On the Bridge 11/18/2010

There is a lot to be learned from the print and the images that surround us. This is why we jumped at the idea of hosting a traveling exhibit called, "Jewish Life in Lincoln's City." The exhibit is put together by the Jewish Historical Society of Greater Washington and depicts the Jewish community on both sides of the Potomac- DC and Northern Virginia- during the trying years of the American Civil War.

Having grown up in a state whose license plates proudly proclaim, "Land of Lincoln," I will admit to a deeply conditioned appreciation of the late President. It's nice then, to learn, that Mr. Lincoln had friends in the Jewish community. Even more, it is good to learn that when the Jewish community faced blatant discrimination, Lincoln was someone who could be appealed to for justice!

We have added a portrait at the far left of the lobby from another collection of images- this one a photograph of Lincoln towards the end of his Presidency. How the war had aged him! On the day before Thanksgiving this striking picture will be given out on loan for one month to the student or team of students who answer the most questions correctly on the set of questions available by following the link here. In addition, a $25 gift certificate to Barnes and Noble will be given to the winning student or team. All answers can be learned by a careful reading of the exhibit posters. Additional entry forms will be available at our guard's desk. All entries are due on Monday, November 22, at 3:30 pm. In the case of a tie, a drawing will be held to select one grand winner amongst the winning entries.

Shabbat Shalom!
Zvi

Zvi Schoenburg
Head of School

Upcoming Events

See our full calendar of events!

November 19- Kabbalat Shabbat - All welcome! 1:45 pm

(PTO Family Shabbat rescheduled to Dec. 17)

November 22- Board Meeting

November 23- Grandparents - VIP Day!, 8:30 - 10:30 am

Thanks a Latte!

November 24- Erev Thanksgiving, noon dismissal

November 25-26 - Thanksgiving Break, no school

December 1 - Erev Chanukah, the first candle

December 2-8- Chanukah!

December 3 - Kabbalat Shabbat, featuring the B-Boyz

December 8 - Chanukah Family Celebration! 7:00 pm

featuring The Odd Potato!

December 10 - Faculty Work Day, noon dismissal

December 12 - Super Sunday!

December 17 - PTO Family Kabbalat Shabbat, 1:45 pm,

featuring, Songs and Stories from the Jewish Tradition, All parents welcome!

Head, Heart and Hand

Head, Heart, and Hand Update:

Our HHH program started in a lovely way this Fall. We had a wonderful Kabbalat Shabbat service in which the Gan through 5^th Grade made presentations about each of their mitzvah themes for the year. Using imaginative posters and interactive discussions, we related that week's parasha about Noah being a righteous man to our own ability and duty to fulfill the Jewish tradition and value of Tikkun Olam.

On Grandparents'/VIP day on November 23, 2010, each grade will continue to learn about their mitzvah theme through various projects completed with our special guests. The Gan will implement their theme of "Welcoming Guests" as they actually welcome many guests into their classroom to make picture frames together. The 1^st Grade will accomplish their mitzvah of "Kindness to Animals" by making bird feeders. In 2^nd Grade, the students and guests will weave placemats for Thanksgiving to give to those who are in need. This activity teaches the students about "Loving your Neighbor as Yourself". The 3^rd Grade's mitzvah of "Visiting the Sick" will be fulfilled by making fleece blankets for the Ronald McDonald House. In the 4^th Grade, the students and guests will examine their theme of "Opening the Eyes of the Blind" through an experiment of guiding a blindfolded partner to draw pictures. The 5^th Grade's theme is "How Wondrous are God's Creations". The students and guests will interview each other about difficult situations they have overcome and will focus on how special they feel because of those experiences. The 6^th grade will study a midrash focused on taking care of the earth. The 7^th Grade will watch a video and use text to better understand disability awareness. The 8^th Grade will focus on their theme of "Assisting the Stranger" through examining different immigration stories.

We look forward to accomplishing so many meaningful projects on Grandparents'/VIP Day and of course throughout the whole school year!

School News

Grandparents/VIP Day is Tuesday, Nov. 23^rd!

Calling all grandparents and community guests to join us in school from 8:30 to10:30 AM on Tuesday, November 23. RSVP online here.

