. You can donate online toward the project at https://www.templenershalom.org/giving.html Here's some fun pictures from last Sunday. We look forward to seeing you this Sunday as well if you are in town and please note we will take a break next week for the Thanksgiving weekend. Shabbat shalom Lauren
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Hi TNS families and friends -
Todah rabah for a great Sunday school session yesterday. Now that we are post High Holidays, we were able to resume our "regular" schedule of Torah Talk, class time, kiddush snack, and kids service (with Hebrew tutoring abound). We did have a special version of Torah talk, though, with Kristin facilitating time with the animals on our property. This week we discussed "Bereishit" - or in the beginning. We reviewed the Torah's description of the first days of life and the concept of "b'tzelem elohim," that G-d is made in the image of humans and we must treat ourselves, our neighbors, and our planet with respect. We talked about how we don't necessarily have all the answers as to how life actually started, but we do know that thousands of years ago people observed and wrote down the details of light, darkness, sun, moon, stars, big sea creatures, creepy crawly things, vegetation, and so much more. We ended the discussion with the holiness and importance of Shabbat, a day of rest, and of no work. Our teacher, Michal, taught us that the word "strike" (like a labor strike) is "shvat," which is akin to Shabbat and the concept of not working to fight for a better life. Very fitting :) In our classes, our teachers went into more detail with projects and discussions, while many of the students were pulled for Hebrew reading and writing practice. Michal sent her class home with Hebrew words for all the body parts, and Amber made beautiful drawings with the Gan class that depict Bereishit. Joel led a lively discussion on B'tzelem Elohim. Thank you to the Frimmers for providing snack - please check the Parent Sign Up sheet for available Sundays to help out! Also a shout out to our TAs - Naama, Zoe, and Rubi - who are doing a great job supporting our students! Looking at the calendar....
As always, please be in touch with any questions, concerns, etc. We are a very "dyi" group - I see us like a co-op of sorts. So, any piece you are able to focus on and help out with is what makes all this work! Also simply entrusting our TNS team with your children is an honor and privilege - we really do learn lots each week, and I love my connection with each and every one of our kids at TNS! All my best Lauren What a weekend! Thank you so much for so many of you coming to participate with Rabbi Sammy - Shabbat on Friday night, Havdalah and sukkah potluck on Saturday night, and an intricate Sukkot service at Sunday school yesterday. I have SO many pictures - a few below and more on this shared album link - https://photos.app.goo.gl/WMsnEpTz8YNo5jMv5
And the Jewish holidays still continue! Today is Shemini Atzeret (final day of Sukkot) with Simchat Torah tonight!!! Saeed Niku is leading a service at the synagogue at 6:15pm. So, if you can come out - you get to dance with the Torah and celebrate! Also please be aware that we had a passing in our local Jewish community, and many of us will be attending services, the funeral, and shiva for Jules Hock. Julie and his life partner, Brenda, are TNS and CBD members; Brenda is the current co-president of the JCC, and Julie's daughter Adrienne was the JCC board president for many years. Julie left a beautiful legacy within the Jewish, entertainment, and sports communities. Please reach out to Brenda or Adrienne, or be in touch if you would like details for any of the services or shiva. Otherwise, I look forward to seeing you next week - we should be back to our normal Sunday session schedule, and I'll be in touch with details later in the week! Chag sameach.... Lauren Thank you for coming up to Congregation Ohr Tzafon yesterday and participating in our Community Sukkot Session! Thank you and your children for being excellent guests, and of course, thank you to Ohr Tzafon for hosting a beautiful day. It was an expression of true community, and I loved shaking the lulav and etrog with so many of our students. And we certainly left the COT sukkah much more colorful than when we arrived with many beautiful paper chain decorations and birds! Below are some pictures, and you can find more on our shared album here. Plus, I've attached the sheets I used for the sukkah and lulav blessings, and the symbolic meaning of the parts of the lulav if you would like for your own homes. Though, we'll have the chance to do this again Saturday night and Sunday at TNS -
Sukkot blessings And Sukkot isn't even nearly over! We have a whole TNS weekend ahead of us with Rabbi Sammy Rosenbaum returning for Family Service, a Sukkot Potluck and Havdalah, and a Sukkot Sunday service. So please plan to come for the following:
Chag Sukkot Sameach -Lauren Thank you for the great Sunday session yesterday - focused on Shabbat Shuvah, our TNS "Sorry" board, and practicing how to say the holiday blessings - from "Shanah Tovah U'metukah" to "Gmar Chatima Tovah."
