The Columbus Torah Academy E-Dateline

EARLY DISMISSAL FRIDAY, MAY 7
On Friday, May 7, 2010, school will dismiss at 2:00 p.m. The Columbus bus will NOT pick up students. Parents need to make transportation arrangements on that day. The Bexley bus WILL pick up students.

MAZAL TOV, CHEMISTRY STUDENTS!

We are proud to announce that our first-year chemistry students placed among the best competitors nationally in the Chemistry Olympiad. Shown here are our high achievers, Josh Blau, Joey Cassell, Rachel Salutsky and Emily Chase. These results are significant for CTA. First-year students are new to this subject, and this is the first time CTA has participated. Todah rabbah and kudos to Dr. Matthew Kennedy for getting the students involved and prepared!

PREVIEW OF THE WEEK

Sunday, April 18: Bingo! Come Volunteer!

Monday, April 19: Falafel - PTO Sponsored for everyone-

Volunteer: J. Cohen

Achievement Tests Begin-Grades 3-8

Tuesday, April 20: Hamburgers-Volunteer: A. Hoffman

CTA Twirlers, 4-4:45

Wednesday, April 21: Grilled Cheese-Volunteer: P. Rodier

Thursday, April 22: Turkey Pastrami-Volunteer: D. Meyer

Friday, April 23: Fish Sticks-Volunteer: S. Blumenfeld

DATES TO REMEMBER
April 25-29: ISACS Accreditation Visitation Sunday, May 2: Lag B'Omer Spring Fling Concert and Carnival Wednesday, May 5: Elementary School Achievement Fair, 6-7:30pm Thursday, May 6: Annual Giving Event, 7pm at the home of Michael and Patty Schiff Friday, May 7: Early Dismissal - 2:00pm (NO Columbus bus) Thursday, June 3: Spring Show

SPORTS

Monday, April 19, 2010

HOME Game vs. Fairfield Christian

Jr High Baseball, 5pm

AWAY Game vs. Granville Christian

Softball, 5pm

Tuesday, April 20, 2010

HOME Game vs. Mifflin

Baseball, 5pm

Wednesday, April 21, 2010

AWAY Game vs. Mifflin

Baseball, 5pm

Thursday, April 22, 2010

AWAY Games vs. Licking County Christian

Baseball, 4pm

vs. Grove City

Softball, 5pm

vs. Cypress Christian

Jr High Baseball, 5pm

Friday, April 23, 2010

AWAY Game vs. Gahanna Christian

Baseball, 3pm

SCRIP UPDATE - PLACES TO PURCHASE SCRIP

Monday-Friday, 8:00am-4:00pm

CTA Scrip Office, 864-0299 ext. 112 or contact Aliza Finegold at

239-6356 or scrip@torahacademy.org.

REMEMBER: Target Take Charge of Education Program; SchoolMall; Box Tops for Education; turn in paper for recycling in the bin in the upper school parking lot, and empty inkjet cartridges into the box at the school entrance. To view the vendors participating in the Scrip Program go to CTA Scrip List.

Yossick'sis offering pizza after Shabbos and a delicious Sunday brunch. Get your Yossick's scrip and give them a try. Yossick's is located at 539 South 5th Street in German Village.

Gili's Goodies: Miss your kids, family and friends in Israel? Send them a gift basket, birthday cake, balloons or other treats for any occasion from Gili's Goodies, a bakery and gift basket company in Jerusalem. CTA will receive 10% of your order. Call 1-866-721-7292 or go to www.gilisgoodies.com.

GIVE & GET: We invite all parents to take an active part in the education of our children by becoming involved at CTA as a volunteer. We hope each family will contribute at least 20 hours in the 2009-2010 school year. There are many ways to volunteer. Please contact our Volunteer Coordinator, Robin Garvin, at 235-0350 or rgar234@yahoo.com, to get involved.

WE NEED YOUR SUPPORT!

MAZAL TOV TO:

Rebecca Weisfogel (Class of '02) on her engagement to Natan Fink

Annie Wasserman (8^th Grade Class of '01) on her engagement to David Statman

Scott Shulman (Class of '05) on his marriage to Deena Rendel

Jeff Meyer's grandmother for celebrating her 100^th birthday

DATELINE will run a list each week as we find out about the schools that have accepted our graduating seniors. This week's list:

Stern College - Honors Program

Brandeis University

Ohio State University - Honors Program

University of Maryland-Honors Program

The Family of Rabbi Samuel Rubenstein, sons Joel and Martin (Hazel) Rubenstein, daughter Sharon Fried, brothers Rabbi Martin (Shirley) Rubenstein and Albert (Eleanor) Rubenstein, granddaughter Eva Fried, and great-granchildren Stella, Scarlett, Georgia and Zeke Fried

Joanne Gandee on the passing of her mother

Kate Yurchak (Class of '98) on the passing of her husband, Lt. Steven Zilberman, Ukranian-born, Navy pilot whose plane crashed in the Persian Gulf

Alina Galbmillion on the passing of her nephew, Lt. Steven Zilberman

ACHIEVEMENT TESTS FOR GRADES 3-8

Achievement Tests will be given April 19-30. Please make sure your child arrives to school on time and that you try not to schedule appointments during test time. The schedule for next week for grades 3-6 is as follows:

Monday, April 19 - Reading Test - Grades 3-6 - 9:00-11:30am

Wednesday, April 2 - Math Test - Grades 3-6 - 9:00-11:30am

Friday, April 23 - Science Test - Grade 5 - 9:00-11:30am

Grade 7 tests will be given Monday, April 19, Wednesday, April 21 and Friday, April 23, from 9-11:30 a.m. Grade 8 tests will be given on Monday, April 19, Tuesday, April 20 and Friday, April 23, from 9:15-12:00.

FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE INFORMATION

To ensure a smooth transition into the 2010-2011 school year it is imperative that if you need financial assistance you complete the PSAS form as soon as possible and mail it no later than April 30, 2010. PSAS forms may be found on the CTA website: www.torahacademy.org under the "About CTA" tab. Choose "Downloadable Documents", next choose "Administration" folder and scroll down to "Student Aid Form". Once CTA receives the analysis from PSAS the Scholarship Committee will review your requests and make their determinations after you have fully completed the financial assistance process in a timely fashion.

If you have not completed your 2009 personal tax forms, you may submit along with the PSAS form and to CTA the following: A copy of your 2008 form 1040, 1040A or 1040EZ, a copy of your 2009 W-2 form(s), 2009 form 1099(s) and 2009 form 1098(s).

Please be sure to complete the PSAS form, include copies of tax forms requested, a check for $21 made payable to Private School Aid Service and mail to: Private School Aid Service, PO Box 770728, Lakewood, OH 44107-0034.

CTA YEARBOOK ACCEPTING ADS
Now is the time to reserve ad space in the popular CTA Yearbook. Use a yearbook advertisement to congratulate your favorite senior, give a shout-out to a great teacher or advertised your business. The deadline for ads is May 1. For questions or more information, please contact Mrs. Debbie Little, Yearbook Advisor at ext. 223.

MODELING THE SEDER
CTA's Lower School staged several mock seders right before the Pesach break. Here are some highlights from these elaborately planned activities. Some of our older students assisted with serving food and presenting elements of the ceremony.

MY MOTHER, MY GRANDFATHER, MY GREAT UNCLE . . .

These words, in somber recitation, formed the backdrop for CTA's Yom Hashoah commemoration on April 13. Several students in grades 4-6 and some of their teachers lit candles and told briefly about their loved ones who died in the Holocaust. Here are a few excerpts:

"My Zeyde's journey from slavery to freedom took him from the Polish shtel of Trochenbrod to hidden cellars in the Eastern European countryside and into the forests of Poland, where he joined Partisans and fought the Germans." - Rosie Kalef

"In 1938, my grandmother's father was arrested and sent to Dachau...We still have a painting that (later) hung in their home (in the United States). On Shabbat we use the dishes and silverware they got on their anniversary in 1919!" - Ariella Hartstein

"My grandfather, Meir Stressel, was taken to Natzweiler, Kochendorf on Sept. 1, 1944. Slave laborers were preparing the ground for the foundation of a factory that made guns. The work was unbearably hard...Meir exchanged places with Alfred Eidinger, a boy from his hometown, who was sick and wanted to stay with his friends. To change places with someone who was sick was a very dangerous thing to do." - Rikki Shenkar

SAY IT IN HEBREW

This week, our K-6 students enjoyed a special treat: two Israeli teens representing NOAM, a youth group in Israel. The teens were in Columbus as part of a special ambassador program, visiting public and Jewish schools to talk about life in Israel.

As they played fun Israeli games with the students, Maya Naeh, 16, and Yaniv Rosenfeld-Cohen, 17, had the opportunity to show Israeli coins, and answer questions about Israel. Many kids were very curious about the mandatory army service in Israel. The NOAM teens told the students about the 800 different jobs they can choose from during their mandatory service. They also talked about the sports they like, and their favorite fun activities at home.

Maya

Yaniv

Maya and Yaniv concluded their visit to CTA with the wish that each one of our students will have the opportunity to visit Israel.

And on another note, this coming Sunday is Yom Hazikaron, the Memorial Day for Israeli soldiers who have been killed while serving their country, and for civilians who have died as a result of terrorist acts. Let us all pray for the safety of Israel, and for our brave soldiers.

SAVE THE DATE: SPRING FLING MAY 2

Lag B'Omer is coming and CTA is holding the event of the season: a community carnival and two concerts. Join us from 11 a.m.-9 p.m. for rides, food and music, featuring performers Kol Zimra. Check out their sound at: http://www.gorfy.com/beatachon/music/kz/sampler/. The band will present a children's concert during the day and a teen/adult concert in the evening. At night we'll also have a bonfire in grand Israeli tradition. Details will follow. Check the CTA Web site and watch for a flier. Did you graduate from CTA? Join us for a special price! (RSVP required in advance. Stay tuned for details.)

CORRECTION
Salomee Osborne made a donation in memory of Malcolm Osborne.