We will greet Gesher grandparents, VIPs, and all our Shomrei Gesher (Annual Fund) supporters with a Thanks a Latte breakfast in the Chadar Ochel (cafeteria) at 8:30 AM. After brief remarks, our grandparents and VIP guests will visit in classrooms and the Beit Midrash for tefillot (prayers), General and Judaic Studies lessons, and our Head, Heart and Hand projects.

It's a great morning; please encourage your friends and neighbors to join us!

Nominate your teacher as My Favorite Teacher and win prizes!

If a Gesher student wins this Barnes & Noble contest, the teacher AND the school each get $5,000. Click here for more information.

Chanukah Musical: The Odd Potato

As in previous years, Gesher will perform an all school Chanukah musical for family and guests at our annual Chanukah family celebration. We are already in the thick of production! This year, the celebration will be the eighth night of Chanukah, Wednesday, Dec 8th. Mark your calendar, you will not want to miss it! The story of the Odd Potato is a charming adaptation about siblings and their challenges to having a family Chanukah celebration. Each elementary grade has a featured song to perform and they are busy learning their song in music class. Selected performers from our Middle School serve to narrate and act out the story to tie the songs altogether!

A pre-show dinner by Z-tov will again be coordinated by the PTO.To make reservations for your family visit https://www.gesher-jds.org/rsvp.php . The cost is $10 per dinner. As always, our afterschool program is available on a drop-in basis if it is more convenient for you to meet your child(ren) here at Gesher at 5:45pm for dinner and then the program. Please do provide notice to Meredith Parnes mparnes@gesher-jds.org if you'd like to take advantage of afterschool drop-in care that Wednesday; there will be a flat $10 charge. We will be staffing as necessary for the number of children who RSVP.

Whether or not you plan to join us for dinner, all students are asked to report to the Gesher gym no later than 6:30 that evening, where parent volunteers will be ready to help the children get into their places, costumes and warm up their voices! The gym will be open to parents at 6:55 for audience seating and the performance begins at 7pm. The show will run around one hour. We look forward to celebrating Chanukah with our school community! Thanks to so many volunteers, both PTO and classroom parents who are helping with many aspects of the evenings festivities and show!

Poster Contest! Entries Due Tomorrow, Nov. 19!

Use Your Creativity to Create a Poster for the Gesher Chanukah Musical: The Odd Potato

Contest Rules:

A. Create a Poster on 11"x17" Paper or on 81/2"x11" Paper, using Crayons, Markers, Pens, or Collage

B. The Poster Must Include the Following Information:

The Odd Potato, A Chanukah Musical
Put on by Gesher Jewish Day School Players
Wednesday, December 8, 7:00 pm
The Last Candle of Chanukah

C. Depict A Brother and Sister Celebrating Chanukah with a menorah carved out of a potato!

The Contest is Open to All Gesher Students, gr. K-8

Grand Prize: A New Gesher Duffel Bag!

Posters Due: Friday, Nov 19

The B-Boyz are Back for Chanukah 2010!

B, J & M Borenstein celebrate and share the joy and lights of Hanukkah with everyone with their own parody version of Taio Cruz's "Dynamite" Hit. Coming soon to your neighborhood. Share this YouTube Video link with your children and relatives nationwide to help them light up the holiday with joy and 100,000 video views! Click here, forward to your friends, and let's run up the Jewish score! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FhulTPLd4rc

PS- The B-Boyz will perform the song at Kabballat Shabbat at Gesher JDS on Friday, December 3, as a L'dor VeDor Mitzvah.

Development and Fundraising

Dinner with a Twist -- A Huge Success!

Thanks to Everyone for your support!

On Saturday, November 13, Gesher Jewish Day School, hosted another fabulous fall fundraiser, Dinner with a Twist^®2010. Please click here to view some of the pictures from the evening.

A special thank-you to our fabulous Dinner with a Twist Committee: Ann Bennett, Miriam Berkowitz, Rochelle Goldberg, Louise Klein Hodin, Susan Kristol, Margaret Feinstein, Jane Shichman, BJ Shiff.

