On March 6th the Kehi-Loft students were scheduled once again to lead services. Since it was the Shabbat before Purim, they decided to plan a funfilled service. In addition to the traditional Shabbat prayers, they added numerous funny poems and songs. Sprinkled throughout the service, the read poems from Haikus For Jews. The congregation was welcomed with, "Shatner and Nimoy observe Shabbos - "Scotty, Beam me up a minyan." Others haikus included: "Let the door open, for the prophet Elijah. Now our cat is gone." and "Sorry I'm not home, to take your call. At the tone, please state your bad news." Many thanks for Susan Waskow for helping with the Shabbat service and to Ilana Berger, Ariel Kramer, Harry Waskow, and Dan Kaufman for leading the service.

The Kehi-Loft students lent their collective hands to help at this year's Purim carnival too. Many thanks to those who participated.

Tom Berger led a discussion this month about his work as an attorney. Thank you, Tom, for volunteering your time with the class and for bringing the pizza!

Also in March, the students discussed plans for an end of the year field trip. We have tentative plans to see Irena's Vow on Broadway in June. Irena's Vow opened on Broadway in March after a successful seven week off-Broadway run. Starring Tovah Feldshuh as Irena, Irena's Vow is an inspirational story based on the life of Irene Gut Opdyke, a Polish Roman Catholic, who risked her life to save twelve Jews during the Holocaust. The story may never have been told had Irena not received a phone call one day from someone taking a survey asking people if they believed the Holocaust really happened. It was then that this courageous woman began revealing her remarkable story of how she risked her own life to hide a dozen Jews in the basement of a German major's house.

The Kehi-Loft will be meeting on one Sunday in March for an evening of socializing. We hope to have a new (used) loveseat in the loft by the end of the month and will work towards finalizing plans for other furniture. Meanwhile, the students cleared the space of most of the remaining unwanted books and moved the large blackboard off the floor. The space keeps improving every month!

April schedule:
Wednesday, April 1 - Kehi-Loft class
Wednesday, April 8 - no class (Passover)
Wednesday, April 15 - Kehi-Loft class
Sunday, April 19 - Kehi-Loft class
Wednesday, April 22 - no class
Wednesday, April 29 - Kehi-Loft class

Shalom,
Karen Fridkis, Hebrew High School Chair

In February the Kehi-Loft students held their first open house to welcome 7th grade Hebrew School students. Originally scheduled for January 28th, a snow storm cancelled school for the day and delayed the open house for a week. On the first Wednesday of February the 7th graders joined us for their first taste of Jewish learning post Hebrew School. From the feedback we heard, the class was well received and the 7th graders are looking forward to joining the Kehi-Loft in September.

The class with the 7th grader students was packed with information, fun, and food. The current Kehi-Loft students introduced themselves and talked about their experiences in the CKS high school program. The 7th graders learned about the opportunities afforded Kehi- Loft students - such as leading services, working as paid toran for the Hebrew school, and earning community service hours for volunteering to help at CKS events. The students heard about the types of projects the high school students have been working on this year (such as construction of loft, fundraising) and what they have planned for the spring (for example: promotional video, creating a wall mural, graduation ceremony). They learned that the students initiate what topics are discussed each week and have a voice in who leads each session. The second half of their visit was devoted to playing get-to-know you games. Loud laughter punctuated the loft during the game with everyone getting along well and happily participating.

The Kehi-Loft will hold at least one more session with 7th grade students this school year. Those who could not attend the first session due to other commitments are encouraged to come to the next class and those who were able to make the February 4th class are welcome to return. The more the merrier!

Also in February three additional classes are scheduled. Judi Turkheimer will lead a personal coaching session. Rabbi Susan will lead a discussion on one of the topics the students chose, possibly on the formation of Israel or stereotyping and prejudice. Susan Waskow also volunteered to lead a discussion at the end of the month.

Thanks to parents, Tom Berger and Susan Waskow, who purchased pizza for the class in February.

Below is the schedule for March. Classes are from 6:00 - 8:00. Pizza dinner is available for purchase at the beginning of each session. Please text me or Ilana Berger by 4:15 on the night of class to let us know if you will be attending. Thanks.

