On The Bridge October 27, 2011
Gesher Jewish Day School 29 Tishrei, 5772
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| Shabbat Shalom | |
שבת שלום
Candlelighting: 5:57pm
Noach
נח
Torah Portion: Genesis 6:9 - 11:32
Haftarah: Shabbat Rosh Chodesh / Isaiah 66:1 - 66:24
Yasher Koach to today's Torah reader: Ben L., Natalie K., and Sophia R.
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| Greetings! | |
It's raining today- an apt setting in which to consider this week's Torah portion: Noach (Noah). The narrative plays out on so many levels-as children's story, as myth (explaining the origin of rainbows, for example), as cautionary tale, even as survivor's testimony (Elie Wiesel describes the Flood as the first Holocaust and Noach as the first survivor). Our sages use Noach to teach us insights about how carefully G-d preserves a fine balance between justice and mercy in managing the universe.
What can G-d do if all of which has been created has gone bad? If evil and corruption are rife? If the dream has turned into a nightmare?
Given G-d's infinite compassion, how does a G-d who delights in life ("chafetz b'chayim") reconcile taking down the living creatures He/She has made? How does G-d reach the point of no return?
In the rabbinic imagination, the answer is: slowly and reluctantly and by providing people many many second, third, and more chances to change their ways. For example, why else would G-d command Noach to build an enormous ark built to such elaborate specifications? After all, in an instant G-d could have destroyed the evil doers and saved a remnant of humanity in some other fashion and do it more simply and efficiently. The midrash explains that Noach worked for 120 years to build the ark so that people had the opportunity to come up to him, ask what he's doing and why, and repent. Later, the text tells us (Bereshit 7:12), "and the rain began" - "ויהי הגשם" . Why "the rain" here when only a few verses later (and redundantly!) the Torah tells us, "and the Flood began" - "ויהי המבול"? The midrash explains that even at the very last minute, had the people taken heed and repented, the Flood would have been averted. Those very first drops of rain which fell would have been it - a sweet shower of blessing- "gishmei brachah".
The terror of this Torah portion is mitigated when you read between the lines as our sages instruct us. It turns out well and sets us up for next week's Torah portion and another generation's encounter with G-d.
Shabbat Shalom!
Dr. Zvi Schoenburg
Head of School
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| Upcoming Events |
See our full calendar of events!
October 31- November 1- Auditions for Fiddler on the Roof
November 2- Picture Day!
November 4- Noon Dismissal, End of First Marking Period
November 9- Admissions Open House
November 11- Begin "Short Fridays," 2:30 pm dismissals
(3:30 pm Friday dismissals resume March 9)
November 14-15- No School. Parent-Teacher Conferences
November 21- Gesher JDS Board Meeting
November 23- Grandparents / VIPs Day, 10:00 am - Noon
November 23- Erev Thanksgiving, Noon Dismissal
November 24-25- Thanksgiving Holiday, No School
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School News
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Gesher United News
Yasher Koach to all who played in Gesher United's first win of the soccer season!
Burgundy Farm Country Day School: 0 Gesher: 5
School Picture Day
Next Wednesday, November 2 we will have individual and class photos taken. This year we will be introducing a new company, Freed Photography. In addition to the ability to view and order images online, Freed Photography will be offering a selection of shots, including one with fall colors on our property in the background. Images taken next Wednesday will be available to view and order online by November 18. Freed Photography will send you a password to access your photos and to place your order. In the event of rain, photos will be taken on Monday, November 7.
Attn: Middle School Newspaper Elective Students - Photos will be taken before the field trip on Wednesday.
TRADITION!!--Coming to Gesher JDS Dec. 21, 2011
Gesher is proud to announce that this year's all-school Chanukah Musical, presented in honor of Gesher's 30th anniversary year, will be... Fiddler on the Roof!
All of our elementary school students (grades K-5) will be participating in group musical numbers, as in years past. Students in grade 4 and beyond are invited to audition for speaking and singing solo parts-auditions will be held next Monday, Oct. 31, and Tuesday, Nov. 1, 3:45-4:30. (Any students who are unable to make the scheduled audition times are invited to contact Hazzan Adina Ackerman, preferably by e-mail at aackerman@gesher-jds.org, to schedule an alternate audition.) We'll need a lot of help from our parents to put on the show, so be on the lookout for our e-mails asking for your help!!
