Religious School Questions

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Temple Israel
2324 Emerson Avenue South
Minneapolis, MN 55405
Phone: (612) 377-8680
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Religious School Questions of the Week

Kindergarten
First Grade
Second Grade
Third Grade
Fourth Grade
Fifth Grade
Sixth Grade

*Please note that not all classes posted a question for week one; all grades discussed classroom expectations, curriculum and class details as part of opening day.

Kindergarten

Week One:
1) What is the name of the new Jewish year?
(Rosh Hashanah)

Week Two:
1) How do we celebrate Rosh Hashanah?
(Dip apples in honey, eat a special challah, send New Years cards, go to the synagogue and/or hear the shofar.)

Week Three:
1) What do we say on Yom Kippur?
(We say we are sorry for things we have done wrong.)

Week Four:
1) What is a Sukkah?
(A booth that we build for Sukkot; we eat in it and even sleep in it.)

Week Five:
1) Who is Noah?
(A man who built an ark, and saved his family and two of each animal from the flood.)

Week Six:
1) What is in a Torah?
(Stories, the history of the Jewish people, and rules on how to lead good and honest lives.)

Week Seven:
1) What is a mitzvah?
(Mitzvot are G-d's rules that we live by to care for other people and make the world a better place.)

Week Eight Kindergarten (Sunday):
1) What is tzedakah?
(Sharing the things we have with other people.)

Week Eight Kindergarten/First Grade (Saturday):
1) What is Hachnasat Orchim?
(Welcoming guests into your home; classes helped make decorations for our guests from Families Moving Forward and discussed welcoming them into Temple.)

Week Nine:
1) What does Thanksgiving mean?
(To give thanks: for our families and all we have.)

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First Grade

Week One:
1) What do we call the birthday of the world?
(Rosh Hashanah)

Week Two:
1) Why do we dip apples and honey?
(To have a sweet year.)

2) How many times do we blow the shofar on Rosh Hashanah?
(100 times)

Week Three:
1) What is “Tashlich”?
(When we throw away our bad memories or our “sorries”.)

Week Four:
1) What did G-d create on Day 1 and 2?
(Day 1: light and dark; Day 2: separated heavens/sky from water/earth)

Week Five:
1) Why do we shake the lulav and the etrog in all directions?
(Because G-d is everywhere)

Week Six:
1) What was this past Shabbat's Torah portion and why is it significant?
(Beresheet; it is significant because it is the first portion in the Torah and it talks about creation which we discussed when we started learning about Shabbat.)

Week Seven:
1) Why do we light two candles on Friday night?
(We light two candles for the two sets of 10 Commandments. The first set Moses threw down when he saw that the Jews were worshipping the golden calf. The second set Moses went up to Mt. Sinai to get.)

Week Eight (Sunday):
1) What colors are the Israeli flag and why?
(Blue and White; the colors represent the tallit (prayer shawl) which the students saw and learned a bit about)

Week Nine:
1) We discussed Thanksgiving today. We talked about what we are thankful for; some students said “Shabbat, our earth, family, food or shelter”. We talked about the importance of being thankful everyday even when we are unhappy or disappointed.
(Chat with your child about their thoughts on being thankful)

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Second Grade

Week One:
1) Name three Jewish values you have learned.
(Prior years (K - 1): Shalom, Shalom Bayit, Shabbat, Derekh Eretz, Tzedakah, Mitzvot, Tikkun Olam)

Week Two:
1) In this week’s Torah portion, Ki Tetze, one of the 72 laws teaches us to be just and kind to both animals and people. What is “just” about the rules we discussed today?

Week Three:
1) How do we greet each other on Rosh Hashanah?
(We say “Shana Tovah”.)

Week Four:
1) In this week’s Torah portion, Nitzaveem, we talked about the Israelites following G-d’s laws. How can the Torah be in your heart?
(You carry it wherever you go.)

Week Four (Saturday Class):
1) On Sukkot, what do we wave to the four corners of the earth, up and down?
(Lulav and Etrog)

Week Five:
1) What is the name of the holiday when we finish and begin again, reading the Torah?
(Simchat Torah)

Week Six (2nd Grade/3rd Grade Saturday Classes):
Today we had Shabbat through the Arts. The project was sand art. Please ask your child why he/she chose the symbol they created and what it means to him/her.

Week Six:
1) What does it mean to be created in G-d's image?
(Student responses: to like the image of your parents but greater; to try and be as much like G-d as possible)

Week Seven (2nd Grade/3rd Grade Saturday Classes):
Today we had Shabbat through the Arts. We decorated Shabbat candles and discussed the importance of adding light to our world. We also talked about different traditions families have for lighting Shabbat candles. What are some of the traditions we spoke about?
(student responses: mom lights 2 candles; mom lights 2 and female children each light one; the whole family lights; mom lights one for each member of the family)

Week Seven:
1) In this week’s Parsha, Noah, G-d promised people that the world would never again be destroyed. What should we promise G-d?
(That we will take care of the world.)

