Up Up and Away!

Check out these awesome photos of our 6th grade rocket scientists launching their homemade rockets with Mrs. Wynn and Moti...

Making Israeli Pen Pals

Hello! This is Sydney Altman and Paige Epstein in Israel. We are coming to the end of our magnificent trip and will be flying back tomorrow. Despite the small amount of time left in Israel, we are still having a stupendous time. Today, we met our Israeli pen pals from Rishon Le Zion. Our group met them at their beautiful school and got to know them. Together we traveled to a beet field where we participated in a mitzvah of harvesting beets and assisting the needy by doing so. We all went out to lunch together at a nearby mall and after went to Tel Aviv with them. In Tel Aviv we made our way to a beach for activities to help us bond even more. We all had so much fun and by the end of the day, we were all such close friends. We plan to keep in touch with our new friends, and maybe see them again someday. We continue to enjoy ourselves greatly, and even though we will miss Israel, we are very excited to see you all soon.

8th Grade's Final Shabbat in Israel...

Hi, this is Jesse Kellar from Israel. We had a great and relaxing Shabbat in Jerusalem.

First, we went to Shul. We grouped off into four synagogues. There was an Orthodox, a “Feminist Orthodox”, a Conservative and a Reform Shul. The Orthodox ones were Mechizah minyans, however, in the Feminist Orthodox one, they count only a minyan with ten men AND ten women.  We learned that men and women both lead, but just different parts of the service. The group heading to the Conservative service found the school it was supposed to be in, but nobody was there and they joined the Reform minyan. There was a Bat Mitzvah going on in the Reform service and we really enjoyed listening to her read from the Torah.

After Shul we went to lunch and had free time after that. During free time, some of us swam or just hung out.  After Havdalah, we went to Ben Yehuda street to shop, this time without the danger of being sprayed with shaving cream. We went into small groups and wandered around and some people had visitors.

We got back really late, but everybody had a really fun time!

Erev Shabbat in Jerusalem

Hello. This is Jacob and Josh from Jerusalem on our eleventh day in Israel. Today, we toured Yad Vashem where we learned about the Holocaust. Afterwards we walked up Mount Herzl and saw the graves of past leaders, heroes, and soldiers. Later, we went to Machaneh Yehudah market where we had pizzur lunch, bought food and souvenirs. Then we went to our Hotel where we prepared for Shabbat, and later visited the Kotel. We are having an amazing trip and we miss you all. See you soon.

Yom Ha'atzmaut; HAMC Style

While our 8th graders were off celebrating Yom Ha'atzmaut in Israel, we did a pretty awesome job making it feel like we were celebrating in Israel.  All students and staff were adorned in blue and white clothing making it look like 200 Israeli flags were gliding through the school. The theme of this year's Yom Ha'atzmaut was "Israel; A Melting Pot", celebrating the diversity and wide array of different cultures and lifestyles that Israel is blessed with.  At one station the students could visit Morocco with Moreh Moshe and cook the delicious ethnic food, Mufleta, a soft and flat bread covered in honey.  At other stations the students admired customary Yemenite clothing, watched a Sefardic "Henna" ceremony, and tried on Ethiopian jewelry. We also had the treat of spending time with a group of young Israelis who came to visit us from their high school in Ra'nanna. They taught us how to play the Darbuka, a Middle Eastern hand-drum, and how to belly dance while wearing a special skirt adorned with silver coins that jingle. Overall, we had a wonderful day that really captured the spirit of Israel and our love for our homeland...

Happy 64th Birthday Israel!!

Celebrating Israel's Birthday IN ISRAEL!

Hi! This is Elias Neibart and Lielle Lev blogging from Israel!  We started off the day with a special morning service in honor of Yom Ha’Hatzmaut with another Jewish day school from Cleveland, Ohio.  After the nutritious breakfast, we traveled to the City of David and explored the wonderful water tunnels. We got to see the story’s of the Bible come to life. Most kids were scared in the tunnels because of the dark, but their fear faded and everyone had a great time.  Than we went to have lunch at Ein Yael, where we participated in many activities ranging from basket weaving to pita making.  After the great lunch, we went to the Tzfat hike and experienced beautiful scenery and nature.  We even got to crawl in more pitch black tunnels! After the tiring day, we returned to the hotel to eat and rest. Now we are going to our evening activity to learn and discuss our Jewish roots and heritage.  See you soon! Chag Sameach!

