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 This week's Torah portion of Bamidbar opens with Hashem commanding Moshe to, "Take the sum of all the congregation of Bnei Yisroel (the Jewish People), by their families, by their father's houses, according to the number of names..." This means that people were counted as part of their families, their tribes and collectively as part of the whole nation. Why was the census conducted in this way? Rabbi Moshe Feinstein (zt"l) expected to view themselves and their actions. Sometimes people act a certain way in private and with small groups, but very differently in public situations. We often modify our behavior based on the setting. The Torah is teaching us that we must strive to act appropriately in all situations based on our internal commitment to Jewish law and values, regardless of how many or how few people are present.
This Saturday night begins the holiday of Shavuot which commemorates the giving of the Torah more than three thousand years ago. There is a beautiful custom to stay up all night studying Torah on the first night of Shavuot. This custom expresses our belief that the giving of the Torah should not be remembered solely as a momentous historical event, but it should also be celebrated as an eternal event that is as relevant to us today as it was to our ancestors who stood at the foot of Har Sinai.
Shabbat Shalom and Chag Sameach!
Rabbi Zvi Kahn |
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FEELING THE WARMTH & LOVE OF A JEWISH EDUCATION |
 Last weekend's Columbus Baseball Invitational (CBI) was an exciting and fulfilling combination of all-American athletics, Jewish day school education and building community. With 6 teams, more than 85 athletes and dozens of coaches, fans and chaperones, the weekend warmed the hearts of all who played in and attended the games. The accolades from the out of town teams about what the experience meant to them and their players are inspirational. (Pictured at left are Bob Lane and Jon Hartstein, the CBI Co-Commissioners.)
CTA first graders celebrated Chag HaSiddur last Friday - a milestone in their education as they received the siddur they will continue to use throughout their Lower School education. Parents and grandparents were full of pride.
Fifth grade's Underground Railroad presentation was a showcase of talent and a real hands-on learning experience about slavery in America. The actors and actress - some of them for the very first time - were stars in their own right, expressing themselves with independence and joy.
These accomplishments, activities and more are what define our school community. We rely on each other to make CTA an exemplary place of learning, but more importantly a supportive community. We celebrate each other's achievements, mourn the losses and defeats and strive together. The commitment to send your children to CTA bring us all together. Thank you for your involvement.
More than 900 pictures were taken during CBI, please visit the website at:
http://torahacademy.smugmug.com/event/Columbus-Baseball-Invitational/gqILOQ6pw6mlY |
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Monday, May 28: Memorial Day/Shavuot - NO SCHOOL
Tuesday, May 29: Hamburgers
Wednesday, May 30: Pizza
Twirlers, 4-5pm
Thursday, May 31: Meatball Sub
Spring Show, Grades 1-4, 9:30am
Friday, June 1: Fish Sticks-Volunteer: K. Abelman
Senior Exams |
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Monday, June 4: Senior Exams
Spring Art Show, 5:30-7:30
Tuesday, June 5: Executive Board Meeting, 7:30pm
June 5-7: Senior Trip to Put-in-Bay
June 7-8 & 11-12: Grades 9-11 Exams
Sunday, June 10: 12th Grade Graduation, 4pm
Monday, June 11: 8th Grade Graduation, 7:30pm
Tuesday, June 12: Kindergarten Celebration, 10am
Wednesday, June 13: Awards Assmbly, 10am
Last Day of School, 12:00 dismissal |
SCRIP UPDATE - PLACES TO PURCHASE SCRIP |
CTA Scrip Office - Monday-Friday- 8am-4pm
Parent Volunteer, Aliza Finegold, is selling Scrip from her home and taking orders via phone (239-6356) or email ( scrip@torahacademy.org). She also delivers! Contact Aliza today! Aliza's home email address is: ajfinegold@gmail.com. REMEMBER: Target Take Charge of Education Program; Box Tops for Education; Giant Eagle Apples for Students (enrollment begins in October), Kroger card (must enroll in program), and empty inkjet cartridges into the box at the school entrance. To view the vendors participating in the Scrip Program go to www.glscrip.com.
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. www.gilisgoodies.com or 1-866-721-7292.
