Helpful Hints
 Remember, cars get ticketed when parked on Palisade Avenue. Be careful at morning drop-off and during afternoon dismissal. | |
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 On Thursday, April 22, Class 1W had an exciting visit from Dafna's mom, Tammy Bezborodko Horowitz. The Horowitz's own a factory in NJ that manufactures clocks. When Tammy found out we were doing a time unit in math, she volunteered to bring in individual clocks for each student in Dafna's class. The children were delighted to decorate their own clocks and then add the hands, with special washers and nuts. Once they install a battery in the mechanism, they will have functioning clocks of their own to practice telling time at home! Thank you so much, Tammy, for coming on your birthday, and for your generous donation of your time and the beautiful clocks!
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| | Auction
Committee Members Needed
We are looking for parents to get involved in planning one of our key fundraising events of the coming year, the SAR Auction!
Parents and community members raved about our online auction last year, and with your help, we will build on our past successes. Be part of this exciting event where you will get to know many SAR parents while raising much needed funds for SAR.
Our first committee meeting will be on Monday, May 10th at 8:30 pm at the SAR High School.
Please reply to sarauction@gmail.com to let us know if you can make it. If you are unable to make the meeting but still want to volunteer please let us know.
We can't wait to hear from you!
Deena Berger, Elana Minkove, Dana Teplitsky
2010 Auction Chairs
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Come See SAR Academy's Spring Musical:
The Little Prince
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The 5th and 6th Grade Musical
The Little Prince
Based on the book by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry
Sunday, May 16th at 5PM
Monday, May 17th at 7PM
SAR Academy Gym
Tickets can be purchased at the door
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| Spring Parent Forums | |
Moshe and Abbie Greenberg will host the final Spring Parent Forum on May 11th.
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| SAR IS FOR GRANDPARENTS TOO! | | Would you like your parents to have a window into their grandchildren's SAR world?
To receive Chadashot send their e-mail address to:
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16 Iyar 5770 April 30, 2010
Candlelighting: 7:32 Havdalah: 8:35
Parashat Emor | |
A Message from Rabbi Krauss |
It has been nice seeing you at our recent Parent Forums and having the opportunity to have conversations about education in warm community settings. Thank you to our hosts for opening their homes: Gail and Avi Friedman, Bryna and Josh Landes, Audi and Scott Weitz, Bina and Steve Dabbah, Blimi and Benjy Berger, and Abbie and Moshe Greenberg. Thank you as well to the Parent Forum co-chairs: Stephanie Minkove and Rosesara Greenspun.
I would like to encourage everyone to join our Learn-A-Thon. It is reflective of our theme of the year, MiDor L'Dor, and there is no better way to prepare for Shavuot than by studying Torah. There are only seven more days to sign up. Please join us.
Shabbat Shalom,
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SAR In Motion
Click here to view Your Turn To Learn: Rabbi Rosenberg's shiur Martydom: Mitzvah or Aveirah?
Click here to view a clip from our Yom HaAtzmaut celebration.
