Current tzedakah project

Our tzedakah collections over the next month will be dedicated to sponsoring garden plots and food preservation education for local underprivileged families through the Duluth Community Garden Program.

Since the plots are offered on a sliding fee scale, just $15 can provide a family with a plot they can use all summer to grow their own vegetables. And $20 can provide them with tuition for classes that teach them how to prepare or preserve the things they grow.

Please encourage your child(ren) to bring in some extra $$$ for this program that not only helps feed those in need but contributes to the mitzvah of taking care of the earth right here in Duluth.

Mid-winter Break

Religious and Hebrew School will be on break during the upcoming Duluth Public Schools' break, which means no classes on Saturday, Feb. 16 and 23, or Wednesday, Feb. 20.

Hebrew studies will resume on Wednesday, Feb. 27. Religious studies will resume on Saturday, March 3.

New to the teaching team

Please welcome two new additions to our 2012-13 teaching team.

Tina Alcala Sales will teach Chai Level 3 religious studies to our 2nd through 4th graders. Tina previously taught Chai Level 5 religious studies to our current B'nai Mitzvah students and taught world religious at Marshall School for many years.

Hannah Cornwell is a new teaching assistant and will be helping in our preschool and K-1 classrooms as needed.

Temple teacher wins book award

Linda Glaser, Duluth author and preschool teacher at Temple Israel Hebrew and Religious School, and Adam Gustavson will receive the 2013 gold medal in the Sydney Taylor Book Award's younger readers category for "Hannah's Way."

When Hannah's family relocates to rural Minnesota after her father loses his job, she is the only Jewish student in her class. Hannah worries she will not be able to attend a Saturday class picnic when her teacher arranges a carpool. Her observant family does not ride in cars on the Sabbath. In a delightful display of acceptance and friendship, the entire class chooses to walk with Hannah so she can attend the picnic.

Barbara Krasner, a member of the Sydney Taylor Book Award Committee, said "The Minnesota setting, the Depression timeframe, and a Jewish girl's dilemma all add up to a winning story."

New teaching team

I would like to introduce our new teaching team for the 2012-13 school year.

Each member brings special skills, experience, dedication and energy.  I look forward to working with them to create a wonderful Jewish learning experience for our students.  

Teaching religious studies are Linda Glaser (Pre-K), Heather Lassard (K-1), Suzanne Jokela-Moskovits (2-4), Judith Karon (5-6) and Danny Frank (music).

Teaching Hebrew studies are Tom Buck (Alef), John McLoughlin (Bet) through October, Max Shamblott (Bet) after October, and Andrea Buck (Gimmel). 

Chris King is our substitute teacher for both religious and Hebrew studies.

Teaching assistants for religious studies who have committed so far are Max Shamblott, Michaela Shamblott and Hannah Wodrich.