Join iGive and earn money for CTA when you make purchases on the internet by enrolling at http://www.iGive.com/u7brlZj. |
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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 2011-2012 school year. There are many ways to volunteer. Please contact our Volunteer Coordinator, Kim Abelman, at 855-5195 or kimabel3@gmail.com, to get involved. |
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NEWS FROM THE LOWER SCHOOL JUDAICS DEPARTMENT
By Dror Karavani, Lower School Judaic Studies Coordinator | |
 Yom Yerushalayim
We celebrated Yom Yerushalayim this year in several creative ways. We decorated the windows in the Old Library with the different posters of the Old City and other main places in Yerushalayim. This was combined with learning about the  history and geography of our special city. For a week, our old library turned into a mini-Yerushalaim. We also had a presentation by Rav Shaanan Scherer who showed us a power point presentation which discussed the history and meaning of Jerusalem to the Jewish people. We learned about the miraculous victory of the Six Day War and saw some of the original videos from those times. Morah Robin's Second and Third graders wrote their special blessings for Yerushalayim and sent it to their friends in the Shiloh school in Israel. They also wrote blessings for the Israeli soldiers. Through these activities, Yerushalayim was brought into the hearts of our children. Shabbat Shalom and L'Shana Habaah B'Yerushalayim Habinuya!
 
Bentcher of the Month: Yaakov Newman (pictured right)
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SAY IT IN HEBREW
By Galit Golan, Hebrew Language Coordinator |
Last Friday, the middle school students celebrated Yom Yerushalayim during the monthly Hebrew Award Ceremony. Thestudents enjoyed a presentation about the liberation of Jerusalem, during the Six Day War, and participated in a quiz game about the presentation. This time awards were given to students who excelled in their Hebrew studies during the month of Iyar. The teachers had a hard time choosing the awardees among many excellent students.
Moreh David Adar awarded Leilah Ableman and Rosie Kalef, Morah Kelly Adar awarded Judah Stein, and Morah Galit Golan Awarded Shayna Herszage. Mazal Tov and Yishar Koach to all our students!
 
During the last two weeks of school, grades 1st through 12th will have their final assessments in Hebrew.The purpose of these assessments is to check whether the students reached or exceeded the basic Hebrew requirements for their grade level, as well as to give students an opportunity to review what they have learned during the year. The assessments will include parts of the grammar skills, writing skills, reading comprehension skillsand vocabulary learned during the year. In lower grades these assessments come as an "independent review assignment", and might be divided into two days. As we review for these tests, we are amazed to see how much knowledge students of all grades have gained this year, and how much they have grown in their conversational, comprehension, reading and writing skills in Hebrew. Above the fact that we have truly wonderful students in CTA, who are eager to learn, it's the support of parents, the support of the administration and the wonderful team of Hebrew teachers whom I'm grateful for. Students, parents, administration and teachers, are the building blocks for the success of the Hebrew learning in CTA.
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FIRST GRADERS BEAM FROM CHAG HASIDDUR |
Last Friday, our first-graders celebrated a milestone in their CTA education at the Chag HaSiddur ceremony. The presentation showcased their knowledge of Hebrew and tefillot with a special assembly and gifts of their first personal siddurim which they will use throughout Lower School. The children performed skits involving conversations entirely in Hebrew through which they also demonstrated their knowledge of Judaism. Each child received a prayer book with his or her picture on the front. After the ceremony, families joined with their first-graders in activities demonstrating what the children learned about the siddur's relationship to aspects of culture, including art, technology and music. Thanks to Moreh Irit Karavani for preparing the children for the presentation. |
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FREEDOM TRAIN RIDES AGAIN |
 Fifth grade students outperformed themselves last Thursday during the Underground Railroad Plays. After a polished morning production to the Lower School students, they were rewarded with thunderous applause, calls of "Bravo, bravissimo" and later an official cookie and punch reception at an evening performance for parents, grandparents and community members. The trio of dramas, focusing on Slavery in America, was interspersed with musical numbers and poetry. The production is the result of five weeks of rehearsal and introduction to the theater experience after studying the time period in social studies. Special thank you goes to Mrs. Willis, teacher and costume designer, Mrs. Alexander, drama director, and Mrs. Kahn, piano accompanist.
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MAZAL TOV TO: | |
Noam and Sigi Even on the birth of a baby girl, Mehtar Esther
Peninah Rosenblum (8th Grade Class of '00) upon passing the California Bar Exam
The Import Family on the birth of a new cousin to Rabbi Ohad and Yehudit Yishai |
| PTO DONATION OFFER | |
Christine's Garden, located at 2733 E. Main Street, will donate 10% of every order (up to $5.00) to the CTA PTO. The offer expires 12/31/2012. For on-line purchases, log onto www.osuflowers.com and enter the code FHGM05CTA. For in-store or phone purchases (235-4510), give the code to the salesperson. |
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THANK YOU TO: | |
Paul and Kim Abelman, Roman Ilin and Victoria Melnikova, Steven and Smadar Import, Leon and Lina Margolin and Lawrence and Edie Needleman for sponsoring this month's delicious Rosh Chodesh Faculty Appreciation Lunch. |
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CONDOLENCES TO: | |
Steven Hirschinger (8th Grade Class of '86) upon the loss of his father Harry "Hot Dog
Harry" Hirschinger |
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COLUMBUS BUS RIDERS |
ALL (current and new) Columbus bus riders must fill out an Application for Pupil Transportation for the 2012-2013 school year. Forms were emailed last week and again this week. You can also access this form on CTA's website at www.torahacademy.org. Print the form, fill it out, and return it to Norma Whitmyre by the last day of school, Wednesday, June 13. Transportation cannot be guaranteed without a form. Forms MUST be turned in by hand to Columbus Public Transportation Department on Friday, June 15 so don't delay getting your form/s to Norma. |
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VOTE FOR CTA TO WIN $10,000 |
 Not this again, you say? We say, YES! Help CTA win the 2nd Avi Chai Jewish Day School Video Academy Awards and a potential $10,000 Award. Voting ends on May 30 and EVERY vote counts - the most votes wins! Cut and paste this email into your browser. Tell all your friends!
