Double Chai/Teen Community Updates

Dear Parents and Students,

It is our final session of Double Chai this year.  It has been wonderful getting back to some semblance of normal with dinners and full sessions in person.  This year, we had the largest enrollement in 6 years!  Each student's presence makes the program special and creates an enviornment where all our students belong.  Please take a moment to register your teen for next year.  It is good for mental health and Jewish identity.  We look forward to seeing everyone back in the fall!

Double Chai Registration 2022-2023!

• Pizza/caesar salad dinner with 6th graders joining to get a taste of Double Chai
• 7th grade wrap up for Jewish Ethics/Holocaust Studies
• 8th/9th special learning with Sarah
• 10th grade Confirmation Service prep
• 11th/12th time with rabbis - saying goodbye for seniors and brainstorming special learning activities for 11th/12th grade 2022/2023
• Double Chai walk to Buckmaster Pond for treat and closing circle, DRESS ACCORDINGLY!

SAVE THE DATE: CONFIRMATION SERVICE, FRIDAY JUNE 3, 6:30 P.M.
Special Blessing for Graduating Seniors THIS Sunday, May 15 at 11:00 

L'Shalom,
Rabbi Micah and Rabbi Karen

_____________________________________________________________

Dear Parents and Students,

We hope that everyone had a wonderful Passover and spring break.  It will be good to gather tonight for dinner and study as we are in the homestretch for our Double Chai year with just three sessions left.  7th grade and 10th grade will continue with class learning in the first hour, while 8th, 9th, 11th, and 12th will have Wildcard Wednesday elective options.  Wildcard Wednesdays are weekly elective options that students get to choose when they arrive.  

Tonight is the start of Yom Ha-Shoah, Holocaust Remembrance Day, so there will be a special program in the second hour of Double Chai in commemoration of this day.  Students will watch excerpts of a Helen Mirren film called, #Anne Frank: Parallel Stories.  The film introduces Anne Frank's story through her diary, the eyes of a contemporary teen, and the true stories of survivors who were Anne's age during the Holocaust.  There are brief moments of footage from concentration camps.  This not the focus of the film and the majority of it comprises interviews with survivors and family, Mirren's narration and reading from the diary, and learning about Anne Frank through the teen protagonist. The film deals with some of the following questions:

L'Shalom,

Rabbi Micah and Rabbi Karen

_____________________________________________________________

Teen Volunteers Needed!

Shorashim grades K-2 can use some extra teen volunteers to help this Sunday, May 1 as our youngest students make brown bag lunches with our Sunday Sandwich Hevre (SSH) that supports people in need at Father Bill's and Mainspring Shelter.  Volunteering is good for community service hours at school or Bnai Mitzvah project volunteering.  Please reach out to either Rabbi Karen or Rabbi Micah to help.

_____________________________________________________________

Outdoor Shabbat Dinner Friday, May 6 at 5:45 pm

Join all ages of the TBD community for a casual, outdoor* Shabbat pizza dinner catered by Bertucci's before our uplifting service at 6:30 with May birthday blessing and Oneg to follow.  Great way to connect with your temple community and we need the teens to make their presence felt!  Hope to see a good Double Chai family showing.   

Please RSVP  HERE by latest May 4 at noon.

*(weather permitting, inside if necessary)

Dear Parents and Students,

Thank you so much to so many of you who reached out to Rabbi Micah when he had Covid.  We are glad to be moving past it!  We look forward to seeing everyone at 5:30 p.m. tonight for dinner followed by classes.  Double Chai ends at 8:00 p.m.  Keep reading for a great NAWDTY event this weekend!

L'Shalom,

Rabbi Micah and Rabbi Karen

_____________________________________________________________

NAWDTY 8th-12th Grade Bowling Event
Sunday, April 10th 1:20 p.m. @Kings - Legacy Place
Come on down to King's at Legacy Place on Sunday, April 10th for bowling with NAWDTY! Individuals who are planning to carpool can meet at the temple at 1:00pm. Otherwise, we will meet at King's (the carpoolers should be there by 1:20pm). Please RSVP here by April 8th!

