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D'VAR TORAH FROM RABBI HAUSER |
Rabbi Kahn is out of town this week on the senior trip so I will provide some words of Torah for this week's Dateline.
This week's parasha tells the infamous story of the spies. When the B'nei Yisrael leave Mt. Sinai on the way towards the land of Israel, they demand to send spies into the land of Israel in order to find out about the land. When the spies return, they tell the B'nei Yisrael that the land indeed "flows with milk and honey" but there are strong enemies there who "swallow their inhabitants" and "we were like grasshoppers...in their eyes". The Torah then states the punishment the spies received for speaking so badly about the land of Israel: "But as for the men who Moshe sent...by spreading an (evil) report against the land...the people died...before Hashem". Rabbi Moshe Feinstein comments on this verse that we see that the spies were punished because of the sin of lashon hara (evil speech) and not for the more serious sin of disbelief in Hashem's power to defeat all their enemies when they enter the land! This teaches us that Hashem cares more about how we talk to each other than if we deny his awesome power over everything. If this is so, how are we to fight against this very easy temptation to speak badly about others? The Talmud states: "Hashem created the Yetzer Hara (the evil inclination) but He created the Torah as its antidote. We can avoid the temptation to speak lashon hara by spending our time learning Torah. During the school year, when our children are learning Torah, it is certainly easier to avoid speaking lashon hara. Now that we are entering the summer months, however, we need to work hard to find opportunities for our children to continue their Torah studies. In this way, we can help our children (and ourselves) avoid the temptation to speak badly of others and develop good speaking habits that will last all of their lives. Shabbat Shalom! Rabbi Yosef Hauser |
A PLUGGED-IN PERFORMANCE: THE ANNUAL SPRING SHOW |
The kids had only a short time to prepare. But once again, the Lower School singers, in grades K-6, were lyric-perfect as they demonstrated their knowledge of arithmetic, state capitols in the Spring Show on June 3.
 Zoe Blumenfeld (left) took on the title role of the poem, "My Teacher Likes Listening to her iPod." She played the same role in a song about a student who can't fool the teacher, because he's her father. (Know any situations like this at CTA?)
Music teacher Cheri Friedman assembled the showcase in only a few weeks. It's her 90th production at CTA, and parents gave her a round of applause.
Friedman extends her thanks to teachers Deena Tanenbaum, Stephanie Cahill, Kristine Coyne, Tamalynn Press, Sara Beth Kahn, Laurie Alexander and our wonderful building maintenance manager Eugene Simakovsky for allowing students the time to practice and for accommodating our setup needs during rehearsals and performances.
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PREVIEW OF THE WEEK |
Sunday, June 6: Bingo! Come Volunteer!
Monday, June 7: Macaroni & Cheese: Volunteer-K. Binsky
9th-11th Final Exams 12th Grade Graduation, 7:30pm
Tuesday, June 8: Hamburgers: Volunteer-M. Sobol
9th-11th Final Exams
Wednesday, June 9: Pizza: Volunteer-L. Blumberg
9th-11th Final Exams 8th Grade Graduation, 7:30pm
Thursday, June 10: Turkey Pastrami: Volunteer-J. Karmia
9th-11th Final Exams Kindergarten Celebration, 9:30am
Sports Banquet, 6-8pm Friday, June 11: Last Day of School, 12:00 dismissal
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SCRIP UPDATE - PLACES TO PURCHASE SCRIP | |
Monday-Friday, 8:00am-4:00pm
CTA Scrip Office, 864-0299 ext. 112 or contact Aliza Finegold at
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's is 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!
REMEMBER SCRIP FOR ALL YOUR GRADUATION GIFTS! |
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MAZAL TOV TO: | |
Josh Blau, who begins his junior year at CTA next year, was accepted into the highly competitive Ohio Supercomputer Center Summer Institute. This two-week residential program provides gifted Ohio high school students' project-based, hands-on learning. Working in small peer teams, the students use supercomputers for practical applications such as solving complex science and engineering problems, conducting network forensics to catch hackers, studying the spread of the bird flu and designing computer games. |
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Navah Lowy on the passing of her mother, Katherine Nichols |
GET READY FOR GRADUATION. . . | |
The speakers are rehearsing. The musicians are tuning their instruments. The adrenaline is building.
