30 March, 20127 Nisan, 5772

MJCDS Maggid/Teller

 

the weekly newsletter of

 Madison Jewish Community Day School

 

Shalom! 

Hebrew word of the day: Kehillah.  Kehillah means community.

 

Our kindergarteners are exploring the idea of community in social studies, learning about different roles people play to make our community a great place to live.

 

This morning they created a fun carnival for our school community complete with plenty of student-created games, some snacks and of course, a first aid stand.  

 

This weekend our Kehillah committee (grown-ups who work to enhance the sense of community at MJCDS), invites you to attend a Pre-Passover discussion led by Rabbi Jonathan Biatch featuring the New American Haggadah, an exciting new publication of the classic seder text.  

 

Join us at 7 pm at the Great Dane at Hilldale for learning, beer, and time to catch up with friends.  

 

Shabbat Shalom!

first aid
In This Issue
Community Guests
Who knows Four?
Celebrate MJCDS
Announcements
Upcoming Events
Who are the people in your neighborhood?
Guests, guests, guests! Nuts, nuts, nuts and fun, fun, fun.  Recently, MJCDS students met several wonderful community members who shared their professional experiences and Passover traditions with us.

 

Felice

Some of our guests visited as part of the kindergarten's exploration of community. 
 
*Felice Rudin spoke to students about being a lawyer.
 
*Bill Goldman (Ms. Goldman's father), talked with the class about being a professional musician and accountant. 

 

*Ken Becker (Mrs. Becker's husband) talked with students about being an artist and illustrator.  

Ken has worked as a cartoonist for Disney and has illustrated many Jewish-themed books. His work has also appeared in Jewish publications such as Chabad's magazines for children.  


Ken
Students at all grade-levels paged through children's books which held his illustrations, learned a bit about his history growing up and saw one of his journals which contained both his notes and art work from a recent conference! What a colorful time it was! 

 

*Yiddish teacher Sylvia Grunes taught students four different traditional games that children can play using nuts at their Passover seders.  In fact, she claimed that they should play these games during the seder meal if they finish their dinner early and can not sit any longer! 

Sylvia

 

Many thanks as well to Ellie, Maya and Baila Becker who also visited this past week and helped to teach drawing, cooking and soccer to our youngest students.

 

And todah rabbah to Romy Arenson, a native Israeli and new Madison resident, who is assisting in our Hebrew classes!

 

Needless to say the only plague we suffered this week was that the days went way too fast and we wanted more of such a good time.
 
-Meisha Leibson
Passover:  Who knows Four?
Did you know there are at least four names for the holiday of Passover?
 

     Chag HaMatzot - The Festival of Matzah
     Chag HaPesach - The Festival of the Passover Offering
     Chag HaAviv - The Spring Festival
     Zman Cheiruteinu - The Time of Our Freedom

 

Four names, four questions, four cups of wine, and four children-our students are learning about all of these fours through song, drawing, games, word searches, and dramatic play.

 

The 1/2 class is also learning actual passages from the Haggadah. From the start, searching for hametz (leavened foods), to the end of the seder where songs are sung in Hebrew, Aramaic and or English, students are learning the meanings of the words, their actions, and various symbols. Nothing is left hidden, especially the Afikomen, the matzah that is found by the children and returned to the adults at the end of the formal portion of the meal.

 

The 3/4 class is taking pre-Passover studies a step further by reviewing commentaries from various rabbis. This is particularly challenging, but MJCDS students are persistent and determined to be completely familiar with the haggadah through and through. Don't be surprised if they soon write a new tune to go with the words they are learning. They recently did this for the various rabbis they "met" while studying commentaries on the Book of Exodus.

-Meisha Leibson

Celebrate MJCDS!
celebrate!
Celebrate MJCDS 
at the Fourth Annual Spring Gala
Sunday, April 22, 2012, 7:30-10pm 
Nakoma Country Club 

 

Desserts, drinks, dancing, and silent auction

 

Live music from The Mighty Groove Masheen
featuring Bruce Wasserstrom  (funky blues/jazz)

 

Enjoy scrumptious desserts & beer from Great Dane Brewery

 

Tickets: $54 * RSVP by April 13

Buy tickets for 4th Annual Spring Gala thru Brown Paper Tickets

Announcements

*THIS SUNDAY*

MJCDS Community Pre-Passover Learning with Rabbi Biatch

Sunday, April 1, 7 pm

The Great Dane at Hilldale

You are invited to join Rabbi Jonathan Biatch for learning related to the holiday of Passover followed by time to socialize and catch up with friends over beer.  Rabbi Biatch will lead a discussion on The New American Haggadah.  The discussion will include an introduction to the haggadah and its four sections, followed by a lively debate about which section is most essential. Rabbi Biatch will rely on translations and commentaries contained in this exciting new publication of the hagaddah. Contact Lanny at lglinberg@gmail.com to RSVP or for more information.

