Chag Sameach! Happy Shavuot!

Since Passover, Bernard Zell students and Jews around the world have been counting the Omer, the 49-day period between the second night of Pesach and the holiday of Shavuot. As we rapidly approach the 49th day in our count, we’re looking forward to a celebration of this joyous holiday commemorating the giving of the Torah at Mount Sinai. 

The holiday of Shavuot has four names and many traditions embedded within it. What makes it even more exciting is that while Shavuot often falls during the summer months, this year it will take place while we’re still in school, allowing us to celebrate as a school community. This whole week leading up to Shavuot will be filled with learning and experiences to help our students celebrate the significance of this holiday, culminating in our annual, school-wide Day of Service where students will have the opportunity to learn why giving back to others is so important.

• חג השבועות Shavuot means “weeks,” and takes places seven weeks from the beginning of Pesach. We have been counting the days since we got back from Passover break preparing ourselves for this special day and the Bernard Zell Day of Service. It is also a tradition to eat dairy food on Shavuot, so join the ShinShinim tonight from 5:00 - 6:00 p.m. to learn how to make Israeli biscuit cheesecake. Before you join the Zoom, please make sure you have these ingredients so you can bake right along with us! 

• חג הביכורים Hag Habikkurim During the time of the Temple, Jews came to the Beit Mikdash and offered their first harvest and a token of thanks to G-d. Our Early Childhood students and our Bikkurim will celebrate the holiday on Thursday. All Nursery and JK students should wear a white shirt or dress and are asked to bring a piece of fruit to donate and three flowers so we can make flower crowns. SK Bikkurim will be celebrated virtually at 5:00 pm. 

• חג הקציר Hag HaKatzir celebrates the harvest of wheat that was brought to Jerusalem on Shavuot. This year we are collecting boxes of cereal to be donated to Lakeview Pantry and The Ark as part of Day of Service. Please send in unopened and healthy cereal boxes by Thursday. Many classrooms or grade levels are doing their own collection drives for separate items in addition to the school-wide collection of cereal. If your child’s classroom is participating in an additional collection drive, you’ll be receiving that information directly from teachers.

• חג מתן תורה Zeman Matan Torateynu Time of the Giving of the Torah. One of the most important ideas that comes from our study of the Torah is the idea of repairing the world, Tikkun Olam. This year the entire school will engage in our Day of Service and acts of Gemilut Hasadim as we work together to make the world a better place. Please join us on Zoom for the Day of Service opening ceremony on, Friday, May 14 at 8:45 a.m. We will be joined by former Head of School, Dr. Alyson Horwitz, and Bernard Zell alumni who will be sharing their stories with us.  

• חג המים The Water Day In Israel, especially in Jerusalem, pools do not open until the end of the Omer. As a result, in some cities around Israel Shavuot is celebrated as a water day. Our wonderful ShinShinim would like to mark the holiday with some fun water games on Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday. Teachers will be in touch with the specific day on which your child will be participating. Please send your child with an extra set of clothes, a towel and a bag for their wet items so they can fully participate in Water Day activities!

With all the Shavuot experiences happening at school we’re happy that so many of you have taken advantage of our final Shabbat in a Box fundraiser with Zelda's Catering, featuring blintzes, cheesecakes and baked pasta for Shavuot! Ordering has now closed but those who registered can pick up their Shavuot boxes this Friday, between 12 and 12:30 p.m. or between 2:00 and 2:45 p.m. A portion of the proceeds will benefit the Be Innovative Grant, which allows teachers to develop and implement cutting-edge curricular initiatives for our students.

We can’t wait for your students to engage in these incredible opportunities that help to demonstrate the meaning of Shavuot and how this holiday links to the spirit of our Day of Service.

B’Shalom,

Rachel Jury
Director of Jewish Learning

Hagit Lewis
Director of Jewish Life