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| Mark Your Calendar |
Sunday, May 2nd - Lag B'Omer
Wednesday, May 12th - Yom Yerushalayim
Thursday, May 13th - Blood Drive at SAR Academy from 2:30 to 8:30pm
Thursday, May 13th - Your Turn to Learn Series at 9:30am
Friday, May 14th - Rosh Chodesh Sivan
SAR's Mi'Dor L'Dor Siyum HaTorah
Sunday, May 16th-Spring Musical at 5pm in the gym
Monday, May 17th-Spring Musical at 7pm in the gym
Tuesday, May 18th - Erev Shavuot - Early Dismissal: 1:15 ELC; 1:30 Academy
Wednesday, May 19th - Thursday, May 20 - Shavuot, No Sessions
Sunday, May 23rd - Salute To Israel Parade
Monday, May 24th - Matan Bat Mitzvah Program
Wednesday, May 26th - Academy Faculty Meetings, Early Dismissal ELC 3:00 Academy 3:15
Thursday, May 27th - First Grade Intergenerational Math Fair, First Grade Area, 9am |
What do you think of our Mi'Dor L'Dor Learn-A-Thon? (See quotes throughout.) |
| ?מה חדש | |
*Under The Sea*
 For the last two months, first grade has been busily immersed in learning about the ocean. The unit began by interactively studying, on the SMART Board, a world map and identifying the seven continents and five oceans. They discovered that there are various layers to the ocean: the tidal pool, the coral reef, the ocean floor, the open sea, the surface, and the abyss, which they broke down into the sunlight zone, the twilight zone, and the midnight zone. First graders then focused on the characteristics of a fish, both vertebrates and invertebrates and which fish and other ocean animals inhabit the various layers. They explored the ways fish protect themselves from predators (swimming fast, camouflaging, hiding, living in schools or in anemones, etc.). They watched videos and interviews with ocean experts on the SMART Board and conducted an experiment to determine the salinity of the ocean. The children learned about a particular ocean animal in depth by completing a research report and answering specific questions about it (it's food, habitat, protection, movement, etc.)
On Friday, April 16, 2010, the entire first grade had the pleasure of hosting Michael Stern, Leah's (Class 1W) dad. He is an expert on fish of all kinds. He brought in the various animals that inhabit the Coral Reef. The children were enthralled as he presented the various fish and sea creatures, and they were able to observe them up close and learn what was unique to each one. Mr. Stern talked about how all the creatures co-exist, and survive in their habitat. For example, the anemone and the clownfish have a symbiotic relationship. The clownfish feeds the anemone and in turn the anemone protects the clownfish. Each different species has a unique way of protecting itself. One is a fast swimmer, one has poisonous tentacles, another has an awful taste, and others camouflage themselves or hide in the sand or in cracks and crevices.
The fish "cast of characters" who visited first grade included:
- bicolor pseudochromis
- algae blenny
- yellow coris wrasse
- green mandarin goby
- ocellaris clownfish (Nemo) with purple long tentacle anemone
- Invertibrates-3 different hermit crabs, 3 different snails, sea urchin
- brown banded bamboo shark and eggs
- volitan lion fish
- argus (blue dot) grouper (big one)
The highlight of the morning was when Mr. Stern showed the children two shark eggs. He was able to shine a flashlight on the body, and we were able to see the yolk, with the baby shark inside. He also brought along a recently hatched baby shark, and the children took turns touching it. Its skin felt like sandpaper! Thank you to Mr. Stern for a wonderful culmination of our ocean unit. The children were riveted by the presentation.
*Fourth Grade Studies Heroes*
In conjunction with the school-wide theme of the year, Mi'Dor L'Dor, the fourth grade is studying several Jewish American heroes including Hank Greenberg, Henrietta Szold, and Emma Lazarus. In considering this topic, the fourth graders reflected on what a hero is and what qualities he/she has:
Loyal
Honest
Brave
Confident
Courageous
Unique
Trustworthy
Helpful
Determined
Thoughtful
Caring
Stands up for what he/she believes in
Passionate
Some of our fourth graders defined a hero as someone who:
~Stands up for himself and others
~Thinks of others before themselves
~Helps people out with things people need. A hero is a role model to show people the way they should act.
~Is humble and cool. A hero feels good with himself.
~Gives others credit for what they deserve
~Fights when he's frightened
~Risks their lives to help, save or do something to show they care, not just because they are a hero.
~Says the cup is half full, someone who laughs, sings, and dances, someone who can have lots of fun, someone who laughs at jokes.
As the unit continues, the students will complete a biography report on a Jewish American hero of their choice as well as reflect on their own personal heroes.