 

Yom Ha-Atzmaut Celebration, Sunday April 29

MJCDS students will perform at the community-wide Yom HaAtzmaut celebration at the Goodman Campus.  Mark your calendars now for Sunday, April 29, 1:30-4:30.

 

2012-13 Enrollment Forms Due Monday

Enrollment forms and tuition deposits are due this Monday, April 2.  Hard copies went home in backpacks, but forms are also available by clicking here: (application form, enrollment form).  Thank you in advance for your timely help!

 

Volunteers needed Wednesday from 2-3

Parents, if you are available to help out at school this coming Wed. from 2-3, please contact Rabbi Ben-Gideon. 

 

Community Announcements

 

Registration Open for Camp Shalom & the Hilde L. Mosse Gan HaYeled Preschool Visit www.JewishMadison.org  for more information or to register.  You can also call (608) 278-1808.

 

Community Passover Seder

Saturday, April 7, 6:00 pm, Temple Beth El

Minyan will be held immediately beforehand, starting at 5:15 pm in the lounge. Join us for this festive meal!  For more details, including prices and to RSVP, visit the seder website. We look forward to greeting you at our Passover table! 

 

Post Passover Pizza Palooza  Sunday, April 15, 4-8 pm 

Dahmen's Pizza Place, 6654 Mineral Point Road

15% of all sales between 4:00 and 8:00pm on April 15 will be donated by Dahmen's to the Hilde L. Mosse Gan HaYeled Preschool. No coupon necessary.  Grab some friends, grab the family...head out and enjoy some great pizza for a great cause!

 

Free Israel Program  

Wednesday, April 11, 7:30 pm 

HotelRED, 1501 Monroe St.

Harel Stanton, a staff photographer of the leading Israeli geographical magazine, Masa Acher, presents "Israel - Rainbow Colors of People, Cultures and Ideologies." The multi- media presentation combines his photographs with beautiful music and an interactive lecture, creating a multi-sensory experience that touches the heart and feeds the intellect, thus bringing Israel close to the audience. Space is limited, so RSVP in advance to Jill Hagler at  jhagler@jewishmadison.org or phone (278-1808).

 

MAH JONGG Tournament 
Join us April 29, starting at 11am for the Temple Beth El Sisterhood's first annual Mah Jongg tournament! You provide the foursome and we will do the rest. Early bird registration prices before April 10:  $26- Sisterhood Member/$30- Non-member.  For more information, contact Susie at susiejennings@gmail.com or Susan at sdlmayer@gmail.com.

Yom Ha'Atzmaut Community Celebration

Sunday, April 29, 1:30-4:00pm

Irwin A. and Robert D. Jewish Community Campus

Come celebrate Israeli Independence Day in style!  Beginning at 1:30pm there will be activities for all ages, including a family treasure hunt, bounce house and Israeli carnival.  Performances begin at 3pm, featuring children from the Hilde L. Mosse Gan HaYeled Pre-school, Madison Jewish Community Day School, Chug Ivrit and Yonim. Special musical guest: The Gomers! Israeli food will be available for purchase through Banzo.

 

Upcoming Events
Carnival Fun

Sun. April 1:  Learning and Kehilla Event with Rabbi Biatch, 7 pm @ The Great Dane

 

Tues. April 3:  Parent-Teacher Conferences take place after school

 

Thurs. April 5:  

PE at YMCA

 

Parent-Teacher Conferences take place after school

 

Fri. April 6:  K-2 Kabbalat Shabbat 8:10 am

 

April 9-13:  Spring Break/Passover

 

April 16:  School resumes

 

April 22:  Celebrate MJCDS Gala

 

April 29:  Students perform at Yom HaAtzmaut celebration, 1:30-4:30 pm

Let's stay in touch!  Keep the lines of communication flowing with your child's teachers by calling school at 608-204-9900 or by emailing them at:

Jodi Harris  jodi.harris@madisonjewishdayschool.com
Marla Becker marla@madisonjewishdayschool.com

Geri Goldman geri@madisonjewishdayschool.com

Meisha Leibson meisha@madisonjewishdayschool.com

Rabbi Ben-Gideon rabbi@madisonjewishdayschool.com

 
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