HAMC Remembers Israel's Fallen Soilders

Yesterday marked the day of Yom HaZikaron, the day that we commemorate Israel's fallen soldiers and victims of terror.  Our 4th graders led us in a beautiful service, capturing the emotions and words of real people who have lost loved ones in Israel.  They serenaded us with melodies of hope for the future and recited words of poetry that moved our hearts.  We concluded with the Yom HaZikaron Yizkor and sang a heartfelt rendition of the Ha Tikvah in unison, with our brethren in Israel in our thoughts.

Seventh Grade Seeding

Amongst all of the excitement of Israel's birthday today, the 7th graders had a chance to sneak out to the Green House with Mrs. Wynn and do some planting of their own.  They filled up pots with soil and fertilizer and each student planted a different seed, including onions, tomatoes and sunflowers.  When the plants were ready to be watered, they placed the plants in the Green House, took a giant step back and watched as the sprinklers flooded the plants with water, giving them life.

An Israeli Yom Ha Zikaron...

Hello from Jacob and Josh from Sde Boker. First, we had an educational visit at Ben Gurion’s grave, and discussed his life story. Afterwards, we hiked Ein Avdat, and had a delicious Pizzur lunch. We then enjoyed an acting session at the Kibbutz Revivim, and then got a tour of the Kibbutz and its history. When we finished dinner, we heard a siren symbolizing Yom Hazikaron, which is the Remembrance Day for those who have fallen in battles. Then, we had a short ceremony concerning our heroes and our definitions of heroes. We are excited about tomorrow. Farewell, Jacob and Josh.
Check below for a video of us at the Yom HaZikaron ceremony...

7th Grade Takes on D.C.

Check out photos from our 7th grader's adventure through Washington D.C.!

Day 7 Israel Pics!

Hi this is Jesse from Israel. Today we woke up from the Bedouin tent early in the morning. We had a quick breakfast, and hit the road. We drove up to Masada, and climbed the ancient fortress. We prayed and had a Torah reading in the ancient ruins of the prayer place of the Masadeans. After the service, we did a quick tour of the palace, and learned some of the history. We visited a palace of Hordus, King Herod in English, and explored the ruins. We also walked around the living quarters and everyday places of the Masadeans.  After Masada, we went to the En Gedi park. In En Gedi, we had a short walk through the nature area and arrived at a water fall. There was a little natural pool of water, and we swam, dunking under the water fall. Due to the nature of this experience, several splash fights ensued.  We headed down to the Dead Sea, which was loved by everyone. You could float wonderfully, and when the water was deep enough, float upright, in a standing position. There was also a little canopy in the water that you could do pull ups on, but the water was doing most of the work. The actual bottom of the Dead Sea was made of salt and you could literally see the specks of salt in the water. Even though it stung a little, any cuts we had just closed up. Most of us also played with the mud, some covering themselves from head to toe.  At the end of the day, we drove to Sde Boker, where we ate dinner and slept.

Shalom,
Jesse

Swimming in Sachneh and Israeli Shopping!

On the 6^th day of our incredible Israel trip, we woke up and traveled to Sachneh, Israel’s famous fresh water springs.  During the morning, which was warm and beautiful, we swam, explored, and even interacted with the small fish living in the water.  The fish were very friendly, and they eagerly swam up to our feet to nibble at our ankles and toes!  This experience was definitely one of the highlights of our trip so far.  After a delicious lunch at a local shopping mall, we traveled north to a Bedouin oasis in the desert.  We rode donkeys and camels, and we got to hear firsthand about life in a Bedouin settlement. We ate a wonderful dinner, gathered around a bonfire for games and activities, and finally went to sleep in a Bedouin tent under the stars.  The experience was both significantly memorable and unforgettable.  We are having a fantastic trip and we cannot wait to see what the rest of the trip will hold. We miss you too!

Paige Epstein and Sydney Altman

Israel Day 5

Shalom!

We began the day with a spiritual Shabbat service which allowed our group to read from the Torah and lead services.   Then, all students were allowed to just relax and enjoy all the Kibbutz had to offer.   Following a delicious lunch, we partook in fun activities that were run by our Madrichim.  After that, we toured the Kibbutz and learned a lot about their history.  All the students washed up then had a pizur dinner. Later on, we went on a disco boat. On the disco boat, there was music and flashing lights. Everybody was dancing and had a great time. All in all our trip is going great.

Lehitraot,

Lielle& Elias

Donkey Riding, Hiking, Kibbutzing and more!

