November 13, 2008/ 15 Cheshvan 5769
Dear Midrasha Families,
+We had 14 wonderful, hardworking parents who helped with the fundraising appeal mailing last Sunday, but we could have used twice as many and we didn’t get the job done. So, I NEED YOU AGAIN THIS SUNDAY. Come to the Social Hall at 9:30 and we’ll take up where we left off. We need to stuff envelopes, seal and labels the remaining pieces of mail. PLEEASE COME. (Besides needing to beat the other end-of-the-year appeals into people’s homes I also need all the boxes and trays out of my tiny office.
+ Last week the 8th graders had a program on Disabilities Awareness. The student evaluations were really, really positive and one student wished that his parents could see the video we showed, F.A.T. City: How Difficult Could This Be? which simulates learning disabilities to show teachers what it’s like to be a student who has trouble reading. So, I’ve kept the video for an extra week and I’ll show it in the Social Hall while the mailing party is going on. If you just want to watch the video, that’s ok and if you just want to work on the mailing, that’s ok and if you can multi-task, more power to you.
+ We have a field trip going to the Contemporary Jewish Museum at 10:20 this Sunday and we’re short a driver. If you can come along, please let me know. The class will be visiting the exhibit, “In the Beginning: Artists Respond to Genesis. You can either drive to SF or if you prefer, drive to BART and take your carload on BART.. If you drive, the 5th and Mission garage is right across the street. Let me know. WE JUST NEED ONE MORE DRIVER BUT HAVEN’T BEEN ABLE TO FIND ONE. IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN COMING TO THE MUSEUM, LET ERICA KNOW DIRECTLY SINCE I WON’T BE IN THE OFFICE TOMORROW. (ecrowell@aol.com or 367-2120)
+Several you have asked about the follow up from the brunch and auction. We have just e-mailed people who won items but had to leave early. If you got such an e-mail, please send in or bring in your checks asap and pick up your items. Once we get all the outstanding money, we should have made significantly more than we did last year. Hooray to everyone who helped so much with this wonderful, wonderful day.
brunch
+ Parents of 9th – 12th graders: "Jews Rock!" Teen Dance – THIS SATURDAY NIGHT
CCJCC - 2071 Tice Valley Blvd., Walnut Creek
Saturday, Nov. 15 - 7:30-10:30pm
$10 at the door.
. Dance to great music
. Hang with friends from BBYO and Contra Costa Midrasha
. Enjoy snacks and drinks
. View the "Jews Rock!" photo exhibit
For more information, or to RSVP, e-mail judithm@ccjcc.org or 925/938-7800 x 256.
+ Midrasha in Contra Costa also invites our teens (and parents, I assume) to a presentation of “Stateless” on Wednesday, November 19.
+On Sunday, December 7th we will be having special parent programs for parents of 9th,10th, 11th and 12th graders. (Don’t worry, 8th grade parents. You’ll have something special in February!)
-9th grade parents will have a 3 hour family program for you and your teen entitled “Love Shouldn’t Hurt” about building healthy relationships. It will be facilitated by Shalom Bayit.
-10th grade families will have a first hour (9:30-10:30) presentation on this summer’s Israel trip.
-11th and 12th grade families will have a first hour (9:30-10:30) presentation called “Packing for College” on putting Jewish values into the college process.
+Parents of 8th graders: On that same day, December 7, all 8th graders will go on a day trip to San Francisco with students from the other Midrashot. You have gotten a separate e-mail about this.
+We’re going to designate December 14th as “Bring a Friend Day.” We’ll have snack bar coupons for both the guest and the person bringing a guest. Of course anyone is welcome but we’d love it if guests were potential Midrasha students. If you can, help suggest friends for your teen, that would be great.
+Parents of 11th and 12th graders: On Sunday, December 7 during 2nd hour (10:45) we will have a presentation for any of you who are interested in participating in this year’s Shalhevet program. Shalhevet ("flame" in Hebrew) is a transformative journey to Poland and Israel for Bay Area High School Juniors and Seniors. Inspired by March of the Living, Shalhevet is a way for local Jewish teens to participate in a program specifically tailored to the educational and cultural environment of the Bay Area.
Regional seminars taught right here at Midrasha by Devra Aarons) run from January to May and the group will travel March 16-March 30, 2009.
• Learn about the thriving Jewish culture in Poland before WWII and today.
• Witness the concentration camps through the eyes of a survivor traveling with the group.
• Meet with Polish and Israeli teens to get a taste of their lives.
• Experience Israel: the people, the culture and the homeland.
• Examine today’s political and geopolitical challenges in Israel.
For more information on the program, information sessions near you, and to complete the online application, visit http://www.bjesf.org/teensnav_shalhevet.htm
To see photos, look for us on Facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/pages/San-Francisco-CA/Shalhevet/38924025341
Financial Aid is available
For more information contact:
Yaron Lipschitz at: ylipschitz@bjesf.org - 415.751.6983 x106
Or Morgan Blum at: mblum@hcnc.org - 415.777.9060 x203
+Mark your calendars for December 14, our first ever Bring A Friend Day. Start thinking about who you might like to invite to Midrasha that day. Think of someone who might really enjoy the program and might like to enroll second semester. We’ll have free surprises that day for both guests and those that bring them.
+Parents of +10-12th grade Kesher students. The CJLL and I now have RSVPs from everyone except Alina Alishoev, Adam Berson, Ilana Cohen, Eppie Margolin, Zach Piser, Gaby Rothman, Michael Salaverry. Let me know if your teen is going and call the CJLL 839-2900.
Midrasha Calendar:
Nov. 21-23 First Kesher (10-12th grade) retreat
Nov 30 NO MIDRASHA
December 7 Israel trip recruitment -10th grade (first hour)
11-12th college program, with parents (first hour)
Shalhevet recruitment (11,12th grade) (second hour)
Gesharim (8th grade) day trip to San Francisco
Etgar (9th grade) parent/ teen program “Love Shouldn’t Hurt” – all morning
December 21,28, Jan 4 NO MIDRASHA
March 15 Midrasha Seudah
Thanks to our helpers for last week :Michael Ore, Susan Preneta, Bonnie Roditti, Elizabeth Weisz, Wendy Fitch, Marcy Moniconi, Rafi Hoch, Ora Prochovnick, Orly Guzy, Judy Schwarz, Carolyn Pines, Shelley Egger, Susan Sholin, Diane Wirtschafter, Karen Bovarnick and of course, the person who’s been here nearly every day: Lisa Nelson.
Shabbat Shalom
Diane