We also want to express our deep gratitude to our extraordinary hosts, whose generosity allowed us to net more than 98% of our proceeds in support of our scholarship initiatives at Gesher JDS. Our hosts this year: Susan and William Kristol, Louise and Earl Hodin, Margaret Feinstein and David Sattler, Micky and David Litman, Marilee and Don Perkal, Lynne and Don Sandler, Michelle and Steven Stravitz, Carol Gordon and Steve Rosenthal, Tanya and Stephen Bodzin, Jennifer and Jonathan Rubin, Ellen and Ron Katz and Jill and Cary Schwartzbach.

And of course, THANK YOU to all the guests who supported Gesher Jewish Day School through attendance at these wonderful dinners. Yours is far-reaching generosity, helping us ensure all children can receive an outstanding Jewish education.

Some "quotables"

"Dinner with a Twist went really well! Eli was amazing, a really interesting evening. The company was great - a really good group."

"We had a great time at my house last night. Bonnie Benwick was very lively, and so were all the guests."

"The dinner at the Rubins was lovely - very nice crowd, good food, and a fabulous guest speaker. Very successful evening!"

"Mara Liasson began and held a really great set of conversations. There was lot of lively give and take and some great behind the scenes tidbits. Lynne cooked an amazing meal!"

"Thank you for a lovely evening. Helen and I enjoyed the conversations with all the Gesher fans. The cuisine, wine, atmosphere, were all welcoming, gracious and delightful."

SCRIP IS AVAILABLE!

A great gift for the holidays! Major retailers want to give money to Gesher! Scrip is substitute money - gift cards from retailers. Gesher has two kinds of scrip - retail and grocery. Retail scrip is gift cards (see http://glscrip.com for a list of available retailers) which you can order online at https://secure.serve.com/gesher/retailscrip.php. There will be some scrip available at school during Grandparent's/VIP Day. We will place an order before Thanksgiving so that scrip comes in for Chanukah. Deadline for ordering is TODAY, November 18! Please contact Rochelle Goldberg rdgoldberg@hotmail.comif you have questions or are interested in helping out with this program.

Giant Food Bonus Cards
Please register your Giant Food card. Giant cards need to be registered each fall. Gesher will earn cash from Giant Food every time you shop at Giant and use your card. This even includes Peapod purchases. So please register your card now. Our school number is 02238. See more grocery stores you can register with on Gesher's website.

Gesher Green

Help Wanted
The Gesher Green team would like to plant two native trees on the side of the playground. Someone has offered us saplings, but we need to move them. We need help! We would like to do this on Sunday, Nov. 21. Please contact jleckert@gesher-jds.org if you are available.

Gallon jugs needed
Please send in CLEAN gallon milk or juice jugs. Gesher Green needs them for a project.

Admissions News

Volunteers needed for upcoming Admissions outreach!

There are several community programs that Admissions will be attending and participating in the month of November. We are sponsoring refreshments at two children's book events at the JCCNV book festival and we will have a craft activity table at an upcoming OTPS (Olam Tikvah Preschool) Rocknoceros concert. Each event is also a great opportunity to talk with parents about Gesher and provide admission materials! Parent volunteers at these events would be most appreciated! If anyone has experience with our PTO popcorn machine, your help is needed. To volunteer, email Debra at dmendelson@gesher-jds.org or call 703-962-9216.

Sunday, Nov 21 - Rocknoceros Concert (set up is 3pm) The program starts at 4pm at Congregation Olam Tikvah. We are sponsoring a Chanukah craft activity.

Next Admissions Open House- Tell your friends!

Sun, Jan 9 from 10-11:30a (child care available in the Gesher gym for the Sunday Tour)

RSVP 703-962-9216 or dmendelson@gesher-jds.org.

Refer a Friend Program

Help build enrollment for the 2011-2012 school year and save on next year's tuition through our Refer a Friend Program!

PTO

PTO logo

Thank you to Sharon Sherry for heading up the PTO gift wrap fundraiser. And thank you to all who order gift wrap and other items in support.

Thank you to Kilmeny Chernys for a superb job organizing the first PTO Coffee of the year last Friday and presenting a D'var Torah. Orlee Turitz, the guest speaker, led an engaging and enlightening discussion on the role of women via a study of Beresheit. Ms. Turitz is the Director of the Jewish Leadership Institute. For those who would like another opportunity to hear her, she will be at Wegmans Cafe in Fairfax on Thursday, December 2, 9:15-10:15 am to facilitate a conversation over coffee about Jewish leadership and American popular culture entitled Modern Family Values.

