Hebrew School Board Meeting

The Hebrew School Board met on Sunday January 30. In attendance was our principal, Jack Rubel, David Safon, Chairman of the Board, Ronnie Bekore, Mike Richheimer, Caryn Seifert, Andrea Bittman, and Deborah Y. Cohn.

We discussed some new initiatives:

1. To enrich the library experience in our new library Andrea will be planning a family centered book club for parents and children ages 9-12. Stay tuned to hear more about our new book club. Andrea is extremely qualified to bring this exciting program to our community. She runs the "Gemini" (gifted) program in the Herricks Elementary Schools and is in the process of completing a Ph.D. in psychology from St. John's University. Check out some of her accomplishments on the Web:
http://herrickses.org/denton/Gemini/globalawareness.htm

She has experience running family centered books clubs. We can all be sure that these events will be a fabulous way for a Ohav Sholom and the larger community of parents to bond with their children.

2. Plans are underway to honor Morah Haimson for her 36 years of dedication to the Hebrew School at Congregation Ohav Sholom in Merrick. Mrs. Haimson started teaching at Ohav Sholom under the direction of Mel Isaacs in the 1970s. (She was my teacher). Anyone who has a favorite Mrs. Haimson story please email me, dycohn@aol.com.

3. Plans are being made to upgrade our Purim Carnival, scheduled for March 20, 2005. We are thinking on incorporating into the event an opportunity to reach families who have not yet decided on a Hebrew School for the 2005 - 2006 year. Please invite friends to the Purim Carnival!

4. We had hoped to march in the Israel Day Parade this year scheduled for June 5. http://www.salutetoisrael.com/about.asp
However, the date conflicts with the Journal Dinner Dance, honoring our own David Safon.
If anyone is interested in being a spectator at this event, please contact me. dycohn@aol.com

5. The possibility of a Yom Haatzmaut (Israel Independance Day) Picnic was discussed. More details to follow.

6. We discussed JEP. Once again. Anyone who has any thoughts about the JEP program please comment on the blog!

7. Our next meeting is February 13, Sunday, 9:30 am. Anyone who has any ideas to contribute please contact any of the board members. Parents - we would love to hear from you!

Bloglet Subscriber Tools

I have added the subscriber service to the Blog. This tool will allow you to receive all updated blog information and save me a step from having to send it to you. Even if you have been receiving Ohav Sholom Hebrew School News from me, please subscribe to the blog so that I publish the blog and news will be sent to you automatically. Thank you.

blizzard, monday january 24

another snow day, no hebrew school today, monday jan 24

Blizzard

Due to the blizzard, there will be no school on Sunday, January 22, 2005.

Showing of "Paper Clips" for Vov Class

Ohav Sholom Hebrew School in conjuction with Merrick Jewish Center present a showing of the acclaimed movie "Paperclips" at the Bellmore Theatre (across from the LIRR station).

www.paperclipsmovie.com

The Jewish Week reviews Paper Clips

The Vov class is encouraged to attend this showing with their families.
The showing is on Sunday, January 30, 2005 @ 10:30 AM-12:00 noon.

Students who attend the movie wil be excused from Hebrew School on Monday, January 31.

Cost per ticket $5.00.

There is plenty of free parking at the LIRR station.

All those attending will meet at the theatre.

If parents cannot accompany their child, the vov teacher, Mr. Grussgott will accept and dismiss.

Kindly return permission form no later than Monday, January 24, 2005.

The Family plans to attend the January 30th showing of paper clips at the Bellmore Theatre.
Name of children:
Teacher:
Number of children and adults planning to attend:
phone number:
cell phone nuimber:

Dates to Remember

January 19. Wednesday. 6:15-7:15 PM. JEP. Jewish individualized learning program. Hebrew School enrichment program for ages 7-13. Have a slice of Pizza for $1.75.

January 24 Monday. 6:15-7:15 Youth Group. Dinner and Fun. Ages 7-13. Join our youth leader, Les Grusgott for dinner and fun after Hebrew School.

January 26. Wednesday. 6:15-7:15 PM. JEP. Jewish Individualized learning program. Hebrew School enrichment. ages 7-13. Have a slice of pizza. $1.75.

February 2. JEP.
February 9. JEP.
February 13. Sunday. Rosh Chodesh Breakfast.
February 14. Monday. 6:15-7:15 Youth Group. Dinner and Fun ages 7-13.
February 16. JEP.
February 20-27. No Class - Winter Recess.
February 28. Monday. Classes Resume.

March 2. JEP.
March5. Shabbat. Alef Induction. Join us for shabbat morning services when the children in the Aleph class participate in the service.

March 6. Monday. 2nd Report Card.
March 9. JEP
March 13. Sunday. Rosh Chodesh Breakfast.
March 16. JEP
March 20. Sunday. Purim Carnival.
March 23. JEP
March 27-28. No Class - Spring Recess.
March 30. JEP

April 6. JEP
April 13 JEP
April 17 Sunday. Charoset Bowl, Model Sedar.
April 20. Wednesday. No Class, Merrick Schools closed. NO JEP
April24-May 1. No Class - Pesach Resess.

May2. Monday. Classes Resume.
MAy 4. Wednesday. Yom Hashoah Program.
May 15. Sunday. Rosh Chodesh Breakfast.
MAy 25. Wednesday. Last Day of Class.

June1. Wednesday. Awards Ceremony for All Grades. Pizza Party to follow awards ceremony.1. Wednesday. Vov Graduation.

June 5. Sunday. Salute to Israel Parade
Buses will be leaving from Ohav in the morning. If you would like to march with our Hebrew School call Deborah 867-9377 and make a reservation on the bus.

Congregation Ohav Sholom Youth (C.O.S.Y.)

