April Calendar
The Religious School will be closed on Sunday, April 5 and 12; and on Wednesday, April 8 and 15.
There will be no Junior Congregation on Saturday, April 4 and 11.
P.A.C.E. Program…will be held for parents in Grades 3, 4 and 5 on Sunday, April 19.
Grade 12 graduation pictures: Sunday morning at 11:15 am on April 26.
Grade 12 Parents’ meeting: Sunday morning at 12:15 pm on April 26.
One of the most festive observances here at CBI is that of Purim, and this year proved to be no exception with our students in Grades Pre-Kindergarten – 12 actively participating in this fun-filled holiday. Baking hamentaschen, making crowns and groggers, singing Purim songs, having fun at a Purim Carnival, dressing up in costumes, sending shalah-manot and listening to the reading of the megillah are all part of what makes the celebration of Purim so unique and so very special.
But what also makes Purim so important are the lessons that our students learn from their classroom studies and from reading the Megillat Esther (the Scroll of Esther), which teaches about courage, faith and the value of the Jewish people. From the Book of Esther we see how important it is for Jews to be loyal to each other. If there are Jews in trouble somewhere, they need our help. Esther and Mordecai both came to the aid of their people, even though it meant risking their own lives. We have always needed, and we will always need more Mordecais and Esthers. These are valuable lessons for our students to learn.
Purim also brought teen visitors from Israel to interact with our Religious School students as part of program jointly sponsored by Jewish Federation of Monmouth County and four area synagogues, including CBI. More information will follow in next month’s bulletin about our Israeli visitors.
With Purim now behind us, Passover is taking center stage. Passover is a wonderful holiday for our students to celebrate. I love listening to our children as they practice chanting the Four Questions, recite the Passover blessings, and sing our traditional and even not so traditional Passover songs; to watch as they immerse themselves in their classes’ many Passover projects; and to hear their retelling of the story of the Exodus from Egypt. Plans are well underway for the Religious School’s age-appropriate Seders, which will take place on the morning of Sunday, March 29, 2009. These Seders could not be possible without the support of Sisterhood. I would like to thank Sisterhood and especially Jennifer Cohn and her committee for their hard work.
Towards the end of April, information about registering your children for the Religious School year 2009-2010 will be in the mail. CBI’s Religious School program is for students in Grades Pre-Kindergarten – 12.
Just a word about the Religious School’s Pre-Kindergarten program…
One Sunday a month, while Religious School is in session, the door to classroom Gan #3 is lovingly opened wide as we welcome the youngest members of our Religious School population. Our Pre-Kindergarten program has been in operation for many years and is geared to children who are four years of age and not yet in Kindergarten. This program emphasizes holidays and Shabbat through projects, music and stories. There is also an opportunity for our preschoolers to learn who’s who at CBI and to become familiar with its parts and personalities.
I am happy to inform you that this program, which this coming school year will also include materials and supplies, is free. Please tell your friends, both affiliated and non-affiliated, that this program will be open and free to non-CBI Jewish children as well. It is my personal hope that our Pre-Kindergarten program will attract a number of our congregants’ children to its roster and that its caring Jewish environment will become a significant beginning for another generation of CBI families.
Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any questions, or would like to discuss some ideas. You may reach me through the Education Office at 732.842.1800,Extension 213.
B’Shalom,
Helene Matorin
Director of Education