In the previous Torah portion, God gave the Jews the Ten Commandments. And in this portion, the very next commandment God gives the Jewish people is:

 

"If you buy a Jewish bondsman, he shall work for six years; and in the seventh he shall go free..."
Exodus 21:2)

 

God instructs every Jew that if he has a Jewish slave working for him, then after six years he is to be set free. On the surface, it seems like when the seventh year arrives the slave would eagerly, happily, and enthusiastically run from his master's house into his new found freedom. But this just isn't how a slave feels. The reason for this is that the longer a person is under the "rule" of someone or something else, the less belief he has that he can actually make it on his own.

 

One of the most debilitating aspects of any form of enslavement is that it robs a person of his self-worth and self-confidence. He becomes enslaved physically, emotionally and mentally. But the fact the God commands the slave to be set free in the seventh year demonstrates an incredible and powerful seed that God plants within all of us. And that is knowing, without question, that we all have the ability to make it on our own without this master.

 

Whether you realize it or not, each and every one of us is enslaved to someone or something. Whether it's continuing to stay in at a job we dislike, in a relationship that's unhealthy, engage in destructive behaviors, or watch hours of television in order to escape the thoughts of the day - we all choose to be slaves.

 

While no one wants to be controlled, this enslavement is far better than that which we fear will become of us if we chose to leave. The bottom line is that within all of us is a powerful and driving belief that questions whether we really can make it on our own without this master. And although the enslavement is hard, frustrating, and painful, we don't leave because we doubt our ability to make it in uncharted waters.

 

But the exact opposite is true. Whatever unhealthy situation controls a part of your life and keeps you from blossoming and becoming great, then also know that you can walk away and make it without this master. And when you do muster the strength to leave and fight the inner voice that questions your ability to succeed, then the battle is 99% won. Because when you commit to being free, you just have to hand the ball over to God and He will give you everything you need to make it. 

 

In fact, there was so much celebrating, it couldn't be contained; the lower school service (led by the 1st grade) ended with Israeli dancing in the courtyard!                                                                       

The Boys dominated the opening game of the CIF playoffs with an 82-44 win over Noli Indian.

                                                                              
Coach Roberts winning the coin toss.

  

 

They went on to defeat Cornerstone Christian on Thursday night 72-44 before a great TVT crowd.  The Lions will play next Tuesday night.

Girls Basketball - CIF Playoffs Begin Saturday Night
It's a date!  This Saturday night at 7:30 PM, come see our Lady Lions in action as they compete in the first round of the CIF playoffs! Our girls' varsity basketball squad is on a roll as they enter the tournament ranked #3 in the CIF polls and on a 15-game winning streak! This is a dynamic opportunity to support TVT athletics and a great event for your daughters to witness stellar female role models.  SATURDAY--7:30 PM-SEE YOU THERE!

 

Read about our Lady Lion,  Jena Vogel, who was named the OC Register's Player of the Week.  

 

MIDDLE SCHOOL SPORTS

Both of our middle school basketball teams played in the first round of the Tri-Way League playoffs and 4 of our players were selected to play on the League's All - Star team. 

Our All-Stars are: Girls - Cori Zalomek and Taryn Maister

                           Boys - Jordan Scheftz and Martin Tischler

Tarbut V'Torah is proud to release a new marketing campaign to the public. Featuring testimonials from TVT students, faculty, and alumni on five postcards, the campaign will reach nearly 20,000 self-identified Jewish households throughout Orange County. Watch your mailbox for more information.