K olenu c’’qa eplew Volume XVI, Number 14 News and Views of Torah Academy 3 Shevat 5775 January 23, 2015 Hadlokas Neros 4:49 p.m. Bo 8 Students Participated in our Geography Bee Good sportsmanship prevailed throughout the exciting event! Thank you Mr. Bryant and Mrs. Deutschman for coaching the Geography Club after school for this competition! Note to Current & Prospective Torah Tot Parents: The enrollment deadline for Torah Tots two- and three-year old classes for the fall has been extended to next Friday, January 30. A note with a few changes to the enrollment process will be going out to you shortly. Motzei Shabbos Basketball this week! Ten minutes after Avos U’Bonim. Sunday learning this Sunday. Pick up your children at 11:45 a.m. Special trip coming up soon! Thank you for supporting Torah Academy! 2800 Joppa Avenue South · St. Louis Park, MN 55416 Telephone [952] 920-6630 · Fax [952] 922-7844 · [email protected] A partner agency with the Minneapolis Jewish Federation Kolenu Volume XVI, Number 14 A Torah Thought from Rabbi Idstein... The Torah’s description of the plague of darkness is unique. In regard to each of the plagues, the pasuk makes it a point to state that the plague did not affect Klal Yisroel, but in regard to the plague of darkness, the Torah adds the converse—that there was light in the dwelling places of the Jews. Why does the Torah point out that not only was there an absence of the negative, but also a surplus of the positive? The Kedushas Levi, Rabbi Levi Yitzchok of Barditchev zt’l, offers a unique interpretation of the plague of darkness: He explains that the plague of “darkness” was not darkness at all. In fact, au contraire! HaShem removed the darkness—the shades of darkness He created in order to protect this world from being overwhelmed by the original Divine Light—so that Egypt was completely exposed to the Divine Light. For the hedonistic Egyptians, steeped in the physicality of this world, this light brought to the forefront the facade of their lives. A sense of bleakness descended upon them as the Light of Truth revealed that their entire lives were futile, and their very existence lacking meaning or purpose. It was similar to a depression, in which one loses all of his motivation and drive. His self-doubt becomes so powerful that he questions everything he does. The smokescreen of what they had previously valued was removed. For Klal Yisroel however, it was a radically different experience. For the nation anticipating liberation so they can assume their role as the Chosen People, the revelation of the Divine Light was a spiritually blissful experience. Hence, the Torah makes a point of saying, “For all of the B’nai Yisroel there was light in their dwellings.” While after the plague of darkness the Divine Light was once again hidden, glints of it are apparent in our daily lives. The values of the Torah we learn and the life lessons of the mitzvos we perform are flashes of the Divine. They shed light on us, our families, our communities, and the world at large. As we relive the time period of the Exodus from Egypt leading to the revelation at Sinai, where the contrast of our mission and that of the world around us becomes evident, it behooves us to take note of the wonderful value system that HaShem has bestowed upon us. Let us bask in its glory and spread its light to everyone through our noble deeds! Have a wonderful Shabbos, Rabbi Idstein, Menahel News and Views of Torah Academy January 23, 2015 2 Oneg Shabbos for 7th and 8th grade boys at the home of Rabbi Idstein from 8:15-9:00 p.m. on Friday night! Good food, great zemiros and friends! From the Principal’s Desk Success for all students The mission statement for our school is: “Torah Academy, committed to Torah principles and values, provides Jewish children with an academic program of excellence in Judaic and General studies, an environment that promotes character development, and the tools they need to grow into young men and women imbued with Jewish commitment and pride.” In addition, there are nine core value statements that affirm the mission and five goals to work towards fulfillment of our mission. So why do you need to know this? MNSAA, our accrediting association, expects that we articulate the school’s mission through a variety of means (board minutes, Kolenu, website, etc.).But we also want you to be aware of the school’s mission and our foci and that you hold us accountable. We are passionate