Who I Am

Today, we began our unit on the Jews' migration to the United States.  Our introductory lesson, "Who Am I?," focused on understanding that being Jewish is a part of our identity, and as Jews, we look at the world in a unique way.  Our forefathers who immigrated to America had a Jewish identity as well, and when they became Americans, their American and Jewish identities intertwined, creating a new culture.  To grasp the idea of identity, the students watched two videos of the same name, "Who I Am" by Jessica Andrews, and "Who I Am" by Nick Jonas.  Each of the videos addresses the idea of identity, the first focusing on family roots and connections to one's history, and the second one focusing on how we create our own identities.  Take a look:

The students then created their own "Identity Cards," filled with words that describe who they are. We discussed the idea that some of the things that make us who we are, like our heritage or physical makeup, do not change. At the same time, other aspects of our lives, such as being a soccer player or a 6th grader, are fluid.

 As a culminating project, the two classes wrote a collective song, which we will sing again on Sunday:

I AM

by Shira 2017

I am smart and I am cool 

I am friendly, I am Jewish 

I am nervous and a brother 

And a sister, but I'm anxious. 

Sometimes I'm an only child 

I'm lost or afraid  

But other times I'm proud 

Of the beauty I have made.  

I am me, I am me

I am me,

and that's who I wanna be!

A dog lover who is proud

A gamer who is silent

 I'm sensitive and a swimmer

A diva,  I'm independent.

I am funny, I am changed

A survivor who's an athlete

I'm a dancer and a singer

Standing on my own two feet!

I am me, I am me

I am me,

and that's who I wanna be!

2x

This Sunday will be a special music-filled day, when we have a guest Klezmer performer, David Rosenfeld.

He will bring his mandolin and fiddle to lead us in learning some new Yiddish songs, and to teach us about the various elements of Klezmer music.  It will be a session not to be missed!

Lovin' that Ahava Rabah Mode!

This week, the students have been learning about Klezmer music, and the Ahavah Rabah (with an abundant love) mode.  They know that a mode is a scale that starts on a note other than the base note of a scale, and that the Ahava Rabah mode has a specific, almost sad sound when played alone.  However, when used to compose melodies, from classical to klezmer, the mode is very versatile, and conveys a variety of different moods.

An example of Classical Ahava Rabah Mode

An Example of Klezmer Ahava Rabah Mode

In addition to learning about the Ahava Rabah mode, we have expanded our Yiddish vocabulary with descriptive words such as freilich (happy), gutt (good), shayna (beautiful), meshuggah (crazy) and nouns that are brought to mind when listening to certain kinds of music in the Ahava Rabah mode: chutzpah (daring), shalom (peace), naches or simcha (joy), bagalan (chaos), and tsuris (anxiety).
Today, the students began a musical art project in which they convey the many "moods" of the Ahava Rabah mode.  They listened to various examples of music in this mode, and expressed their feelings through art.

In Hebrew, the students are learning how to form the letters of the alef bet. This week's letter is lamed.

Musically, we have been learning many new songs, as well as revisiting some old favorites.  On Tuesday and Wednesday, the 5th and 6th graders enjoyed singing Betzelem Elohim (In the Image of God) with Erik:

On Sunday, the students had an opportunity to learn a new dance to Adamah VeShamayim.

Next Sunday, we are very lucky to have an expert in Yiddish and Klezmer come to visit our class.  We look forward to learning even more about this, and other types of Jewish musical expression.

Changes for the Ashkenazim

Shalom Shiraniks!

Just for fun:

This Chanukkah, Temple Isaiah spread Chanukkah cheer by dancing in a flash  mob at Walnut Creek's Broadway Plaza.  It was a blast to dance in front of everybody in the Plaza!

This week we learned about the Ashkenazi Jews in Europe in the 18th and early 19th century. The Jews were offered political equality and citizenship in the nations of Europe. Before the Industrial and French Revolutions, the Jews considered themselves a separate nation. They lived in ghettos, but could finally become professionals, manufacturers, and sometimes (in France, and eventually other countries) become citizens.  The Rothschilds were a dramatic symbol of Jewish success in the new era in Europe.  In Italy, Germany, Austria and Hungary, Jews were given political rights.  There was a new social class, the industrial working class.  Jews became merchants, manufacturers and professionals.