_____________________________________________________________

Dear Parents and Students,

We look forward to another week of Double Chai.  Remember that masks are now optional.  We honor the decision to wear a mask.  We also know that some colds are going around now that masks have come off.  If a student has cold symptoms, we encourage them to talk the night off even if Covid negative.   We are grateful that we can be together, in person.  Just a quick reminder that students should be up-to-date with all Covid-19 vaccines.

We look forward to seeing everyone at 5:30 p.m. tomorrow for dinner followed by classes.  Double Chai ends at 8:00 p.m.

L'Shalom,

Rabbi Micah and Rabbi Karen

_____________________________________________________________

Community Event Opportunity  - March 31 8:00-9:00 p.m.
Check out this interesting conversation with a Jewish sports/TV star.  See the link below to register.

_____________________________________________________________

Dear Parents and Students,

Chag Sameach!  We hope you are having a joyous Purim.  Getting the holiday started last night with teens and adults was a lot of fun!

We can really use more teen and adult volunteers to help with the Purim Carnival so that it can be a succees for our community.  7th graders can help, too, and count volunteer time toward Bnai Mitzvah project hours.  See the links below.

Also, 8th-12th graders, remember to RSVP today for the Shul-In (overnight) .  See the details below.  There is a growing group of kids signed up.  Don't miss it!

L'Shalom,

Rabbi Micah and Rabbi Karen

_____________________________________________________________

NAWDTY 8th-12th Grade Pre-Purim Carnival Shul-In
Saturday, March 19th 6:30 p.m. -  Sunday, March 20th

We are excited to have our first shul-in (overnight) in two years!  We invite all 8th-12th graders to come set up for Purim, and then sleep over at the Temple. Join us Saturday, March 19th at 6:30 p.m. to set up for the carnival, as well as having dinner and havdalah. Sleeping over is NOT required if you want to just help set up. The NAWDTY advisor, Jason Allen, will be staying overnight as the chaperone.
 
IMPORTANT: Anyone planning on sleeping over MUST be fully vaccinated, and take a rapid Covid test with a negative result before coming to Temple.
 
We will also need lots of teens to help run stations at the carnival on Sunday, March 20, 10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. (Schpiel and Carnival)

_____________________________________________________________

We need You To Volunteer at the Purim Carnival Adults and Teens!

Dear Parents and Students,

Double Chai is back to its regular schedule tomorrow night:
5:30 p.m. - Dinner
6:00-8:00 p.m. - Classes

We look forward to being together with more time to socialize and learn.  We will continue to wear masks in the building when we are not eating.  Not all school districts that comprise our temple community are mask optional yet, so Temple Beth David will still have masks in place for students/teachers. If your student has not sign up for electives, please see the instructions and sign-up link below.

L'Shalom,

Rabbi Micah and Rabbi Karen

STUDENTS WHO HAVE NOT YET SIGNED UP FOR ELECTIVES, DO IT TODAY BY 5:00 P.M.

Please see the link below for spring Double Chai elective sign-ups.  Respond with your choice preferences no later than Tuesday, March 8 at 5:00 p.m.  Please indicate a preference for each class in each block (1st Hour or 2nd Hour) unless you are in 7th or 10th grade in which case you should only sign up in the second hour.  In the first hour 7th grade has its core class and 10th grade has Confirmation.  Parents, especially of younger students, make sure your kids see this email and forward it to them if they are not on the distribution list.  Please let us know if you have any questions.

_____________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________

Dear Parents,

We apologize for a change in schedule next week. Please note that there will be NO Hebrew learning or Double Chai March 1 or 2. Our flight home from vacation was cancelled today and we are unable to return to Westwood until Wednesday. 

We look forward to special Shorashim Family Shabbat experiences next weekend March 4 and 5 (more details to come).
Class sessions will resume as usual on March 8, 9, and 13.  