Help your kids get in the Gesher and Shabbat spirit by wearing the school colors. Encourage them to wear purple or white, or Gesherwear, on Fridays. If they "Get Caught Wearing Purple" they'll get a prize. Please note, shirts must be predominantly purple or white to be rewarded.

The Barnes & Nobel Book Fair is back! During the week of November 23-29 use voucher # 10342194 online or in stores to make purchases (Chanukah is right around the corner) and the PTO will get a portion of each purchase. Proceeds will go towards teacher wishlist book purchases and staff appreciation week. There will also be a table set up with an opportunity to purchase a teacher wishlist book or make a bookplate donation during VIP/Grandparents Day this Tuesday, November 23.

Don't want to cook before the Gesher Chanukah musical on December 8? Then come to the pre-show dinner at 5:45 pm. The vegetarian dinner by Z-Tov is $10 per person. To register online click on "Chanukah Dinner" under Quick Links on the Gesher homepage or go to https://www.gesher-jds.org/rsvp.php.

Burke & Herbert Bank is sponsoring its 4th annual kids' holiday art contest. Children 12 years old and younger can submit an original illustrated drawing that shows "Holiday Fun" using crayons, colored pencils or colored markers on white 8 1/2" x 11" paper. Artwork submission deadline is Tuesday, November 30, 2010. Download the entry form from their website at burkeandherbertbank.com or pick up at any of their banking office locations. The winner will receive a $100 U.S. Series EE Savings Bond and their artwork will be featured in Burke & Herbert Bank's holiday advertisement in community papers in December.

Turn in your box tops as the first submission deadline is coming soon. Gesher receives 10¢ for each submission, which totaled over $500 last year. Drop them off in the office or send them by Kiddie Mail.

December 17 - Family Kabbalat Shabbat at the Gesher Gym!

Mishpachat Gesher PTO welcomes all families:

Friday December 17
1:45 PM
Gesher Gottesman Performing Arts Center & Gymnasium
Grades K - 5
Interactive show by Mark Novak and Renee Brachfeld: Songs and Stories from the Jewish Tradition

*Please note: Tomorrow, Friday November 19, we will have an elementary school Kabbalat Shabbat in the gym. All are invited. First, second and fourth grades will present about the parasha of the week.

Caring Community

Mazel Tov to Nico D. on his Bar Mitzvah.

Baruch Dayan Emet. Condolences on the passing of Rabbi Levi Deitsch, z"l, of Tysons Chabad.

Mitzvah Coupon Donations

Mitzvah Coupon donations can now be made on-line through our secure website, www.gesher-jds.org. Simply log in and click on the Donate link at the top of our homepage.

In honor of Michelle and Steven Stravitz for a wonderful evening.

Judy and Vic Tynes

In honor of Avi S.'s Bar Mitzvah

Miriam and Jeffrey Berkowitz

Gesher Faculty and Staff

In honor of Ben E.'s Bar Mitzvah

Miriam and Jeffrey Berkowitz

Gesher Faculty and Staff

In honor of Moira J.'s Bat Mitzvah

Miriam and Jeffrey Berkowitz

In honor of Talia and Liz Katz help with Dinner with a Twist

Graciela and Yair Granek

In honor of Ingrid and Zvi Schoenburg for all you do for Gesher

Graciela and Yair Granek

In honor of Rebekah Dickinson for helping organize a wonderful Dinner with a Twist event

Graciela and Yair Granek

In memory of George Billinson's Father

Ellen and Ron Katz

In memory of Mark Weber's Father

Ellen and Ron Katz

In memory of Ken Barnett

Ellen and Ron Katz

Community Announcement

Composer Oded Zehavi

Tonight, the George Mason University program for Judaic Studies, the George Mason School of Music and the George Mason Hillel organization proudly present the North American premier presentation of Israeli composer Oded Zehavi's: "Beat Their Swords into Plowshares:"

The approximately 20-minute classical composition is drawn from melodies employed in traditional recitations of the Qur'an and of the Tanakh (Hebrew Bible), with lead-in melodies from Gregorian cantillation. The composition celebrates inter-Abrahamic dialogue and study and will be followed by a panel discussion featuring composer Israeli composer Oded Zehavi, Professor Peter Ochs, Bronfman Professor of Jewish Studies at the University of Virginia, Rachel Bergman, Associate Professor of Music Theory and co-founder of the George Mason Modern Music Ensemble and Randi Rashkover, Director of Judaic Studies, George Mason University.