Today, we learned about the blues, and how klezmer music is often thought of as the "blues" of the Ashkenazi Jews.  Borne of hard times, both musical genres express sadness and hope.  We even wrote some verses to a 12 bar call and response blues song based upon the difficult life of Jews in the ghettos of Europe.  Here are the first two verses, and a link to the song "Stormy Monday," which is the basis for the lyrics that we wrote today.  Try to sing along, or write a verse of your own!

The Jewish Ghetto Blues
By Shira

My life here in the ghetto is hard as it can be
My life here in the ghetto is hard as it can be.
Because I'm Jewish, my destiny is misery.

With sadness on my shoulders, I bench (pray) four times a day.
With sadness on my shoulders, I bench (pray) four times a day.
With all this praying, they still don't treat me the same way.

We also had the opportunity to see and hold some really old Hebrew prayer books, with Yiddish and English.



In Hebrew through movement, we are learning our directions (left, right, front and back) and how to count in Hebrew.

Also, we are also learning how to dance to Mayim Mayim:

Ashkenazi Rap

This week, the students spent time writing lyrics for a rap song about the Ashkenazi Jews. I have compiled them, revising a few of the stanzas for rhyme and rhythm, and the completed song is below.  This Sunday, we will be recording the song during one session, between 9:00 and 11:30 a.m.  Here are the lyrics so you can practice!

Lyrics to the Ashkenazi Rap:

I'm an Ashkenazi Jew

From France and Germany

But I didn't always live there

I'm from Jerusalem, you see!

First we were the Hebrews

Then the Israelites became

Who then were the Jews

We're one and the same!

When the Romans came to rule

We traveled far and wide

As traders, sailors, slaves

For the work we could provide

But those darned Romans!

Once they came along

They destroyed the Temple

Which is why we sing this song.

For thousands of years

All Jews were the same

Now we had to move out,

Travelers we became!

Peddlers, bankers, artisans,

We travelled all around.

Our sukkot were everywhere

Till Rhineland we found.

So we moved into Germany

 And Northern France,

After traveling far and wide,

Thought we’d give the place a chance.

As we settled in,

We spoke Ashkenaz

It's the most awesome language

That there ever was. 

We know it now as Yiddish 

And we speak it all around

 It's German and it’s Hebrew

And it has a funny sound!

Unlike our brothers

the Sephardim,

We lived in shtetles

Ruled by Parnasim

The Parnasim, 

They created the Kahals

Who collected taxes

and ate matzah balls!

We built our synagogues

in our own communities

We were happy on our own,

With love and unity.

But in 1096,

There came along a man

A Pope called Urban

Who wanted the Holy Land.

He called upon the Christians

To take up arms and fight

These were the Crusades,

and for Jews they were a fright!

In the early eleven hundreds

The Crusaders came through town

They wanted all the Muslims

And were tracking them down.

They called them infidels

For their Muslim beliefs

But the Jews were also different,

Which was no relief.

In old town Speyer,

Some folks did attack the Jews

But our savior was the Bishop

Who gave us refuge.

But we practiced our religion 

 So it wouldn't disappear,

Despite the persecution

 That came year after year.

The times, they were troubled

And the Jews had it rough

But the Ashkenazi Jews

Have learned to be tough.

England and France

Wouldn’t let us remain

So we took down our mezuzahs

And went to the Ukraine

But our Ashkenazi roots, 

They continued to grow,

So today the Ashkenazi Jews 

Are all around the world. Yo!

Chag Sameach!


I am excited to start this new year with your child! Hopefully I have met most of you, my name is Alissa and I will be teaching alternate Sundays this year. Please come and say hello, I look forward to getting to know your family throughout the year. I am also a parent, my daughter, Eden, is in our class.

Last week we learned about the Ashamnu, and the kids came up with their own lists of "sins" to atone for. The goal was to write one sin for each letter of the alphabet. While it was a fun assignment, the discussion was very thoughtful and honest. The kids came up with a range of answers, everything from "annoying" to "xenophobia." Ideas like "underestimating myself and others" and "judging people" led to interesting insights.