We hope you had a good February school break and are fairing well in the storm. 

Shabbat Shalom and see you soon,
Rabbi Karen and Rabbi Micah

_____________________________________________________________

Dear Parents and Students,

Double Chai will begin at 6:00 p.m. and end by 7:30 p.m.  There will be no dinner or snack served.  We plan to return to dinner and the full schedule in March.  

Here are some highlights for the coming week. 8th-12th grade will begin with elective options.

7th grade will have a special class with Rabbi Karen on the ritual garments of prayer (i.e. "Jewish uniform") including the why's and how's of talit, tefillin, and kippah.  If possible have your students bring their talit/kippah from their Bar/Bat Mitzvah if it has occurred, or send them with a family talit/kippah.  Talitot will also be available for use from the synaogue.  If you have a set of tefillin in your home, you can send it with your student (don't worry if you don't know what this is, ask your students after Wednesday's class and they will tell you). 

We also encourage 7th grade families to join 6th grade families for a 
Shabbat morning service, Saturday, February 12; 10:00 a.m. at the Temple.  This is an opportunity for students who have not become Bnai Mitzvah to become more familiar with the Shabbat morning service.  For students who have become Bnai Mitzvah, this is an opportunity to support classmates and help model prayer participation.  We encourage parents and students to attend.

Finally, next Wednesday, February 16, 8th-12th grade students will have a special guest speaker, Jen Bolton, from an organization called DOVE (Domestic Violence Ended).  She will talk with the students about safe relationships and the warning signs for emotional and physical abuse in a relationship.  More details will follow next week.

L'Shalom, Rabbi Micah and Rabbi Karen

_____________________________________________________________

UPCOMING NAWDTY EVENT - ESCAPE ROOM
Saturday, February 12th 1:00-3:00 p.m. at TEMPLE BETH DAVID
8th-12th graders are welcome from 1:00-3:00 p.m. for a fun escape room and social action project.  It will be a wonderful way to spend Shabbat afternoon with friends.   RSVP HERE!

_____________________________________________________________

Dear Parents and Students,

Just a brief reminder about our abbriviated schedule tomorrow:

Double Chai will begin at 6:00 p.m. and end by 7:30 p.m.  There will be no dinner or snack served.

7th Grade will enjoy its regular core class which will focus on the book of Prophets, the Haftarah and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. 8th-12th graders will have a special art project focused on their Hebrew names.  Please make sure your kids know their Hebrew names when they come to class. Following class will have hangout/social time.  We will conclude with some mini-elective choices.

L'Shalom - Rabbi Micah and Rabbi Karen

_____________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________

Dear Parents and Students,

We hope that you had a restful and healthy winter break.  We look forward to seeing students at Double Chai on Wednesday.  Due to the current surge of Covid-19, we be making a few adjustments:

Double Chai will begin at 6:00 p.m. and end by 7:30 p.m.  There will be no dinner or snack served.

We will be in touch with more updates in the coming weeks as this fluid situation continues to evolve.  We look forward to seeing everyone soon!

L'Shalom - Rabbi Micah and Rabbi Karen

_____________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________

Dear Parents and Students,

Please forgive the extra email this week.  We wanted to reach out to request volunteers for some Chanukah related things going on at Temple.

#1- We could use two parents to help serve the Chanukah Chinese food dinner tonight at Double Chai from 5:20-6:00 p.m.  Please email Rabbi Micah if you can help.  

#2 - We could use 7th-12th grade teen volunteers to help with the Shorashim Chanukah Happening this Sunday, December 4 from 9:15-11:30 a.m. for our youngest students.  These are fun games and activities to help celebrate Chanukah.  This is a great way for 7th graders to earn some Bnai Mitzvah volunteer hours.  Again, please email Rabbi Micah if your student is interested and available.

