A Purim Mitzvah

Today Jacob entered our classroom and proudly told announced "I have a donation in my  backpack."  Children have been bringing in small items to fill our Shalach Manot baskets, which we decorated today.  Later this week we'll be bringing baskets to Rosie's Place and the MSPCA of Boston.  While we have had many discussions about what we will wear for our Purim Parade tomorrow, we are also spending time thinking about how we can help take care of the needs of the less fortunate around us.

Giving and Receiving

 

The spirit of Purim overflowed into the hallways, offices and classrooms of TBSCC, as makers of mishloach manot prepared and delivered their gifts. The Levana children enjoyed a visit from their Unicorn neighbors, who came to share their usual high spirits and good cheer, along with some delicious hamentaschen. We also spent a few moments delivering our goodies to Rachel and Eber. While we were on the playground, the Tel Aviv children surprised us with a visit and some wonderful misloach manot that they had prepared for us. We really loved our visits with all of these generous friends.

An inter-generational celebration of Purim

Today was a wonderful day for the Kohavim children and parents and the residents of Newbridge on the Charles. For the past couple of weeks we've been collecting items to put in mishloach manot baskets that the children made and bags that they decorated. Today was the day that we celebrated Purim with the older adults residing at Newbridge. The first thing we did upon arrival was to have lunch. The children then changed in to their costumes, many of which were homemade. The staff then led us around the complex, visiting a number of the different "houses." The children were told that some of the residents would be in wheelchairs, others using walkers, and some might even be asleep in their chairs. A couple of the children asked what they should do about giving a mishloach manot bag to a resident who might be asleep. "How would we know if they were asleep?" The children were advised to put one of the gift bags next to a resident who might be resting. The children did a great job distributing the bags and bringing many smiles to the residents. When we arrived at one of the common gathering rooms the children sang two Purim songs and one Chanukah song! One of the highlights was observing the children handing out the bags, and looking at the happiness that the residents were clearly experiencing. What a wonderful mitzvah for all. Thank you to the parents who came with us, especially Rebecca Friedman who helped plan the trip. Thank you also to Linda from Newbridge who was our main contact person and the lead organizer of our visit. Many thanks to the rest of the Newbridge staff for facilitating such a wonderful visit.

Our Visit to the Newbridge Center

Our visit to the Newbridge on the Charles facility was very successful, so successful that we are considering doing it again sometime before the school year ends.

We managed to raise many smiles on the faces of the local members.
Special thanks to our helpers who helped us fulfill our biggest Mitzvah ever.

Thanks also to the parents who contributed all the goodies in those baskets and thanks to our children who worked so hard to bake, sing and deliver.
THANK YOU!
Check out more photos from a wonderful day

Our Visit to the Newbridge Center

Our visit to the Newbridge on the Charles facility was very successful, so successful that we are considering doing it again sometime before the school year ends.

We managed to raise many smiles on the faces of the local members.
Special thanks to our helpers who helped us fulfill our biggest Mitzvah ever.

Thanks also to the parents who contributed all the goodies in those baskets and thanks to our children who worked so hard to bake, sing and deliver.
THANK YOU!
Check out more photos from a wonderful day

Purim Is A Time To Think of Others

Sarah Mesnik came into the classroom on Friday to help us put together our Shalach Manot bags. We filled them with hamantashen, apricots, oranges, crackers, raisins and a variety of chocolate candy. First the children had the opportunity to decorate their bags if the wanted to, and then went over to see Sarah to pick out some goodies for their bag. We placed numbers at the table so the children could independently count their goodie choices. Sarah was there to guide the children and help them count. In the third photo Sarah is helping Teddy P count out 10 pieces of candy.

Prior to decorating and preparing our Shalach Manot bags, in circle we all shared who we planned on giving our bag to. Everyone had a special someone in mind as they patiently wait for their turn to share that special persons name with their teachers and friends.

Sarah thanks for all your help we really appreciate it!

The Sweetest Mitzvah

The Unicorns all had great fun celebrating purim by doing a special mitzvah! We decorated baskets of hamantuchens and gave them out to our friends at the temple. Passing out Purim treats is a mitzvah called "Mishloach Manot". All the Unicorns sang Purim songs as we visited Dancing Nancy. Rachel and Ellen and gave them our gifts.

We sang these Purim Songs

Purim Day
(This is the English version to a Hebrew song called Chag Purim)

Purim day, Purim day. What a happy holiday.
Wear a mask, wear a crown. Dancing all around.
Round go the groggers, rash, rash, rash! (3x)
On Purim day!

P-U-R-I-M
(to the tune of Bingo)

I know a happy holiday
Purim is its name –O
P-U-R-I-M ( three times)
And purim is its name-O

If You Hear...
(to the tune 'If you're happy and you know it)

If you hear the name of Haman stomp your feet. (stomp feet twice) repeat
If you hear the name of Haman, if you hear the name of Haman,
if you hear the name of Haman stomp your feet (stomp feet twice)

If you hear the name of Esther clap your hands...

If you hear the name of Ahasuerus turn around...

If you hear the name of Mordecai shout hooray...

Check out our Purim photos