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HOCHBERG PREPARATORY SCHOOL CELEBRATES “A SINO SUKKOT” HONORING JEWISH AND CHINESE HARVEST FESTIVALS
Cross-cultural program in the school’s Sukkah underscores commitment to rigorous well-rounded curriculum that includes Mandarin as a third language
NORTH MIAMI BEACH, Fla. (October 2, 2012)--An unexpected yet welcome surprise was brought inside the temporary four-wall structure known as a Sukkah, at Hochberg Preparatory in School in North Miami Beach this week. Students were prepared to celebrate the Jewish holiday of Sukkot; instead they came outside to experience “A Sino Sukkot,” a cross cultural event that brought their own Harvest Festival and the Chinese Moon Festival together under one leafy palm roof. The two holidays share similarities in calendar dates, customs and symbolism.
During the opening ceremony of the program, Rabbi Ed P. Farber of Beth Torah Benny Rok Campus, which adjoins the school, spoke about the Jewish traditions of Sukkot and explained how Jewish holidays follow the Lunar Calendar, much like the Chinese Festivals do. Special guest Carmen C.Y. Tsai, senior press officer of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Miami, addressed students as well, sharing a legend of the Moon Festival’s origins and a presentation of colorful paper dragon lanterns.
Mandarin language teacher Ms. Victoria Wu introduced Hochberg Prep Middle School students Sam Schetritt, Zachary Kessler, Ethan Bortnick and Yona Rubin who recited the famous Moon Festival poem “On A Quiet Night,” by Lee Bai, in Mandarin. The ceremony capped off with the students enjoying Kosher Moon Cakes, traditional Chinese sugar cookies shaped like a moon.
Hochberg Prep is known for educating its students to become well rounded community leaders. In addition to a highly acclaimed dual curriculum which includes Judaic Studies and Hebrew language instruction, Mandarin is taught as a third language. In fact, it is the only Jewish Day School in South Florida to offer Mandarin.
“We are trying to prepare our students for the real world they will step into a few years after they leave our classrooms,” noted Dayna Wald, principal of Judaics at Hochberg Prep, who discovered a meaningful relationship between the festivals and thus created the unique Sino Sukkot. “While we pride ourselves on our warm, secure environment, we also place great emphasis on the opportunities and challenges students will face, with globalism, diversity and technology at the forefront. Being able to invite the beautiful and rich culture of the Chinese Festival into our own backyard – literally – gave them a tangible feel of multiculturalism.”
Sukkot, the Feast of the Tabernacles, is a joyous seven-day celebration where Jews enjoy meals and religious activities in a Sukkah, which is erected to remind celebrants of the shelters built by the Israelites while wandering in the desert over 40 years.
The Moon Festival, also called the Mid-Autumn Festival, celebrates the end of the fall harvest and the full moon. It is the second most important festival for the Chinese and boasts a 3,000 year history. Among its traditions are bringing people from every corner of the earth back home for family reunions. Both holidays are held outside and bring the moon to the forefront.
In preparation of the holiday, which began this year at sunset on October 1st, students from various grades designed and hung decorations in the Sukkah. Throughout the holiday the students will be eating and singing in the Sukkah.
In addition to religious instruction, individualized teaching and learning, Hochberg Prep focuses on practical academic instruction through its STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) Exploratorium; Hochberg Prep is the only private school in South Florida using this innovative approach to education. The school’s mission is to develop lifelong learners who will emerge as the future leaders of this world, through the integration of academic excellence, cutting-edge technology, a nurturing environment that promotes personal growth, the arts, athletics and traditional Jewish values.
Hochberg Preparatory School houses an Early Childhood Academy, a Lower School and Middle School to accommodate infants through eighth grade. It is accredited by the National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS); Solomon Schechter Network; The Florida Kindergarten Council (FKC); Dade Association of Academic Non-Public Schools; Central Agency for Jewish Education (CAJE); and is a PJ Library Partner School. For more information, call 305.933.6946 or visit www.hochbergprep.org.
HOCHBERG PREP SINO-SUKKOT PROGRAM
Friday, September 28, 2012, 10:30 a.m.
(Left to Right)
Picture 1: Carmen Tsai, Senior Press Officer from the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Miami, sharing a traditional Chinese legend with Hochberg Preparatory Students about the Moon Festival.
Picture 2: Carmen Tsai, Senior Press Officer from the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Miami, showing Hochberg Preparatory 5, 6, 7 and 8th grade students an example of a typical Chinese lantern used during the Moon Festival.
Picture 3: Yona Rubin and Sam Schetritt (both in7th grade), hanging Sukkot decorations in the Sukkah at Hochberg Preparatory.
Picture 4: Dayna Wald, Principal of Judaics, Hochberg Preparatory; Carmen Tsai, Senior Press Officer from the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Miami with her assistant Shu-Huei Su;
Ed P. Farber, Rabbi, Beth Torah