This year's high school graduation at 7:30 p.m. June 7. Speakers this year are valedictorian Tehila Wenger and salutatorian Emily Sobol.
Channa Schramm, Pnina Tranen, Josh Cohen and Elizabeth Berkovich will read Psalms. This year's alumni remarks will be made by Zev Schramm, of the class of 2006, the third of four Schramms to graduate from CTA.
Cantor Baruch Shifman and CTA teacher Sara Beth Kahn will provide the music.
This year at the 12th-grade graduation, Rabbi Weisz will offer a tribute to Steven Zilberman. Zilberman was a 1997 Bexley High School graduate. His wife, Katrina Yurchak, graduated from CTA in 1998 in the same class with Rabbi Weisz.
Eighth-grade graduation is at 7:30 p.m. June 9. Eighth-graders Shoshana Ginsburg, Ellie Chase, Ovadya Lowy and Alexander Weiss will deliver Psalm readings. Cantor Jeff Siegel will sing, accompanied by Mrs. Kahn.
A kindergarten celebration will be held at 9:30 a.m. June 10. On the last day, June 11, CTA students will receive their awards for the year. School will be dismissed at noon that day. |
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GARDEN NEWS | |
CTA has been busy planting in our Sharing Garden over the past two weeks. The kindergartners planted sunflowers, tomatoes and cucumbers with the help of kindergarten mom Allison Kleinman. Third grade planted tomatoes that were generously donated by Avigayil's mother, Yael Levi. The fourth grade is planting an herb garden and a Native American Three Sisters garden with corn, beans and squash. Our former CTA science teacher, Pat Boerger, helped the sixth grade plant two beds of tomato plants. The produce from the plants will be donated to local area food pantries as part of our "Plant a Row for the Hungry" campaign. Mrs. Hill's "Chemistry in the Community" class planted gourds and perennials in the flower boxes surrounding the garden and have been busy labeling our plants.
Help our garden thrive this summer by signing up your family for a week of watering the garden! Watering is on an as needed basis and weeding is optional. This is a great opportunity to get your children out in nature and teach them the importance of community service. The sign-up sheet is in the front lobby of the school or contact Cathy Tran at 864-0299. |
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Summer Reading Lists and Student Supply Lists will be mailed with final report cards the week of June 14. If you are going to be out of town and need these lists sooner, please contact Norma Whitmyre at nwhitmyre@torahacademy.org. All Medications need to be picked up by the last day of school, Friday, June 11 at noon. Any medications left after that time will be disposed of by the nurse. All Lost and Found items not claimed by the last day of school will be donated to a local charity. And, Final Report Cards will not be sent if students: have outstanding library books, have not returned text books, have not paid hot lunch or breakfast fees and have not completed community service hours (grades 9-12). |
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Students in Grades 4-6 had a blast attending Art Club this spring. Meeting after school with Ms. Neiwirth, they had the opportunity to explore their crafty side by making mosaic picture frames, fake food sculptures from Model Magic, glass magnets, and beaded jewelry. On the last day of Art Club, the students explored color mixing by creating edible color wheels using frosting & food coloring. Yum! Students are already looking forward to the exciting project they'll make in Art Club next year.
Photo 1: Margalit Deitsch and Hannah Blumenfeld sample treats from their edible color wheels
Photo 2: Students of Art Club 2010 show off their edible color wheel creations
Photo 3: Shayna Herszage paints her banana sculpture made from Model Magic. |
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2010-2011 SCHOOL CALENDAR CHANGE | |
Please note that the first day of school for the 2010-2011 school year is Tuesday, August 24, 2010 and the last day of school is Friday, June 10, 2011. |
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VARSITY SPORTS BANQUET |
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RISING STARS TENNIS CAMP |
Dates: Monday, June 14-Friday, June 21
9:30am -11:00am
This fun-filled and high-energy tennis instructional program will meet on the Columbus Torah Academy tennis courts. All instruction is by USPTA pro, PAM LIPPY. In the event of rain class will meet in the CTA gym.