about fulfilling our mission every day. The teachers recently spent two hours learning and discussing how to ensure student success for each and every child. Torah Academy is committed to academic programs of excellence, strong character development, and Jewish pride! With you as our partners, we can ensure that all students succeed! Respectfully, Mr. Ford Welcome to Mrs. Hindy Frishman who will be subbing for Mrs. Shifi Mandelbaum. Od Yosef Chai Purim Campaign starting soon! Watch for the details! Kolenu Volume XVI, Number 14 News and Views of Torah Academy January 23, 2015 3 Mazel Tov to Mr. and Mrs. Menachem and Ayelet Felman on the birth of a son. May the bris take place b’ito u’vizmano. Mazel Tov to Rabbi and Mrs. Avner and Sema Sela on the birth of a son, Simcha Binayahu. Mazel Tov to grandparents Mr. and Mrs. Reid and Bonny Wexler and great grandparents Dr. and Mrs. Harold and Shellie Wexler. Mazel Tov to Chana Tzirel Pam on being the finalist in our Geography Bee. Mazel Tov to Mr. and Mrs. Shragi and Basya Smith on birth of a baby boy. May the bris take place b’ito u’vizmano. Mazel Tov to grandparents Rabbi and Mrs. Meir and Bella Smith and great-grandmother Mrs. Frances Smith. We apologize if we inadvertently omitted your simcha or gotten the details wrong! To share news with the editor please call 952-2858603 or email [email protected] Note change: First grade parents, please mark your calendars for the annual First Grade Chumash Kiddush on Wednesday, February 11, at 3:00 p.m. Brochos Bee Test #3 is Monday Yedios Kloliyos 26,335 points so far Join the excitement! Congratulations to Yosef Shalom Roberts who is the 1st student to reach his personal goal There will be a community-wide Azkara – Memorial Tribute – to Rabbi Barry Woolf a”h on Sunday February 1 at the Sabes JCC from 2 – 4 p.m. Bais Yisroel will also hold an Azkara on February 1 at 10 a.m. 5-8 Girls Shabbaton This week! Shabbos Parshas Bo (January 23–24) See schedule! Torah Academy Store The store at school is OPEN Thursday evening 8:15-10:30 p.m. Always be prepared! Be sure your children come to school with warm coats, boots, hats, gloves or mittens, and snowpants. The students go outside for recess whenever possible! Our condolences to Mrs. Chaya Zuckman; Mr. Elchanan Zuckman, Rabbi Benyamin Zuckman; Mr. Melvin Zuckman; and, Mrs. Edith Katz, Mrs. Marleen May, Mr. Evan Zuckman and Ms. Andrea Zuckman on the passing of their husband, father, son, and brother, Dr. Michael Zuckman, Mordechai Avraham ben Elimelech a”h Our condolences to Rabbi Yosef Heisler on the loss of his mother, Chaya Sarah bas Elimelech a”h. Shiva in Eretz Yisroel: 1410 Mishkilov, Har Nof 011-972-2-651-9954 (please remember time difference to Israel) May the Omnipresent console you among the other mourners of Zion and Jerusalem. Kolenu Volume XVI, Number 14 4 News and Views of Torah Academy January 23, 2015 Midda of the Month... The Midda for Chodesh Shvat is Savlanus/Patience. What a tremendous midda to teach our children in so many ways. I wanted to share this famous story that displays patience to a degree that is inspiring. Please share it with your family and discuss its virtue and small ways that this wonderful attribute can be added to our daily routine. The rebbetzin of the Apta Rav, Rabbi Yehoshua Heschel, was busy finishing up the last minute preparations for the seder when there was a knock on the door. One of the Rebbe’s gabboim, helper, opened the door, and there stood two charity collectors who were making the rounds gathering matza for the town’s poor. The gabai, seeing a stack of matzas wrapped in a napkin on the table, took it and innocently gave it to the men. When, a bit later, the rebbetzin entered the room and noticed the matza missing, her heart fell, for this was no ordinary matza. They were the meticulously-prepared and guarded matzas which her husband had baked just before the holiday was ushered in. She called in her household servants and soon discovered how it happened, but there was nothing to be done about it. She couldn’t bring herself to disappoint her husband by telling him about the mistake, and so, with a heavy heart, she wrapped some ordinary matzas in a napkin and placed them on the table and said nothing about it. Several days after Passover ended a young couple came to Rabbi Heschel seeking his counsel to settle a dispute between them. The Apta Rav asked the husband why he was so perturbed. He replied that his wife