12 Feb “שירה בציבור ו”משנכנס אדר: Joyous Jewish Living at Schechter Manhattan

Chodesh Tov! This week we celebrated Rosh Chodesh Adar I with two longstanding and very fun Schechter Manhattan traditions, shira btsibur and mishe-mishe.

On Tuesday morning we gathered for shira btsibur. Among the many things I love about Schechter Manhattan, our monthly school-wide sing along, שירה בציבור, is near the top. Folks who know me are not surprised that I love shira btsibur. I love to sing. I especially love to sing Hebrew and Israeli songs- in school, around my family’s shabbat table, and each summer when I return to Camp Ramah in Berkshires to play in the annual zimriyah (song festival) band. Schechter Manhattan shira btsibur is my idea of a great time.

We celebrate each Rosh Chodesh by singing together- all of us, students and faculty, K through 8. The students learn a repertoire of Hebrew songs, including many Israeli classics. Our music teachers, Eti Rozen and Daniel Ori, review the songs in music class and rotate the selection each month, so that the students become familiar with an ever growing set of songs. At shira btsibur the lyrics are projected onto a large screen, Eti and Daniel lead the singing with piano and guitar, and we all sing along. For those of you who have joined us for the Chanukah Zimriyah, our monthly gatherings feel similar.

Shira btsibur reflects a number of important educational ideals at Schechter Manhattan. First, singing together is a powerful community building experience. As we bring our voices together we feel a sense of connection to each other. And as we sit together, students from varied grades interact, especially our Gan and Kitah Chet students, nurturing a culture of supportive community. Second, shira btsibur takes place in Hebrew, with the lyrics projected in large Hebrew letters and the sound of the Hebrew language ringing through the school. Singing Hebrew songs reinforces our students’ familiarity and comfort with Hebrew language, and strengthens the cultural message that Hebrew is a living language we all use at Schechter Manhattan. Third, the repertoire of songs is mostly Israeli, offering our students access to a rich part of Israeli culture. Knowing these Israeli songs strengthens their sense of connection to the people and State of Israel. Finally, shira btsibur is fun. This happy communal experience teaches our students the powerful lesson that participation in Jewish life is meant to move us emotionally, and frequently it is quite joyous.

Today, we marked this particular month, Adar I, with our annual Yom Mishe-Mishe. “Mishe-mishe” is a contraction consisting of the first four syllables of the song “משנכנס אדר מרבין בשמחה, Mishenichnas Adar marbin b’simchah (From the beginning of Adar – the month in which Purim occurs – onwards, we increase our experiences (and/or expressions) of joy).” It is an uptempo song expressing the joy of the Purim season. Instituted by Dr. Lorch in the early years of the school, and led each year by Kitah Chet, on Yom Mishe-Mishe the entire school sings the song while conga dancing around the school and out into the street. As I danced through the building Today, surrounded by Schechter Manhattan students and faculty and enveloped in the sounds of their voices, I was really, truly, happy. Mishe-Mishe does that to you; It makes you smile. Since this is a leap year, we will have another chance to sing and dance to Mishe-Mishe next Rosh Chodesh.

I believe that music is an essential part of the joyous Jewish experiences our students have at Schechter Manhattan and that these experiences instill in them a love for their shared heritage and strengthen their Jewish identities.

Benjamin Mann


Author’s Chair

THIS WEEK WE ARE FEATURING WORK BY SOME OF OUR STUDENTS IN KITAH GAN, KITAH BETKITAH DALET, AND KITAH VAV.

 

Kitah Gan wrote about what they did over the weekend. Kitah Gan also practiced writing with the prompt “I wonder…”

I BROTA PLNTM FLYRO (I brought a planted flower)

–Rona

 

 

IS THe HLC REL (Is the Hulk real?)

–Solal

 


if i cod bea cawboy (If I could be a cowboy)

–Zac

 

Kitah Bet has been working on writing non-fiction. They have each identified a topic about which they feel knowledgeable and are creating question and answer books. 

 

What are some important rules in chess?

Theres a wite team and blak team the wite team alwase gos furst. you can only play with to plaers. The point of the came is that you check mate the king you threnin it and it cant move because no mater ware it gos it is in check thredind you can’t kill the king.

–Joey

 

 

What do you do in the MLB?

In the MLB you can do diffrent things then Little Leage. Players get piad alot of money. If you are very good you get to sighn up with any team you want. You can sinn alot of base balls for fans. You will get to go to intviews alot of them. You can get to see some very famous pepole.

–Sammy

 

What equipment do you need?

There are 7 pieces of eqwiment. You use a glove to cach a ball in the air or on the ground. The helmet helps you not get a concoshen or even other bad things. A shin gard helps you purtect your legs from a broken leg or a bruse. The nee pertecter pertects your nees from a pitch four a cacher. A body pertecter pretecs you from hit by the pitch. A bading glove make your hand worm from holding the bat. You use the bat to hit it to 1st, 2nd or 3rd.

–Zack

 

 

What do dogs need?

A few things that dog need are…Some dogs need a mazzul to keep them from biting. Dogs need a leshe and collar becuase they can run away from you. They need dog food and water or the will die. They need a home becuase it is vary cold outside. Dogs also need love to be happy. You need to giv them a bath and after they have a bath you brush ther hair or fur. Evry yere you haft to take your dog and bring it to the vet to get there nals cut becuase if you triy to cut your dogs nals it will hert the dog.

–Amelie

 

Students in Kitah Dalet just began their study of Mishna. Students learned a mishna that taught thattefillah must be approached with great seriousness. They then reflected on a time that they had to prepare for a serious endeavor.

Before the Canor Moss concert that I was in, this is what I did. I first took a nap so I would not be tired at the concert. Then I went to the shul to get ready. We did some warm ups and practes the songs we were doing. Then we got to talk before the concert started. I was very nerves. Finaly, it was time for the concert to start. All of my fears went away and I sang with the other kids and adults. It was so much fun!

–Batya

 

My serious action was playing a song and the guitar for my mom last year. When I prepared, I was practicing in total secrecy. I didn’t even practice at all when she was around. Finally, we celebrated my mom’s birthday. When I played, I wasn’t really thinking too much. I just kind of did it.

–Elijah

 

 

I prepared a lot when it was my ferst time surfing. I got my bord and swim sute. I also put on 60% sun block. and I grabed my bord and I was off! I was a lital scared at furst becasue of the HUGE wavs and sharks but other than that I was realy exitid! I jumped on my bord and zomed into the water! I srarted to patal and thare came a grate wave to ride! I started to patal faster and faster and pop! I was up on my bord rideing a wave!

–Shirley

 

Kitah Vav wrote stories in the style of African folk tales. 

Click here to read Lucien’s folk tale.