March Schedule
Wednesday, March 4- Kehi-Loft class
Friday, March 6 - Kehi-Loft students to lead services
Wednesday, March 11- Kehi-loft class
Wednesday, March 18 - no class
Sunday, March 22 - Kehi-Loft class
Wednesday, March 25 - Kehi-Loft class

Shalom,
Karen Fridkis, Hebrew High School Chair

For this month's newsletter I thought I would share some of the presentation that I gave to the Board of Trustees at their January meeting. Committee chairs were asked to update the board on their committee's activities for the first half of the year. Kehi-Loft has had numerous successes that I thought would interest the congregation. Here's a sampling:

Accomplishments for the first semester of Kehi-Loft:
* established bonded group of CKS teens who want to meet weekly to see each other, learn about Judaism, and work on projects for Kehi-Loft and CKS
* new friendships have formed between students, existing friendships strengthened
* presented Jonah story to congregation on Yom Kippur
* wrote thank you notes to congregants who donated money to Kehi-Loft
* fundraiser - car wash in September
* construction of loft classroom completed
* dismantled new construction for High Holy Day services
* reassembled loft after High Holy Day services
* stained exterior walls (facing sanctuary)
* created committees for various class functions
* created a Facebook group
* reached out to 7th graders to invite to January 28 class
* lead Shabbat services with rabbi September 26, sponsored oneg
* lead Shabbat services with rabbi November 14, sponsored oneg
* moved bookcases from loft to board room for Hebrew school
* moved Hebrew school books from loft to board room
* cleaned attic closet
* helped w/miscellaneous CKS projects - i.e. moving reader's table on bima, etc.
* students earned community service hours for participating in Kehi-Loft events - i.e. construction of classroom
* through their participation in Kehi-Loft many students have become more involved with CKS, i.e. helping in Hebrew school, participating in services, attending
CKS events

A sampling of the projects that the students will be involved with for the second semester:
* complete loft promotional video of Kehi-Loft to present to Hebrew school students
* set up schedule of Kehi-Loft events for 7th grade students
* lead Shabbat services on January 30
* install plaque to acknowledge donations from congregants
* create design and paint interior wall (this is the new wall. front is stained and faces sanctuary, back of wall faces Kehi-Loft classroom)
* have carpet installed
* furnish loft
* lead two additional Shabbat services after January 30th service
* graduation ceremony in Spring

New changes in Kehi-Loft program:
* Meeting once a month on Sunday evening. Students will substitute one Sunday evening class for a Wednesday session. This will enable students who have other commitments on Wednesday evening to attend.
* One adult led discussion or project a week instead of two.
* More time for students to work on group Kehi-Loft projects, such as promotional video, fundraising ideas, and painting wall.

Many thanks to all of you who have helped make the first half of the year a success for the Kehi-Loft. I would especially like to acknowledge Hebrew High School committee members Lisa Kent, Tom Berger, and Gayle Holtzman. Thanks, too, to the congregants who volunteered their time to help lead a session or work on the construction, especially Joseph Weiss, Eric Weitze, Lou Orlando, Matt Rosenberg, Steven Fischman (our construction team) and Rabbi Susan, George Cohen, Lisa Kent, and Susan Waskow for leading discussions. Kehi-Loft is grateful for your support.

Shalom,
Karen Fridkis, chair Hebrew High School committee

December was another active month for the Kehi-Loft students. The students met three weeks for class before winter break.

George Cohen led two sessions on the law. The students had the opportunity to choose a current issue that they wanted to debate. They selected Israel and Iran as well as the pros and cons to lowering the legal drinking age. They broke into groups to work on their arguments and then presented their cases before the "judge" for the verdict. Many thanks to George for leading these interesting sessions. The students are eager to have him return, which he agreed to do in the new year.

Congregant volunteer, Lisa Kent, led a session on marketing. The students worked on developing a marketing plan for Kehi-Loft. They debated various ways to promote the high school program at CKS and agreed on a plan. They will work on their project over the next several weeks and hopefully present it to the 6th and 7th grade classes one Sunday morning during Hebrew school in January.

Rabbi Susan led two sessions on Jewish identity. Paralleling the adult ed interfaith life programming, the rabbi and the students talked about what kinds of questions they might ask a potential convert. This evolved into a discussion about how we, as Jews, function in the larger society. The second Jewish identity class focused on being Jewish in December. The students shared their personal experiences, such as how it feels to be in a school concert singing Christmas carols, and how they react to holiday parties and concerts in school.

