On Monday evening, January 18th, our Kindergarten parents and students gathered together for an evening of delicious food, friendship, music and fun. We began with a pizza and salad dinner followed by ice cream sundaes in our lunch room. After Birkat Hamazon, the party moved upstairs to the Beit Midrash where parents were treated to the debut of the MDS Kindergarten Choir accompanied by Morah Karen Daitchman and led by the Morot of Kindergarten. The children then left the stage and saton the floor or on parents' laps to hear a "bedtime" story, The Napping House, read by Morah Aviva.

            A special video presentation followed and was enjoyed by all. Some highlights included interviews with our students who were asked all kinds of interesting questions ranging from "What is your favorite lunch?" to "What does your Morah do after school?" It also included a variety of photos of our Kindergartners doing what they do each day. Our students and parents were then invited downstairs to end the evening with an art exhibit and some hot cocoa.

First graders performed some shocking experiments in science these past few weeks.  They have been learning about static electricity. Rubbing a rubber balloon with wool charges it with electricity, and the students learned that these electrons can be moved around through small sparks. Students used a charged balloon to make strips of paper "dance" and they watched the static electricity pull a stream of water towards it. This is because water absorbs (and takes away) static. The children constructed a static generator as well. This easy-to-make generator produced fairly large sparks and was built using an aluminum pie pan, foam plate and a piece of wool.  This week, first graders learned about nutrition and they constucted a model of the food pyramid to show healthy food choices, recommended servings, and other important information.  In the coming weeks, we will be doing activities on plants and the human body.

I want to thank the students from the Manhattan Day School in NYC for their uplifting letters of support.  I am originally from Brooklyn, and it's great to hear from another generation of young Jews.  Please let Dani (8B) know that part of citizenship in this great country is service, and it warms our hearts to know that we are appreciated by some fine young great Americans like Dani and his classmates.

Sincerely,

Scott L. Zonis, COL, SC, 335th TSC Projects and Engineering Officer

Thank you for your participation in and support of the Limud Program!  Here are this week's dedications:

• Yehuda and Deborah Zeffren gave a bronze sponsorship on February 3d in memory of Deborah's grandfather Jack Shulman.
• Lois Liebowitz gave a silver sponsorship for the month of February in honor of Toby Reich. 

• February 6           Community Events: Father-Son learning at the West Side Kollel, 7:15 pm
• February 7           Community Events: Oneg Shabbat Family Day
• February 8           Afterschool clubs begin; Contact Ester Kelen with questions 
• February 8           Varsity Boys: MDS vs. Ramaz, 6:00 pm
• February 8           Varsity Girls: MDS vs. Ramaz, 7:30 pm
• February 10         New chessed program for parents!  Bubbie and Zeidy chat at the Esplanade
• February 10         JV Boys: MDS vs. HALB, 7:15 pm
• February 10         Deadline to apply for Shushan Purim Middle School Talent Show
• February 11         Grade 5 Trip to Museum of Jewish Heritage
• February 11         Varsity Boys: MDS vs. ASHAR, 7:15 pm
• February 12         Toddlers Fathers' Day Visit
• February 13         Grade 6 Bat Mitzvah Club meeting, 7:30-9:30 pm.  RSVP to Anne Samet.
• February 15         Presidents' Day; Rosh Chodesh Adar; No Sessions
• February 16-19     No afterschool clubs; special ed transportation only
• February 18         Rosh Chodesh Speaker
• February 19         Purim Carnival
• February 25         Taanit Esther; 3:30 Dismissal; No afterschool clubs 
• February 26         Grade 2 Chagigat HaChumash / Purim Play, 10 AM
• February 26         ECD Purim Celebration
• February 28         Purim
• March 1               MDS Has Talent: Middle School Talent Show!
• March 3               Nursery 4 trip to Theatreworks play Click Clack Moo
• March 7               Family Fun Days: Meet the author of the Magic Tree House series! 
• March 12             Grade 1 Chagigat HaSiddur: 1A will star at 9 am; 1C will perform at 11 am 
• March 14             Annual Scholarship Dinner
• March 17             Parent-Teacher Conferences (by request only), 1:30-6:00 pm

