 . . . it's holy . . . Alex Haims
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?מה חדש
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First We Remember . . .
Yom HaZikaron and Yom Ha'Atzmaut are celebrated one day after the other, forever connecting remembrance to celebration. "We have to stop today to be able to fully celebrate tomorrow," Rabbi Krauss told students gathered around the mezzanine Tuesday morning. After a moment of silence accompanied by the simulated siren sound, uniformed soldiers from the Tzahal Choir sang and led the students in Hatikva. Click here to watch the ceremony.
Gathered together, Jr. High students and the Tzahal Choir performed together in the gym. The students sang and spoke in Hebrew and English, explaining the three different badges of honor and recognition an Israeli soldier can receive and relaying personal stories of some soldiers who did receive the badges. "Please, God, Let it Be," said one poem: let it be peaceful, let there be beauty in the world, let us work together to pick each other up and comfort one another.
 Rabbi Seth Mandell, father of Koby Mandell, who was killed by Arab terrorists in 2001, spoke to sixth, seventh, and eighth grade students about just the same message. Koby, a star athlete, once picked the worse player in his gym class to be his volleyball partner. Camp Koby, established in 2002, invites children whose families have been the victim of terror to summer camp, to help them feel normal again. Just like Koby did, the camp in his name helps those who need to be recognized and lifted up. Rabbi Mandell asked the students to remember Koby by doing something in his name: remember Koby as he was, and do something nice for someone else this week. On the same day when we remember those who have fallen to protect Israel, we strive to do the little we can, in their names, to better Israel and our world.
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. . . Then We Celebrate
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Transitioning into Yom Ha'Atzmaut, the students gathered on the mezzanine once again, this time for festive Hallel singing. Soon after, the students watched a flag dance performance by many sixth graders, and then celebrated their joy with a school-wide chagiga, dancing under and around the tent on the field. While the four-year old nursery and kindergarten students celebrated with their families in the lunchroom, the third and fourth graders sang at the Hebrew Home of Riverdale, and the Jr. High students broke up into smaller groups for chosen Yom Ha'Atzmaut electives.
 
Some teachers talked about the history of the establishment of the State of Israel, while others showed students the flag dance performance in Israel for her 60th birthday last year. Adults and students formed the shapes of Israel's most famous symbols: the menorah, and a profile-portrait of Herzl with the words "Ain Zo Agada" or "It is not a dream". Grades one through six enjoyed a Zimria in the gym. They sang the National Anthems of America and Israel, then each grade sang two songs-one in honor of the Jewish community they studied this year and one Israeli song. When the Jr. High students entered the gym, they used their voices not to sing, but to cheer for their classmates. Seventh grade verses eighth grade tug-of-war and dodge ball games commenced, complete with megaphone commentary from Rabbi Drelich. If there was one would to describe the day, it would be: RUACH.
Gathering together under the tent on the field at five, families brought their picnic blankets and an appetite for food and celebration. They enjoyed a BBQ, the sixth grade daglanut, dancing, a drum circle, limbo, and relay races. Many recent and not-so-recent alumni were spotted in the crowd, wanting to join in the festivities for Israel's 61 Birthday party.
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. . . the kotel is there. . . Uri Garber
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| Only In Israel . . .
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Only in Israel . . . do you predominately find seforim instead of magazines to read in
waiting rooms.
. . . can you observe more mitzvot than elsewhere.
. . . can you send your four year old niece or nephew to the makolet (grocery
store) to pick up groceries unattended.
. . . can you go to the Kotel whenever your heart desires.
. . . can you float in Yam Hamelach and take a mud bath rejuvenating your
body and soul in just an hour or two.
. . . would you allow your family to be split in two, having some already there
and the rest yearning to be olim too!
. . . can you think that your Hebrew is really good until you ask where the
sherutim are and get directed to the bathrooms when you really want
to hail a cab.
. . . do you get a mitzvah for every step you take.
. . . do you get smarter by breathing. as it says in the gemara: "Avirah
deertetz Yisrael machkim" the air in Eretz Yisrael makes you smart.
. . . can you encourage your son (and truly be proud of him) to join the Israeli
Army knowing full well that you will not enjoy the same level of sleep for
months.
. . . is it fun to get lost.
