Chanukah Sameach!

We have had a lot of fun in class the past few weeks, learning Hebrew words and the history of Chanukah, watching creative Chanukah videos, playing in class JEWPARDY that I created, and writing our own parity Chanukah songs.

Below are a few links to fun Chanukah videos we watched in class:

The Maccabeats - Miracle - Matisyahu - Hanukkah

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oHwyTxxQHmQ

Chanukah Jewish Rock of Ages

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KyKWUpSMegE

And another one for your enjoyment that we didn't watch in class

Light Up the Night - Fountainheads Hanukkah

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jzh-TKzXN2k

Enjoy!
Chanukah Sameach!

Thanksgiving Weekend

This past Sunday, the students had a lot of fun recalling what songs they had learned so far this year, and then rewrote words to these melodies. They wrote words mostly about Thanksgiving, and about Shira class.
Below are links to four of the groups performing their original songs, to familiar Jewish melodies they know.

Max, Ben, Benji ("Turn the World Around" melody):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1cQmCpT9j_Y

Maddy, Margot, Sophia ("The Hope" melody):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5sOnzGpsY6c

Ellie, Lily, Hannah P., Deborah, Emma ("Oseh Shalom" melody): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F3zay6iGIyk

Sarah M., Alexandra, Sarah M. ("Sabbath Prayer" melody): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8N22GSxB0NA

Enjoy! 

Happy Thanksgiving!

Elaya

This week we have started a unit about music in the Bible. We began with the analysis of Psalms, and the students on Tuesday and Wednesday analyzed the following psalm, and they discovered on their own that it had the common lyrics they sing all the time "Hinei Matov..." The students discussed and then wrote down what the words of the psalm meant to them, and how this relates to our greater study of Jewish music.

Psalms Chapter 133 תְּהִלִּים

א  שִׁיר הַמַּעֲלוֹת, לְדָוִד: הִנֵּה מַה-טּוֹב, וּמַה-נָּעִים--    שֶׁבֶת אַחִים גַּם-יָחַד.	1 A Song of Ascents; of David.  Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!
ב  כַּשֶּׁמֶן הַטּוֹב,    עַל-הָרֹאשׁ-- יֹרֵד,    עַל-הַזָּקָן זְקַן-אַהֲרֹן: שֶׁיֹּרֵד,    עַל-פִּי מִדּוֹתָיו.	2 It is like the precious oil upon the head,  coming down upon the beard; even Aaron's beard, that cometh down upon the collar of his garments;
ג  כְּטַל-חֶרְמוֹן--    שֶׁיֹּרֵד, עַל-הַרְרֵי צִיּוֹן: כִּי שָׁם צִוָּה יְהוָה,    אֶת-הַבְּרָכָה-- חַיִּים,    עַד-הָעוֹלָם.	3 Like the dew of Hermon, that cometh down upon the mountains of Zion;  for there the LORD commanded the blessing, even life for ever.

Hi Parents!

This is my first year at Isaiah, and I’m enjoying teaching your children immensely!

Our first Unit was about each students’ own self discovery of what is Jewish music, and what makes Jewish music Jewish, and coming up with their own list of answers. These are questions students we will be trying to discover meaning to throughout the year, and there aren’t any right or wrong answers. We have done musical analysis, by listening to songs, and filling out a Jewish music questionnaire I created, and as well each writing their own observations.We have watched and discussed many fun modern Jewish music videos, many of them parities on pop culture songs, which is always fun for kids and adults alike.

Here are a few links to fun Rosh Hashanah music videos that we watched and discussed.

"Dip Your Apple in the Honey" by the Fountainheads:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FlcxEDy-lr0&list=PLA391E2989A537E1C&index=37&feature=plpp_video

"Book of Good Life" by the Maccabeats:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DRaQSbuTiBg&list=FLiVuUI6T4ysjL9BiW9SBWvQ&index=5&feature=plpp_video

We began our study into what nusach is, through the look at specific nusach for the High Holydays.

We are just finishing up our second unit, where we learned about the transition of Temple to synagogue, and Priest to Cantor, and sacrifice to prayer.

I have been teaching the students many fun new melodies of songs lyrics that they already know.

In addition, the last two sessions, Cantor Korn has joined us in the classroom and taught cantillations.

If you have any questions, feel free to email me at MinaPina03@aol.com.