• Mazal tov to R. Asher (Middle School) and Jessica Klein on the birth of a baby boy
• Mazal tov to Jessica (NA1) and Herschel Joseph on the birth of Akiva Meir
• Mazal tov to Nurse Henni Bitter on the birth of a granddaughter to Elichai and Zahava Bitter
• Mazal tov to David Bernstein (phys ed) on the birth of granddaughter Sophia Grace to Andrea Esposito
• Mazal tov to Nelly Brody on the birth of granddaughter Racheli
• Mazal tov to Dov and Jessica Zmood and Ella (N4B) and Judah (Toddlers Bet) on the birth of Ezra. 
• Mazal tov to Philip and Shari Friedman and Mia (NA1) and Resse on the birth of Jordan.
• Mazal tov to Rebecca Barnett (Middle School) on completing the Miami Chai Lifeline Half-Marathon
• Thank you to Faigy Ravitz of the Center for Initiatives in Jewish Education for conducting smart board faculty workshops this week.

• We are delighted to let you know about a brand new weekly chessed project, Zeidy and Bubby Chat at the Esplanade, starting on Wednesday, February 10, at 9:15 am
• Send Mishloach Manot to Israeli soldiers and earn 10% for MDS!
• Parents Tehillim group meets each morning at 8:15 am in the library
• We are continuing to collect cell phones in the lobby for the Major Stuart Adam Wolfer Cell Phone Drive.  These phones will be exchanged for calling cards which Jewish U.S. soldiers can use to call home. 
• Please label your childrens' clothing and other items.  We have a large lost and found for misplaced items.
• Thank you for keeping our school nut-free.

(a) (1) (i) The splitting of Yam Suf and (ii) Amalek's defeat (Rashi).  (2) The Yam Suf splitting could be interpreted as Pharaoh's punishment for defying Hashem, rather than a benefit for Bnei Yisrael; Amalek's defeat was clearly for Bnei Yisrael's benefit (Or haChaim). (b) (1) Before Matan Torah; (2) after Matan Torah (Ramban). (2) On the day after Yom Kippur when he brought down the 2nd luchot (Rashi). (3) (i) Anshei chayil are wealthy and do not need to flatter others or play favorites (Rashi). (ii) Yirei Elokim are not afraid of other people (ibn Ezra). (iii) Anshei emet inspire confidence that their word is reliable (Rashi). (iv) Sonei batza promote fairness because they spurn improperly obtained money (Ramban).

2. (a) Before Matan Torah, which group did Hashem command Moshe to speak to first? (b) Why (5 reasons)? (Shemot 19:3)

(a) Moshe spoke first to the women, whom the Torah calls Beit Ya'akov, then to the men, called Bnei Yisrael (Rashi). (b) (1) Since women are obligated in mitzvot at age 12, a year before men, Moshe prepared them first for accepting the mitzvot; (2) since mothers at home are the primary transmitters of mitzvot to children, they came first; (3) when Hashem conveyed the first mitzvah to Adam, but not to Chava, she sinned; Hashem wanted women to know that their observance is no less important than men's; (4) Moshe wanted the women to accept the Torah first so they would not say that they accepted the Torah only to satisfy their husbands; therefore, they would be just as responsible to keep mitzvot as the men; (5) women were honored first because Bnei Yisrael were redeemed from Mitzrayim because of the merit of righteous women (Shemot Raba).

3. (a) Why did Hashem term Bnei Yisrael a mamlechet kohanim (kingdom of priests) (3 reasons)? (b) When Bnei Yisrael said, "We will do everything that Hashem has spoken", why did Moshe need to tell it to Hashem (2 explanations)? (Shemot 19:6,8)

(a) (1) When Bnei Yisrael received the Torah, they were on such a high spiritual level that they were all worthy of partaking of korbanot like kohanim; after the cheit ha-eigel, this privilege was withdrawn, except from Sheivet Levi, who did not commit this sin; (2) Hashem wanted Bnei Yisrael's role as kohanim to be aloof from other nations' repulsive practices (Mechilta). (3) A role of a kohen is to teach the words of Hashem to others; all of Bnei Yisrael are destined to teach all mankind to recognize and serve Hashem (Sforno). (b) To: (1) teach that a messenger sent to get a response should transmit the response to the sender, even if the sender already knows the answer (Rashi). (2) praise Bnei Yisrael for accepting everything (Ohr haChaim).