. . . are almost all of the restaurants kosher!
. . . can you really be at home!
-Morah Rena Rossman
Only in Israel . . . do you hear an announcement for a mincha minyan . . . IN THE
SHOPPING MALL!!
-Morah Shoshana Bender
Only in Israel . . . does the taxi driver display a Tefilat HaDerech prayer on the dashboard
of their car.
-Rabbi Moish Drelich
Only in Israel . . . can you go to a shoe store with your grandchildren to buy new sneakers
and sandals and ask the salesman to measure their feet, and he
responds, "I don't have a shoe-measure, but in any case, I can tell their
size by just looking at their feet. He was right.
Only in Israel . . . can you say, "This is where David fought Goliath."
. . . are you supposed to park your car on the sidewalk.
. . . is the cost of the bus to school more expensive than the cost of school
itself.
. . . do the highway signs say Chag Sameach before Pesach.
. . . is there a major traffic back-up on a main road because a herd of goats
are crossing the road.
. . . do the taxi drivers try to convince you to make aliyah.
. . . do business men wear shirts with an open collar and bus drivers wear a
tie!
. . . does a chasid deliver your pizza on a moped.
. . . are there a supermarkets with the following names: "Mister Zol" (Mister
Cheap), "Dil V'zol"(A Deal AND Cheap) and "Machsanei Kimat
Chinam" (Almost Free Warehouse)!!
. . . are the fruits sweeter, the vegetables crunchier, and the colors brighter.
. . . does every rock, tree, and stream seem so precious, because they're
ours!
-Morah Shifra Shafier
Only in Israel . . . do friends just come over and knock on the door, without any playdates
needed!
-Morah Nurit Aharoni
Only in Israel . . . do flower vendors close their stand on Friday afternoons and give away
their flowers to passers-by, wishing them a Shabbat Shalom.
. . . does stepping backwards in time into our past, fortify our future.
. . . do you not only live in the place, the place also lives in you.
-Morah Sharon Marson
Only in Israel . . . is there a sign near the front of buses saying, "Lifnei seivah takum"- Please get up for the elderly.
-Morah Rita-Rivka Lewy
Only in Israel . . . does a siren sound letting you know Shabbat is imminent.
-Morah Racheli Zelkowitz
Only in Israel . . . can you find people gathering on the beach for Israeli dance.
. . . are the lampposts on the roads to the cities decorated with Israeli flags
before Yom HaAtzmaut.
-Morah Rivki Schacher
Only in Israel . . . do the rent-a-car companies give you a discount for Shabbos.
-Rabbi Binyamin Krauss
Only in Israel . . . do you hear that there is a traffic jam at "kibbutz galuyot" junction and
you then imagine the mass traffic jam there will be when the Moshiach
comes and all of us are gathered back (the meaning of " kibbutz
galuyot"!) to Israel!!! . . . is the cottage cheese only 9% fat!
Only in Israel . . . can you fight for a cab to take you from Tel Aviv to Netanya, realize you
will have trouble getting back, invite the cabbie in to have dinner with
your family, return several hours later with a well fed cabbie who gives
you his phone number to pursue shidduch arrangements for him.
-Stefa Hasson
Only in Israel . . . is there a shul in the mall (in Ramat Aviv).
. . . is there no public transportation on Shabbat.
-Gaby Zevi |
. . . I have relatives there and anytime I go any place there I say, "Wow, this is different." . . . Aviva Michaeli |
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It's That KIND Of Week!
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Pay It Forward
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On Wednesday, April 29th, 1,000 people danced in celebration at our Yom Ha'Atzmaut chagiga led by the lovingly known Captain Dovid, Mr. Nulman. Wednesdays are usually the day of the week he is at Ashar (Adolph H. Schreiber Hebrew Academy of Rockland County) but when Rabbi Beller, Ashar's menahel, was asked if we could somehow share Mr. Nulman, he generously and with pleasure turned his school's schedule upside-down to accommodate us. He said, "Your school stood by us when we had a need, I of course want to help you."
