| From Mar S. | |
This past week, as we engaged in both school and communal activities remembering 9/11, I suddenly felt old. Most of the children in our school do not remember that day while I can recall it vividly.
I was at the Kadimah School of Buffalo in western New York. Because of the close ties many of us had to friends and relatives in New York City, some parents came to pick up their children from school. Others called in to let us know the status of relatives, friends and graduates of the school. Most of the older grades were glued to the television and that which they learned from that day has probably remained with them forever.
Another issue also reinforced the notion of my aging. This year, we are engaged in intensifying our anti-bullying efforts. While we have done some excellent training, we will know we have reached our goal when the norm at the school is students telling others "at our school, we don't do this."
Ah, aging!
I do not know if I grew up in a simpler age but it seems that I did. If you went shopping downtown with your Mum, you dressed up. One did not ever run or speak in synagogue or one ran afoul of some pretty mean looking ushers. Our television shows and our family ideals and norms were Leave it to Beaver, My Three Sons and Andy Griffith. Those family and ethical values were the inspiring norm. But if we grew up in a simpler age, we also grew up tolerant of the bully. The character Eddy Haskell, so fawning in adult company, could truly be a bully to younger kids. And we tolerated it - actually expected it.
One cannot go back again. But while we know that life is complex, our Tradition remains steadfast in the moral compass it provides. Every morning, as part of the birkhot hashachar, we recite a mishna that lists the mitzvot from which we benefit both in this world and the next - visiting the sick, respecting parents, helping the poor get married, helping with minyanim, funerals and shivas, acts of kindness, and bringing peace into the world.
Pre 9/11 or post 9/11, old or young, those values still provide our children, the world and ourselves with an incredible activist lens through which to see and participate in the world. May all our actions serve to bring holiness to a world much in need of the spiritual guide that is our Torah.
Mar S. |
| ECC | |
Just a few spots left! Register by noon tomorrow!
There is no better time than now - to sign up for our first family education program,
Cook, Eat, Learn - Celebrating Shabbat -September 22 - 6:30-9:00pm.
This will be an evening of fun, friends, cooking, learning and sharing a Shabbat dinner that we will cook with our favorite chef, Jenny Gremont Charney.
Rabbi Eve and Wende Weinberg will provide meaningful rituals ideas for your family-centered busy lifestyles. Sheryl Feinberg will provide suggestions to give your children a role in the preparation and Shabbat experience.
You will all participate in preparing a delicious dinner, sit down at our beautiful Shabbat table and learn as we have wine and dinner together. You will also take home a "Shabbat to Go" booklet of everything discussed, plus traditional prayers, recipes, shopping ideas, a freshly baked challah, music and suggested reading lists!
An evening of learning, cooking, eating and fun! Limited to 20 people!
RSVP to Rabbi Posen tomorrow (Friday, September 16) by NOON.
See you there!
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CLICK HERE to download this week's ECC Newsletter!
Students in Elaine's 3s class explore the ECC's sunflower garden.
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| Beck Lower School | |
Students currently in 3 and 4th grade and parents:
Discover Middle School at Levine Academy!
Preview and Open House - Tuesday, October 4, at 7 pm
On the agenda:
Profile of the Levine Academy Graduate
Middle School Mini School
Parent and Alumni Testimonials
Student Programs
RSVP appreciated: rsvp@levineacademy.org
Next Middle School Preview: Wednesday, January 11, 2012 , 7 pm
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| Middle School | |
ATTENTION 5th Grade Parents!
Sky Ranch Overnight Trip - Monday, September 19
5th grade students will be visiting Sky Ranch for an overnight trip on Monday, Sept. 19 - 20.
Permission and medical history forms should be turned into Shirley Green-King
TOMORROW, September 16.
CLICK HERE to download forms and detailed information.
Remember to "LIKE" Rabbi Posen's Facebook Page.
She will be posting photos of your children!
