We are so excited for the return of Kesher Shabbatot in the 2021-2022 school year! One weekend per month, instead of Kesher’s usual Sunday morning classes, all students and their families will come together with the whole PSC community on Shabbat morning in prayer, learning, and relationship building. The main goals of this program are for our students to experience Shabbat services and learning within the larger community, and for the wider community to be involved themselves in the learning, growing and modeling of Shabbat.
2021 Dates: September 11th, October 30th, November 13th, December 11th
2022 Dates: January 22nd, February 26th, March 12th, April 16th, May 7th
Kesher Shabbat FAQ’s:
Q: How will the students participate in services with the whole community?
A: Throughout the morning, our older Kesher students will be at services, occupying dedicated rows so that they can enjoy being with their classmates and not disturb those already in the service. Please enjoy listening to their voices, helping them find their way if they are lost, and engaging them in the beauty of services.
Q: As a community member, what is my role on Kesher Shabbat?
A: We are looking to the entire community to be part of the educational and religious moments for our Kesher students and families. We hope you will be welcoming, help people find a seat, speak with people you do not know in line for kiddush and eat with them, show true excitement that we have so many students and families here for Shabbat, help those around you find their page if they are lost, introduce them to your friends and be patient with moments of transition during Kesher Shabbat. We love this community, feel the warmth and welcoming nature in every event and know this will be no different!
Q: What can I wear, or not wear?
A: One of the main reasons for implementing Kesher Shabbat is for our families to feel welcome and included in our Shabbat experience through prayer, relationship and learning. Therefore, we are asking that our students and their parents show up in whatever they are wearing if it means they can be involved and engaged for as much of Shabbat as possible. So, you will see a lot of sports uniforms, some dance leotards, some yoga outfits, etc. We ask that every male, and every female who wishes, or anyone who approaches the bima, wear a kippah. Though hats may be worn in the classroom, kippot must be worn in the sanctuary as a sign of differentiation in prayer and respect for the moment.
Q: Shabbat has limitations. How will my students learn and feel comfortable in a “school program” on Shabbat?
A: Our students will have a schedule similar to their Sunday Kesher schedule where there are moments of prayer, moments of in-class learning, moments of outside informal time, moments of snack, etc. Our Kesher teachers will be using class time to continue with their objectives and goals through Shabbat-friendly activities and projects. There will be no gluing, markers, crayons, writing, electronics, painting, etc. However, there will be much creativity and learning and the utmost application of Shabbat understanding through experience!
Q: As a parent in Kesher, what is my role on Kesher Shabbat?
A: We are excited that Kesher Shabbat means including our parents in the learning alongside our students! From 11:30am-12:00pm parents may join us for mini-Minyan for our K-2nd graders. Lastly, we hope our families will join us for a wonderful Shabbat lunch in the social hall at approximately 12pm, joining with the rest of the community.
Q: Kesher Shabbat is a change to our lives, is there flexibility?
A: We want, more than anything, for our entire PSC community, Kesher included, to enjoy praying and learning together. Kesher Shabbat is a big step in making sure we foster these relationships at least once a month. There will not be Kesher the Sunday following Kesher Shabbat, so we do expect that students are in class on Shabbat as their “weekend Kesher experience.” If a student must leave for a game, for a rehearsal, for a class elsewhere, etc., we want the students to show up for as long as they can and leave only when they have to. We hope you will join us as well for that amount of time, and longer if you are able when your student leaves! In terms of Shabbat observances, we expect that no one has electronics, is on their phones, playing games, writing, coloring or bringing anything that is not Shabbat friendly. We want the Shabbat atmosphere to permeate through the halls, into the classrooms and especially in the sanctuary so we can all enjoy Shabbat together, in relationship with each other! We look forward to having a full Shabbat experience all together as one large community.
If you have any questions, please feel free to email the PSC office.
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