I worked with the students on plans for the future with regards to the physical space and the class schedule. Lots of ideas were tossed around about how to finish the loft. Instead of staining the new interior wall sections, they all agreed to a more creative solution. They will paint the wall with their own artwork. Several students volunteered to submit some ideas to the group at the next class. Maybe they will paint scenes from the Torah, or possibly each student will take a small section to paint, or maybe they will decide to paint one panel and leave the others blank for future Kehi-Loft classes to paint. I'll keep you posted.

In addition to the discussions about the loft space, I made some suggestions to the class schedule which they voted on. Although, the Kehi-loft program has good attendance, the students often have other commitments during the week. A Sunday session will offer an alternative day for those with Wednesday commitments. Once a month Sunday evening classes will begin in January. Class schedules will change too to reflect the students desire to have more time to work on their CKS project ideas and to socialize. From now on, there will be one adult led discussion each week instead of two.

On December 17th, the students had a Hanukkah party for the last part of class. They opted to play Apples to Apples instead of dreidel, but a good time was had by all! The Kehi-Loft students continued to help out at CKS. This month they pulled books and other items from the attic closet so they could be sorted by Matt Rosenthal and his helpers. Many thanks to Tom Berger, George Cohen and Lisa Kent, the parent volunteers who picked up dinners this month.

January's schedule:
Wednesday, January 7 - 6:00 - 8:00. Lisa Kent will return to continue the marketing session
Sunday, January 11 - 6:00 - 8:00. First Sunday session.
Students will work on their marketing project and socialize
Wednesday, January 14 - 6:00 - 8:00. Regular class.
NO CLASS January 21 - most students have final exams at high school.
Wednesday, January 28 - 6:00 - 8:00. 7th grade students are invited to attend.
Friday, January 30 - Kehi-Loft student led Shabbat services at 7:00

Shalom,
Karen Fridkis, Kehi-Loft chair

Cooperative work and physical strength were key this past month as the Kehi-Loft students lifted the heavy cumbersome floor panels section by section and delicately set them back into place. The panels fit like a puzzle and it took the entire loft team working cooperatively to position each section. After each panel was gently and precisely lowered into its spot, exuberant students stomped on it to push it in the final inch or two. Cheers erupted after each panel was successfully installed. In addition to the work on the floor, the students labored for several weeks staining the sanctuary side of the new walls and then hoisted them into place over the existing balcony railing. Watching the team work of these engaged teen students was inspirational. Their enthusiasm is priceless! More remains to be completed before the new room receives its first official guests in January. The interior balcony wall needs to be stained, carpet needs to be purchased and laid, and the room needs to be furnished. One step at a time...

The Kehi-Loft students led their second teen led service on November 14. Sam Cohen, Gabe Fridkis, Josh Kent, Nicole Shaum, and Harry Waskow led the congregation in prayer at this mid-month Friday night Shabbat service. The students and their families sponsored the oneg also. Thanks to all the students who participated and made this a meaningful evening for all. Please mark your calendars for the next Kehi-Loft led service on January 30th at 7:00. The class looks forward to seeing you there.

During the month the students helped CKS in various small ways, such as moving the Torah table onto the bima for the movie night and cleaning out the attic closet. The students consistently lend their hand when asked.

November's discussions also included an impromptu session led by Lisa Kent about the economy and the pros and cons of bailing out GM. The students talked about how the downturn made them feel (for themselves and others) and what they could do. Ideas included a fundraiser for our congregants assistance fund and/or for the community. The students believe that helping those less fortunate is a way to react to the current economic situation. Thanks, Lisa, for pitching in and leading this discussion on current events.

December's calendar is as follows:
December 3 - Congregant George Cohen will lead a moot court session.
December 10 - George returns for part two of moot court.
December 17 - Congregant Lisa Kent will lead an extended marketing session. Possible Hanukkah party.
December 20. Saturday evening to Sunday morning - shul-in. Volunteers needed to chaperone.
January 7 - Lisa Kent returns to continue the marketing session
January 14 - first social session with 7th graders.

Rabbi Susan leads a discussion after dinner with the students each week unless otherwise noted. I lead an informal discussion each week with the students to go over the schedule, discuss classroom issues, and update the group on requests or CKS events.

Many thanks to the parents who purchased dinner for the students this month. Thank you Susan Waskow, Tom Berger, and Sherri Kurtz. Thanks to Sherri for her recent donation to Kehi-Loft.

Shalom,
Karen Fridkis, Kehi-Loft chair