Kibbutzim Projects

This week we completed our Kibbutzim project!  The students  were tasked with creating their own kibbutz and drawing it out on a poster. As you can see below, they had some very creative ideas!

We wrapped up our lesson on Kibbutzim with a video about one of the more famous Kibbutzim in Israel, The Ayalon Institute. The Ayalon Institute was an underground bullet factory, located on Kibbutz Hill in Rehovot, Israel, disguised as a kibbutz that ran a laundry service. 

When we return from the break, we will start our travels through Israel from the North to the South and learn about the topography, cities, and people!  Have a wonderful vacation!

Israel Defense Forces

Today we had a very special guest visit our class. Former CBI 5th grade teacher, Jay Epstein. Jay is currently serving in the Israel Defense Forces. 

After speaking with the students about his time in Israel, Jay showed them some of the things he had to do in basic training. The students all did a great job listening to their "Mefaked" (Commander).

 

Kibbutzim

This week we continued our discussion about Kibbutzim with special guest, Rabbi Tom. Rabbi Tom shared pictures from the Kibbutz Gezer, where he lived for a while. 

We didn't get a chance to watch this video, but if you are interested...here is a brief history of Kibbutzim:

Book Suggestions!

Given our time limits and the complex nature of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, we will very briefly be covering the situation throughout different classes. Last year, Miranda Burnett put together a wonderful list of reference books about the Israeli/Palestinian conflict and more. We encourage you take a look at some of these options and to continue the discussion at home. Please note that we have not read all of these, so do not necessarily endorse the viewpoints taken. If you have found any other books that are helpful in explaining the conflicts in the Middle East to children, please share! 

 

Picture Books:

A Child’s Garden: A Story of Hope, by Michael Foreman

                JMRL: JP Foreman

Sharing our Homeland: Palestinian and Jewish Children at Summer Peace Camp, by Trish Marx

Middle-grade:

The Cat in the Wall, by Deborah Ellis

Samir and Yonatan, by Daniella Carmi

                UVA Library: Clemons Juvenile Collection: PZ7.C21723 Sam 2000

The Shepherd’s Granddaughter, by Anne Laurel Carter

                UVA Library: Clemons Juvenile Collection: PS3553.A77319 She 2008

Tasting the Sky: A Palestinian Childhood, by Ibtisam Barakat

                UVA Library: Clemons Juvenile Collection: DS119.7.B2845 2007

Balcony on the Moon: Coming of Age in Palestine, by Ibtisam Barakat

                JMRL: 92 Barakat, Ibtisam

Three Wishes: Palestinian and Israeli Children Speak, by Deborah Ellis

Where the Streets had a Name, by Randa Abdel-Fattah

                UVA Library: Clemons Juvenile Collection: PZ7.A15892 Whe 2010

Young Palestinians Speak: Living Under Occupation, by Anthony Robinson and Annemarie Young

Young Adult:

Baddawi, by Leila Abdelrazaq

                JMRL: J 92 Abdelrazaq, Ahmad

Muslim Girl: A Coming of Age, by Amani Al-Khatahtbeh

                UVA Library: Alderman: CT275.A457 A3 2016

The Wall, by William Sutcliffe

Adult:

The Book of Gaza: A City in Short Fiction, edited by Atef Abu Saif

Extraordinary Rendition: American Writers on Palestine, edited by Ru Freeman

                UVA Library: Alderman: PS374.A73 E98 2016

Footnotes in Gaza, by Joe Sacco

                UVA Library: Clemsons: PN6727.S23 F66 2009

I Shall Not Hate: A Gaza Doctor’s Journey on the Road to Peace and Human Dignity, by Izzeldin Abuelaish

                JMRL: 92 Abuelaish, Izzeldin

Jerusalem: Chronicles from the Holy City, by Guy Delisle

                JMRL: GN 915.694 Delisle (Graphic Novel)

Keep Your Eye on the Wall: Palestinian Landscapes, edited by Olivia Snaije and Mitchell Albert

Native: Dispatches from an Israeli-Palestinian Life, by Sayed Kashua

                UVA Library: Alderman: PJ5055.38.A84 A2 2016

Palestine on a Plate: Memories from My Mother’s Kitchen, by Joudie Kalla

                JMRL: 641.592927 Kalla

Palestine’s Children: Returning to Haifa and Other Stories, by Ghassan Kanafani

                UVA Library: Alderman: PJ7842 .A5 A24 2000

                                                Clemons: PJ7842 .A5 A24 2000

Ramle

This week we talked about the city of Ramle with special guest Geoff Schmelkin.