KROGER REWARDS PROGRAM

All current participants in the Kroger Rewards Program must re-enroll for the program in order to earn funds for CTA during 2010. Beginning Thursday, April 1, visit www.krogercommunityrewards.com, click on "Ohio" to sign up for a Kroger.com account or click on "Already enrolled? Sign In" if you already have an account. All participants in the program must have a valid online account at Kroger.com to participate.

CTA EXECUTIVE BOARD
If you or someone you know would be interested in becoming a CTA Board member, or serving on one of its committees for the 2010-2011 school year, please submit names in writing to Norma Whitmyre at school. Also, if you are no longer interested in serving on the Board, please indicate in writing as well. Elections will take place on Monday, May 10, 2010.

SPRING HAS SPRUNG
It's time to start to thinking about our Sharing Garden. And it's a glorious time, indeed. Already, the tulips are in bloom! If you'd like to help our kids till the soil, contact Cathy Tran at the school. There will be an organizational meeting on Tuesday, April 20, at 8:30am, in the nurse's office.

COLUMBUS BUS RIDERS

All (current and new) Columbus bus riders need to fill out an Application for Pupil Transportation for the 2010-2011 school year. You can access this form on the Columbus Public Schools Website at www.columbus.k12.oh.us.

Click on the link labeled Transportation.

Click on Links & Forms.
Click on 2010-2011 Application for Pupil Transportation to a Non-Public School

----OR----

Bus Signup Form

Print the form, fill it out, and return it to Norma Whitmyre, Executive Secretary by

Friday, May 14, 2010.

SPRING FLING BOUTIQUE
The JCC New Albany Spring Fling Boutique event is Sunday, April 25, 11:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m., at the JCC New Albany, 150 E. Granville Road. The Boutique will feature a unique selection of fashionable clothing, jewelry, art and accessories. The event is FREE.

EMPTY CANS NEEDED
Cheri Friedman, our music teacher, is looking for large, empty 1 lb. cans of Matza Meal, Farfel or coffee. Make sure you send the plastic lid with the can. Please drop them off at the front desk. She will be using them as drums for holiday shows.

ANNUAL GIVING EVENT
PLEASE JOIN US MAY 6, 2010 FOR CTA'S ANNUAL GIVING EVENT AT THE SCHIFF HOME RSVP WHEN YOUR INVITATION ARRIVES, OR CALL 864-0299

TZEDAKAH

It has been a time-honored Jewish tradition to give tzedakah in recognition of important events. Todah Rabah to the following for their donation to:

The Scholarship Fund:

The Hartstein Family in memory of Joanne Gandee's mother and in honor of the Bar Mitzvah of Chaim Tuchman

Jonathan & Agnes Hartstein in honor of Zachary Sukienik becoming a Bar Mitzvah, and in honor of Mordechai Lesnik becoming a Bar Mitzvah

The Annual Giving Fund:

Harold & Sabine Himmelfarb in memory of Frank Nutis

To CTA two4one:

Al & Shelly Dembe

Gil & Shirly Benatar

Skip & Cigarette Parks

Rabbi Zvi Kahn

PARSHAT TAZRIA-METZORA QUIZ

By Rabbi Zecharia Weitz

1) Which people are licensed to declare a person as having tzara'at?

a) kohanim

2) What type of kohen is disqualified from declaring tzara'at?

a) One who can't see

3) What are the symptoms of tzara'at of the skin?

a) A white blotch and white hair in that blotch

4) What are some of the times where we would temporarily ignore person's tzara'at symptoms as to not make him impure?

a) During the 3 regalim-festivals and a groom during his "Sheva Be'rachot" (seven days of festivity that follow the wedding)

5) In tzara'at of the hair, what color hair indicates ritual purity and what color indicates impurity?

a) Golden = impurity, any other color = pure

6) Where must the metzorah dwell?

a) In isolation outside the populated area

7) Why is the metzorah sent into isolation?

a) Medrashim show how one of the main causes of tzora'at is evil speech. This person spoke negatively of others and caused divisions amongst people, therefore he should experience being divided from his people.

8) Why does part of the purification process of the metzora require birds?

a) Birds chitter-chatter and this individual apparently is unable to stop chattering even when his words are inappropriate. (Medresh)

9) Why does part of the purification process of the metzora require cedar wood?

a) The cedar grows especially high; this alludes to the haughty spirit of the metzora that brought him to look down on others. (Medresh)

10) What blessing would occasionally emerge from having tzara'at on ones house?

a) The nation who dwelled on Israel before the Jews came would hide there wealth in the walls of their homes. In the process of tearing down the walls because of the tzara'at, Jews would uncover these buried treasures! (Medresh)

Discussion Questions

1. If the biggest scholar in Israel is not a kohen, he is unqualified to declare someone a metzora, while even the most ignorant kohen isqualified. In fact, it might happen that the kohen would need to ask the scholar what he should declare! Why might the Torah have designed the law like this?

2. Why don't we get tzara'at these days? Do you think this is a blessing or a curse?

I hope you enjoy the electronic version of our Dateline. Please check out our website at www.torahacademy.org.