Our students were attentive as we reviewed some basics during Torah Talk - the difference between the siddur, Chumash, and Machzor. We spoke about how we took in this past Shabbat Shuvah in between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur thinking about forgiveness and return. Then almost everyone came up to write down what they are sorry for in this world - whether an action they did (ie, screaming), or sorry for some of the world's problems (ie, pollution). That's what we're doing on the bimah in the pictures above. The other bimah picture was from Kids Service - our students are participating, davening, and singing more and more! Class time, Hebrew review, and Hebrew assessments followed. For Hebrew Plus families, stay tuned from Andy, Malca, and Michal for resuming weekday Zoom sessions. And a thank you to Binah has been doing an amazing job working with our Sunday students to practice their Hebrew reading. Naama and Rubi will be starting with small group Hebrew letter/vowel review. Thank you to the families that helped with snacks this week - here's the Parent Sign Up form for future dates. Please know that next Sunday we will be at Congregation Ohr Tzafon in Atascadero for our Sukkot Community Session, 10am-12pm. There will be singing, class time, a parent talk, lulav and etrog shaking, and treats/decorating in the Sukkah. This is a great opportunity to meet other area Jewish families and congregants. Please let me know if you cannot attend, and please know we will host COT for Tu B'shvat in January. Lastly, I'm looking forward to seeing many of you over this Yom Kippur - we have Kol Nidre starting at 6pm tomorrow evening, services starting at 830 on Wednesday with the kids service at 11am, and Neilah with Break-Fast starting at 5pm in the night. The break-fast is a potluck, so please bring a veggie dish to share together! As we practiced at school yesterday, "Gmar Chatimah Tovah - may you be inscribed in the book of life!" Thank you for making Rosh Hashanah so special at Temple Ner Shalom! We brought in the Jewish New Year 5783 in beautiful SLO fashion with a guest sheep and the guest rabbi! It was so heartening to see so many of you and your children there to bring in the new year together, and stay for so long! Many of you even lasted til Tashlich at Laguna Lake! We've got some great pictures here thanks to Jaime, Phylissa, Jake, Adrienne, Cece and others - some below and the entire album here - https://photos.app.goo.gl/Z6AtJrNw71YL2DXo7
So, just a reminder, that we DO have TNS school this Sunday. Our Hebrew teacher, Malca will be back! And we will have a more regular session starting with Torah Talk, Hebrew review, class time, and kids service. We will start our Hebrew reading assessments and assign the kids with various Hebrew practice tutors. Weekday sessions will start after the High Holidays (so mid-October). Thank you in advance to the Hartless family who signed up for snacks. Please be sure to find a time to help out soon by signing up here - Parent Sign Up form. Also, Cece Pringle and I will be going through membership and tuition payments starting this Sunday, Thank you if you have already followed through on your payments. If you'd like to do so online, please do so online here - www.templenershalom.org/giving. Please note as well that next week continues to be busy at TNS with Kol Nidre next Tuesday night, Yom Kippur on Wednesday (11am kids service), and Neilah/break-fast in the evening. The following Sunday, October 9, we will have a community Sukkot session at Congregation Ohr Tzafon in Atascadero. And the Shabbat following that we welcome back Rabbi Sammy Rosenbaum for a family Friday night service, Sukkot services, and Sunday school time! Thank you all for being a part of the TNS community. You make the start of this new year as sweet as it can be. I'm excited for all that it will bring. G'mar chatima tova - may you be sealed in the book of life - and a sweet one! All my best, Lauren  Dear TNS School families What a weekend many of us just shared with one another - and a successful first day of TNS school to start! Thank you to so many of you who came for Rabbi Rosenbaum's beautiful Kabbalat Shabbat service on Friday night, our Torah Service on Saturday morning, and our Sunday School session today. We sang, we ate, we