Of all the sports you can choose:
Tennis is the only active lifetime sport for both genders,
Tennis develops footwork, eye-hand coordination,
core strength, balance & timing,
Tennis is a family activity that can be learned
and played together,
Tennis is social and competitive, individual and team,
physical and mental,
Tennis is played year-round and everywhere in the world.
BEST OF ALL, TENNIS IS FUN!!
The top priority is to assure that everyone
has a wonderful experience with
tennis and a pathway to success on the court.
Cost is $90 for the week or $20 per day
payable to Pam Lippy
Grades 1-5
All skill levels are welcome.
Players will need a racquet.
Prices for Wilson racquets vary from $23-$35
depending on the size.
For questions or to register contact Pam at: pamlippy@insight.rr.com or (h) 939-1522 or
(c) 216-701-6001 |
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CTA MOM'S TENNIS CAMP | |
Come to tennis camp without leaving town!
Dates: Monday, June 21-Friday, June 25
Time: 9:30am -11:00am
You are invited to join United States Professional Tennis Professional, Pam Lippy, on the Columbus Torah Academy Tennis courts. NO experience necessary! Warm up, learn some technique and hit a lot of tennis balls with the reigning 2009 Maccabiah Gold Medal winner!
Of all the sports you can choose:
Tennis is the only active lifetime sport for both genders,
Tennis develops footwork, eye-hand coordination,
core strength, balance & timing,
Tennis is a family activity that can be learned
and played together,
Tennis is social and competitive, individual and team,
physical and mental,
Tennis is played year-round and everywhere in the world.
BEST OF ALL, TENNIS IS FUN!!
The top priority is to assure that everyone has a wonderful experience with tennis and a pathway to success on the court.
Cost is $90 for the week or $20 per day payable to Pam Lippy
Complimentary demo tennis racquets will be
available to be used at camp.
For questions or to register, contact Pam at: pamlippy@insight.rr.com or (h) 939-1522 or
(c) 216-701-6001
RSVP now for a full week of tennis, fitness, fun and friends.
In the event of rain a make-up will be schedule. |
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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:
Bob and Marcia Hershfield in honor of the recovery of Kristine Coyne, Matthew Kennedy's wife, and Thea Press, in memory of Navah Lowy's mother, in honor of Ari Deshe's special birthday, Yehuda Rosenberg's Bar Mitzvah, Sppencer Eppstein's graduation, and the births to the Cieplinski Family and the Aronowitz Family |
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1) Why is the portion about the spies written immediately after the portion about Miriam's tzara'at?
a) To show the evil of the meraglim (spies), that they saw Miriam punished for lashon hara (negative speech) yet failed to take a lesson from it.
2) To what was Moshe referring when he asked the spies "Are there trees in the Land?"
a) Were there any righteous people in the land whose merit would "shade" the Canaanites from attack?
3) Who built Hebron?
a) Cham.
4) Which fruits did the meraglim bring back?
a) A cluster of grapes, a pomegranate and a fig.
5) How many people carried the grape cluster?
a) Eight.
6) Why did G-d shorten the meraglim's journey?
a) G-d knew the Jews would sin and be punished with a year's wandering for each day of the spies' mission. So He shortened the journey to soften the decree.
7) Why did the meraglim begin by saying the land is "flowing with milk and honey?"
a) Any lie which doesn't start with an element of truth won't be believed. Therefore, they began their false report with a true statement.
8) Why did the meraglim list Amalek first among the hostile nations they encountered?
a) To frighten the Jews. The Jewish People were afraid of Amalek because Amalek had once attacked them.
9) How did Calev quiet the people?
a) He fooled them by shouting, "Is this all that the son of Amram did to us?" The people quieted themselves to hear what disparaging thing Calev wished to say about the "son of Amram" (Moshe).
10) Why did the Land appear to "eat its inhabitants"?
a) G-d caused many deaths among the Canaanites so they would be preoccupied with burying their dead and not notice the meraglim.
Discussion Q's
1. Besides the incident of the meraglim, what other sin led to the decree of 40 years in the desert?
2. On what day did Bnei Yisrael cry due to the meraglim's report? How did this affect future generations?
Parshat Shelach Questions originally appeared at the Ohr Somayach Website (www.ohr.org.il) |
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I hope you enjoy the electronic version of our Dateline. Please check out our website at www.torahacademy.org. |
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