Week Eight 2nd Grade/3rd Grade (Saturday):
1) Why is it important to do acts of loving-kindness – Gemilut Hasadim?
(Student responses: there won’t be any more wars because we’re nice to each other, you get love back, makes people feel good)

Week Eight (Sunday):
1) In this week’s portion, Lekh Lekha, G-d told Abram that he would be a blessing. One way I can be a blessing is…
(Student responses: helping at home, giving tzedakah, listening, giving to the poor)

Week Nine:
1) In this week’s Torah portion VaYera, we learn the importance of making people feel welcome, just as Abraham and Sarah did before us. Why is making someone feel welcome an important mitzvah? What is one way you can fulfill this important mitzvah?
(Student responses: makes people happy, they will want to be your friend, they might be homeless; you can ask a new student to sit near you, invite someone to your house, be respectful)

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Third Grade

Week One:
1) Name three Jewish values you have learned.
(Prior years (K – 2): Shalom, Shalom Bayit, Shabbat, Derekh Eretz, Tzedakah, Mitzvot, Tikkun Olam, Emet, Kavod, Sever Panim Yafot)

Week Two:
1) How can understanding and observing the rules and laws found in the Torah make my life more holy (Kadosh)?
(Student responses: it connects me to G-d and adds G-dliness to our lives; I feel closer to G-d; I feel like I’m a good person; helps others and is the right direction to go)

Week Three:
1) What are the three shofar calls and how many blasts for each call?
(Tekiah: 1; Shevarim: 3; Teruah: 9)

Week Four (Saturday Class):
1) On Sukkot, what do we wave to the four corners of the earth, up and down?
(Lulav and Etrog)

Week Four:
1) How can I make an offering to G-d through my actions?
(Student responses: taking care of the earth; G’milut Hasadim; be respectful and help out; don’t fight – make peace; treat others like you want to be treated; pray)

Week Five:
1) Name three cycles.
(Cycle of the Torah, Cycle of life, Seasons, Calendar, Time)

Week Six:
1) How might the mitzvah of kashrut add holiness to my life?
(Student responses: brings us closer to G-d; helps us be grateful for what we have; makes us think about what we eat and appreciate it; we are performing a mitzvah; kosher animals are treated with compassion)

Week Seven:
1) Why is not working on Shabbat holy?
(Student responses: because we’re not supposed to work, because G-d rested on the seventh day, we need time to connect with G-d in nature and ourselves, G-d commanded it, we need a break from our busy lives)

Week Eight (Sunday):
1) Why is it important to do acts of loving-kindness – Gemilut Hasadim?
(Student responses: there won’t be any more wars because we’re nice to each other, you get love back, makes people feel good)

Week Nine:
1) How is striving for a connection to G-d, avodah, like work?
(Student responses: it’s complicated and hard; it takes a lot of time; G-d might be hiding; if you are trying to get to G-d and don’t know how; G-d is everywhere at once so G-d can be hard to find; it is holy to connect to G-d; you can pray; sometimes just thinking about G-d is a lot of work)

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Fourth Grade

Week One:
1) How can we “Be Torah”?
(One can “Be Torah” by living according to the messages of the Torah, according to G-d’s mitzvot, and doing mitzvot.)

Week Two:
1) What did G-d say when G-d created each day?
(Good)

2) What did G-d say when G-d created human beings
(Very good)

Week Three:
1) What does G-d give humans that allowed Adam and Eve to eat the apple?
(Free will)

2) Why do we read Jonah on Yom Kippur?
(This is a story of repentance and teshuvah)

Week Four:
1) How does the Torah elicit joy?
(When you do good things, you feel good about it.)
2) What are the five books of the Torah?
(Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy)

Week Five:
1) What are the three different types of blessings?
(Thanking/praising, Commanded, Those that are private or personal )

Week Six:
1) How does the Torah elicit joy?
(When you do good things – mitzvot – you feel good about it)
2) What are the five books of the Torah?
(Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy)

Week Seven (Saturday):
1) How do mitzvoth enrich our lives?
(They teach us or show us how to act – how to care for others and ourselves.)

Week Seven:
1) How was Noah like his name? What does your name mean?
(Noah means “to comfort” and G-d had become uncomfortable with the people of the world, so Noah was chosen to build the ark and have his family be the ones to bring comfort back to G-d.)

Week Eight:
1) What is a covenant? What is the symbol of G-d’s covenant?
(A covenant is a promise or an agreement; the rainbow is a symbol)
2) How does the “Tower of Babel” story connect to the mitzvah of “V’ahavta L’re’acha Kamocha” (love your neighbor as yourself)?
(Ask your child his/her thoughts)

Week Nine (Saturday):
1) Why did G-d destroy the Tower of Babel?
(The Torah is not specific; it never tells the reader why, so the answer is left to interpretation.)

