Could that be challah that I smell?

I have always been someone who enjoys routine and schedules. Knowing where I need to be when or anticipating something in the future has always been quite satisfying to me. As a father, I have completely come to appreciate Shabbat in a completely different way. One day "off" every week means recharging my proverbial battery. Celebrating Shabbat is the ultimate "recharger." In our house, Raviv enthusiastically waits for Shabbat to arrive. The rituals for Shabbat have become second nature to him. He describes it as "our at home" day. We rest, eat great food, read, play, walk. It's great!

With that being said, there is a rhythm to the LGA week that I (and many students and faculty members) have so come to appreciate. Like everything we do here at LGA, our students straddle two distinct worlds, both the secular and Jewish. Children get much needed free time and exploration of activities that the week just doesn't allow for. Every Friday, this building comes alive with getting ready to celebrate Shabbat and the weekend. 

There are a number of rituals here at LGA that makes our celebration homey and lovely. Around 11 AM, every Friday morning, I find a group of Gan (Kindergarten) students making homemade challah. In small groups, they work with one of their teachers to create these doughy and light masterpieces. The smell gently and deliciously fills the main hallway of our building. The Gan often makes more than the requisite two needed for their classroom and delivers them to members of our greater community who are either elderly, sick, or just in need of a delicious Gan challah. 

Morah Amy helps Mira braid the challah.

Mira and Madeline coat the challah with an egg wash for extra shininess. 

Every Friday afternoon, we end our learning early so that we can either gather as a whole school or in small clusters to celebrate Kabbalat Shabbat. We find this time essential to our week. This transition from formal learning to a celebration and reflection of our week behind and ahead of us is an important goal we are teaching  for our school. We are teaching our children to be thoughtful reflectors and to think to themselves about the big (and not so big) questions that often adults have a hard time contemplating. Our Kabbalat Shabbat time is a favorite of our students both current and past. It is the place where many school traditions are formed. 

One such tradition is when members of our 6th grade class write a song for Rosh Chodesh (the new month) about the month that just happened in Torah and holidays to come. Our students study the Bible as both a text that offers a seminal connection to the Jewish people and a rich piece of literature that is beautifully written and allows students to question many aspects of life. Our 6th graders take their responsibility very seriously when it comes to writing these often very funny verses. Students are integrating so much when they write these songs. Enjoy last month's ditty... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LaDSt-WjJCc&feature=youtube_gdata_player

Morah Devorah, Moreh Aharon and Moreh Dov have worked hard to create a fun, raucous, song filled Kabbalat Shabbat with both new and old tunes. Child friendly yet truly enjoyed by adults alike, LGA has created a bridge to Shabbat and the weekend that is made of memories and connectedness to the Jewish people in really unique ways. Join us for our next all-school Kabbalat Shabbat! You won't be disappointed.