Shalom from  Israel!  Today we hiked down Mount Arbel, a mountain located between Tiberius and  Tzfat. We climbed through small crevices and crept through narrow pathways. It was a lot of fun. We   used teamwork (and good balance!) to get to the bottom of the mountain. Once we finished the long and fun hike, we got ice cream and then went on the bus to a donkey riding and pita making session in K’far Kedem, a village from the time of the mishnah. There, we dressed in traditional clothing from that era and ate homemade pitas, Israeli salad, and humus. After a long half a day, we traveled two hours back to the kibbutz to prepare for Shabbat. We are spending Shabbat with a service by the Ramah Onegs. So far, Israel has been a once in a lifetime experience, and we are so happy to be here!

 Shabbat Shalom!

Love,
Sarah and Charlotte

"Clean up your School, Clean up your World"

In celebration of Earth Day, the HAMC Green Team facilitated a "Clean Up Your World" poster contest.  Students, grades K-8 were required to create their very own poster illustrating their take on "being green", with the one rule being that the poster needed to include the phrase, "Clean up your School, Clean up your Town, Clean up your World".  All of the terrific entries were hung up all over the HAMC hallways, showcasing the creativity and passion of our students towards environmentalism.  After a very difficult judging session, the winners from each grade level were announced and rewarded  an Earthopoly game (Monopoly with an eco-twist).  Congratulations to Ayala East (ECC), Sam Cukor (K-2nd), Aaron Golomb (3rd-5th) and Josh Trif (6th-8th) on your outstanding work!

A Shabbat Message from Jerusalem...

Our 8th graders wish us all a Shabbat Shalom from the Kotel!

And the Israel adventures continue...

Hi, This is Jesse Kellar from Israel.  Today we had a very busy day. We got up at six o’clock and Davened in the sanctuary in the Kibbutz we are staying. After breakfast, we hopped on the bus to go to Tzfat. We toured the mystical city of Tzfat, including an old temple. At exactly ten o’clock, the siren for Yom HaShoah went off. For a minute, everybody stood silent and still. The cars stopped and the people got out, and stood quietly in memory of the Shoah. After Tzfat, we traveled to the Jordan River. At the Jordan, we rafted in groups of six. Everybody had tons of fun rafting and splash wars and races commenced. Everyone loved the rapids. Once we were all done rafting, we went to the Hula Valley where we biked around ten kilometers, or about six point five miles. We saw birds and otters, as it was a nature reserve. After another bus ride full of beautiful scenery and some cows and donkeys along the road, we got back to the Kibbutz.  Since several people had birthdays in the range of the past few and upcoming days, we had a mini birthday party for them. We ahad cakes, soda, and listened to music. We also played traditional Israeli birthday party games, such as the potato sack game and various ways to pop the balloon. Everybody is a little tired, but Israel is amazing and everybody is having fun.

A Visit from a Bedouin

Asima El-Ahib came all the way from her Bedouin tent in Israel to visit our 1st graders yesterday.  She was dressed in a long white tunic with a head shawl covering most of her head and looked JUST like one of our Rishonim, Noga ;)  She explained that Bedouins are an Arabian ethnic group who often travel around the desert and live in tents.  Many Bedouins live in Israel although some have now settled in Bedouin towns, the largest being Rahat in the South of Israel.  After learning all about the Bedouin culture, the students got to try on some "noisy" skirts straight from Israel that jingle when you dance.  They learned an Arabic dance and used their skirts to make some music!

Commemorating Yom HaShoah

Today marks the date of Yom HaShoah, a day commemorating the six million Jews who perished in the Holocaust and the heroism and strength that allowed others to survive. This morning we held a very special Yom HaShoah program for our middle school students and parents.  The ceremony opened with the "Kel Maleh Rachamim" (a prayer said in memory of those who perished), led by Rabbi Rudin.  Our fourth graders then took the stage and shared a beautiful presentation capturing the lives of Jewish children during the Holocaust. They recited poetry, sang beautiful songs and chanted the "Kadish".  Following this presentation , we had the privilege of hearing from Holocaust survivors, Alex and Judy Buchler (our very own Morah Edna's parents).  They shared with us their own stories about what it was like to be a child during the Holocaust; being torn from their homes, living in the ghettos and struggling to survive.  After the war, both Alex and Judy were blessed with emigrating to Israel where they met and married.  This program reminded as once again of the importance of learning about the Holocaust, listening to the stories of our grandparents and continuing to pass on those stories so we will never forget.