had refused to cook the Pesach food without gebrokts - according to the custom which requires that no matza come into contact with water. The Rav called over his rebbetzin and asked, “Tell me, what kind of matzas did we use for the Passover seder?” His wife was startled by the sudden question, and she was afraid to respond. The Rav encouraged her and calmed her fears, and she went on to explain to her husband the entire episode that had transpired the afternoon of the holiday. The Rav then turned to the young husband and said in a kind tone, “Listen to me, my son. On the first night of Passover I ate regular matza, for the first time in decades and I pretended not to notice any difference. Why did I do this? I didn’t wish to bring about any hard feelings or anger, Heaven forbid. And you wish to cause strife with your wife over this Pesach custom!!” The young man immediately recognized his folly and the couple left completely reconciled. Here in school, we will be working on things like not pushing in line, walking in the hallways, and simply waiting our turn—all little things that will improve our patience and hopefully give us the strength and fortitude for when our patience becomes ever so important! Chodesh Teves Winners! Boys’ Dice game Alex Geretz Chezkie Silverberg - Grand Prize Winner Jackson Berenberg Girls’ Dice game Yael Gepner Adina Gepner Chasy Idstein - Grand Prize Winner Scratch Off Card Game Winners Grand Prize Winners Aaron Ramberg; Raizel Wexler Second Place Winners Josh Silverberg Yehoshua Mayer Zach Paskoff Josh Paskoff Michoel Sklare Yair Yardley Sarah Idstein Chani Smith Third Place Winners Moshe Bitterman Jackson Berenberg Frank Nussbaum (TWICE!) Dena Kupfer Aharon Botnick Rajel Skapino Yael Gepner 4th Place Winners Sara Nava Weiss Tova Kalatzky Guita Borenstein Gitel Pam Avromi Greenberg Yosef Shalom Roberts Ravi Farber (TWICE!) Kolenu Volume XVI, Number 14 5 News and Views of Torah Academy January 23, 2015 Reminder of our new Nut Sensitive Policy at Torah Academy We have noticed many nut products in school of late. Please be extra careful! As we stated in our original communique, we have consulted with other schools and medical professionals and have come to the conclusion that we will be adapting a “nut sensitive” policy in our school. To this end— 1) All foods that “contain” nuts, both peanut or tree nut, or those that state “may contain nuts” cannot be brought to school, neither as a snack, lunch, nor as a part of a siyum or class celebration. There are no exceptions to this rule. Please take the time to read package labels carefully for the ingredients and any allergen statements. 2) For the safety of our students if these items are brought to school they will be confiscated. We respectfully ask that all parents and students take this policy seriously and do not “test the waters.” 3) Products that were produced in a facility that contains nuts may be brought to school. 4) We, again, thank you for your partnership and cooperation. In order to make shopping a little easier, a website offering a list of peanut/tree nut free snacks can be found at http://snacksafely.com/snacklist.pdf Around Torah Academy Torah Tots 2-year olds We are worthwhile people because we are created B’tzelem Elokim! I am so special because HaShem made me “me.” Can you guess what unit we have begun in Torah Tots? “All About Me.” This week we focused on the amazing eye. Have a great Shabbos. Mrs. S. Goldberger, Mrs. B. Weinberg, & Ms. R. Segal Torah Tots 3-year old We are makkos mavens and we even painted “blood” around our doorpost. Learning parsha is so exciting. We are making our own alef-bais matching game to bring home next week. We also marble painted for Mm, worked on sets in math, and made beautiful crowns for Rosh Chodesh. Playing in the snow and building a real snowman were definite highlights. Mrs. C. Fishman, Mrs. H. Slager, & Mrs. L. Chodos Pre-Kindergarten Why did the children come to school wearing pajamas on Tuesday? We enjoyed a pajama party for Sweet Dreams for Kids! We counted 22 pairs of pajamas for the children in the hospital. The Berezovsky children each read us a story while we enjoyed special cookies. Reason number two you will find in Parshas Bo. Ask any Pre-K student and they will tell you. We also celebrated Rosh Chodesh Shevat on Wednesday. We started learning about Tu B’Shevat. We planted the most interesting sees. Check the Kolenu for regular updates. Mrs. R. Heisler & Mrs. S. Weiss Kindergarten In Kindergarten, this week the children have been learning about Martin Luther King Jr. and read the book called Flat Stanley by Jeff Brown. We are busy tracing their bodies to make a “Flat Me,” so the adventures can continue when we send Flat Me away. Our Kinder Grocery Store is fantastic! We enjoy buying groceries and restocking the shelves. In math, we are working on addition problems with manipulatives. It is so exciting. Ms. S. Haase & Mrs. A. Graif 1st Grade What an exciting time to be in Kita Alef! The air is charged with enthusiasm over beginning our introduction to Chumash. The class is working hard at learning the skills and tools need to begin learning inside a real Chumash and they are well on their way to becoming Chumash experts. May their love and excitement for learning follow them throughout their lives. Have a wonderful Shabbos. Mrs. S. Knobloch This week, in Superkids the first graders worked on contractions, compound words, and -er and -est endings. In math, we worked on missing addends and using subtraction to compare. And in science, we learned about parts of plants. Mrs. J. Singer continued on page 6 Two-year olds learning about eyes Kolenu Volume XVI, Number 14 2nd Grade The posuk tells us once again, as we all know That Lot was with Avrom, you see. There must be a reason that it is written so. Why? How come? The answer is as clear as can be: “ ” Lot was only worthy of all his benefits because he walked with Avrom. We began practicing for the school Brochos Bowl. Keep up the great work. Our Rosh Chodesh prize store was very exciting! Mrs. B. Rothstein This week in Superkids the second graders worked on tricky vowel combinations, suffixes, editing marks, and similes. They read Wagon Wheels in book club. In math, we are finishing up money skills and starting telling time. In science, we learned about inherited traits. Mrs. S. Sen & Mrs. J. Singer 3rd Grade We learned about Eliezer giving thanks to HaShem for the kindness He did for Eliezer in finding a wife for Yitzchok. Please talk to you daughters about “Hashgacha Pratis.” MAZEL TOV MAZEL TOV! We finished Book 4B in the Lehavin U’Lhaskil Chumash curriculum. Have a meaningful Shabbos. Mrs. T. Prero The third grade boys are now learning about the significance of the wells which Avrohom Avinu dug and which the Pelishtim stuffed up and then Yitzchok Avinu dug them again. Iy”H, next week, the third graders will be having a shoresh test on 30 shoroshim. Good luck. Have a great Shabbos! Rabbi C. Friedler We have had a great week in third grade! Enjoy these pictures of our field trip to the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum and our A.R. Read-A-Thon! Many thanks to Mr. Sharon, Mrs. Berezovsky, and Mr. Kvasnik for helping to make the field trip a success. And, thank you parents, for sending all kinds of pillows, stuffed animals, blankets, and BOOKS on Tuesday. I hope to see everyone at the play on January 29th. Mrs. L. Halek 4th Grade Fourth grade is so exciting. This week we got a special treat for learning the halachos of speaking carefully. Every day after bentching, Mrs. Idstein reads us a story and on Friday we have a weekly review on what we learned. In Navi, we are making a newsletter on a perek that we learned. The newsletter can be about how Yehoshua became the leader of Bnai Yisroel or how they crossed the Yardein River. When we are done, we will present them to the class. By Tova, Tybie, and Esther for Mrs. N. Idstein We continue to read the “Stone Fox” in class and are doing vocabulary and writing activities based on the book. 6 News and Views of Torah Academy January 23, 2015 In physical education we have been playing volleyball and floor hockey as well as some basketball. In Science, the class has been studying magnets and trains and in social studies we have been studying land formations and have done some preliminary studies on United States geography and states. Spelling, grammar, and daily reading and writing are also a part of our week. Mr. A. Tiemann 5th Grade In the 5th grade boys class, the students have started to read Island of the Blue Dolphins by Scott O’Dell. In vocabulary, we are working on prefixes that can change the meaning of the base word. The boys are busy working on their speeches and costumes for their Wax Museum presentation of their explorer or Native American Indian tribe. Ms. S. Haase Fifth grade girls are currently reading Misty