Gesher ABC Donations
Do you have any gently used Legos, Board Games or Toys that your family is no longer using? Please consider dontating them to Gesher's ABC program! The box will be by the Guard's desk until November 4th.
Thank you to those who have already donated- the students are loving the games and puzzles!
MAP
Our Thursday MAP classes have finally begun! If anyone is interested, there is still room in the Karate class (K-6), and in Bringing Puppets to Life (K-3). Either class is lots of fun.
Sign-Up Online for Parent-Teacher Conferences
Register for Parent/Teacher Conferences through our school website: www.gesher-jds.org.
If you haven't registered yet, here's how- it's easy!:
1) Log in at www.gesher-jds.org
2) Go to My Gesher, and select Parent Corner on the leftpanel. Parent/Teacher Conference Registration is listed under Transactions.
3) Follow the directions you find there!
Carpool Etiquette
If you have more business to attend to at school than simple pick-up and drop-off, please park your car in the parking lot and walk on in. Our carpool lanes are meant to keep moving! Also, if one of our buses has the stop sign extended, stop and do not pass it- it is loading or unloading children. Please also refrain from parking in the handicapped spaces unless you have the proper tags.
Pictures of the Week:
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Omer Weisblum, Israel's teacher of the year, shows his magic math tricks to Kitah Zayin and Chet students.
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Kitah Gimel students Danny F. and Nathan C. draw leaves with pastels.
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Kitah Gimel students enjoy a visit from the VA Historical Society.
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Kitah Chet students reenact the World Zionist Congress 0f 1896.
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Kitah Bet students Alex N. and Daniel C. celebrate Simchat Torah.
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Kitah Bet student Eli B. carries a Torah during the school-wide Simchat Torah celebration.
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Gesher Green
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Another recycling opportunity ~ batteries
Gesher is trying to decrease our carbon footprint one piece of trash at a time! In addition to last year's efforts to recycle lunchroom waste (compost) and paper, we have added cans and plastic bottles. These last three are taken by our trash collectors to a county facility where they are sorted. I've already told you about our initiative to recycle empty glue sticks. Now we are adding another potentially toxic waste. We are recycling used batteries. Batteries can have heavy metals that are dangerous to the environment. When properly recycled, the toxins are separated out and used elsewhere, rather than burned in an incinerator or buried in a landfill.
So send your used batteries in to school. They are being collected in a large jar that sits on the Security Guard's desk. And don't forget to bring those empty glue sticks to Mrs. Leckert's room, as well.
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| Admissions | |
Stay in touch with Gesher through Facebook and our new Twitter Feed on our homepage at www.gesher-jds.org
Volunteers are needed during the coming months to reach out to prospective families. If you are willing to host a family for a Shabbat meal or call a prospective family to answer any questions they may have, please let Admissions know. In addition, the Refer-a- Friend Tuition reduction program is again available. Word of mouth is our most important recruitment tool. Share your experiences with others to help build our enrollment. We are very proud of our students, school and program and we know you are too! For more information on Refer-a-Friend, contact Debra in the Admissions office.
Admissions Open House Dates
Wednesday, Nov 9 @ 9:30
Gesher Admissions Fall calendar in full swing. Lots going on at Gesher and beyond!
Oct 27 Gesher Parlor Meeting in Alexandria - Hosted by the Alberts
Nov 6 Gesher Parlor Meeting in Fairfax - Hosted by the Schwartz Rosens
Nov 6 Gesher co-sponsors Character Breakfast at the JCCNV
Nov 7 Alexandria Preschool Fair
Nov 9 Admissions Open House
We need volunteers to assist at many of the above outreach activities. Please contact Debra soon if you can help - dmendelson@gesher-jds.org.
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| PTO | |
Thanks a Million...
...to the many volunteers who helped with the lulav and etrog distribution.The PTO would like to especially thank: Elyssa Bockman Brecher, Joel Fisher, Micky Litman, Chirs Matricciani, Michelle Nash, Daphna Oren, Cindy Rosen, and Cynthia Rutzik.
....to the all of the parents and middle school students who helped with the sukkah party.
....to all of the faculty who attended and assisted with the sukkah party, including:Rabbi Rock, Mrs. Rose, Mrs. Eisen, Mrs. Granek, Mrs. Leckert, and Ms. Wolin.
