In December, our Religious School invites the congregation to join us for some exciting events:

On Saturday, December 14, at 4:30 pm, please join us for a Consecration Havdalah Ceremony. Our 4th-5th graders will receive their very own prayer books. We hope all MCJC families will join us for this special ceremony followed by a pizza party!

On Sunday, December 15, we will enjoy our Annual Community Chanukah Party. The fun starts at 9:30 am with music, followed by activity stations and of course, latkes prepared by our own MCJC Maintenance Men!

DECEMBER RELIGIOUS SCHOOL CALENDAR

Wednesday, December 4
4:30 pm: Religious School grades 4-7

Sunday, December 8
9:30 am: Religious School all grades

Wednesday, December 11
4:30 pm: Religious School grades 4-7

Saturday, December 14
4:30 pm: Consecration Havdalah Ceremony (see above)

Sunday, December 15
9:30 am: Annual Community Chanukah Party (see above)

Wednesday, December 18
4:30 pm: Religious School grades 4-7

Sunday, December 22
9:30 am: NO Religious School

Wednesday, December 25
4:30 pm: NO Religious School

Sunday, December 29
9:30 am: NO Religious School

“Chanukah 5769” by otir_im is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0 

Last week, students in all grades continued working on their Hebrew. Grade 2/3 read and discussed another Torah story. Most of the 4th-7th graders finished their challah trays. We will spray them with a food-safe sealant and send them home soon.

Next month, our school is looking forward to some exciting events:

• On Saturday, December 14, at 4:30 we will have a Consecration Havdalah ceremony. Our 4th-5th graders will receive their very own prayer books. We hope all families will join us for this special ceremony followed by a pizza party!
• Sunday, December 15, will be our annual Chanukah party. The fun starts at 9:30 am with music followed by activity stations and, of course, latkes prepared by our own MCJC Maintenance Men!

UPCOMING

Wednesday, November 27 – NO RELIGIOUS SCHOOL (Thanksgiving Break)

Sunday, December 1 – NO RELIGIOUS SCHOOL (Thanksgiving Break)

Wednesday, December 4– Religious School, grades 4-7

Sunday, December 8 – Religious School, all grades.

We hope everyone has a wonderful Thanksgiving!

“Cornucopia” by Accretion Disc is licensed under CC BY 2.0 

Hebrew learning continues in all grades. The 2nd / 3rd grade class learned a new letter and their first “final” letter. They also worked on learning some common Hebrew words.

Grades 4-7 continue to work on fluency. They also continued to work on their Challah trays, which they will finish next Sunday.

Next month, our school is looking forward to some exciting events. On Saturday, December 14, at 4:30 pm, we will have a Consecration Havdalah ceremony, when our 4th / 5th graders will receive their very own prayer books! We hope all families will join us for this special ceremony followed by a pizza party.

Sunday, December 15, will be our annual Chanukah party. The fun starts at 9:30 am with music, followed by activity stations, and of course, Latkes!

UPCOMING

Wednesday, November 20 – Religious School, grades 4-7

Sunday, November 24 – Religious School, all grades

Wednesday, November 27 – NO School (Thanksgiving Break)

Sunday, December 1 – NO School (Thanksgiving Break)

Our 2nd – 3rd graders learned 5 Hebrew letters and 2 vowels so far! They practiced reading combinations of letters and vowels, and read the word “Shabbat” in Hebrew.  They also continued to work on their first picture for their own Torahs.

4th through 7th graders worked on prayer reading and Hebrew sight words.  They continued to paint their challah trays, which are looking great so far.

UPCOMING

Wednesday, November 13 – Religious School grades 4-7

Sunday, November 17 – Religious School all grades

Oh, and NEW THIS WEEK: See our Religious School Havdalah (10/20) video in the right column of every page of the site just below Rabbi Tom’s Shabbat video – or view it in our Video Gallery: https://mcjconline.org/video-category/shabbat-videos/

Last Sunday we started something new in Religious School. Not only will we begin our Sunday mornings with Havdalah, we will also begin with some prayers. Students will learn how prayers are chanted, along with the origins of the prayers and common traditions.

Our 2nd and 3rd grade classes learned another Hebrew letter and vowel. They also read their first Torah story and created their first picture for their own Torahs.  Grades 4-7 worked on Hebrew word recognition and began painting the backgrounds of their challah trays.

Please join MCJC as it celebrates 40 years on Saturday, November 16 at 6 pm. The event is free to all members, and children are welcome!  For more information or to RSVP visit MCJC’s website at https://mcjconline.org/event/mcjc-40th-anniversary-celebration/.

UPCOMING

Wednesday, November 6 – Religious School grades 4-7

Sunday, November 10 – Religious School all grades

As always, things at the MCJC Religious School are hopping!

Last Sunday after Havdalah, students had a chance to practice the Barchu (Call to Prayer) and the Shema as a whole group, and also in smaller class groups.

In addition, we learned about Tefillin, and why we bow or rise on our toes during certain parts of a service.

Students also worked together on a fun quiz about the Fall holidays. They did great! Be sure to check out the quiz (with the answer key) for interested families to do together. You will find the quiz in our Try This At Home section on the website.