The event will be tonight at 7PM in the De Laski Music Building's concert hall (across from the Johnson Center) at Mason's Fairfax campus. Reception will follow. Click here for more information.

Shopping for God... at Wegmans!

Join the Jewish Leadership Institute (JLI) for coffee and conversation as we explore the intersection of Jewish leadership and American popular culture. What can we learn from each, and how should they inform our lives? The Emmy award-winning TV show, Modern Family, will serve as our guide. Everyone will enjoy this self-exploration, regardless of background or experience. Pick up your coffee and let your curiosity lead you upstairs to the café! Thursday, December 2nd at 9:15am at the Fairfax Wegmans; Thursday, December 7th at 9:15am at the Leesburg Wegmans. For more information, visit www.shalomdc.org/jli or email jli@shalomdc.org.

What is your child doing this summer? How about Capital Camps?

Capital Camps, a pluralistic, Jewish residential camp located in nearby Waynesboro, PA, is hosting an information session on Tuesday, December 14th from 3:45-4:30pm at Gesher Jewish Day School for all Gesher families interested in exploring camping opportunities for summer 2011. Come meet Jon Shapiro, camp director and hear about the exciting plans for Summer 2011.

Capital Camps attracts more than 600 children in grades 3-11 who are interested in a quality Jewish camp experience emphasizing life-long friendships, individual challenges and personal expression all in a newly-renovated, natural setting nestled among the Catoctin Mountains.

Current campers also invited!

Israel 2011- JCC Maccabi Games, JCC Maccabi Artsfest

Give your family an unforgettable trip to Israel and watch your teen athlete/artist at the JCC Maccabi Games/ArtsFest! Spend time together and have supervised age-appropriate programs for young children. Click here for more information on trip 1, click here for information on trip 2.

Light Chanukah Candles!

Come light Chanukah candles every night of the holiday! December 1st -December 8th at 7:00 p.m. (Except for Erev Shabbat on Friday, December 3rd) Click here more more information.

FREE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC (suggested contribution of $5)

The Jewish Community Center of Northern Virginia

8900 Little River Turnpike, Fairfax, VA 22031 | 703- 323-0880

Fairfax Symphony Orchestra

The Fairfax Symphony Orchestra's Student Passport Club is growing! Our next concert is coming up, and we invite students ages 6-18 to join our club and attend the performance on Saturday, November 20, 2010 at 8:00 p.m. at George Mason University's Center for the Arts in Fairfax.

FSO CONCERT INFORMATION:

Date and Time: Saturday, November 20, 2010, 8:00 p.m.

Location: George Mason University's Center for the Arts.

Cost: STUDENT TICKETS ARE ONLY $5 and adult tickets begin at $25.

Repertoire: Works by Rossini, Adams, and Mendelssohn

Guest Conductor: Eckart Preu

Soloist: Violinist Tim Fain, a "charismatic young violinist with a matinee idol profile, strong musical instincts, and first rate chops." (Boston Globe)

Parking: Free in Lot K; event parking fee in garage

No Reservations Required! Students may join the club any time. Tickets will be available beginning at 6:00 p.m., and should be picked up by 7:30 p.m. to avoid last minute rush lines. Students must be present to purchase the $5 student tickets. All ticket-holders are invited to a free, pre-concert discussion at 7:00 p.m.

The Jewish Federation Wants to Help! If you are in need of financial

assistance at t his time, or if you know anyone in the community who

is in need, please do not hesitate to contact the Jewish Federation's Warm Line at 1-866-950-4AID.

We welcome your inquiries. To schedule a tour, or for more information about admissions or making a donation to Gesher Jewish Day School, please contact us at (703)978-9789.

Sincerely,

Gesher Jewish Day School

4800 Mattie Moore Court

Fairfax, VA 22030

phone: (703) 978-9789

fax: (703)978-2668

www.gesher-jds.org

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