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Volleyball News
Today the Stallions took on the Akiba Cougars at home. The girls were off to a great start winning game one 25-2. In the beginning of the second game it was just a battle of the serves. The Stallions took the lead and finished with a 25-18 victory.
Players of the game are Dani Milner and Stasia Itkin.
Next home volleyball game is on Thursday 9/15 at 4:30 pm against Providence.
Thanks for all of the support from faculty, family, and friends.
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It Takes Two. Or Three, or Four...
When she was First Lady, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton promoted the concept that "it takes a village" when it comes to caring for the needs of children. After the terrible tragedy this summer in Houston with the Berry family, we have seen that a village of supporters can come together to help out in the greatest time of tragedy. On a day to day basis, it also takes a village to keep a society working smoothly. Each of us has our own strengths and weaknesses; we strive to find partnerships that complement one another and offer peaceful co-existence, relying on one another to complete our lives. For instance, I can offer spiritual guidance as a rabbi, but when it comes to numbers, I'm lost. For my CPA, numbers might be second nature, while religion might seem foreign and complicated.
As the Torah inches towards the end of our yearly cycle, we find the Israelites preparing to enter the promised land; learning about what they're supposed to do now that their once migrant society is settled. The Torah makes no secret that each person has their own purpose, the priests to bless and offer sacrifices, the Levites to help the priests, the Israelites to farm the land so the community can eat. Each of these elements works together to create a society that functions.
Parshat Ki Tavo teaches us about rebuking one another when one has wronged someone, about bringing the gifts of our labors as an offering to God, and about the consequences of obedience and disobedience. These consequences are actually framed as blessings and curses. The text teaches that if one were to follow all of God's laws, blessings would come to them. As we teach our children, when you eat your vegetables, you can have ice cream for dessert. Or, the reward for a dog who is finally house trained is a treat (a treat for the dog, and certainly a treat for the owner). But the same child learns there will be time out when she doesn't follow directions, and our text also teaches of the consequences, the curses that befall a nation who disobeys God's laws.
What strikes me in this parshah is the fact that the text recognizes that we all have something to teach or share with our community. In chapter 27, verse 26 the text teaches: "Cursed be he who will not uphold the terms of this Teaching and observe them. And all the people shall say, Amen." Observing and learning Torah is an obligation on every Jew. But, the commentators recognize that not everyone will be cut out for sitting and learning all day, so they remind us in the Talmud Yerushalmi that this applies even to those individuals who never studied and never taught Torah, but can give financial support to those who do. The Torah tells us that it is a curse, a negative, when we don't share our gifts with the community. When we withhold our gifts - educational, financial and otherwise - we take away a piece of the community, a piece of God's Torah that we are commanded to share.
It takes a village. We must share our gifts with one another in order to create and sustain that village. Whether you can give financially, or offer services, if you can design the T-shirt for Zimriyah, or help build a sukkah, or even just greet with a smiling face, each and every member of our Levine Academy community, our Dallas community and our Jewish community is an integral part of making our village work. What will you share?
ללמודTo Learn: ללמדTo Teach: Find someone to teach you something new, and offer to share your wisdom with them. Creating a partnership in learning, a chevruta, is the essence of Jewish study.
לשמור To Keep לעשות To Do: When you celebrate Shabbat and other holidays with your close or extended family, do certain people always have certain roles? How does the family work together to get everything done? |
| From the Nurses' Office | |
Did you know?
Hydration is essential. Please send your child to school with a water bottle every day.
Lice are not so Nice. Please advise your child NOT to share hats, hairbrushes, kippah, or anything else. A group of these tiny bugs are called 'lice' but just one
is called a 'louse'. Is that where we get the word 'lousy'?
About Boxtops for Education
Each Box Top is worth 10 cents for our school. Please send in your Box Tops to help us fund our medicine drawer. Our submission date is Nov. 1st. Please leave your boxtops with Cheryl at the Greeters Desk. Carol Tatom will pick up the stack of boxtops from Cheryl. Email Carol with any questions.
