Schechter Shavua: January 16, 2026

Little Learners, Big Hebrew Fun for All Ages!

Sixth graders sat cross-legged on the carpeted floor, helping the two- and three- year olds identify Hebrew letters on a BINGO board. The Israeli emissary, Shira Nagar, announced the names of Hebrew words as the Smartboard spinner landed on them. As she called“Kelev!” (כלב) , students leaned over their boards and colored the box labeled with the letter כֶּ. Next, Shira called “Abba!” (אַבָּא) and a pair of students shouted enthusiastically, “BINGO!”

Last week, to celebrate Yom Ha’Ivrit(יוֹם הָעִבְרִית) -- Hebrew Language Day -- the Schechter Hebrew teaching team created a full morning of age-appropriate fun and Hebrew learning. Older students developed their Hebrew vocabulary through games, while EC students practiced the names of Hebrew colors and the alef-bet. Students connected culturally to Hebrew through music, dance, and art. The enthusiasm was contagious throughout the morning through the conclusion of the festivities with a schoolwide K-8 dance.

In the days leading up to Yom Ha’Ivrit, teachers asked families to submit their favorite Hebrew words. In doing so, they discovered something truly remarkable: almost every word submitted was unique! To represent this diversity of language, the Hebrew team used all of the submitted favorite words to create a piece of art that will connect our families and unite them into oneBa'yit (house).

Todah rabah to Anat, Ortal, Hadar, and Shira for their tireless efforts to plan so many engaging activities! 

Click HERE to see photos from Yom Ha'Ivrit

From Loss to Legacy: A Ceremony of Remembrance and Inclusion

The room fell into a deep silence as eighth grader Nava crouched down, ready to perform an interpretive dance she had choreographed herself. Set to quiet piano music and powerful Hebrew lyrics, her movements spoke loudly. Dressed in black, Nava leapt, turned, and reached through space, embodying both the heartbreak of children killed on October 7, 2023, and a fierce insistence on belonging, dignity, and inclusion.

Her performance was one of several that expressed grief, hope, and responsibility during a ceremony that honored the children of Kibbutz Sufa while affirming a commitment to welcoming all people. Three Schechter students represented these themes with courage and tenderness. Caleb performed Bach’s Minuet in G Major on acoustic guitar; Sarah articulated some of the small, intentional acts that make people feel seen and valued in a community. Nava’s dance—at times soaring, at times curled inward—captured the emotional vulnerability of remembrance and resilience.

The ceremony marked the culmination of a year-long effort by Grassroots Jewish Women of CT , a local Jewish women’s group, in partnership with the Hartford-based nonprofit RiseUP. Together, they designed and painted an Able Table—an accessible picnic table now installed on the Schechter playground. Inspired by Vincent van Gogh’s Starry Night, the table is covered with sweeping skies and fields of poppies, symbols of promise and rebirth, and bears the names of approximately 40 children who lost their lives in the October 7 attack.

Matt Conway of RiseUP spoke about the table as a living symbol—a place where community is built and no one is left on the margins. Schechter Head of School Rabbi Jonathan (Yoni) Berger echoed this message, grounding it in Torah. The Exodus from Egypt, he reminded those gathered, was rooted in the radical idea that everyone belongs—that liberation demands we ensure a place at the table for all. This Able Table, he said, will both honor the memory of the children who were taken too soon and challenge us to care more deeply for one another.

The commitment does not end at Schechter. Kerry Rausch, a parent of three Schechter alumni, and Robin Kipnis, both of Grassroots Jewish Women of CT, said that they will be placing a similar table at the New England Jewish Academy (NEJA). A third table, honoring children and teens from a Druze community who were killed on a soccer field in July 2024, will be placed at the Jonathan’s Dream playground at the Mandell JCC—extending this circle of remembrance, inclusion, and shared humanity.

Click HERE to view photos of the Able Table dedication.