#3 - Any 8th - 12th graders who want to help set up for Chanukah Happening and enjoy some teen hangout time and dessert can join
NAWDTY at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, December 3rd at the Temple.  Stay tuned for a targeted communication from NAWDTY about Saturday night.  The teens get the building looking festive, hangout, listen to music, and eat treats.

L'Shalom - Rabbi Micah and Rabbi Karen

_____________________________________________________________

Menorah Lighting at Wegmans in Westwood
Thursday, December 2 at 5:45 pm

Once again, Rabbi Karen and Rabbi Micah will lead a menorah lighting for the community at University Station. This year will feature an amazing ice menorah carving, lighting, music, and treats. Please join us for this brief outdoor Chanukah celebration!

_____________________________________________________________

Temple Beth David Shabbat Chanukah - December 3rd 6:30 p.m.
Enjoy Shabbat and Chanukah as a family with services, music and song.  The service is no more than an hour and we will celebrate the light of Shabbat and Chanukah.  We hope to see you there!

Dear Parents and Students,

Tomorrow will be our last class before our Thanksgiving break.  Weather is looking chilly as the sun sets so we will enjoy our pizza inside in the Rosen/Sanctuary.  Remember, please let us know if you will not be able to attend a Wednesday session by 12:00 p.m. on Wednesday so that we can adjust the dinner order.

Wild card Wednesday will continue for elective options including a continuation of our teen mental health discussion with youth advisor, Jason Allen, yoga, Jewish music of gratitude, the light of Chanukah through art, and the myticism of the month of Kislev (the month when Chanukah occurs).

Here are some things to look forward to after Thanksgiving.  Double Chai students who were part of the fall leadership elective will faciliate a Chanukah program for the whole school.  On December 8th and 15th Boston area Jewish arts educator Shirah Rubin will work with the 8th-12th grade students on a ceramics project that combines art and recording our own personal values.  More information coming soon.  7th graders will have their own art project that focuses on becoming Bar/Bat Mitzvah.  

Finally, there is still time for 8th-12th grades to sign up for Fall Conclavette this Saturday.  See the information below.  Thanks NAWDTY teens for putting on a great jNAWDTY game day last Sunday for the middle school students.  Stay tuned for more NAWDTY and jNAWDTY events.

L'Shalom - Rabbi Micah and Rabbi Karen

_____________________________________________________________

NFTY Northeast Fall Conclavette - Saturday, November 20,
10:30 am - 5:30 pm at Temple Sinai, Sharon, MA
All 8th-12th graders are invited to enjoy a fun Shabbat day with other teens from youth groups in the New England area.  The event will include social mixers, programs, activities and end with Havdalah.  Please reach out to Rabbi Micah or Youth Advisor, Jason Allen, with questions.  
Register Here!

_____________________________________________________________

Temple Beth David Shabbat Chanukah - December 3rd 6:30 p.m.
Enjoy Shabbat and Chanukah as a family with services, music and song.  The service is no more than an hour and we will celebrate the light of Shabbat and Chanukah.  We hope to see you there!

Dear Parents and Students,

Back to beautiful fall weather this week!  It will be sunny and brisk tomorrow, but we have one more Wednesday with light so dinner will be outside on the lawn.  Dress accordingly!  Also, please let us know by Wednesdays at 12:00 p.m. if you/your student will miss dinner.  This helps us make our order more accuate.

It has been a good fall of electives.  The Jewish jam band has been working up some great tunes and they sound tight.  The leadership elective is working on a special program for Chanukah.  Wildcard Wednesdays are coming soon, the weeks when teachers offer different "one-off" electives each session.  We will also be part of an exciting arts initiative with Boston area educator and artist, Shirah Rubin.  It will combine ceramics and creating a scroll of values.  Stay tuned for more information!

L'Shalom - Rabbi Micah and Rabbi Karen

_____________________________________________________________

Upcoming Youth Group Activities

JNAWDTY Game Night, Saturday, November 13 6:00-8:00 p.m. at Temple Beth David

We are excited to invite 6th-8th graders to the first JNAWDTY event of the 2021/2022 year! 