4. (a) How many letters are in the Aseret haDibrot? What does this signify? (b) How many of the 613 mitzvot are specified in the Aseret haDibrot? (c) Which mitzvot? (d) How many did Bnei Yisrael hear directly from Hashem (2 opinions)? (Shemot 20:1-14)

(a) 620 letters, signifying that the Aseret haDibrot represent the essence of the Torah's 613 mitzvot and 7mitzvot de-rabannan (Mechilta). (b) 14; (c) (1) To believe in Hashem's existence; not to: (2) believe in any divinity except Hashem, (3) make a graven image, (4) bow down in idol worship, (5) worship an idol in any other customary way, (6) swear in vain; (7) to sanctify the Shabbat; (8) not to work on Shabbat; (9) to honor one's parents; not to: (10) murder an innocent person, (11) commit adultery, (12) kidnap, (13) bear false witness, (14) covet what belongs to another (Sefer haChinuch Mitzvot 25 - 38). (d) (1) Bnei Yisrael heard all of the Aseret haDibrot from Hashem in one utterance (Rashi). (2) Bnei Yisrael heard the first and second dibrot directly from Hashem and the other eight from Moshe (Makot 24a).

5. (a) What 4 kinds of oaths are considered "oaths in vain"? (b) What does the Torah add by stating that observing Shabbat applies to "you and your son and your daughter" - by saying "you", aren't your son and daughter commanded not to violate Shabbat in their own right? (c) If one does not have wine for making kiddush, he may use bread; why may he not use bread to make havdala if he has no wine? (d)  Why does the Torah prohibit us from coveting other people's possessions (2 explanations)? (Shemot 20:7-14)

(a) Swearing that: (1) something known is not so, e.g., that a marble pillar is made of gold; (2) something known is so, e.g., that a stone is a stone; (3) he will violate a mitzvah; (4) he will do something that he does not have the power or strength to do, e.g., he will not sleep for 3 days in a row (Sefer haChinuch - Mitzvah 30). (b) The Torah requires that parents ensure that their minor children, who are not yet obligated to observe mitzvot, do not violate Shabbat (Rashi). (c) People have a greater desire to drink rather than eat when Shabbat leaves, having already had a large meal during the day in honor of Shabbat (Mitzvah 31). (d) (1) Coveting someone else's possession may cause us to stop at nothing to obtain it, including theft and murder (Mitzvah 38). (2) When we recognize that a possession is not available to us because Hashem has granted it to another person, we demonstrate our faith in Hashem by not desiring it (ibn Ezra).

6. (a) Why does the Torah repeat the prohibition of making silver and gold idols after stating that making idols is prohibited in the Aseret haDibrot (20:3-5) (6 reasons)? (b) Why did the Torah: (1) prohibit using metal instruments to shape the mizbei-ach's stones? (2) command that the mizbei-ach's ramp may not have steps resulting in the immodesty of separating one's legs by climbing steps, when the kohanim who ascended to the mizbei-ach had to wear pants to protect their modesty (2 reasons)? (Shemot 20:20-23)

(a) This verse prohibits: (1) making images of angels or other heavenly beings; (2) making an image of Hashem and worshipping it; (3) cursing Hashem when something bad happens, as people do with idols - we must praise Him for the good and the bad (Mechilta). (4) appointing judges (termed "elokim") who pay for the appointment with gold or silver (Sanhedrin 7b). (5) creating an intermediary between Hashem and man (Sefer ha-Ikarim). (6) making an image, not for worship, but only as an ornament (Sefer haChinuch - Mitzvah 39). (b) (1) Since the mizbei-ach's purpose is to grant forgiveness of sins and blessings and peace, metal, which is used to fashion weapons of destruction, was inappropriate in its construction (Mitzvah 40). (2) (i) Although there would be no actual immodesty in using steps, even the appearance of immodesty had to be avoided (Rashi). (ii) If we have to be concerned about "shaming" stones, we certainly avoid shaming people (Mitzvah 41). 

7. In the haftara, when the angels proclaim "kadosh, kadosh, kadosh Hashem" (Hashem is holy, holy, holy), why do they say "kadosh" three times? (Yeshayahu 6:3)

They declare that Hashem is: (a) kadosh in the high heavens above; (b) kadosh on the earth; and (c) kadosh forever and to all eternity (Targum Yonatan).