of Chincoteague, a story inspired by a real pony on the island of Chincoteague, Virginia. We are also continuing our work on our Academic Fair projects. Many fifth grade girls are rehearsing their speeches and can’t wait to present for you on February 12th! Mrs. A. Graif continued on page 7 Annual Field Trip to the Arboretum Photos by Mr. Sharon Kolenu Volume XVI, Number 14 6th Grade The sixth graders earned a trip to Prime Deli for studying on their own time for their parsha final. They worked hard and I am proud of the effort they put into this achievement. Mrs. D. Abramczyk 8th Grade Mazel Tov to the entire eighth grade girls’ class on scoring above 90 on the Sefer Bereishis parsha final! And another mazel tov to the entire class for scoring above 90 on this week’s Bais Hamikdash test! I am so proud of all your hard work. Wishing you a fantastic Torah Academy shabbaton this Shabbos! Mrs. A. Cohen Baruch HaShem, the brachos program is being very successful! The eighth graders are taking this opportunity to brush up on their bracha skills, as well as learning new halachos of brachos. Congratulations to Eli Mandelbaum upon reaching 1000 points in the Yedios Klaliyos program! Keep up the good work! Have a great Shabbos! Rabbi C. Friedler Middle School Math 5th grade girls- We completed our test last week and are now studying inequalities and how to graph them after solving. The concept itself is similar to solving equations, but with greater than or less than signs. 6th grade girls- This class took a test on chapter 3, which is on inequalities and are now studying rational numbers and how to change from decimals to fractions and vice versa. 7th grade girls- We finished our patterns and functions project and are now working on solving two-step equations. This is an imperative algebraic concept that students will use again and again in the future. 6th grade boys- We have been reviewing for the chapter test on the Pythagorean Theorem and the unique traits of right triangles. We played jeopardy as a review game and I think it will help the boys do well on the test. 7/8 grade boys (Algebra)- We are studying linear equations and their graphs and will have a test on it this week. Linear equations include the study of slopes, intercepts and how a line can be represented in a multitude of different equations; fun stuff! Mr. A. Tiemann Middle School Science 6th Grade Science- This week we have been learning about faults and different types of stress that cause them. We even got to color a model of two tectonic plates and simulate their movement relative to each other. 7th Grade Science- This week we have been preparing for our test on heredity. We completed labs looking at how traits are passed down and flipped coins to learn about probability of different traits. News and Views of Torah Academy January 23, 2015 7 8th Grade Science- This week we started to learn about air pressure and how it affects the atmosphere. We even created our own barometers to measure pressure. Ms. J. Gerdes Middle School Language Arts (Literature and Writing) This week in Language Arts we are taking a break from our novels to work on Academic Fair projects! I will be helping the 7th and 8th students sort through their research and organize the written portion of their work. I am also heading up the 6th grade girls Academic Fair project, a Readers Theater production! Next week we will be back to reading our novels and working on Literature Circles. Mrs. M. Deutschman & Ms. K. Bukowski Staff Workshop k! ee dw Arts-N-Crafts Dan g n i ce k Ba Sunday Fun-Day!!! 2n For: 2nd–6th Grade Girls Where: Torah Academy When: Jan. 18, Jan. 25, Feb. 1 Time: 1–3 p.m. Price: $12 per Sunday or $30 for all 3 Sundays *Dance performance following last session 8th grade fundraiser with parental supervision Please R.S.V.P. by January 15 to [email protected] or 952-285-8655 Kolenu Volume XVI, Number 14 8 News and Views of Torah Academy January 23, 2015 GO Rosh Chodesh Shevat Thank you to Rabbi Lichtman and Rabbi and Mrs. Rabenstein for covering Rabbi Heisler’s classes this week. Look around your house for Torah Academy library books. We have many that are missing and need to be returned! 