Join us from 6-8 pm, on November 13th for a game night at the temple! We will have board games in the library, and lawn games in the sanctuary. Make sure to bring a mask, as we will be indoors for this event.  We will conclude with Havdalah
Please RSVP by November 9th HERE!

NFTY Northeast Fall Conclavette - Saturday, November 20,
10:30 am - 5:30 pm at Temple Sinai, Sharon, MA
All 8th-12th graders are invited to enjoy a fun Shabbat day with other teens from youth groups in the New England area.  The event will include social mixers, programs, activities and end with Havdalah.  Please reach out to Rabbi Micah or Youth Advisor, Jason Allen, with questions.  
Register Here!

_____________________________________________________________

Dear Parents and Students,

This past Shabbat, 7th grade students and parents had a wonderful time learning and celebrating at our Temple Beth David Bnai Mitzvah retreat (see the photos above).  The retreat will take the place of class for our 7th grade students.  No Double Chai this week for 7th grade. 

8th-12th grades will start at 5:30 p.m. with dinner as usual, followed by the first hour of electives.  Then there will be a brief session with the rabbis and Double Chai will end at 7:15 p.m. for 8th-12th grade.
Regular class for everyone will resume on October 27.

Thank you to parents who have been volunteering in the office from
7:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.  It helps to have someone present to answer the phones, let parents in the building, and just be an extra adult presence.  

L'Shalom - Rabbi Micah and Rabbi Karen

_____________________________________________________________

Parent Volunteers

Parents, we are looking for volunteers to staff the education office on Wednesday evenings from 7:00-8:00 p.m.  If you are interested, please reach out to Rabbi Micah ​​​​​​​.  We also need parents to help with security at Shorashim on Sunday mornings, from 9:30-11:30 a.m.  Please see this link to sign up.

Who Are Our Teachers - Check Out the Bios ​​​​​​​

Dear Parents and Students,

Double Chai is off to a great start!  The energy is really positive and the students are having a great time in elelctives.  We will be eating outside again as it should be a beautiful evening.  Remind your kids to layer! 

We also wanted to let you know that Leah's hours have changed and she will not be in the main office past 7:00 p.m. on Wednesdays.  If you need to reach one of us, or your student, call the temple office first, 781-769-5270.  In case you do not get through on the temple line, and the matter is urgent please use our cell phones.  

Rabbi Karen (650) 430-2596
Rabbi Micah (650) 430-1549

See below for some great upcoming community opportunities for teens.

L'Shalom - Rabbi Micah and Rabbi Karen

_____________________________________________________________

Parent Volunteers

Parents, we are looking for volunteers to staff the education office on Wednesday evenings from 7:00-8:00 p.m.  If you are interested, please reach out to Rabbi Micah ​​​​​​​.  We also need parents to help with security at Shorashim on Sunday mornings, from 9:30-11:30 a.m.  Please see this link to sign up.

Who Are Our Teachers - Check Out the Bios ​​​​​​​

Social Action Opportunity - Interfaith Walk for Hunger
October 17, 2:00 - 4:30 p.m.

Bring your teen and walk for those in need.  Join as Temple Beth David hosts the greater Westwood area Interfaith Community in a walk to raise awareness and funds to fight hunger.  1 in 5 households with children does not have enough to eat.  This tzedakah effort raises money for Project Bread.  Make a contribution on the link below and/or collect pledges and walk.  7th graders can get up to 3 hours toward their 13 Mitzvot Bnai MItzvah project hours.  Grades 8-12th can get credit for school community service hours.

NAWDTY Movie Night - Save the Date
October 16, 6:00-9:00 p.m.

NAWDTY, the 9th-12th grade high school youth group, will be kicking of the year with a movie night at the temple.  Stay tuned for more details.  The night starts with Havdalah and then teens will enjoy hanging out with friends at temple and watching a movie.