By , Special to JTNews
Seattle Hebrew Academy celebrated their second annual “Be Our Guest Day” on
Jan. 19, 2000. The event is a day for parents, prospective parents and
community members to visit the Academy, observe classes, share a meal and get
acquainted with the school, the students, the faculty and each other.
“We want to share our wonderful school,” said headmaster Rabbi Shmuel Kay as
he presided over a community lunch-and-learn, midway through the day. “We’re
very proud of what our children and teachers are doing here.”
The second graders in Leya Moskowitz’s Seattle Hebrew Academy class were
excited, since many of them had parents and other adults coming to their
“Tavah Tea” to see the Tavahs—Noah’s Arks—they’d created, hear their stories
about the arks and about Noah and share their Tavah cake.
Eight-year-old Akiva Friend had built a three-story ark of cardboard and
filled it with hand-frosted cookie critters, tiny plastic giraffes and a
cupcake-paper bin of grains, for the animals to eat. “Noah had three sons,
Yaffa, Ham and Shem,” he explained earnestly. “My ark has three stories, can
I tell you the story about it?”
Down the hall and around the corner, kindergartners and preschoolers were
preparing for Tu B’Shevat with an array of “work stations,” where they
learned about the fruits and feast of that festive winter holiday. While
teacher Jena Miller helped Josh Rosen, 5, braid challah, teacher Bayla
Trieger was showing Aviva Jaffee, 5, how to make grape juice. When it was
ready to drink, she poured some in a tiny plastic wine glass and then turned
to Aviva. “What brucha do we say before grape juice?” she asked.
“Boreh,” Aviva announced proudly.
“That’s right, “Boreh pre hagofen for grapes,” said Morah (teacher) Trieger.
“L’Chaim!” added Laura Selig, a visiting community elder who was watching.
When parents at the event were asked ,“What do you want most for your
children at SHA?” the answers were broad-ranging. Derech Erech (respect for
themselves and others), learning to be a mensch, love of learning, a happy
well-rounded education with a love of Torah were repeated most often.
SHA’s new logo was also presented that afternoon. It features four quadrants,
with a star, a dancing child, a Torah scroll and an open hand.
“We chose a design that promotes a strong, confident Torah and secular
education,” said David Hyman, a member of the school’s marketing committee.
“It is a symbol of the unity of our community and our goals for a strong
future.”
Seattle Hebrew Academy offers preschool through eighth grade traditional
Judaic and secular classes in a beautiful historic building on North Capitol
Hill. For more information about the school call 206-323-5750.