Congregation Ohav Sholom has a youth group that meets every other Monday after Hebrew School. Dinner is served and games are played. Our very own Les Grusgott is in charge and plans really fun activities!

Ages 7-13.

$25. for the year. (for dinners and activities).

2005 COSY Schedule:
Jan 10
Jan 24
Feb 14
Feb 28

stay tuned for schedule for march, april, may and june!

Mavensearch

http://www.mavensearch.com/subjects.asp?S=175&T=1&ID=3

Our Hebrew School has been listed with Mavensearch.com, The largest Jewish Web Directory and Search Engine. In addition, we will be listed once for free in the next edition of the MavenSearch Email newsletter.

If you are not already subscribed to their email newsletter then you can join for free by completing the form at http://www.mavensearch.com/newsletter/

Welcome to any readers who land here from mavensearch. We'd love to hear from you!

J.E.P.

I sent a copy of my post about J.E.P. to the coordinators of J.E.P. I received this response. Instead of posting it in the comments section, where I am afraid it might not get seen, I am putting it in a separate post.

A blog is meant to be a conversation. I'm so happy that we have fostered this important conversation between our Hebrew School and J.E.P. The more information we have about their programs, the better we can feel about our children participating in them.

Here is the response from Dani at J.E.P:

Hello my name is Dani, an employee of JEP. I believe we met that Wednesday night in Ohav Shalom, and you paraphrased my statement about JEP's motives in your memo.
I would like to clarify what I said, and perhaps explain why we feel that Ohav Shalom is an excellent place for JEP programs. You mentioned in your article that JEP's goal is to reach out to unaffiliated children. Although much of JEP's work caters to unaffiliated or moderately affiliated families and children, many of our programs are geared to a much wider market. A significant number of our JIL and Camp Nageela participants are children from Orthodox homes, many of whom enjoy a full Jewish Day School education. Additionally we have complete programs geared towards Ultra- Orthodox Yeshiva High School students. Certainly our target group is not limited to the "unaffiliated."
Why? If these children already have a sturdy Jewish base, and high quality Torah education what is JEP trying to do?
There are many approaches to education. Unfortunately, most youngsters and even some adults who are heavily affiliated and well educated in Jewish facts and values have trouble connecting Judaism to their lives. Just because someone has learned a chapter of Talmud does not necessarily mean that he or she is committed to Judaism.
We at JEP feel that we offer a unique slant on education, meant to compliment existing Hebrew School or Day School education, and to make it more meaningful, relevant and exciting for our participants. Certainly we recognize that members of Ohav Shalom- as very involved Jews- are not in the same unfortunate situation as the vast numbers of totally unaffiliated Jews. The fact remains, however; that JEP and similar programs are a useful and important part of even your children's lives and education.
Please feel free to contact me regarding this or any JEP related issue. My phone number is 718-261-4189.
Dani Locker
JIL Coordinator
lockeroom@verizon.net

J.E.P.

On Wednesday Night, January 5, 2005, Ohav Sholom parents met with two members of the J.E.P. staff to discuss the J.E.P program. It was a very revealing meeting. Six parents were in attendance: Brian, Mario, Mark, Deborah, Andrea, and Ron. Our own Jack Rubel also attended the meeting.

The J.E.P. staff asked for feedback about their program. Deborah asked if they could explain what the goals of the program are. They said that their goal is to offer Jewish education to unaffiliated children, as well as give them an opportunity to connect being Jewish to something fun.

It was agreed that our children who attend J.E.P. on Wednesday nights after Hebrew School (6:15-7:15) are learning something during J.E.P., and they are having fun.

However, it was debated whether we are the appropriate target market for this program. Meaning, they are trying to reach out to unaffiliated Jews, and they have found us. Have they found the right group? Can we help them achieve their goal of bringing Jewish education to the unaffiliated?


Please weigh in, what do you think of the J.E.P. progam at Ohav???


At the meeting we also discussed other programs that J.E.P. is running. For more information on their programs, please visit their website at http://www.jepli.org/home.html

Shabbat Youth Program

There was a problem with the forms that were submitted for the shabbat youth program. please resubmit.

Youth Shabbat Program
OHAV YOUTH PROGRAM MAILING LIST

Over the past few months Ohav Sholom has launched a revitalized youth program. Peretz Goldman and Shani Marks have made our Shabbos programs lively and exciting. In order to build on this success we are attempting to create an updated list of all children. This will help Peretz and Shani develop new events and publicize upcoming events via email, phone, etc. To help create this list, we have set up an online form where you can submit the necessary information. To use the form, please go to the following page: http://people.brandeis.edu/~agartner/Shofar/ChildForm.html Your participation in this effort will lead to even more fun and exciting programs for our children.

hanukkah party 2004

The children of Ohav Sholom of Merrick, New York (located on the South Shore of Long Island) joined together to celebrate Hanukkah. The Book Fair was in full swing while the Students from the Ohav Sholom Religious School as well as children who attend Hebrew Day Schools made a Hanukkiah, ate Latkes and sang Hanukkah songs. Enjoy the pictures!

hanukkah party 2004 

hanukkah party 2004 

hanukkah party 2004 

hanukkah party 2004 

hanukkah party 2004 

hanukkah party 2004 

hanukkah party 2004 

hanukkah party 2004 

hanukkah party 2004 

hanukkah party 2004 

hanukkah party 2004 

hanukkah party 2004 

hanukkah party 2004 

hanukkah party 2004 

hanukkah party 2004 

hanukkah party 2004 

hanukkah party 2004 

hanukkah party 2004 

hanukkah party 2004 

hanukkah party 2004 

hanukkah party 2004 

hanukkah party 2004 

hanukkah party 2004 

hanukkah party 2004