Students, the letters you wrote to Ashar and the tzedaka that you brought in to buy siddurim to replace those burned in the fire at their school, really made a difference! |
. . . since the time of Tanach, Israel has always been the land of Bnei Yisrael . . . Zach Sterman
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| חדשות בכיתות: Jewish Communities Around The World |
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The Walk-A-Thon
This year, as you know, our students have spent time in their classes learning about and making connections to students in Jewish communities around the world. As a culminating project, our students will participate in a Walk-a-Thon on Lag B'Omer, Tuesday, May 12th. The Walk-a-Thon will support programs for Jewish children in many of the communities our students have studied, with a focus on Eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union.
Please visit www.FirstGiving.com/SARAcademy where each student has the opportunity to create his or her own sponsor page to forward to friends and relatives.
Every student, from three-year nursery to eighth grade, will have the chance to collect sponsorships and walk for Jewish students around the world. Students in grades two through eight will personalize their webpages during computer class! Please note that further personalization may be necessary at home. Click here for instructions on how you can help your child at home.
For students in three-year nursery through grade one, we would appreciate your help in personalizing your child's page. Please click here for detailed instructions on how to do so.
No matter how the page is set up, we hope that you will encourage and guide your children to send the webpage link to relatives and friends to sponsor your children in the Walk-a-Thon. Please encourage all those who receive your children's page to give what they can, in whatever amount is comfortable.
Click here to watch a video of our students talking about
"Jewish Communities Around the World" |
. . . it's the promised land . . . Yale Buchwald
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| בראשית : ELC News
the beginning steps . . . |
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Blue and White Nineteen Ways
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In N5, Morot Elaine, Ester, and Tamara's classroom, Donna Solomon, Yonatan's mother, has been showing the class various designs of the Israeli flag as depicted by different artists. After viewing numerous versions, the children had the opportunity to create an Israeli flag in a design inspired by what they had viewed using craypas, watercolors, markers, and crayons. Each designed it their own way; one child smudged the craypas to create a soft effect, another colored their flag with its shadow in the background.
On another visit, Donna took the children onto the ELC terrace to paint a map of Israel. They focused on the three locations the class studied: Ceasaria, Tel Aviv, and Yerushalayim. The class had a hands-on archeological dig that is shown on the map where Ceasaria is situated. Yerushalayim pictures Machane Yehudah, Marc Chagall's windows, and the Kotel. On the larger classroom Kotel the children added photos of their families in Israel and placed notes between its stones. Tel Aviv inspired a study of city life and a focus on fashion. For this, the children made paper dolls that they dressed up and have placed skyscrapers on the map as Tel Aviv's icon.
All these places came alive on Wednesday, April 29th, Yom HaAtzmaut. Stop by N5 to feel as if you have landed in Israel!
Thank you to Donna Solomon for enhancing N5's program in such a rich way.
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. . . I worry about people there . . . Danielle Kinches
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דבר תורה : Parashat Kedoshim
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By: Talia Laifer
Grade: 8 
In this week's parasha, Kedoshim, we learn about many mitzvot. One mitzvah that inspired me was the mitzvah of וְאָהַבְתָּ לְרֵעֲךָ כָּמוֹךָ.
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In Parsha Kedoshim chapter 20 verse 18, it says: "וְאָהַבְתָּ לְרֵעֲךָ כָּמוֹךָ: אֲנִי, יְהוָה ." This means to love your friend as you would love yourself. One question on this pasuk is: Why does it say אֲנִי, יְהוָה after the mitzvah of v'ahavta is written? These words of אֲנִי, יְהוָה are written to remind us to evaluate our intentions while doing this mitzvah. Hashem is always watching, and He knows if one is doing this mitzvah with the right intentions or not. This serves as a constant reminder to one who would do this mitzvah with an ulterior motive, instead of just being nice. The Alter of Slobodka says that in order to love someone like you would love yourself, one must love without ulterior motives. We love ourselves unconditionally, so too we should love others unconditionally. One doesn't find reasons to love themselves, so they shouldn't have to find reasons to love others.
This mitzvah is one we are constantly reminded of during school and outside of school. Whenever I am put in a difficult situation, this mitzvah always helps me to be nicer towards others. This mitzvah is one I feel strongly about and hope that I can help others to fulfill this mitzvah as well.