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| From Your Administration Offices | | Meet Monica Green - Staff Accountant
I grew up in Harlingen, TX (close to South Padre Island) and graduated from the University of Texas in Brownsville in 1993 with a BBA in Accounting. I moved to Dallas right after graduation and got married a year later. I have two step kids, who are now 27 and 25. My step daughter recently got married, so now I also have a son-in-law! My husband and I also have a son who is eleven and who has just started the 6th grade this year. My work experience primarily has been 18 years of working in an Accounting / General Ledger Department.
Hobbies: I love to sing (so if you catch me sitting in my car with my mouth moving....I am probably singing a new favorite song)
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We would like to send Mark Leopando a fond farewell as he begins a new chapter in his career. He will surely be missed, but we all wish him well!!
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| Simchas, Mazal Tovs and Mitzvahs! | |
MAZAL TOVS!!!
Born on Sunday, September 11, Sarah Brynn Federick weighing 6.5 lb. and measuring 18.5 inches. 11. The proud parents are Deborah and Travis Federick and big brother is Brady.
Joshua Traub in 3's has a new baby sister, Sury Amelia, born 9/13/11. Proud parents are Julie and Mitchell Traub.
Justin Gluckman, son of Bonita and Gary, will be called to the Torah as a bar mitzvah on September 17th at Chabad of Plano.
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MITZVAHS!
Dollars for Denim Day
Bring $1 on Wednesday, Sept. 21st,
and wear blue jeans to school that day!!
Proceeds go to Snacks for Soldiers - providing pizza and snacks for soldiers in Israel.
This program will be brought to you every month by the Levine Academy Student Congress.
Student Congress Officers (left to right): Mira Fradkin, Dani Milner, Jenna Katz, Zach Rudner, Heather Kurtzman, Sophia Fineberg, Elena Okowita
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Community | |
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This coming Sunday, the 18th of September, we are holding MitzvahFest
2011. MitzvahFest is an important tradeshow for parents with upcoming
Bar and Bat Mitzvahs as it provides a community wide forum for parents
to meet with vendors. It enables them to find new ideas, find vendors
and frequently to find a way to save on the cost of the celebration.
Event: MitzvahFest2011 (Trade show for Bar and Bat Mitzvah services)
Date: This Sunday, 18th September
Time: 10:30-2:30
Venue: Intercontinental Hotel, 15201 Dallas Parkway, Addison, Texas 75001
Website: www.MitzvahFest.com |
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Synagogue Events |
Congregation Anshai Torah
Saturday Sept. 17th - 11:15AM - Congregation Anshai Torah Mini Minyan- During Saturday mini minyan, families will be led in prayers, songs, and stories, along with an art project or edible craft. Then all families are invited to join the congregation for a Kiddush luncheon. Contact: Alyse Eisenberg, ecdirector@anshaitorah.org, 972-473-7712.
Sunday September 18th- 2-3:30PM - Congregation Anshai Torah Mahsah Nahfshi Program - The first Mahsah Nahshi program for this year will present Dr. Joel Roffman, a cardiologist practicing at the Baylor Plano Heart Hospital in Texas. He will talk about Judaism's response to illness & other life struggles. He co-authored "Coping with Adversity" and will share what he has to learn with our community through the study of the torah, research & personal experience. Contact: Sharyn Fein, sharyn.fein@gmail.com or Liz
Temple Shalom
Southwest Jewish Congress and Temple Shalom Present:
Are We Educating For Tomorrow? A two part series
Tuesday, September 20 and Tuesday, November 1
Part 1: Where are we now?
Part 2: Solutions that work!
Moderated by Shelley Kofler, News Director KERA
Panelists include educators from SMU, Booker T. Washington High School, Texas Instruments and Dallas Faith Communities Coalition
Free and open to the community. Space is limited, please RSVP to Susan at 214-361-0018 or susan@swjc.org.
