Throwback to last year's Annual Benefit! We can't wait to see everyone this Sunday to honor Audrey Goldfarb and celebrate Heilicher's 40 years 🎉 #hmjdslions

Mazal tov to our November b'nai mitzvah students! This week's bat mitzvah, Miri O., read Torah, and last week's bat mitzvah, Leila K., had the aliyah. Our last November bar mitzvah, Noah H., carried the Torah, and the next upcoming b'not mitzvah, Dalia D. and Hannah G., had roles dressing and holding the Torah. What an honor! Kol hakavod!

🗞 Heilicher's Intro to Journalism class wrote about Election Day at Heilicher. Grades 5-8 voted in the Students Voting mock election, and the entire student body voted on a school referendum. Read all about it on the Heilicher blog! 📰 hmjds.org/news-events/heilicher-blog #hmjdslions

Need a hand? Our first-grade engineers designed and built back scratchers in the Makerspace! 🤚 #hmjdslions

We're so grateful for the Heilicher community! At our fall information day, alumni students and parents sat on a panel and answered questions, and middle school students and parents led tours. The middle school students also helped the kiddos with activities, and administrators and teachers were there to talk and answer further questions. Thank you for helping us introduce new families to Heilicher.

Thank you to our veterans! We added the following prayer for America's military personnel to our All-School T'filah service this morning: Sovereign of the Universe, We invoke your blessings upon the members of our American military forces, those brave men and women whose courage and commitment to that for which this country stands protects us all. Whether by air, land or sea, in the mountains of Afghanistan, the cities and deserts of Iraq, or wherever their orders take them, we ask, dear God, that they be protected within your sheltering presence. Shield them from harm and from pain, assuage their loneliness, and sustain their faith in the face of the formidable enemies that they confront on a daily basis. May all of their efforts be crowned with victory, and the assurance that we who depend on their courage appreciate and understand the great difficulty of their work. Most of all, we pray what for all soldiers is the ultimate prayer- that they be privileged to return to the loving arms of their families and a grateful country safely, speedily, and in good health. Because of their courage, may we all be privileged to know and savor the blessings of true peace and security. #hmjdslions

On Tuesday as voters across the country cast their votes, Heilicher held its own elections. Every week during Kabbalat Shabbat, students have the opportunity to contribute money for t’zdakah, and on Tuesday every student participated in a vote for where that money will be donated. The middle school students picked out three incredible causes, and the student body chose to give to help displaced people in Israel! The middle school also participated in the Minnesota Students Voting mock election to vote for president, U.S. Senate and House, MN House, and a state amendment question. They'll be prepared to do their civic duty when they become eligible voters!

These are the faces of soccer champions! ⚽️ Heilicher won in overtime to become the South Side Youth Organization Varsity Silver A Division champions! Congratulations to Blessed Trinity Catholic School on second place and a competitive game!

"Seek the welfare of the city to which I have exiled you and pray to God on its behalf, for in its prosperity you shall prosper” (Jer. 29:7). Today, eligible voters are casting ballots for candidates for local, state, and national offices and will weigh in on initiatives, propositions, and referenda affecting their communities. For Jews, voting is an opportunity to enact Jeremiah’s admonition, elevating civic responsibility to sacred ritual. Heilicher teaches Jewish values and American democratic principles and encourages all eligible voters to vote ✅

Letter ר is for Rosh Chodesh! After a holiday-filled Tishrei, we head into Chesvan. Chodesh tov!

Minnesota weather means a rescheduled championship game. But we can still enjoy pictures from our end-of-season parent vs. student soccer game! It was a great way to celebrate another fun season.

The Heilicher middle school soccer team plays in the SSYO championship game tomorrow at Benilde-St. Margaret's! Heilicher won their first two playoff games against St. Hubert (10-3) and Our Lady of Grace (5-1). Let's go, Lions!!! 🦁

Join us in honoring former head of school Audrey Goldfarb and celebrating Heilicher's 40-year legacy Sunday, November 17, at the 2024 Heilicher Annual Benefit. Get your tickets by Friday, November 1. Tickets are just $30, and Jewish organization employees attend for free! Enjoy enjoy a cocktail hour with good food and community — including some of your favorite past and present Heilicher teachers — followed by a meaningful honoree program and fundraiser. hmjds.org/news-events/annualbenefit

First and second grade had the very exciting opportunity of having a local author read them her book! Heilicher alumni parent and author @tinacharlesrafowitz read her book, "Gary and Gibby’s Swirling, Twirling, Whirling Worries," to the students. Another special connection for us is that the book was illustrated by @martyharrisillustration, Heilicher art teacher Vic Thor's husband! The students got to color in one of Marty's illustrations of Gary and Gibby. We're so grateful to the Heilicher community for sharing their expertise and accomplishments with our students.

Every student had an important role in our Simchat Torah program. Our eldest students (the eighth graders) had the aliyah for the final reading in the Torah, and our youngest students (the kindergartners) had the aliyah for the first reading, as we started anew with B'reishit. Each grade read a verse of Torah, and we danced together in celebration! Sh'mini Atzeret begins tonight, and Simchat Torah the next night. Chag sameach! Happy holiday!

Each class is visiting the Sukkah to learn about Sukkot and carry out the mitzvot of shaking the lulav and etrog and eating a meal in the sukkah 🍋🍃

Thank you to the PTO for hosting festive sukkah parties for each grade, including our high school-aged alumni. It's always fun to gather and celebrate as a school community — in the school, outside of school, and in the sukkah!

RSVP by October 23 at hmjds.org/news-events/annualbenefit

Our students had a great time at the Minnesota JCC Harvest Festival! Middle schoolers volunteered, and lower school students enjoyed the activities with their families, including making s'mores. These gourds look perfect for the sukkah!

G’mar chatimah tovah! A good signing and sealing! For Yom Kippur students are taking a “memory walk.” With a partner, each student stops at various questions to help them reflect on the last year. One question brings them to the aron hakodesh (holy ark), allowing them to simulate the Kol Nidrei custom of coming before the sefer Torah to reflect on the past and pray for the future in a sacred space. #hmjdslions