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~it was very smart of the school to do it because kids have a chance to learn at home and communicate with their family about Torah . . . Inbal Katz |
| It's That "KIND" of Week |
*Part Of The Solution*
 
This past Tuesday, as part of our cooking elective, we went with Mrs. Stavsky to volunteer at a soup kitchen in the Bronx named P.O.T.S. (Part of the Solution) This was a very meaningful experience. We worked really hard and were shocked how exhausted we were after. We waitered, we bused, we washed dishes, pots, and pans. We plated the meals to all the needy people. I personally bused, and was surprised about how hard it was. The soup kitchen is set up like a restaurant, to make everyone feel dignified and welcome. "This trip was very fulfilling and will have an impact on me for the rest of my life," said Kayla Roisman. I couldn't agree more. -Kevin Danishefsky
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| ~I think it's a very good idea because it gets people to learn the Torah when they might not otherwise . . . Ben Kahn |
| Insights . . . by Dr. Jane Davidson | |
*Communication*
Communication used to seem simpler, speaking to others in person or on the phone, sending letters or notes by snail mail. With the explosion of technology including: cell phones, texting, e-mail, IM, AIM, Buzz, and video chat, communication has gotten more complex. This year at SAR we have been thinking about these issues with your children and have had workshops, speakers, programs and conversations with students in grades 3 and up.
Parenting in a technological world now includes a maze of uncharted territory, especially since our children often know more than we do about the workings of the latest gadget or cyber-innovation. We encourage you to open up the conversation with your children at home. Ask them to share something they are doing on-line or explain to you what they enjoy about technology in general, and the internet specifically. One easy tip is to have the computers in a public space. Below is an excerpt from a site on internet safety for kids, as well as links to other internet safety resources.
PARENTING ON LINE (an excerpt from Wired Kid.com)
 The things we do to make sure our children stay safe are constantly changing too. When they crawl, we learn how to keep things off the floor. when, they pull themselves upright, we have to keep them safe from the new dangers at eye level. soon after that training wheels have to be removed, and we have to watch while they pedal away (generally into the nearest tree). We watch their sugar intake, make sure they take their vitamins, and keep small items out of their mouths.
That's our job, as parents. So the tried and true warnings, passed down from generation to generation, are repeated... "don't talk to strangers...," "come straight home from school...," "don't provoke fights...," "don't tell anyone personal information about yourself..." and "we need to meet your friends..." This is familiar territory after all. We know the dangers our kids face in the street or at the mall or in the schoolyard, because we faced them. AS IN ANY LARGE COMMUNITY, THERE ARE DANGERS OUR CHILDREN ENCOUNTER IN CYBERSPACE TOO. BUT, SINCE OUR CHILDREN KNOW MORE THAN WE DO ABOUT CYBERSPACE WE WORRY ABOUT HOW WE CAN TEACH THEM TO AVOID THESE DANGERS. DON'T PANIC . . . THOSE DANGERS CAN BE MANAGED USING THE SAME OLD WARNINGS WE'VE ALWAYS USED. WE JUST NEED TO TRANSLATE THEM INTO CYBERSPACE TERMS.
http://wiredkids.org/parents/parentingonline/index.html
http://www.schoolfamily.com/school-family-articles/article/807-internet-safety-tips-for-parents
http://www.isafe.org/channels/sub.php?ch=op&sub_id=media_tips
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~I think it's a good thing . . . I'm learning a lot . . . I think it's a good program . . . Azriel Fine |
| בראשית : ELC News
the beginning steps . . . |
*Our Daffodil Garden by N-8*
"N-8 decided to plant a garden for SAR to make SAR look pretty."
"First Morah Rifky bought daffodil bulbs. We dug the soil. It was hard work. There were a lot of rocks. After we got rid of the rocks, we made holes in the soil. We planted the bulbs in the holes we dug. We covered the bulbs with soil."
"We waited the whole winter for the bulbs to grow."
"At the end of the winter, we saw the beginning of the flowers peeking out of the snow. A week later, the flowers were bigger with a little yellow color on top."
"During our Pesach vacation our flowers bloomed."
"When we came back from Pesach vacation, we had a beautiful daffodil garden."
"Now the flowers are dying, but because they are perennials, they will grow again next spring."
