A Joyous Shabbat Celebration

Cody led us as our Shabbat helper this morning.  We shared the blessings together during circle, then enjoyed the delicious challah and grape juice.  The children are getting used to the idea of taking turns with the role of Shabbat helper.  Several of them are very interested.  We set up a table before the children arrive on Thursday with the candles, kiddush cup, and a plastic challah and its cover. There are kippot available should anyone choose to wear one.  Together we welcome the joy of shabbat into our bodies, our hearts, and our souls.  Shabbat shalom to everyone!

What Happens to the Candles?

At the end of the day yesterday, the Haifa class got to take a look at some melted wax. We talked a little bit about how the wax dripped from the candles and hardened and that was what we were touching.

Today, the Haifa class came in to see lots of different candles burning on the Science table. As they came over, I asked each of them where they thought the candles went after they burned all the way down. Many of them told me that the candle wax went down into the base of the candlesticks! Some told me that the wax turned into a puddle, and some told me the wax turned into water and dripped away!

Jacob was especially interested in this idea of where the wax went. He was convinced that the wax accumulated in the base of the candlesticks. I pulled out the candlesticks we use every Shabbat, which are crystal, and he couldn't find the wax. We talked for a good ten minutes about what could have happened to the wax.

We are going to continue this conversation tomorrow, but feel free to ask your children about the wax that burns from your Chanukiah candles. Their answers are definitely interesting!

-Alison and Sauci

In the window...

In the Keshet class we had a preview of things to come.  Chanukah begins on Saturday, but the children had a chance to see how wonderful it is to share the light from the first candle on our menorah with everyone nearby by placing it in the window.   

The kids were amazed to see the candles melted down "SO FAST!", and seemed to disappear as they burned and melted away so very completely.  We lit the wooden shabbat candles in play, and later tried out the class menorah which was fashioned from foil that we had used to protect our table when we painted on Tuesday.  Blue and silver - how beautiful!  We look forward to lighting both menorahs on Tuesday when we are together once again.

Sahbbat Shalom!

Grayden served as Shabbat helper today. Rohan was with us and borrowed some candlesticks so we could have real candles for Grayden to bless and to light. What a fun treat! With the lights turned off, the glow of the candles was warm on Rohan and Grayden's faces. An early Shabbat Shalom to all of you from the Rainbows.

Candles, candles everywhere!

 

The Rainbows lit three candles today in celebration of the third night of Chanukah. The candles burned brightly in our window again. Later in the morning Sophie was the shabbat helper and lit the candles for us. The children are learning about the rituals around Chanukah which are new to them, as we continue to practice the rituals that shape our weekly shabbat celebration which has become an integral part of our time together at school.

Here's wishing all of you much warmth and light for Chanukah!

Menorahs - Time to light the first candle!

Marissa led us in the special blessings and used the shamash to light the first candle in celebration of the first night of Chanukah. Several parents joined us, making it a wonderful event. We put the menorah in the window so we could share the light with all who passed by. We also showed the children how they could "light" the menorah that they made together in class last week. The tissue paper represents the flames. Welcome, Chanukah!

Josh and Rohan lead us in Shabbat blessings

Today we had Rohan join us for the morning. She brought some real candles in to light with our shabbat helper, Josh. The photographs capture some of the variety of emotions that the children experience as we get that "shabbat feeling".

A Special Visitor

The Rainbows were happy to have Rabbi Todd come to visit our classroom this morning. Rabbi Todd spoke to us about the upcoming holiday of Chanukah. The children listened as he told the story of the Jews who were not allowed to go to their temple. We tried to imagine how sad it must have been to be unable to go to temple. Once the Jews were finally able to go back to the temple, they were concerned that they only had enough oil to last for one night. We heard about the miracle that allowed the oil to last eight days when it seemed it was only enough to last for one.

The rabbi explained to us how we can make Chanukah special for our friends and our family members by being helpful, kind, and caring during this holiday of eight days. In this way, each of us can bring joy to others - by putting a bit of extra light in their Chanukah.

As Rabbi Todd counted out the eight days that the oil lasted, he invited the children to come and light a candle in our colorful wooden chanukiah. They were proud to help. Once all of the candles were lit, the children walked Rabbi Todd over to the window where they put the chanukiah so everyone passing by could see the candles burning. We are all looking forward to the Festival of Lights.

"Lighting" the Menorah

The children noticed that there were two Menorahs in the kitchen area today but something was missing. "Where are the candles?", Sophie asked!  I responded, "That is a good question. Let's go ask Ellen for a box of candles."  So Sophie and I headed upstairs to ask Ellen.  She responded, "There should be some in the red box outside your classroom." Sophie and I headed back downstairs and sure enough the big red box was there.  When we opened the lid, we discovered not only a box of candles, but lots and lots of other Chanukah items as well. "Oooohhhh!", Sophie exclaimed as she peered inside.  I said, "Let's just take the candles for now and when we come to school again on Thursday we can see what else is here."  We brought the candles over to the Menorahs and the children took turns putting the candles in and "lighting" them.