| Join our list |
 |
|
Next Week at TVT:
MAY 18
DARE GRADUATION
JR. & SR. FINALS
GALLERY INSTALLATION
GRADE 5 POETRY
READING
MS SPORTS
AWARDS
BOYS VOLLEYBALL
PLAYOFFS
GRADE 4
FIELD TRIP
GRADE 7
FIELD TRIP
PTSO ELECTIONS
MAY 21
SENIOR LEGACY ACTIVITIES
GRADE 1 SIDDUR CELEBRATION
FILM FESTIVAL
DISNEY GRAD NIGHT
MAY 22 ALL-SCHOOL KABBALAT SHABBAT
YOM YERUSHALAYIM ASSEMBLY
ART GALLERY INSTALLATION
MAY 23
PROM
| |
|
|
PARSHAT OF THE WEEK - BE'HAR BE'HUKKOTAI |
|
"If your kinsman, being in straits, comes under your authority, and you hold him as though a resident alien, let him live by your side: do not exact from him advance or accrued interest, but fear your God. Let your brother live by your side." (Leviticus 25:35-36)
These sentences are the basis for Rabbi Akiva's ruling that if two men in a desert have enough water to keep only one of them alive, the possessor of the water may drink it all rather than share it and condemn both to die of thirst, for your brother can live by your side only if you yourself are alive (B. Bava Metzia 62a). This sets an important limit on our efforts to help others. We must first guarantee our own life and then that of our family before we reach out to help others.
This is not the lesson of Jewish tradition alone. Lifeguard training for the American Red Cross teaches "Throw, tow, row, go." to save someone who is drowning. Jjumping in first subjects you to the greatest danger. Instead, you first throw the person an inflated ring or something else that they can use to float on the water while you contact others to help. If not possible, throw the person a rope so that you can pull the person to shore - a more dangerous choice because you risk being pulled into the water. If that is not possible, row a boat out to the person for rescue. Only as a last resort, swim out to the person to try to save him or her.
So your life comes first. We dare not forget, however, that we also have a duty to rescue people at risk. Leviticus 19:16 states: "You shall not stand idly by the blood of your brother; I am the Lord." The Talmud understands this verse to require efforts to help someone in distress, such as a drowning person or someone accosted by highway robbers (B. Sanhedrin 73a). You surely may and should seek the help of others in a rescue attempt, and you should not endanger your own life any more than necessary, but you do have the duty to do what you can to save the life of someone else.
This stands in sharp contrast to American law and practice. The Common Law imposes no duty to rescue. In fact, until about fifteen years ago, if you tried to help someone in distress and something untoward happened to that person, you could be sued. Now virtually all states have passed "Good Samaritan" laws to protect a rescuer from being sued if the victim is harmed in the process of the attempted rescue. The best known example of this American stance is the Kitty Genovese case from 1964, that came to symbolize "the bystander effect" and its attendant diffusion of responsibility. "I didn't want to get involved," was the response from the 38 neighbors of a woman who was screaming for help.
Jewish law demands that we get involved. And the duty to rescue today applies not only to people drowning or accosted by others. It applies to many of our friends and neighbors who have lost their jobs, their livelihood, and sometimes their homes as well.
There is another, specifically Jewish aspect of rescue that is affecting us in our time. Many families who have been active participants in our synagogues, schools, youth groups, and camps no longer have the money to continue these important parts of their Jewish lives. All of these institutions critically need help in offering scholarships for the children and fee reductions for the adults who need them in order to continue their Jewish education and communal participation. Nothing less than the future of the Jewish tradition and the Jewish people is at stake.
In this economic environment, the Jewish tradition's duty to rescue is all the more compelling and urgent. We are not only giving people food, clothing, housing, and jobs when we provide those things; we are preserving their dignity and literally saving their lives. We are not only providing financial aid for those who need it to continue their Jewish lives; we are supporting the Jewish future. Yes, our own lives and those of our families come first, but in these times of economic distress we must reevaluate what we really need and then extend to others what they need to eat, sleep, work, and live - and, in the case of Jews, to live "Jewishly".
If I am not for myself, who will be for me?
If I am for myself alone, what am I?
And if not now, when?
In this situation, the concentric circles that the Jewish tradition mandates through this week's lesson that your own life comes first is absolutely critical in making our decisions of whom to help and how.
We must first sustain the lives and Jewish participation of ourselves and our family; then of the local Jewish community; then of the larger Jewish community; and then of the non-Jewish community.
The famous words of Hillel in Mishnah Avot (Ethics of the Fathers) 1:14 are perhaps more important in guiding us today than they ever have in the past:
|
|
5th GRADE POETRY - MARK YOUR CALENDAR |
|
| On Tuesday, May 19th, the 5th grade students present their Poetry Recital from 10:00-11:30 in the lower school MPR. We invite parents to help us celebrate the profoundness of poems, from the humor of Jack Prelutsky to the drama of William Shakespeare. Residents of Heritage Point will also attend. |
|
COLLEGE BOOT CAMP |
|
TVT will participate in the 2nd annual Coastline Case Studies Program - a multiple school program that includes the junior students (the Class of 2010), and parents from St. Margaret's Episcopal School, Sage Hill High School, and Tarbut V'Torah.
