This week's exciting development was...normality. Though we enjoyed all of the fall holidays, from Rosh Hashanah through Simhat Torah, we were excited to have a full week of school for the first time in a while. Perhaps that's the blessing of this new month of Cheshvan: we've had so many special days that now a weekly routine seems alluring.

One of our daily routines as a school is morning assembly. And embedded into assembly each morning is the Jewish tradition's routine of beginning each day with a series of prayers and meditations that help to set the tone for the day. 

A highlight of my week was teaching students a series of morning blessings, bircot hashachar. These blessings help us to be grateful at the start of each day for the ability wake up and know it's morning, for the ability to see, for being created in God's image, for freedom, and for our Jewish heritage. The students created motions to accompany each berachah (blessing) that helped to make their meanings more concrete.

We did have at least one special event this week. MJCDS parent and recording artist Adam Weil (aka Lincoln's dad), came to play for the students. (He received some assistance from Lincoln and his mom, Rebecca.) You can watch a video of one of the songs by clicking the image below. Todah Rabbah (thanks so much) for this treat!

Shabbat Shalom,

Rabbi Rebecca

MJCDS parent Adam Weil plays original music for the students.