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. . . it's the safest place to be . . . Liana Katz
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| Thank you! |
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Thank you to all the sponsors of the Yom Ha'Atzmaut event:
Tamar and Ethan Benovitz
Adrienne Miller Cooper
Bina and Steven Dabbah
Stacey and Michael Daube
Deborah and Jonathan David
Naomi and Hal Dorfman
Tamar and Abe Eisenstat
Paula and Charles Fisch
Five Star Caterers
Gail and Avram Friedman
Judy and Robert Friedman
Lewis & Garbuz,PC
Abigail and Ari Glass
Tamar and Eric Goldstein
Abbie and Moshe Greenberg
Jennifer Ash and Seth Haberman
Shari and Shmuel Hain
Barbara Sopher and Daniel Harelick
Iron Chef Foods
Joan and Joshua Kagan
Phyllis and Michael Kann
Elisheva Rothstein and Ira Kalfus
Rina and Sheon Karol
Toby and Chaya Kram
Shana & Binyamin Krauss
Bryna and Joshua Landes
Alice and Mark Lebowitz
Shula Lerner and Henry Lebowitz
Jennifer and Lawrence Maayan
Benay and Ira Meisels
Sarah Zitter Milstein and Stuart Milstein
Nataly and Stephen Neuwirth
Dahlia Kalter and Mark Nordlicht
Valerie Altmann and Daniel Perla
Karen and Michael Raskas
Janet and Alan Rosenthal
Elizabeth Holland Rothstein and Gidon Rothstein
Michele and Mark Saks
Robin and Warren Shimoff
Yonina Siegal in memory of Yoni Siegal
Marilyn Sopher
Aviva and Jonathan Sopher
Malka and Evan Spier
Debra and Marvin Sternberg
Elana and Ira Tepler
Bettina and Spencer Waxman
Shoshana and David Winter
The Yom Haatzmaut Committee:
Tamar Bezborodko
Anat Katz
Barbara Sopher
Malka Spier
Elana Tepler
Shoshana Winter
Dan Harelick for promotions
Rob Lebowitz for decorations
The volunteers at the event:
Susan Bernstein
Naomi Dreisinger
Barbara Gochberg
Toby Smith
Barbara Schwerd
Tal Schwerd
THANKS AGAIN EVERYONE!
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. . . I hear so much about what happens there . . . Leah Nerenberg
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| Memorial Day Ceremony
Friday, May 22nd |
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Last year our inaugural Memorial Day ceremony was memorable and meaningful as we honored those who fought and those currently fighting to protect the freedom we enjoy in the United Sates of America.
We would like to welcome as many veterans as possible to this year's gathering on Friday, May 22nd. If you have any family members that fought in a war perhaps you can consider inviting them for that Shabbat so we can show honor to them for their service and recognize their contributions to the freedoms we hold dear.
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. . . it's our hometown where we started off . . . without it the Jewish people wouldn't have a place to call our own . . . Jared Scher
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| Photo Of The Week!
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"Do you know where the Bet Guvrin Caves are located?"
(N4 children can tell you!)
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. . . it's the land Hashem chose for us and we're all supposed to be there . . . Rose Frankel
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Volunteers Needed for SAR! |
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SAR Auction We are looking for volunteers to help with the SAR Online Auction to be held September 8-24. If you are interested in volunteering please join us for our kick off committee meeting to be held June 2nd at 8:30pm at SAR Academy.
If you have any questions please contact Deena Berger at (212) 940-5843 or e mail SARauction@gmail.com.
Shavuot Appeal
It's that time of the year again, when SAR asks the community to give generously to
assist SAR families in need of scholarship assistance. During the coming weeks leading up to Shavuot, volunteers will be calling to solicit your help in this essential work. In addition to raising much-needed funds, this year we are trying to maximize the number of families at SAR who participate in the Shavuot Appeal. Please take the call and give generously.
Hudi Askowitz
Louis Benjamin
SAR Shavuot Appeal Co-Chairs
We are also seeking volunteers to help with our Shavuot mailing. Please email Rachel Spinner Spinnr@saracademy.org to let us know if you have time on May 11th and 13th. |
| Lost and Found |
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A copy of Professors on the Parasha, edited by Leib Moskovits, has been found in a cubby in the Junior High. It has apparently been there for months, at least. There is a program card inside from the 2006 graduation. If this is your book, please email Rabbi Rosenberg at rosenm@saracademy.org. Thank you. |
| Condolences |
Condolences to William Scheiner on the passing of his father, Eric Scheiner, grandfather to Harry (8Z) and Sylvia (5W).