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~I'm going to sign up . . . Leah Baron |
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דבר תורה |
 By: Gilad Fortgang
Parashat Emor
In פרשת אמור, after discussing the laws of impurity for a Cohen, the Torah in
פרק כ''ב פסוק ל''בwrites:"ולא תחללו את שם קדשי ונקדשתי בתוך בני ישראל"
"And you shall not profane My holy name; but I should be sanctified among the children of Israel."
The question is, isn't not profaning G-d's name the same thing as sanctifying it? What is the difference? Why does the Torah need to state the mitzvah as a "לא תעשה" and as an "עשה"? I think the answer could be that they are two totally different types of mitzvot. There is a mitzvah, "לא תעשה"which is the one we more commonly think of, and then there is the mitzvah"עשה" which is less obvious in our everyday lives. It is one thing to not do something that gives us a bad name; that is embarrassing to the Jewish people, but it's a whole other thing to go out of our way to sanctify G-d's name. When we read about Jews in the newspaper being accused of crimes or misbehaving publicly, that is a חילול ה' . It is so easy not to make a חילול ה'; all we need to do is act normally and not do anything that speaks badly of our people. But when a Jew goes out and does a public chessed like someone in a kipa helping the elderly cross the street or standing up on the bus to give our seat to someone who needs it, we perform a real קדוש ה' . Even when you walk by a jogger on Shabbat morning and you say "good morning" that too is a קדוש ה'. That is Sanctifying G-d's name. Just look in "Wikipedia" under Aaron Feuerstein and see the following: "Aaron Feuerstein, an Orthodox Jew, (born 1925) was the third-generation owner of Malden Mills in Lawrence, Massachusetts. When the Malden Mills factory burnt down on December 11, 1995, Feuerstein decided not only to use his insurance money to rebuild it, but to also pay the salaries of all the now-unemployed workers while it was being rebuilt. Feuerstein spent millions keeping all 3,000 employees on the payroll with full benefits for 6 months. By going against common CEO business practices, especially at a time when most companies were downsizing and moving overseas, he achieved a small degree of fame." This is a wonderful example of a קדוש ה'.
We all know that Moshe was not allowed into the Land of Israel as punishment for hitting the rock when Bnei Yisrael needed water in the desert. The way the Torah describes his sin is: "יען לא האמנתם בי להקדישני לעיני בני ישראל". Rashi explains that it wasn't that he hit the rock, but that Moshe failed to perform a קדוש ה' by NOT allowing a miracle to occur when he had the chance to do so.
I think the lesson to learn from this week's פרשה is that sometimes we need to go out of our way to speak to the rock, to pay our workers when we don't need to, or even help the elderly cross the street. To go out of our way not just to not make a חילול ה' but to perform a קדוש ה'.
SHABBAT SHALOM
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~I like it . . . it's interesting . . . Moshe Zechariah Morgenstern |
| Photo Of The Week | |
We've Learned To Look:
Sketching At The Metropolitan Museum Of Art
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~it's very good because it's about the Torah . . . Ayala Grossman |
| PTC News |
SAR Cookbook Submission Deadline April 30th
The SAR Cookbook, dedicated in memory of Sheri Raskas Z"L, is scheduled to be released in
Spring 2011. The yet to be named book, will be a gorgeous full color, hard bound collection of
innovative, contemporary and flavorful dishes which promises to inspire the kosher home cook for years to come.
We still need your recipes. If you have not yet submitted, please get your favorite recipes in by April 30th.
The categories are:
Hors d'oeuvres & Appetizers - Soups & Salads - Gluten Free - Vegetables - Grains & Pasta - Shabbat & Holiday Dishes - Meat & Poultry - Fish -
Desserts - Dressings & Sauces - Student Submitted Recipes
www.saracademy.org/cookbook
For more information about what kind of recipes we are looking for, check out our guidelines.
To submit online visit our web site or email us at sarcookbook@gmail.com
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| Cheesecake For Sale! | |
Buy a Famous S&S Cheesecake for Shavuot and Support the 8th Grade Yearbook!