The second and third graders were introduced to our next unit, Torah stories. We soon will make our own small Torahs.

Finally, grades four through seven began planning out designs for the Challah trays they will decorate. If your child brought home a sketch, please remind them to bring it to Religious School next Sunday.

UPCOMING:

Wednesday, October 30 – Religious School, grades 4-7

Sunday, November 3 – Religious School, all grades

Note that this will be our first Sunday on Standard Time. Remember to turn your clocks back on Saturday night!

“Shema” by FotoGuy 49057 is licensed under CC BY 2.0 

L’Shanah Tovah! We hope everyone had a wonderful Rosh HaShanah. It was great seeing many of our students at services.

UPCOMING:

Wednesday, October 9 – No School – Yom Kippur

Sunday, October 13
Parents, please plan on joining us for a Sukkot Celebration (and remember that morning is our deadline for dropping off donations for our Corners of Our Fields drive.)

• 9:30-10:00 am: Havdalah and Introduction to Sukkot
• 10:00-11:00 am: Sukkah decorating
• 1:00-12:00 am: Lulav and Etrog ceremony, singing, and Pizza in the Hut (Please reply via school@mcjconline.org if you are attending, so we can order enough pizza).

Sunday, October 20
Also, parents, please plan on joining us on for a Simchat Torah Celebration with bagels and donut holes (School from 9:30-10:30 am, then service and snack).

Last Sunday, school started with a Rosh HaShanah story. Then we did a fun quiz to test our knowledge of Rosh HaShanah and Yom Kippur traditions. The students did great! Also, each student brought home some of the honey they helped harvest last week. Thanks again, Ellen and Dale Morton!

Our 2nd/3rd grade class played a Hebrew letter game and worked on their Rosh HaShanah craft.

The 4th/5th graders this week worked on Hebrew reading fluency, Hebrew prayers, and Rosh HaShanah.

Our 6th/7th graders continued their Hebrew and prayer studies, and finished making their Rosh HaShanah honey jars and beaded spoons.

Our school will again participate in the McHenry County Crop Walk next Sunday, September 29, at 1:15 pm.

It is not too late to sign up and walk with the MCJC team. If you are interested, please email school@mcjconline.org. Also, if you are unable to participate, please consider making a donation. Checks can be made out to CWS/CROP.

UPCOMING
Wednesday, September 25 – School for grades 4-7
Sunday, September 29 – No School (Erev Rosh HaShanah)
9:00- Sukkah Building at MCJC
1:15- McHenry County Crop Walk
7:00 – Erev Rosh HaShanah service

SPECIAL EVENTS COMING UP
Sunday, October 6 – Special interfaith activity for all grades
Sunday, October 13 – Sukkot Celebration with Lulav & Etrog for all, then PIZZA IN THE HUT
Sunday, October 20 – Simchat Torah Celebration for all

On Sunday, our Religious School had a special treat to get us into the Rosh HaShanah spirit. Ellen and Dale Morton taught us about honey bees and how honey is harvested from them. Students helped separate the wax from the honey, and even got to taste some honey. Many thanks to the Mortons!

Our 2nd/3rd grade class also learned a new Hebrew letter, discussed why and how we celebrate Rosh HaShanah, and started making a cute craft. The 4th/5th graders continued to work on Hebrew reading fluency and Hebrew prayers. They also began to study Rosh HaShanah and made some sparkly shofar magnets. Our 6th/7th graders continued their Hebrew and prayer studies and began their Rosh HaShanah unit.

A big thank you to all the families who have already brought snacks in for the first half of the year! Also, thank you to those who have begun bringing in tzedakah money. Any spare change your children can bring in makes a huge difference. Last year’s tzedakah went to Big Brothers Big Sisters of McHenry County.

Upcoming in September:
Wednesday, September 18 – Religious School for grades 4-7
Sunday, September 22 – Religious School for all grades
Wednesday, September 25 – Religious School for grades 4-7
Sunday, September 29 – No Religious School (Erev Rosh Hashanah)
McHenry County CROP Hunger Walk, 1:15-3:15 pm
Sukkah Building with the MCJC Maintenance Men, beginning at 9:00 am. Stop in with your family any time you can help out!

Even though there is no Religious School September 29, MCJC will still participate in the McHenry County CROP Hunger Walk from about 1:15 to 3:15 pm. If you are interested, please see Davina to sign up and obtain further information. Last year’s participants had a great time and raised $686.

Sunday, September 29 is a very big day at MCJC. In addition to the CROP Hunger Walk, a wonderful opportunity for families to share an important Mitzvah, it’s time to build our MCJC Sukkah. Sukkah-building is also a fun and educational event for families. Join our own MCJC Maintenance Men beginning at 9 am. Coffee and donuts will be provided!

Special Events Coming Up:
Sunday, October 6 – Special interfaith activity for all grades
Sunday, October 13 – Sukkot Celebration with Lulav & Etrog for children and adults, then PIZZA IN THE HUT
Sunday, October 20 – Simchat Torah Celebration for children and adults