Pizza Party with Dr. Bahar

Yesterday, our 6th graders had the special treat of making pizzas with Dr. Bahar.  They rolled out the sticky dough, poured on the tomato sauce and cheese, and smothered them with a variety of delicious toppings.  Their favorite part...? Eating it! Mmmmmmmmmmm!

Israel Day 2: Shalom from the Kotel!

Hello!!!

 This is Josh and Jacob writing to you from Israel. Today we had a spectacular day in Jerusalem with all of our new friends and staff members. In the beginning, we saw and prayed at the Robinson Arch, and later split into groups and discovered new historical facts about the Western Wall and Herod’s reign. Afterwards, we visited the museum, and watched a short clip and presentation of the architectural designs of the old city of Jerusalem. We then had a Pizzur Lunch at the Jewish quarter; we had very expensive food, and  were ripped off by Israelis. We later went to the western wall, and put our letters in the wall, and prayed to g-d. At the western wall, we went to the underground tunnels and glimpsed at the Western Wall extension. We enjoyed our visit, and hope to return once again in the future.

Farewell, Josh and Jacob.

 

Eighth Graders Arrive in Israel!

A Message from Yerushalayim...

Hi, this is Paige Epstein and Sydney Altman in Israel. 

Today was our first day in Israel, and it was a memorable one!  We reunited with friends from our fellow Gesher schools, and we landed at six thirty in the morning.  After fulfilling the important mitzvah of planting an oak tree, we toured ancient caves, and participated in an exciting archaeological dig.  One of our classmates, Josh Trif, discovered an ancient clay pot from the time of the Macabees, along with other artifacts.  Upon arriving in Jerusalem this afternoon, we checked into the hotel, ate dinner, and discussed the trip to the Kotel, which we will be making tomorrow.  We look forward to the exciting and unforgettable experiences that we will create in the Holy Land.

Love, Paige Epstein and Sydney Altman

Seventh Grade Sets off to D.C.!

Happy Travels to the 7^th grade! This morning our 7^th graders and the 7^th grades from Hannah Senesh and Carmel Academy set off on their trip to Washington, D.C. While they were waiting to load the buses, all the students from the different schools began hanging out and bonding on the HAMC fields.

Stay tuned for pictures of this incredible trip!

Moreh Moshe's Passover Message

Enjoy this live footage from the HAMC Grandparents and Special Friends Seder!

Chag Kasher V'Sameach!

Pesach with our Rishonim

It wouldn't be a Jewish holiday without a celebration with Lior and Noga! Today, during lunch Lior and Noga made all of the students an Israeli Pesach treat of a chocolate spread and matzo sandwich...mmmmmm :)  They also poured each student a class of grape juice in honor of the Seder and everyone toasted to Israel in unison!
Chag Sameach!

Love,
Your Rishonim, Lior and Noga

ECC Learns Self Defense

This morning Lance Berstler, from the NJ Martial Arts Academy met with our ECC students to talk about self defense against strangers; a program called "Stranger Danger".  They learned the right things to say, the right ways to move and the appropriate way to behave if confronted by a threatening stranger.  Our students were extremely enthusiastic about the program and now are aware of all they need to know when it comes to the danger of talking to strangers.

Grandparents and Special Guests Passover Seder

Today and yesterday we were joined by our grandparents for a very special model seder.  The HAMC auditorium was overflowing with students, friends and family as we retold the story of Passover through blessings and song.  We recited the bracha on the yom tov candles, said kiddush on the grape juice, dipped the karpas in saltwater, broke the Matzah and ate the delicious charoset.  At the ECC Seder on Tuesday, our little ones took the stage and performed some of their favorite Passover songs, including "The Frog Song" and "Let My People Go".  At the K-8 Seder, our students sang with Moreh Moshe and stormed the entire school to locate the afikomen! In addition to grandparents and special guests, the K-8 Seder also hosted our wonderful friends from Lester Housing.

Both seders were beautiful and it got us very excited for the real thing later in the week!
Chag Kasher V'Sameach!


  

A Visit to the "Seeing Eye"

After reading the story Mom’s Best Friend, a story about a mother from Pennsylvania,   who went to the "Seeing Eye" in Morristown to train with her new guide dog, the fifth grade took a trip to see the facility. The children met several instructors and a blind woman who told them about her own training with her guide dog, Becca. The class saw a video about the history of the Seeing Eye and got a chance to see the dining room and obstacle course that are used to train the dogs with their owners.

The fifth graders happily donated their own money and bought toys and treats for the guide dogs at the Seeing Eye.