We have invited college representatives from around the country to meet with the families to review and offer tips and insights into the ever-changing and challenging college application process. The afternoon will conclude with a small college fair.
This year the program is hosted by St. Margaret's School. TVT looks forward to being the host next year.
|
|
TVT'S 2nd ANNUAL FILM FESTIVAL |
|
TVT's 2nd Annual Film Festival will be held May 21st at the AMC Theater at Downtown Disney. The Festival is an hour-long collection of work by the more than 40 students in TVT's 2008/09 film program.
The Festival will contain the best of our weekly morning show 'TVT Today' with new footage, never before seen mock commercials, highlights of the Mr. Tarbut pageant, the S.A.V.I.N.G. Fashion Show and, for the first time, the best weekly D'var Torahs are collected and expanded into an epic film remake of The Ten Commandments.
The collection also includes the premiere of the new festival short 'The Sidekick Procedure'; the short story of what happens to a group of super hero sidekicks who try to have their less than stellar super powers removed.
Festival tickets $5 (not available at the door)
available only through TVT film students.
The film begins at 7:30 PM.
Doors open at 7:00 for general seating |
|
ADVANCES IN MS/US COURSE REGISTRATION 2009-2010 |
|
|
Did you know that course registration for 2009-2010 will be
online this year?
For many years, course registration occurred over the summer. This year we are dedicated to having all students leave for the summer with a schedule in hand.
Watch for course registration packets in the mail that will explain how to sign up for classes using NetClassroom. The students are very excited about the fact that this process mirrors college course registration. |
|
JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY CENTER FOR TALENTED YOUTH AWARDS |
|
|
The Lower School made quite a splash this year when 87 out of 158 students grades 3-5 (55%) qualified for the prestigious John Hopkins Talent Search by scoring at or above the 95th percentile on the CTP-4 standardized tests.
This year, twenty-two of TVT's 87 qualifying students elected to join students from 90 countries in the Talent Search, which is designed to help academically gifted students in grades 2-8 "soar" by offering recognition and assistance. Each participating student receives a Certificate of Participation.
Congratulations to:
Roger Coble (Grade 4)
Daniel Dolan (Grade 3)
Samuel Dolan (Grade 5)
Romi Ferder (Grade 5)
Daniel Gillman (Grade 3)
Jenna Mosich (Grade 5)
Raymond Parejo (Grade 5)
Roni Partouche (Grade 5)
Jakob Roston (Grade 5)
Maya Rosten (Grade 4)
Edden Silverstein (Grade 4)
Eli Sevilla (Grade 4)
Abigail Steinberg (Grade 3)
Oliva Szabo (Grade 3)
Kaela Tidus (Grade 5)
Of the 22 students who completed the SCAT Examination,
a phenomenal seven students went on to qualify for High Honors (3 for verbal mastery, 2 for skill in mathematics, and 2 with qualifying scores in both categories). Generally, schools are honored if a single student reaches this level of distinction.
These students include:
Adam Cohen (Grade 3) -
Seth Eaton (Grade 5)
Abraham Kister (Grade 3)
Jacob Kuppermann (Grade 5)
Ezekiel Levi (Grade 3)
Harrison Miller (Grade 5)
Sylvana Schaffer (Grade 3)
|
|
SPRING DANCE CONCERT |
|
|
Thursday's dance performance was phenomenal. Performing to a full house, it was amazing to see so many students involved in dance. A surprise addition for the audience was the 5 student-written, one-act plays directed by Michael Gil and performed by TVT student actors. The plays were hilarious, thoughtful and well written.
Congratulations on a job well done. |
|
2nd GRADE HYPERSTUDIO ANIMAL PRESENTATION |
|
|
Our second graders chose animals from around the world to research. They learned where the animals were found, what they ate, typical lifespan, and what the animal's native habitat is like.
They transformed this information into a multimedia presentation using the program HyperStudio - quite an accomplishment in 2nd grade!
Parents are invited to view the presentations this Monday during their child's regularly scheduled computer lab. |
|
3rd GRADE FIELD TRIP BACK IN TIME |
|
|
On Thursday our third graders became 49'ers, and took a trip back in time to the Californian Gold Rush. The students studied in an authentic one room school house and examined a covered wagon up close. They watched a blacksmith craft horseshoes and panned for gold.
Eureka!!! Every one of TVT's third graders found real gold. The students were even held up by a robber while on a train ride. However, the robber quickly lost interest when he found that no one had any riches worth taking. A rich learning opportunity was had by all as we experienced the California Gold Rush first hand. | |
|