Week Nine (Sunday):
1) What is Tanach?
(The Jewish Bible consisting of Torah, Prophets and Writings)

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Fifth Grade

Week One:
1) Where is your family from? How many students have families from the same country? Different countries?
(student responses will vary)

Week Two:
1) What is Akedat Yitzhak?
(When God called Abraham to take his son Isaac up Mount Moriah and sacrifice him to show his faith. An angel of God stopped it at the last moment.)

2) What does “sacrifice” mean?
(Student responses: to get food; willing to die for someone; sacrifice something you believe for the good of others; get rid of something you like a lot.)

Week Three:
1)What Rosh Hashanah traditions do you have in your family?
(Student responses: we eat apples and honey; we teach non-Jews about the holiday; we eat a nice dinner and blow the shofar; we go to grandparents house; eat Grandma’s good food; do fun activities; come to synagogue; visit with cousins and family; get together with other Jewish friends)

Week Four:
1) What does regret mean and what can you do about it?
(Student responses: wishing you didn’t do something; said something mean and you can say you’re sorry; regret misplacing an item, looked for it and tried to resolve the problem)

Week Five:
5th Grade was on retreat this weekend. Students participated in an experiential program, the Ellis Island Experience, as well as a variety of community and team building experiences, led by our fabulous 5th grade and TEKO staff. Snack in the Sukkah and s’mores around the campfire rounded out this wonderful retreat.

Week Six:
1) Name four of the ten plagues G-d brought upon Egypt.
(Blood, frog, lice, wild beasts, locusts, darkness, cattle death, hail, boils, death of the firstborn)
2) In what ways do we keep our covenant with G-d?
(Student responses: we have a bris for boys; follow the ten commandments; being righteous; being respectful)

Week Seven:
1) Why did Moses smash the first set of commandments?
(He saw that while he was gone the Israelites had built a golden calf and were worshipping it.)
2) Have you ever had an awe-inspiring experience in life where you thanked G-d?
(Ask your child his/her thoughts)

Week Eight:
5th Grade families participated in Family Education this week. “Brit – the Many Covenants of Israel” was the topic. Eilat Harel (Israel Programs Specialist) and Noga Shavit (Community Shlicha) joined Rabbi Glaser and the 5th grade teachers for a morning of serious discussion, noshing on falafel and hummus, and a trip through the Giant Map of Israel.

Week Nine:
1) What does the phrase “All Israel is responsible for one another” mean?
(Student responses: all Jews are responsible for each other; we should help people who are sick and feed the hungry; we should stick up for each other and if we can’t, ask someone for help, such as a rabbi, parent, teacher, etc.; treat each other with respect because that’s the way we would want to be treated.)

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Sixth Grade

Week One:
1) Discuss the use of yellow stars to honor historical figures from the Shoah.

Week Two Saturday Class:
1) Discuss different forms of Tzedakah. Discuss the pros, cons and differences between contributions of time and money.

Week Two Sunday Class:
1) Discuss how Henrietta Szold is a model of Jewish leadership and service in the 20th century.

Week Three:
1) 6th Grade was on retreat at Camp TEKO this weekend. Parents joined their child(ren) on Shabbat afternoon, studying and debating about what it means to be a literate Jew. Students made leather bracelets, binding them as a community, and after parents left, participated in fun, bonding activities during the evening.

Week Four:
1) What does it mean to you to take an accounting of the soul (Heshbon HaNefesh)?
(Discuss this with you child)

Week Five (Saturday):
1) Korach’s rebellion – do you think the punishment was justified?
(Discuss this with you child)

Week Five (Sunday):
1) Who do we invite into the Sukkah?
(Ushpizin, Friends, Neighbors, Matriarchs, Patriarchs, Those who are in need)

Week Six:
1) What is revelation and what meaning does it have in my life?
(The ongoing encounter with G-d, which began for the Jewish people as a whole with the giving of the Torah at Mt. Sinai. When we engage in Torah study, worship, and perform deeds of loving-kindness, we continue to participate in that encounter.)

Week Seven:
1) What was the Golden Age of Spain and what did it mean for Jews?
(The Convivencia, or Coexistence, is generally considered the period from about 711 – 1492, when Jews, Christians and Muslims were able to coexist and thrive together in the same geographical area. This period was considered a golden age for Jews as it was marked by great cultural and intellectual development that included significant contributions from the Jews in the fields of science, medicine, politics, literature and Jewish scholarship.)

Week Eight:
1) Temple hosts families through Families Moving Forward. Discuss which of our 6th grade and school-wide values are reflected in this commitment?
(There is no right answer - Tikkun Olam, Pikuach Nefesh, Gemilut Hasidim, etc. would all be correct answers.)

Week Nine:
1) How did Asser Levy’s advocacy impact the Jewish community in the new world?
(He successfully won the right for Jews to be citizens, to serve in the militia and to own property.)

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