6G celebrates at Prime Deli Learning a new shoresh on Sunday morning Kolenu Volume XVI, Number 14 9 News and Views of Torah Academy January 23, 2015 5-8 Girls Shabbaton Schedule This week! Shabbos Parshas Bo (January 23–24) Kolenu Volume XVI, Number 14 10 Two Essays by our Eighth Grade Girls The Purpose of Doing Mitzvos by Chaya Silverberg The purpose of doing mitzvos is to give us a purpose in life. Mitzvos affect me personally in many ways. For one, when I do a mitzvah, it shows me that I have a HaShem in my life because He’s always there and listening. I always knew we shouldn’t be adding or taking away things in the Torah, but actually learning the pasuk “ ” showed me how bad it could be if something was added and/or subtracted. Rashi says that even Shlomo, one of the greatest men in the history of Bnei Yisroel, said he can have more than 18 wives and he won’t sin and that he can have many horses and won’t want to return to Mitzrayim, and what happened? If someone as great as Shlomo fell by subtracting, then even more so, we, who aren’t even close to the level of Shlomo, are able to sin. When the Torah is referred to as one mitzvah, it shows that we can’t go pick and choose between the mitzvos. Because the Torah is referred to as one, it means that we must to ALL the mitzvos and not just the ones we want to do. The mitzvos are there to connect us to HaShem and it’s not up to us to do what and when we want to do them. News and Views of Torah Academy January 23, 2015 The Purpose of Doing Mitzvos by Bas-Sheva Heisler We do the mitzvos and follow the Torah for the sole purpose of coming closer to HaShem. When I do a mitavah, it fills me with a sense of accomplishment. This brings me one step closer to HaShem. The topic in Chumahs really taught me to practice what is preached, don’t just learn and take a test. I’ll always hold it with me to learn, review, and then actually do the mitzvos properly. “ ”—The Seforno explains that when one removes the reason for the prohibition, he will soon lose the entire Torah. I learned that making excuses will not help you in the long run. While we may not think something will affect us as a result of doing an aveira, you just never know! HaShem does what’s best for us; if there’s no reason given for a mitzvah , it’s obviously not meant for us to question. “”—The Torah is whole in its entirety. This showed me that we can’t pick and choose which mitzvos work for us. We must do , to fulfill His . This also can mean, don’t underestimate the power of one mitzvah. I learned that I can’t just brush away opportunities to do mitzvos. If a mitzvah comes our way, no matter how small it may seem, it still has the power of a seemingly larger mitzvah. Each mitzvah has power! Weekly Masmidei Torah Academy! Torah Academy is so proud of the following 1st–8th grade students who had perfect attendance from Jan. 8-14. Jacob Baker Leah Baker Jackson Berenberg Julian Berenberg Chaya Dalya Berezovsky Eliana Berezovsky Reuven Berezovsky Chanoch Borenstein Moshe Borenstein Aharon Botnick Bracha Engelson Chaya Sara Engelson Frumie Engelson Rivka Engelson Naomi Farber Rena Chana Feldman Binyomin Friedler Naftali Friedler Shulamis Friedler Adina Gepner Yael Gepner Alexander Geretz Aharon Goldberg Chaim Goldberg Sora Leah Goldberg Meyer Goldberger Ariella Greenberg Avraham Greenberg Bas-Sheva Heisler Dovid Heisler Yehuda Heisler Sarah Idstein Miki Jaffa Tybie Jaffa Shaya Kahan Moshe Kalatsky Tova Kalatsky David Klatzko Shimshy Knobloch Avital Krebs Dena Kupfer Moshe Kutoff Nachum Kutoff Yakov Kutoff Yechiel Kutoff Akiva Zev Kvasnik Hannah Lyubeznik Eli Mandelbaum Yisroel Isser Mayer Ari Moffatt Toby Nussbaum Ari Oman Esther Pam Gitel Pam Joshua Paskoff Zachary Paskoff Netanya Paxton Ayelet Pitterman Chaya Prero Yisochor Dov Prero Aaron Ramberg Shabsie Roberts Yosef Roberts Michal Runge Mordechai Schulman Rivka Schulman Sarah Schulman Joshua Silverberg Lipa Silverberg Yechezkel Silverberg Yechiel Silverberg Asher Silverman Bracha Freide Skapino Malka Sklare Michoel Sklare Zalman Sklare Daphne Shulamith Slager Chloe Solomon Silas Solomon Brocha Spar Chaya Stern Esther Stern Michelle Teyvel Adina Tirado Sarah Tirado Roi Tsadok Aida Weiss Freddie Weiss Sara Weiss Asher Yardley Yair Yardley Amanda Zucker Olivia Zucker Sophia Zucker Keep it up and be entered in the monthly dice game! Save the Date! Sunday, March 15 Clay pinch pots made at the Friday after-school program. First grade students got to help local sofer, Mr. Silver, with a “shailas tinok.” Computer activities in Kindergarten and the Computer Lab Parents: Please encourage your 4th-7th grade children to submit their entries to the office!
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