Get Caught Wearing Purple...Don't forget to show your school spirit by wearing purple and/or white on Fridays.Those in need of GesherWear may contact Naomi Hutchins at neshicot1029@verizon.net.
We Want You...to volunteer.The PTO is always in need of extra hands. If you are interesting in helping out, please go to the PTO section of the Gesher website to sign up.
Keep sending in those Box Tops!
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| Development and Fundraising | |
WAYS TO GIVE:
Funds and Endowments
An endowed gift to Gesher ensures that your commitment to Jewish education will be a lasting legacy. If you would like to support a special project through a direct donation, a planned gift, life income gift, or a different financial vehicle, please contact Rebekah Dickinson.
Donations can also be made to Special Funds throughout the year to honor someone's memory or to mark a significant occasion. We have many funds whose gifts directly benefit our annual operations in specific ways. Please consider donating to these funds, listed online, as their allocations benefit our students immediately. When you visit our website, please click here https://www.gesher-jds.org/giving/funds.php to donate online. We thank you in advance for your continued support of Gesher and commitment to Jewish education.
Save the evening of May 20, 2012 for our 30th Anniversary Spring Gala!
Please help us find our 2011-12 Tikkun Olam Alumni Winner! Nominations are being accepted now through Nov 11, 2011. Please submit two brief paragraphs describing the work and life of an alumni deserving of our annual Tikkun Olam honor- we're looking for someone who is making the world a better place! Email your nominations to Rebekah Dickinson: rdickinson@gesher-jds.org. The winner will be announced in January.
Gesher Fleece Jackets
Limited quantities remain! Please see Rebekah Dickinson for more information or email rdickinson@gesher-jds.org.
Gesher SCRIP!
Place your orders for scrip in the office! To get started, go to create account. You'll need the following code to designate Gesher as the associated account: 1E9L8BCD9484. Once that's done, you can place your order at www.shopwithscrip.com and bring your check for payment to the office.
Our next order will be placed November 10th, so make sure you have your
order AND payment to the office BY that date so that we may process your
order speedily.
Thank you for your support!!
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| Mitzvah Coupon Donations |
Mitzvah Coupon donations can now be made on-line through our secure website, www.gesher-jds.org. Simply log in and click on the Donate link at the top of our homepage.
In memory of Eleanor May Klinkman Jeanne and Mark Leckert Yvonne Fujimoto and David Shurberg In memory of Elizabeth Schwartzman Vicki and Simon Fishman Jeanne and Mark Leckert Sharon and Lance Sherry Ms. Dottie Bennett In memory of Sandy Rabinowitz Yvonne Fujimoto and David Shurberg In honor of Talya and David Kalender Yvonne Fujimoto and David Shurberg |
| Caring Community | |
Jennifer Scher, Northern Virginia Regional Director of the Jewish Federation of Greater Washington, poses with her colleague Sarah Sicherman, Marketing and Events Coordinator, before delivering our new, beautiful banner to Gesher's campus. We recognize that community support for our school is far and wide and we thank you, Jewish Federation of Greater Washington, celebrating our milestone 30th anniversary with us!
Visit Jconnect.org!
Jconnect.org is the one place where you can go to find information on everything Jewish in the Greater Washington community. This new community site features a robust community calendar that's easy to navigate for both posters and users. Please check the website often as the site is ever-changing!
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| Community Announcements | |
Please click on the links below to view each flyer.
The Washington Jewish Week is now available for purchase from the newsstand in the office for $1
Auditions for Gesher's Fiddler on the Roof!
Lindamood-Bell- Thank-a-Thon to our Troops!
The 6th Annual JCCNV Jewish Book Festival
31st JCCNV Annual Fall Fundraiser, "A Night of the Arts"
Create for a Cure with Gary Rosenthal Glass Projects Create for a Cure with Gary Rosenthal Glass Projects
The Jewish Federation Wants to Help! If you are in need of financial
assistance at t his time, or if you know anyone in the community who
is in need, please do not hesitate to contact the Jewish Federation's Warm Line at 1-866-950-4AID.
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We welcome your inquiries. To schedule a tour, or for more information about admissions or making a donation to Gesher Jewish Day School, please contact us at (703)978-9789.
Sincerely,
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Gesher Jewish Day School
4800 Mattie Moore Court
Fairfax, VA 22030
phone: (703) 978-9789
fax: (703)978-2668
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Address or Email Changes
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