EVENTS AT A GLANCE
- Dec 15, 1:15 - Shabbat Showcase
- Dec 17, 4:00-6:00 - The Miracle of Light Science Event (register below)
- Dec 19, 6:45 pm - Celebration of Light and Learning
- Dec 22. 11:40 - Early Dismissal
- Dec 25-Jan 1 - No School, Winter Break
- Jan 6, 6:30 - Havdalah Movie Night (see ad below)
- Jan 16, 8:45 -12:30 - Bring a Friend to School Day/Mitzvah Day
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Happy Chanukah from The Silver Academy!
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Mrs. Debra Freeburn, Head of School
dfreeburn@silveracademypa.org
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It doesn’t matter how you spell it, Hanukkah or Chanukah ...this holiday is known as the Festival of Lights, and commemorates the rededication of the Jewish temple in Jerusalem in the 2nd century BCE. We celebrate Hanukkah for eight days, in honor of the miracle of the oil that lasted eight days in the Holy Temple. This is a joyous holiday and unlike many other Jewish holidays, there are no restrictions on working. Instead, Jews light candles on a menorah, children play a game called dreidel and it is customary to give small gifts and Hanukkah gelt (chocolate coins)
What is a miracle? Certainly one day’s worth of oil lasting for eight days is a miracle!! Miracles are events that are out of the normal course of everyday life, an extremely unusual event, often manifesting divine intervention in human affairs. But, often we are surrounded with small, everyday miracles that are overlooked. At this joyous time, let’s think about a few miracles that we experience all the time: The blue sky, the green grass, the seasons of the year, just being alive... these are miracles! No matter where you live, you see the same moon as everyone else!! That’s a miracle!! The body and how it works and all that our bodies are able to do .... is a miracle!!! The miracle of friendship and connecting with valuable people to share your dreams, struggles, thoughts, and ideas...wow!! These are just a few examples of the miracles we have in our lives every day. The big momentous events, and the holidays like Hanukkah, are celebrated...as they should be...but let’s not forget to savour each day and open our minds, our eyes, and our hearts to the miracles that surround us.
Shabbat Shalom and Happy Hanukkah!!
Debra
Celebrating the miracle of Hanukkah with song and dance at The Silver Academy and the Capitol!
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D'VAR TORAH for Miketz
by Uriel Pavolotzky
to read this week's D'var Torah
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A Peek Inside Our Classrooms
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3rd Grade Judaics
Mr. Ellis Rosenberg
erosenberg@silveracademypa.org
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It's hard to believe that it's Chanukah already. The third grade has accomplished so much already this year. In Chumash, we have followed Avram and Sarai as Hashem told them to leave their homeland "for a place that I will show you." We've learned how Avram redeemed his nephew Lot even though he and Lot had gone their separate ways. Avram and Sarai were still childless when Sarai suggested that Avram marry Sarai's maid servant Hagar. What happens next in Chumash? Stay tuned!
Of course, we have been spiraling our knowledge of the holidays, including Chanukah. One of the lessons that we learned is the idea that saving a life is even more important than keeping Shabbat. Through the lessons in our Tal Am library books, students have learned how to be better students, and that they should give one another the benefit of the doubt. We are currently learning (in Hebrew) how to bake "sufganioyot" (jelly donuts for Chanukah). The Tal Am library books help us with our Hebrew vocabulary and conversational skills.
We have also reviewed the weekly Torah portion using our Tal Am workbooks, and we are currently in the middle of the story of Joseph and his special coat.
Along with our holiday studies, we are learning new Chanukah songs and created props (shields) to go along with some of the songs! Come see the third graders perform at our Celebration of Light and Learning on Tuesday evening!
Happy Chanukah!
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Middle School Social Studies
Mrs. Brandy Hurley
bhurley@silveracademypa.org
This year, middle school history students are studying ancient civilizations. So far we have studied ancient Mesopotamia and Egypt. There are six big ideas that we look at in each civilization. As civilizations arise in differing geographic regions, they develop unique economies, social class structures, belief systems, leadership and achievements. In this way, students can compare various civilizations throughout history. To wrap up our Egyptian unit, students wrote and presented a play – "Lifestyles of the Rich and Egyptian." The script combined facts with humor. Along with being theatrical, students also had fun creating a song to go along with their new understanding of civilizations.
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Mark Your Calendar for these Events!
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Silver Academy
Havdalah Movie Night
Saturday, January 6th at 6:30 pm
JCC Mary Sachs Auditorium
- Havdallah followed by pizza, snacks and a movie
- Screening of "Honey I Shrunk the Kids"
- Register by Jan. 3 - $5 per person/$20 max per family
- Registeration after January 3 or at the door - $7 per person/$25 family max
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Our parent Annual Campaign Chairs will be reaching out to you in the next few days. Whether it is $18 or $1800, please help us share the value of tzedakah from your homes just as it is so beautifully instilled in our children within our Silver Academy classrooms. We are striving for 100% participation. Additionally, with an increase in giving participation by our school families, we can help the school better access investment from donors and foundations, knowing that our own families support our school.
If you have not yet made your gift or pledge, today is the perfect day to do so.
If you have any questions at all, please don't hesitate to ask. If you'd like to make your gift to this year's campaign now, please click here:
Donate Now
Thank you for sharing your children with us! Looking forward to lots of Cookies and Cocoa.
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HELP SILVER ACADEMY STUDENTS THROUGH PENNSYLVANIA'S EITC
PROGRAM!
(Educational Improvement Tax Credit Program)
Watch this video to learn how...
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Challah With a Twist
Offers Weekly Challah Order and Delivery To Students and Teachers
- Order your challah by Thursday night at this website: challahwithatwist.com. It will be delivered to school on Friday.
- Send check to school, payable to Challah with a Twist, or use Paypal or Venmo .
"Challah With a Twist", (a.k.a. Varda Challah), has been providing home baked challah for the Harrisburg community for over 20 years.
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Favorite Silver Snapshots
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Making menorahs out of noodles, glue and paint!
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