Yom Kippur Preparation October 7, 2019 / 8th of Tishrei, 5780
"Teshuva...
The children of Gan Aliya learned about the gift of teshuva. Morah Shaindy explained the concept of teshuva using a story about a boy named Dovid. As Dovid made mistakes and did aveiros (e.g., he refused to share, he spoke disrespectfully, etc.), his neshama, represented by a white paper, became dirty and covered with marks. When Dovid realized how dirty his white paper became due to his aveiros, he began to feel sorry.
Dovid wanted to do teshuva to fix his mistakes and make his paper clean again. Each time Dovid practiced the steps of teshuva, the marks on the paper became lighter and lighter, until all the aveiros/marks disappeared, and the white paper became clean again. On Yom Kippur, we have the power to do teshuva and make our neshamos pure again!
....Tefilla u'Tzedaka ma'avirin es ro'a ha'gezeira"
The Gan Aliya Primary students learned the teaching of R. Kruspedai in the name of R. Yochanan:
Three books are opened on Rosh Hashana: one for the absolute resho'im (utterly wicked), one for the pure tzaddikim (wholly good), and one for the beinonim - the average class of people. The wholly righteous are immediately inscribed and sealed for life; the entirely wicked are immediately inscribed and sealed for death; the average class are held in the balance from Rosh Hashana till Yom Kippur; if they make themselves worthy they are inscribed for life, if not they are inscribed for death. (Rosh Hashana 16b)
Teshuva (repentance), Tefilla (prayer), and Tzedaka (charity) offer us three ways to prove ourselves worthy of the Book of Life.
Teshuva in Jewish History
Morah Shaindy walked through Rabbi Rietti's Jewish history timeline and explained to the children that whenever there was a harsh decree (Egyptian servitude commemorating Pesach, the threat of Haman on Purim, etc.), Bnei Yisrael's response was to turn to Hashem and daven. The kinderlach are proud that we have this opportunity everyday at Gan Aliya.
Rabbi Akiva's Daughter
The students learned how tzedaka has the power to annul harsh decrees. Morah Shaindy told the story of Rabbi Akiva's daughter who was destined to die on her wedding day. However, she performed a special act of tzedaka, and was saved. Each child had a turn to give tzedaka in order to fulfill the special mitzva!
Restrictions on Yom Kippur
The children learned about the five restrictions of Yom Kippur with real props and a song.
Story of Yona
Above: Yona (played by Tzvi) falls asleep at the bottom of the boat, while the other men on the ship (played by Joseph and Lev) sit in stress as a storm presents itself.
The children felt captivated by the dramatization of the Yona story. Hashem commanded Yona to tell the people of Ninvei to do teshuva. Yona didn't want to listen, so he ran away on a boat. Hashem sent a giant storm, causing the boat to rock. Yona admitted to the non-Jewish sailors that Hashem sent the storm because of Yona’s avoidance of his spiritual responsibility.
Below: With the hope of appeasing Hashem and in following Yona's instruction, the sailors threw Yona overboard, and the waters returned to a state of calm.
Once in the sea, Yona was swallowed by an enormous fish. Alive, wet and cold in the in the fish’s belly, Yona realized this miracle was a consequence for his not wanting to go to Ninvei and resolved to carry out his divine mission.
Yona Projects
Above: The Primary class made fish out of water bottles and placed Yona inside.
After learning about Yona being swallowed by a fish, the Toddler class painted fish and placed Yona in the belly.
Tashlich
The older Primary students embarked on a trip to the river to fulfill the custom of Tashlich (throwing away our aveiros). Morah brought her machzor and read the special tefilla before the children. This unique minhag reminds us to do teshuva.
Kaparos Ritual
The children learned that during the period between Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur, we seek ways to atone for our aveiros. In the minhag of kaparos, Jews apologize for their mistakes and ask Hashem to transfer them onto either a chicken, fish, or money. We wave one of these choices around our head while reciting a special tefilla. The chicken, fish, or money is then given to tzedaka as we pray for a sweet, new year. We sure had fun practicing this holy ritual on one another!
The Shalom Rose
The kinderlach learned that teshuva requires us to ask anyone we may have hurt for forgiveness. In Gan Aliya, when a disagreement arises, the children use the shalom rose to communicate their feelings to help reach shalom. The child holding the rose has a chance to speak, while the other child listens. The speaker may only use "I statements" such as "I felt hurt when" as opposed to labeling the other student as mean or rude, etc. This avoids making the listener defensive.
After the listener can show the speaker that he understands the speaker's perspective. Then the children switch roles. After hearing each other out, they work together to reach an agreement. In honor of Yom Kippur, each child received a shalom rose and an instruction card to bring home.
A Gift for our Mommies and Daddies
The toddler class made special lemon and bisamim gifts for their mommies and daddies to smell while they are fasting and need more energy.
Yom Kippur Songs
A.
On Yom Kippur we don't eat or drink
We don't wear leather shoes on our feet
We don't smear or wash our hands, that's the rule
We love to sit and daven in shul
Please Hashem forgive me
I'll be very good, you'll see
Please give me a Shana Tova
For me and my whole mishpacha!
(Primary Only)
B. (Tune to: Tov Li, Tov Li, Toras Picha)
Teshuva, tefilla, utzedaka Ma'avirin es ro'a ha'gezeira Teshuva, tefilla, utzedaka Ma'avirin es ro'a ha'gezeira
Teshuva, tefilla, utzedaka
Takes away the bad decree
Teshuva, tefilla, utzedaka
Takes away the bad gezeria
(Primary Only)
C. (Tune to: Min Hameitzer)
We're going to the river,
Won't you come along?
We're throwing our aveiros
And all that we did wrong
Good bye aveiros,
We want to see you gone!
Hello mitzvos,
We'll keep you from now on!
(Toddler and Primary)
Yom Kippur Review Questions
to Discuss with your Child:
1. Which day of the year is the holiest?
(Yom Kippur)
2. What very special mitzva do we do to prepare for this special day?
(Teshuva)
3. How do we do teshuva?
(1. We feel sorry for our mistakes. 2. We stop doing the aveiros. 3. The next time the opportunity arises, we try to control ourselves and not do the aveira again.)
4. What do we ask Hashem for when we circle the chicken/money/fish around our head?
(This chicken/money/fish should go to tzedaka and my family and I should have a good, sweet year!)
5. What do we do with our aveiros when we go to Tashlich?
(We throw our aveiros into the water)
6. What special story do we read on Yom Kippur?
(The story of Yona)
7. What special lesson do we learn from Yona?
(The power of teshuva)
8. What happened to Yona when he tried to run away from Hashem?
(There was a terrible storm and the boat began to sink)
9. What swallowed Yona?
(A big fish)
10. Did Yona do teshuva inside the fish?
(Yes)
Reminder: Yom Kippur and Sukkos Schedule
There will be no school tomorrow, Tuesday, Erev Yom Kippur
School will resume, be"H, on Thursday, October 10th at 10:00 a.m.
Sukkos Vacation: October 14th through October 23rd.
We are looking forward to seeing all the Gan Aliya students back at school on Thursday, October 24th at its regular start time.
Wishing you and your family an easy and meaningful fast and a happy and sweet New Year!