 We watched a brief video about a house in Ramle that is now a preschool and community center (Open House), and had a very interesting discussion about how the history of this house could be a representation of the current political climate in Israel today. Thank you Geoff and all parents who attended!

The Roots of the Arab/Palestinian - Israeli Conflict

Last week we read an article about the origins of the Arab/Palestinian - Israeli conflict. This week, the students had the opportunity to reflect on how both sides feel regarding the immigration of Jews into the land of Palestine/Israel (before and after Israel was established). We also talked about some of the similarities between Muslims and Jews and watched a beautiful poetry reading.

Next week we will have our guest speaker Geoff Schmelkin, who will talk about his experiences in the city of Ramle. Parents are invited to attend!

Sunday, October 7th - Immigration

This Sunday, we discussed Jewish migration throughout Asia,Europe,Africa, and the Middle East.
We also talked about the impact of immigration/establishment of Israel on the Palestinian people. Here are a few videos about Jewish migration patterns.

We also briefly discussed the various waves of immigration to Israel ("Aliyot"). Next week we will continue our lesson about the waves of immigration and the impact it had on both the inhabitants of the land and the new immigrants. This lesson will continue on as the intro our discussion about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Note for Sunday, September 23rd

Dear Parents,

I will be traveling on behalf of UVA's Admission Office on Sunday, September 23rd and will be unable to attend the Open House at Sunday School that morning given my 6:00am flight. Zack will be there and will be joined by a substitute teacher, Dana. If you have any questions, comments, or concerns, please do not hesitate to email me at mfrazier@virginia.edu. I'll see you all on September 30th.

-Merav

First Day!

First Day! Israel - What? Where? Who?

We started the year by learning where Israel is and about a few important people that helped establish Israel as it is today. The students "met": Eliezer Ben-Yehuda, Golda Meir, David Ben-Guiron, and Yitzhak Rabin.

Eliezer Ben-Yehuda

Golda Meir

David Ben-Gurion

*If you do not want your child's picture posted on this blog, please let us know. Thank you!

Welcome to 5th Grade!

Welcome 5th Grade Families to the 2018-2019 Sunday School Year!

Shanah Tova and welcome to the 5th grade Sunday School blog! Throughout the year, we will use this blog as a way of keeping you up-to-date about the on-goings in our class. This year's theme is Israel!

Meet your teachers and madrichot:

Merav Frazier

Merav is originally from Haifa, Israel. She moved to the U.S. when she was 6 years old and lived most of her young life in South Florida. She attended the University of South Florida for both her B.A. and M.A. degrees. Merav moved to Charlottesville in August 2007. She works full-time as one of the Admission Deans in the UVA Office of Undergraduate Admission. She lives with her husband - Derek, 2 daughters -Danica, 7 and Sadie, 2.5, and 2 cats - Franklin and Maybe. She has been working at CBI on/off for the past few years in various positions, and is excited to return as the 5th grade teacher for the 3rd consecutive year.

Zack Szlezinger

Zack is a 3rd year student at the University of Virginia.  He is in the Batten School studying public policy and leadership. Zack is originally from White Plains, New York. He has a twin brother and a dog named Coco. He has been to Israel 6 times and is fairly fluent in Hebrew.This is Zack's 2nd year teaching 5th grade at CBI.

Caroline Jaffe

Caroline is a ninth grader at Charlottesville High School. She runs cross country there and also enjoys playing soccer and the cello. She has lived in Charlottesville her whole life and has been going to CBI since preschool. This will be Caroline’s second year as a madricha. She has a younger sister and a younger brother, and a dog named Willie.

 

Rebecca Lerdau

Natalie Yale