Judaism 101
Tuesdays, beginning September 20 7:00 PM - 8:30 PM
Looking to learn the basics of Judaism?
Did you forget everything you learned in Religious School?
Are you thinking of joining the tribe?
This class is for you!
$60 fee. Register with Karen Thompson at kthompson@templeshalomdallas.org or 972-661-1362.
Lunch and Learn with Rabbi Andrew Paley
Wednesday, September 21, Noon -1:30 PM, Learning Center
Bring your lunch and explore relevant issues through the texts of the Talmud.
Elul Learning Series with Rabbi Andrew Paley
Wednesdays, September 21 7:30 PM - 9:00 PM
"How do we define holiness?"
Delve into Torah and Rabbinic literature to explore the concept of holiness and help us define what makes us holy.
Congregation Shearith Israel
Register your children for meaningful High Holiday services and programs
Attention Parents! In order to adequately prepare our meaningful services and hire staff appropriately, we need to know how many children will be attending the High Holy Day programs. We also prepare wristbands for each child to ensure their security. Therefore, please fill out a form for either Babysitting (ages 18 months - 5 years), Youth programming (grades K-6) or Teen programming (grades 7-12). Forms can be found online at www.shearith.org or by contacting Leah Singleton at LSingleton@shearith.org or 214.939.7325. ALL STUDENTS MUST BE PRE-REGISTERED.
Bim Bam Shabbat Fridays at Shearith Israel
Toddlers ages 3 and under and parents are invited to welcome the upcoming Sabbath with a Shabbat Sing-Along, Israeli Music, Arts and much more! Registration required.
Register with Suzanne Minc at 214.939.7340
Sept. 16 and 23; Oct. 28; Nov. 4, 11, and 18
9:30 - 10:45 am
Mall Meet-up
This is a great way for stay-at-home parents to meet other Jewish Parents in the community and create lasting friendships.
Second Wednesday at Galleria Mall Play Area and Nordstrom Café
Wednesdays October 12, November 9, and December 14
9:30 - 10:45 am
Temple Emanu-El
Do you make a great Kugel? Or, do you love to eat Kugel?
Please join us for a Kugel Cookoff!
Sunday, September 18th 11:30 am in Linz Hall
Enter your kugel, or be a part of the tasting. If you would like to enter your kugel into the contest,
please contact Kaaren Shalom at shalomka@mac.com.
If you don't want to bake, but still want to taste, your taste buds are welcome.
Hosted by WRJ, Interfaith Moms, and the Outreach Committee.
For more information please contact Diana Coben Einstein at deinstein@tedallas.org or 214.706.0000
Brotherhood Shofar Factory
Sunday, September 18
Tobian Auditorium
Open Workshops @ 1:00 pm and 2:15 pm
Advanced registration necessary
Fee: $10 per participant 6th grade through Adult
http://www.tebrotherhood.org/
Congregation Beth Torah
Young Families and Beth Torah Preschool invite you to a Shabbat service and dinner on 9/23/11 at 6:00 pm. We will meet in the Multi-purpose room where services will be led by Rabbi Rafi Cohen & Esther Wolf, Early Childhood director. We will then have a wonderful dinner catered from Natalie's Kitchen Kosher Food. Adult price $10 pp. Kids price $6pp. Kids under 2 are free! Open to the community. Please RSVP to ps-director@congregationbethtorah.org: No later than 9/19/11. For more information call Esther Wolf 972.2434.1542 #222. |
| Head of School's Suggestion Box | |
Levine Academy is your school. So, we want to your great ideas and suggestions. Please send them straight to our Head of School, Mark Stolovitsky, by emailing to suggestions@levineacademy.org.
We look forward to hearing from you! And, thank you so much to the person who suggested the suggestion box! |
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