Hard Knock Life, Great Teamwork: The Cast of Annie Jr. Shines

The talented cast and crew of Annie Jr. truly brought the heart, humor, and spirit of this beloved musical to life onstage. From the very first rehearsals in September through the final performances, students demonstrated remarkable teamwork, confidence, stage presence, line memorization, vocal projection, stage directions, improvisation, comedic timing, and cheating out to the audience. 

The cast brought warmth, humor, and enthusiasm to the stage, fully capturing the spirit of this beloved musical. Each performer shined, from the lively orphans to the unforgettable characters who helped bring Annie’s world to life. With energetic musical numbers, thoughtful staging, and dedicated work from the crew behind the scenes, the production reflected weeks of teamwork and creativity. Each performer learned how to work together as an ensemble while also embracing the responsibility of their individual roles. 

Through consistent repetition and practice of their songs, lines, blocking, and choreography during rehearsals, everything came together beautifully to showcase the growth of our cast & crew. Director Julie Borsotti said, “It was a joy to work with these talented students and watch them grow and shine onstage.” 

Annie Jr. delighted audiences of all ages and served as a heartfelt reminder of optimism, kindness, and the belief that even in difficult times, “the sun’ll come out tomorrow.”

Click HEREto view the Annie Jr. photo album!

 

DIRECTOR/CHOREOGRAPHER: Julie Borsotti

CAST:
Maya Benoni
Rami Berger
Shakked Touvin Bernstein
Hannah Cohen
Iris Cohen
Leah Cohen
Noah Cohen
Reva Cohen
Paige Ferenc
Ilan Gallant
Asher Gamzon
Tova Glantz
Ezra Goldsweig
Jesse Kay
Ayelet Krinsky
Elsa Lesham
Talia Matthews
Clara Oliveira Mendes
Cordeilia Ruth
Emerson Santiago
Gabe Spector
Owen Zablotsky

CREW:
Adina Gamzon
Ayelet Glantz
Ariel Graber                                  
Emma Ruby Kruger

Parashat Va’era—Availability to Learn

Good teachers can spend a lot of time on activities and rituals that might seem inefficient. The school day might begin with a 20-minute Morning Meeting. Classes may take “brain breaks” even when lunch is just 45 minutes away. And after recess, before jumping to page 57, the students might take a moment to tell their teacher how they are feeling, maybe even using a “How am I feeling?” emotions chart. Why not just get down to work? Why spend precious time on things that have nothing to do with the material or skills that the students are actually learning?

The reason is that, as good teachers know, you can only learn if you are “available to learn.” If all you can think about is the fight you just had at recess, or the rush you were in this morning getting dressed for school, or if you are just worn out from an intense learning activity, you aren’t available to learn. You need a check-in, or a brain break, or a Morning Meeting to help you get ready. Those rituals and activities aren’t wastes of time; they are investments in what makes learning possible.

In this week’s parashah , we read that Moshe spoke inspiring words to the Jewish people, promising that redemption was soon—but that they didn’t listen to him, because of kotzer ru’ah /shortness of spirit and avodah kashah/hard work. According to the medieval Italian commentator Rabbi Ovadiah Sforno, what this means is that they felt unsettled (shortness of spirit), and the exhaustion (hard work) kept them from focusing. In other words, the people weren’t available to learn.

The Ten Plagues fulfilled a number of goals. They demonstrated God’s power, and brought some punishment to a society that had enslaved the Israelites—and, in addition, they helped allow the Jewish people to become available to learn. At this early stage of the book of Shemot/Exodus, all they could think about was their dismal present; they couldn’t even imagine liberation. Over time, though, they awakened to all the possibilities that the future could offer!

This lesson isn’t just for small children or slaves; it’s true for us too. May we all be blessed with great teachers, friends, and loved ones who know how to help us and teach us when we suffer from kotzer ru’ah or avodah kashah—and may we be able to help others when they too are in that state.

Shabbat shalom,

Rabbi Jonathan Berger
Head of School