The Message, Volume 44, Number 5, October 2008 Page: 4 of 10
This periodical is part of the collection entitled: Hidden Selections of Houston’s African American and Jewish Heritage and was provided to The Portal to Texas History by the Rice University Woodson Research Center.
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Beth Yeshurun Day School
Weathering the Storm
■Blumenfeld-Suvalsky sponsored concert
■Brotherhood projects
j
Dear Beth Yeshurun Families and Friends,
We have lots to celebrate these days at Beth Yeshurun
Day School: Stronger preparatory and Judaic programming,
our newly expanded Science Lab and refurbished Visual
Arts Room, greater investment in technology with teacher
computer stations in every classroom, stage one of our
SmartBoard classroom plan, installation of wireless access,
new Preschool Playground, Fifth Graders taking the lead on
a Green Initiative—and that’s just for starters.
Our enrollment is at an historic high. Total enrollment
this year, Preschool through Grade Five, is 380. That’s more
than a 30% increase in just the last five years. While new and
exciting things are going on, we are proud that we continue
to offer a full-fledged Hebrew and Judaic Studies curriculum,
including daily prayer and twice-weekly services. Monday
services in the Greenfield Chapel and Friday Kabbalat
Shabbat services in Freedman-Levit are continuing the
traditions that mean life-long Judaic commitment for
generations of Beth Yeshurun families.
We have stepped up our assessment of academic skills
with the introduction last Spring of ERB testing in six core
areas for our Third, Fourth, and Fifth Graders. For all
Elementary Grades, our Accelerated Reading program offers
individualized assessments, giving each student a roadmap
to improvement. Singapore Math is now entering a new
phase at Beth Yeshurun—this is a dynamic program offering
our teachers the breadth and support materials necessary
to offer challenge for our students. Our aim is to enlarge
our students’ conceptual understanding of math, making it
fun and stimulating, while promoting core computational
skills.
Emphasizing respect by instilling our students with
the values of Kavod and Tikkun Olam are at the center of
how we interact with students every day. Our Conscious
Discipline educational approach pervades all of our teaching
and learning, and our PTO is embracing this learning as well
so that together as a community we are promoting kindness
and personal responsibility.
And there is one more reason to celebrate. Beth
Yeshurun Day School has been going strong now for sixty
years! This is truly an important juncture for the school,
as we are energized to pursue our goal of being a model of
Jewish educational excellence on a regional and national
level.
We hope you will come by and visit us sometime if you
haven’t been in the school recently. And tell a neighbor or
friend about Beth Yeshurun Day School. We are confident
that you and your friends will find Beth Yeshurun Day School
a terrific educational option—the happy beginning of a life’s
journey of commitment and leadership.
you can mail cash donations to the BYB
Tefillin Fund, 4525 Beechnut St., Hous-
ton, TX 77096. For more information
about the Tefillin project please contact
PKATZ88@C0MCAST.NET.
Sincerely,
Tom Elieff
Head of School
Willy Goldberg
Chair, Board of Trustees
September-October is always a very busy period for the
Brotherhood. Once again, we focused on Rosh Hashanah Honey
and Roses for Rosh Hashanah. The Honey sale produced record
results! We received many orders from buyers who were previous
recipients. This just goes to show the kind of impact a gift of Rosh
Hashanah Honey has! Of course, all proceeds from our sales are
used to fund the youth programs of our shul. For example, we are
sponsoring an event at the JCC Book Fair.
Our current project is to collect Tefillin that is no longer being
used. We can use them! We need them for increasing the supply
of loaner Tefillin in the Chapel. Plus, our Rabbis frequently re-
ceive requests from families who can’t afford them. Start the New
Year with a Mitzvah so someone else can perfonn the Mitzvah of
wearing Tefillin! Collection boxes are located in both lobbies or
BETH YESHURUN
BROTHERHOOD
no* i
Josh Nelson, a black Jewish Gospel singer, brought the house
down as he and his group performed for our Hillel High School
students. Josh, a world class entertainer, told his story of being
black and being raised as a Jew. As he told our students, being
black or being Jewish is tough, but being both together can be a
real challenge. His stories of perseverance were a true testament
to his religious faith and to his color. Josh combines our beauti-
ful liturgy with the beat of gospel music fusing the two traditions
together for a unique sound. With his ensemble, he reaches out to
groups to demonstrate how we can all work together to create a
better world by learning about one another. This concert was made
possible by the generous donation of the Blumenfeld - Suvalsky
Fund.
-
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Congregation Beth Yeshurun (Houston, Tex.). The Message, Volume 44, Number 5, October 2008, periodical, October 26, 2008; Houston, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth1318682/m1/4/?q=%22Religion+-+Synagogues%22: accessed July 10, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Rice University Woodson Research Center.