The rain on Sunday prevented us from spending time in the Sukkah, but the class learned (and performed) the "Sukkot Shake." I've added the videos below, they didn't have much time to practice, but they did a great job! I apologize for the quality, we were trying to find a way to rotate the cue cards as they sang, I'll need to find a new method!

I also added video of their music lesson with Revital. They worked on a canon (a round), and the end result was beautiful!


Info/Reminders-

• Next Sunday (October 23rd) JQuest will be at 4:30 p.m. to celebrate Simchat Torah. Classes are from 4:30-5:30, dinner for families at 5:30, and celebration at 6:15. It will be a lot of fun!
• Gold Rush trip on November 6th. This is a unique opportunity to learn about Jewish immigration to the West Coast. Look for information in an email.
• The Maccabeats will be at Acalanes on November 13th. Both the day and evening show are sold out, but they will release more tickets closer to the event.

Ivrit (Hebrew)

Music with Revi

Sukkot Shake Session 1 (part 1 and 2)
https://youtu.be/IZTjG0FuNyk

https://youtu.be/TN28c8mWE8A

Sukkot Shake Session 2

Music Session 1

Music Session 2

L'Shana Tova!

Shalom Shiraniks!

L'Shana Tova Tikatevu!  We have been preparing for the New Year in many ways, learning new tunes for the High Holy Days, cooking holiday treats (honey cake - YUM!),  and learning about ways we can do t'shuvah, or turn our bad habits into good deeds!  Here are a few of the highlights from cooking class.  (And scroll to the bottom for some cool musical links for the High Holidays!)  See you in Temple!

Some of our favorite Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur songs and parodies: 

Enjoy!

Looks like Aish must have seen our JQuest video, and followed our lead!

Mayim Bialik and a couple of her friends from the Maccabeats explain the symbols of the New Year.  (Go to 5:00 in to hear Mayim blow the shofar - she's great!)

A classic.  Barbra sings Avinu Malkeinu.

Israeli cellist Inbal Segev plays Kol Nidre.  (I would have preferred to post a wonderful rendition by our own soloist, Dawn Foster Dodson, but none was to be found on YouTube.)

Six13's offering, "Starting Over" for the New Year

...and the Maccabeats "Book of Good Life"

Enjoy!

Hebrew Happenings and Tefillah Time

L'Shana Tova, Shiraniks!

     We have had a busy couple of weeks getting to know each other, and coming up with our own ideas about what Jewish music actually is.  In the process, we brainstormed Jewish life words, musical words and phrases, and compared and contrasted them.  We discussed "liturgical" (synagogue) vs. secular (non-religious) Jewish music, and touched upon how the various edot (Jewish communities around the world) express their Jewishness musically. 

 We have also been getting back into the swing of our Hebrew Through Movement lessons and weekday and Sunday Tefillah.  Here are a few of the highlights:

The students created lists of musical words and Jewish words, and we compared and contrasted the two.

Smile!

Brainstorming!

IVRIT (HEBREW)

Mora (teacher) Tammy was very impressed with how many Hebrew words and phrases the students remembered from last year.  In her Hebrew Through Movement classes, she teaches new words and phrases in a language immersion lesson, in which the students follow verbal directions. 

In this lesson, Tammy reviews some of the words that the students learned last year - running, walking, window, table, whiteboard, and a few more

The students show their dexterity as they jump, dance AND spin all at once!

Hands on your ears!...or is it eyes?  

Tammy reviews how to write alef

TEFILLAH (PRAYER)

Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur are right around the corner!  The students are learning the High Holy Days nusach, or special tunes which are sung at this time of year.  We did our own version of tashlich, or the "casting away" of our transgressions, in which the students wrote one or two things that they would like to "turn around" (t'shuvah means to turn, or change direction) or improve upon in the coming year.  We also had a special treat, when Rabbi Levine blew the shofar for us to signal the coming New Year!

We had a special visit from musical guest (Gan Ilan preschool director and amazing songleader) Rachel Mylan!

Why is this music different from all other music?  Nusach is the term we use for the different liturgical "tunes" that we use for prayers during the various holidays,  and even times of day.

Asher Yatzar:  The prayer for thanking God for our wonderful bodies

Our Welcome Back Sunday Tefillah featured all of our wonderful clergy leading us in joyous prayer.