davened and we celebrated a spirited weekend together. It was our first official Shabbat potluck back as a synagogue! Thank you to our kiddush family sponsors too - the Tendrihs and the Feldmans. And then there was today! First, "todah rabah" to Adrienne, Phylissa and Sharon for consistently checking in on me and running off to pick up last minute school needs! Also, our TNS School Staff was wonderful as we eased into this first day, with lessons on Rosh Hashanah and our Hebrew names. I will start to send you lesson synopses so you can talk about at home what our teachers are discussing at school. Of course today was much on getting acclimated and oriented. Here is my presentation from this morning for those of you who missed. As you know, much of it is a call to action by way of the Sign-Up form . That said, I'd like to host two 15 minute parent sessions to talk in more detail about how you can support the school and synagogue - one during next week's classroom time (around 10am), and the other 15 minutes after our Rosh Hashanah kids service (that starts at 11am). (Here is the Parent Handbook for the schedule and calendar) As always - thank you for entrusting me with your children and believing in the value of Jewish education. We really do have lots of fun, the kids feel really comfortable at TNS, and we are proud to help instill a lifetime of Jewish connection for you and your families.   Dear friends....
Oh my - the last email I pen for the 2021-22 school year is here! Before I go into all the details, I just want to THANK YOU for entrusting me and our staff with your children this year. It's been an honor and pleasure to teach and instill Judaism and Hebrew into their (and your) lives all year, and I so look forward to continuing to do so. We have a special community and experience going on at TNS. Here's the registration page for next year so you can sustain or begin such a connection - https://www.templenershalom.org/education.html. Please note - if your child has started to work with a Hebrew teacher this year (Andy, Michal, or Malca), we strongly encourage you register them as a Hebrew Plus student. Another important link for you is this Feedback Form so we can improve on our school offerings in 2022-23. You'll see there are questions for the Sunday program, our weekday Hebrew program, and a section for the Community School Sessions. I really appreciate your time and feedback. PLEASE call, text, or email me if there are further comments/ideas to share. I always want to hear them and will work to incorporate more. Family Shabbat, Shavuot, and Last Day Review What a weekend we just shared! Our congregant, Rabbi Lon Moskowitz, led a beautiful Family Shabbat service, engaging our tots with lighting Shabbat candles up to our Bnei Mitzvah students leading prayers. Please note, we will take a pause on Family Shabbats over the summer. That said, regular Shabbat services continue regardless and we especially encourage our bnei mitzvah students to attend. We also held a special Shavuot service during Hebrew school this past Sunday. Saeed Niku did a monumental job at leading this very lengthy service - and the kids did amazingly well at sitting during a good portion of it, and engaging with the Torah service! They learned about the book of Ruth, why we eat dairy on Shavuot, and experienced the rituals around taking the Torah out. Admittedly, they were already at the ice cream sundae bar when the Torah was returned to the ark :) Finally, here are some images of the last day/Shavuot ice cream sundae bar. We had 2 birthdays yesterday (Eliana and Simon), and a slightly belated one (Leo) - so Yom Huledet Sameach to all! Again, I so look forward to being with you for our 2022-23 year and building upon all we have done thus far. The adventure continues, and I'm grateful to be on it with all of you. Til soon.... Lauren PS - there is a TNS congregational meeting on June 19. Our friend/fellow parent Isaac Feldman is going to be our next president! Please come if you can to support, share ideas, figure out new rabbinic direction, and so on. We have so much we have built up, and so much we still have to work on...
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 |
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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