Click on the photo above to order
Order Deadline is Wednesday May 12th
Please submit forms to Sally Oshins in the Business Office
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| Community News |
Lag B' Omer Lecture at the Hebrew Institute of Riverdale
3700 Henry Hudson Parkway, Riverdale on Sunday, May 2nd at 8:15PM. Come hear Gil Hoffman, the chief political correspondent and analyst for The Jerusalem Post Mr. Hoffman
will provide a behind the scenes look at the intrigue and humor in the Israeli political scene. The topic of his lecture will be "Red States, Blue States & the Jewish State: Jerusalem-DC Relations from an Israeli Insider's Perspective". All are welcome.
Matan B'Seter - BAMBI
THURSDAY, MAY 6, 2010
AT 8:00 PM
At the home of Anna Kest
4660 Livingston Avenue
Riverdale, NY 10471
Please join us for a spectacular BAKE SALE To Benefit Matan B'Seter - BAMBI
Guest Speaker: Rachel (Bambi) Chalkowski
For more information please call Joan Junger 718-548-4372
Matan B'Seter is a non-profit organization in Israel
That provides regular monthly financial assistance
To nearly 300 genuinely needy Jewish families.
DRISHA INSTITUTE CLASS IN RIVERDALE FOR BAT MITZVAH AGE GIRLS FOR SHAVUOT
This Bat Mitzvah year, enhance your learning with the Drisha Mother/Daughter Bat Mitzvah Program in Riverdale. For girls ages 11-13 and their mother or other partner. Learn together for the holiday of Shavuot. The class to be taught by Tammy Jacobowitz who will discuss: Learning from Ruth: Hessed and Leadership - Monday, May 10 from 7:00pm - 8:00pm, at the Riverdale Jewish Center, 3700 Independence Ave. To register: please call Ariella 212-595-0307 ($18 per learning pair).
Riverdale Riverfest 2010Sunday, June 13, 2010, from 1 to 5 p.m
"Riverdale Riverfest 2010," a celebration of the Hudson River, which will feature music, entertainment, food, educational programs about the river, and a variety of environmental and river-oriented exhibits, including one about the Hudson River Greenway project. The festival will take place on Marillac Lawn, on the campus of the College of Mount Saint Vincent, which offers spectacular views of the Hudson and Palisades. In addition, a two-acre plot of land at the water's edge, connected to Marillac Lawn by a bridge across the Metro- North train tracks, will get people close enough to the River to reach out and touch it. Check out the event Web site at riverdaleriverfest.org for more details and to see how you can get involved.
NORPAC Mission to Washington
SAVE THE DATE! If you wake up in the morning wondering what happened in Israel overnight then you will want to go on the NORPAC mission to Washington on Wednesday, May 12th . This is a rare opportunity to have private small group meetings with Senators and Congressman to talk about issues vital to Israel's security. To sign up, go to www.norpac.net. If you have any questions, contact David Frankel at dlrs.frankel@verizon.net
THE PARTY GOES ON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! FROM YOUR SIMCHA ........TO THE NEXT ...........
SAR IS PROUD TO PRESENT A NEW, EXCITING, ONGOING PROJECT. ENRICH YOUR SIMCHA BY DONATING YOUR UNUSED PARTY ITEMS TO OTHERS. WE ARE COLLECTING PARTY GIVEAWAYS (HATS, GLASSES, Wigs . . . . .) ITEMS AND CRAFT PROJECTS TO GIFT TO THE NEEDY HERE AND IN ISRAEL. WE WILL EVEN ACCEPT BENCHERS IN QUANTITIES GREATER THAN 50. PERSONALIZED FOIL LABELS WILL BE CREATED FOR POOR BRIDES IN ISRAEL. PLEASE DROP OFF @ ZELDA'S OFFICE INQUIRIES TO SHOSHANA @ 914-632-7902; dsnoble@pol.netMAZAL TOV! Items will be distributed in Israel by KEDMA.
Tefilin 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.orgor 718-548-1717 ext 1212. |
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SAR Academy
655 W. 254th Street Phone:718-548-1717
Riverdale, NY 10471 Fax: 718-601-0082
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