B”H

Parshat /Bechukotai Light Candles at 7:40 pm Shabbat Ends: 8:45 pm

Dear Parents,

We had such an exciting beginning with Lag Baomer celebrations which included a play performed by our morahs, obstacle courses, relay races and scavenger hunts. We also began to see the emergence of many of the class butterflies from their chrysalides. And finally, in addition to counting the days until Shavuot and celebrating the completion of the third book of the , the children spent the week preparing special gifts for their mothers. This week was designated as a week to celebrate the moms in our lives, though the children learn all through the year the importance of Kibbud Av V’Em, the of loving and respecting our parents every single day. We hope you enjoy this poem by Kathie Fictorie in honor of our preschool moms.

“If You Give a Mom a Muffin” If you give a mom a muffin, She'll want a cup of coffee to go with it. She'll pour herself some. Her three-year-old will spill the coffee. She'll wipe it up. Wiping the floor, she'll find dirty socks. She'll remember she has to do laundry. When she puts the laundry in the washer, She'll trip over boots and bump into the freezer. Bumping into the freezer will remind her she has to plan for supper. She will get out a pound of hamburger. She'll look for her cookbook ("101 Things To Do With a Pound of Hamburger"). The cookbook is sitting under a pile of mail. She will see the phone bill, which is due tomorrow. She will look for her checkbook. The checkbook is in her purse that is being dumped out by her two-year-old. She'll smell something funny. She'll change the two-year-old's diaper. While she is changing the diaper, the phone will ring. Her five-year-old will answer and hang up. She'll remember she wants to phone a friend for coffee. Thinking of coffee will remind her That she was going to have a cup. And chances are... If she has a cup of coffee, Her kids will have eaten the muffin that went with it!

Have a beautiful Shabbos and Mother’s Day! Orite and Sonya TORAH TOWN

Dear Parents,

Wow! What a fun filled week the children had in Torah Town. They started off the week celebrating Lag Baomer. The children had a great time racing each other in dif- ferent relay races. They jumped, ran and skipped together. After the fun races they were off to the cave of Shimom Bar Yochai! Over the mountains (movement stairs), through the tunnel, and into the puddles… Finally the children made it to the cave where they learned Torah just like Rabbi did many years ago.

The children also learned about the very special mitzvah of Shmitah, which Hashem gave in this week’s parshah to all who live in . For six years the Jewish farmers in Israel plant in their fields. They water the fields and take care of the fruits and vegetables that grow, but when year seven comes, the lands needs to take a rest. The farmers put away all their planting tools because they know now Hashem is taking care of the land.

What fun the children had plowing, planting and watering with real gardening tools. Wait! It’s the Shimitah year! Put down all the tools because the land needs to take a rest. Chazak, Chazak V’nitchazek! We finished Sefer , but a Jew is never done learning Torah. Now we will start the next sefer, Sefer Bamidbar.

Pirkei Avot “Be sure to greet everyone with a smile!” When a person smiles, it makes the next person around him wants to smile back causing a chain reaction. All of a sudden we get everyone walking around smiling and being happy! The children made a mirror with a face on it, but the there is one part missing - the mouth! When the children look in the mirror with a smile their smile will cause the “person” on the mirror to smile. Remember, look in the mirror and see that you are greeting your friend with a big smile.

Shabbat Shalom ~ Morah Mira

Calendar Updates Monday, May 10 th - Parent Teacher Conferences Pre-K and Kindergarten Torah Factory

Tuesday, May 18 th - Pre-Shavuot Ice Cream Party and Early Dismissal: Nursery and Transitional Nursery: 1:00 p.m. Pre-K, Kindergarten and Extended Care: 1:30 p.m.

Wednesday, May 19 th –Thursday, May 20 th - Shavuot - No Sessions Friday, May 21 st - Welcome Back! Monday, May 31 st - Memorial Day - No Sessions

BREAKFAST WITH OUR FATHERS- Save the Date!!!! st • Tuesday, June 1 - Toddlers and Transitional Nursery: 8:45 a.m. nd • Wednesday, June 2 - Pre-K: 8:15 a.m. rd • Thursday, June 3 - Nursery Mitzvah, Nursery Keter and Nursery Nerot: 8:15 a.m. th • Friday, June 4 - Nursery Shabbat, Nursery, Torah and Kindergarten: 8:15 a.m.