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| Mazal Tov! |
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Mazal Tov to Ariella (Resource Room Teacher) and Simcha Gissinger on the birth of a baby boy.
Mazal Tov to Elana and Jamie Minkove on the birth of a baby girl. Mazal Tov to big sister Abigail (2nd Grade) and big brother Jonah (4 year Nursery). |
| Community News |
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Women's Brunch & Bowl to Aid At-Risk Teenage Girls in Israel
The Riverdale Chapter of Partners Reaching Out to Ulpanat Dolev (PROUD) will hold a Women's Brunch & Bowl event on Sunday, May 3, from 9:30 a.m. to 12 noon, at AMF White Plains Lanes, 47 Tarrytown Road (next to Loehmann's) in White Plains. The event will benefit a residential school in Israel that educates and rehabilitates at-risk teenage girls. The cost of $25 per person includes two games, bowling shoes rental and kosher dairy breakfast. Carpool and directions are available. Space is limited; reservations are required. RSVP by April 27 at proud_dolev@yahoo.com or (914) 969-2396; include name, town and phone number or e-mail address.
Israeli Art Show
There will be an art show and sale featuring the work of Geula Twersky (artist and former SAR teacher who made aliyah) on Thursday, May 7, from 8-10 pm at the home of Judy & Bob Friedman, 333 Oxford Rd. New Rochelle (914-633-0115, 914-714-9487). Geula's art interweaves Jewish tradition, history and the many facets of her own life. This is a special opportunity to see Geula and her art on this rare visit from Israel. Geula's art can be previewed online at www.geulaart.com.
Riverdale Jewish Center Emerald Anniversary Dinner
honoring
Betty and Fred Sugarman
Guests of Honor
Miriam Schonfeld Hering
Community Service Award
Tami and Jeremy Horowitz
Young Leadership Award
Wednesday June 3, 2009
Tefillin For Sale Two mitzvot with one act. Support Israel and purchase kosher tefillin from Israel at a wholesale price. All profits from the sale go directly to the sofrim and the tefillin makers in Israel. Contact Rabbi Drelich for details email drelim@saracademy.org or 718-548-1717 ext 1212.
RJC Teens Presents
Teen BBQ & Baseball Game @ JHS
When: Sunday, May 17th 2009
Where:JHS Ball field
Time: 4:00
Family - Seudah Shlishit Program
Save The Date: First Week - May 9th, 2009 @ 6:15
Join your Friends & Leaders in the Black Tile Room for a fun, lively time!
Enjoy Delicious Food, Torah Trivia, Prizes, Inspiring Singing, Divrei Torah, Friends and more...
News from Wave Hill
Admission to Wave Hill is free on Tuesdays and Saturdays from 9AM to 12Noon.
Wave Hill Members: Wave Hill Members who are Shomer Shabbat and would like to visit the facility on Shabbat and do not wish to carry their ID cards, may provide their names when they arrive at the front gate; Wave Hill staff are provided with a pre-printed Member list. Wave Hill Non-Members: Wave Hill Non-Members who are Shomer Shabbat and would like to visit the facility on Shabbat afternoon or on Jewish holidays, may call in advance and prepay for their visit. A record of this arrangement will be held at the front gate, to be checked when such visitors arrive.
SAVE THE DATE- ANNUAL BAMBI BAKE SALE
MAY 14TH 8:00PM
AT THE HOME OF ANNA KEST
4660 LIVINGSTON AVENUE
RIVERDALE
IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN BAKING
PLEASE EMAIL TATIANA LICHTENSTEIN
tati613@aol.com
FOR MORE INFORMATION CALL
646-734-4477
Matan B'Seter provides monthly financial assistance to needy Jewish families in Israel. Approximately $750,000 is distributed annually. The organization is entirely staffed by volunteers. Matan B'Seter's guiding light is Mrs. Rachel Chalkowsky. "Bambi" as she is affectionately known also serves as the head midwife at Shaare Zedek Hospital in Jerusalem. |
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SAR Academy
655 W. 254th Street Phone:718-548-1717
Riverdale, NY 10471 Fax: 718-601-0082
www.saracademy.org | |
