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Politz Hebrew Academy
HaKesher
Licht Bentching 4:26pm
Friday, November 14, 2014
What's Happening at
Politz
Please join me in warmly
welcoming the latest additions to
our "family"!
Dear Parents and Friends,
Last week the kindergarten was learning about
patterns as a prequel to learning reading and math.
I was watching these blossoming little flowers use
their knowledge in creative ways that made me
cognizant of patterns all around me. Listening to
their observations about patterns in their life made
me begin to discern patterns everywhere I went.
Patterns are woven into every aspect of the fabric
of our life. No matter how variegated or different
leaves may be from one another, if you look closely,
you will find a pattern. As disparate as numbers
may be, there are infinite patterns which connect
them together. Although no two human beings are
completely alike, these are common denominators
which established patterns that link us all together.
The consistency of stimuli acting as catalysts for
predictable responses is evidence that there are
patterns inherent in Hashem's universe.
Not only are there physical patterns in our beautiful
physical world, there are predictable patterns in
relationships. Kindness will create a pattern of
continued kindness; and anger will create a pattern
of continued anger. Sometimes we work to
perpetuate the pattern, as the pattern creates a
sense of harmony and peace. Sometimes, however,
(Cont'd on page 2)
Darmon Family
Preschel Family
Stalkol Family
the patterns of anger brought on by discord is
perpetuated , not because we want it to break the
pattern, because our human frailties get in the way.
I recently experienced a situation with a friend that
could have developed into a major conflagration ignited
by the fuel of angry words, hurt feelings, and the
stubbornness of ego. But we broke that pattern and
chose harmony and the priority of maintaining our
friendship. How wasteful and meaningless it would
have been for each of us to have held on to our
respective justification at the expense of a friendship.
Maintaining a pattern of friendship requires breaking
the pattern of "self" for the larger good. What seemed
so major becomes insignificant when realizing what can
be lost. The following parable attests to the beauty of
preserving harmony and not allowing ill feelings to
create a pattern of erosion in meaningful relationships:
A man was once exploring caves jutting out from the
seashore. During his explorations he discovered an old
beaten bag with several clay balls inside of it. They looked
like little non-descript sun-baked balls appearing to have
little or no value. The man was intrigued by these little
clay balls, so he put them in his pocket not really knowing
what he would do with them.
He decided one day to throw these little clay balls into the
ocean. He threw them one at a time to see if he could
increase the distance of his trajectory. One day he
dropped one of the balls, and it cracked open on a rock.
Inside was a beautiful, precious stone. Excited, the man
started breaking open the remaining clay balls and
discovered a precious stone inside each of them.
He found thousands of dollars worth of jewels in the clay
balls that he had left. Having been on the beach a long
time, the man realized that he had already thrown away
fifty or sixty balls. The ocean waves now consumed
thousands upon thousands of dollars in jewels. The man
could have become even wealthier had he not thrown
away what he thought were just dried up clay balls.
This simple parable can be applied to people as well.
When relationships sometimes become problematic we
are very quick to throw them away. In this day of
disposables and replaceables, we are used to throwing
things away if they do not meet our expectations and
replace them with something "even better".
People, however, are not disposable or replaceable.
Sometimes misunderstandings or conflict create a hard
baked shell around the jewel that lies within every
person. Rather than break through that hardened shell
of conflict and righteous indignation, we are prepared
to throw away something very precious.
It is not always easy to break through hardened
coverings. Sometimes it may take a long time. It may
not be easy to strip away ossified veneers of anger,
but, if we remember there is a jewel buried inside, we
will focus on the task at hand. Poets throughout the
ages have tried to describe friendship with beautiful
words; musicians have tried to serenade the gift of
friendship with heartfelt lyrics. However, it is not until
you experience and own the treasure of friendship do
you understand what you could be losing if you allow it
to be consumed by the tumultuous waves of anger.
Hashem created Man with a Tzelem E-lokim (In His own
image); that is the treasure we must always discover
and uncover within each of us.
May all of Klal Yisroel be linked by the golden chain of
friendship held together by the indestructible clasp of
our Tzelem Elokim.
Good Shabbos,
Mrs. Katz
WHAT’S HAPPENING
Pajama Party
2nd Grade Girls
Parshas Chaya Sara
Motzei Shabbos,
November 15th
7:00 - 8:00pm
Bring Politz Hebrew
Academy back to our #1
Ranking for collection of
BoxTops for Education!!
Bring all of your BoxTops in
now!
Remember...10¢ a piece
adds up quickly! See if
your class can collect the
most BoxTops!
Mr. & Mrs. Shmuel Danielli on the
engagement of their daughter, Ayelet, to
Josh Isaac of London. Ayelet is an alumna
of Politz Hebrew Academy.
Mrs. Jodi Freed on the engagement of her
son Josh, to Annette Rosenfeld. Josh is an
alumnus of Politz Hebrew Academy.
Sunday Schedule -
Nov. 27
Thanksgiving Break - Nov. 28
Mr. & Mrs. Harold Wyzansky on the
engagement of their son, Mordechai, to
Gila Becker of Montreal. Mordechai is an
alumnus of Politz Hebrew Academy.
Rabbi & Mrs. Avrohom Hoberman on the
engagement of their son, Aron, to Goldie
Gastwirth of Far Rockaway. Aron is an
alumnus of Politz Hebrew Academy.
First Report Card -
Dec. 4
Parent/Teacher Conferences No Classes All Teachers,
Both Sessions 12:00 - 4:00;
6:00 - 8:30PM
Dec. 8
Shabbos Chanukah - No Classes
Dec. 19 - 21
Teacher In-Service - 12 Noon
Dismissal
Dec. 30
Mid-Winter Break
Dec. 31 - Jan. 4
Classes Resume
Mon., Jan. 5