http://www.dayschoolvideoacademy.org/VideoView.aspx?MovieId=217 |
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CTA CHEMISTRY OLYMPIAD RESULTS |
Thirteen first and second year chemistry students competed in the 2012 International Chemistry Olympiad earlier in the winter and the results have been announced.
First year Chemistry team of 10th/11th grade students, composed of Ellie Chase, Shoshana Ginsburg, Aleeza Hartstein, Max Herszage, Nathaniel Keri and Bradley Rosenstein, all ranked in the top one-third in the state. Shoshana Ginsburg, Max Herszage and Bradley Rosenstein individually placed in the top 20% in the state with their personal scores.
Second year AP Chemistry team, composed of Josh Blau, Emily Chase, Noah Portman, Rachel Salutsky, Keenan Sobol, Josh Tranen and Gary Sukienik, all ranked in the top 20 % in the state. Emily Chase and Josh Blau individually placed in the top 10%.
Congratulations to our budding scientists and their wonderful professor - Dr. Matthew Kennedy! Thanks for strengthening our science program. These results are proof. |
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EMILY CHASE & JARED STAVSKY AWARDED JCC SCHOLAR ATHLETE |
The JCC recently awarded the Erkis Berliner Jewish Scholar Athlete Award to a select group of high school seniors who exemplify athleticism and team work on the field and in the classroom, achieving in both areas. CTA is proud of its current seniors, Emily Chase and Jared Stavsky and recognize the full list of 12 recipients.
Emily Chase*
Michele Conison
David Emoff
Abigail Ghitman
Rebecca Hecht
Robert Alan Levine
Sean Mcfey
Jacob Mikalov**
Louis Naiman
Alec Robins**
Jared Stavsky*
Emily Winnegrad
*CTA senior, **Attended CTA |
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SEARCH AND RESCUE SPEAKER TO ADVANCED BIOLOGY | |
 Ms. McCormick's Advanced Biology class welcomed Janelle Hidig from the National Search Dog Alliance with her golden retriever, Tavish, a Search and Rescue (SAR) dog. The students are finishing a unit on animal form and function and this gave them the opportunity to hear how animal senses can be used in an applied setting to rescue or recover individuals from various situations. Janelle works with a team of individuals who respond to law enforcement agencies for assistance with finding missing children and adults as well as recovery of human remains. Janelle spoke about dogs using scent to track people as well as the communication of the dog to the handler and how interpretation of animal signals is important to the recovery as much as the dog picking up an odor. She talked about cases she has worked on in the past and different dogs she has trained and how each one has their own personality and forms of communication.
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7th GRADE FUNDRAISER FOR 8TH GRADE WASHINGTON TRIP |
The 7th graders continue their Magazine Subscription Drive! Please help them raise money for their 2012 8th grade Washington Trip. If you bought a magazine from a current 8th grader this year, all you have to do is renew that magazine and it will continue for another year. If you did not buy from a current 8th grader, here's your chance! The subscription drive will run through the end of the year. Please see any 7th grader OR go on-line to www.gaschoolstore.com. In the upper right hand corner, enter CTA's code, #2522449. Thanks for your support! |
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CTA STUDENT ACHIEVEMENTS RECOGNIZED AT JET TEEN AWARDS | |
Congratulations to the following CTA students (and their families) who received awards at the recent JET (Jewish Teen Experience) Awards Ceremony held at the JCC on College Avenue. Listed are all winners (CTA students are bold and underlined).
JET Photo Contest - 1. David Polster 2. Aaron Polster 3. Lauren Levy
Goldsmith Kavod-Gadol Award - 1. Samantha Budin 2. Joshua Tranen
Irv Miller Scholarship Award - Aaron Polster
Cole Essay Contest - sponsored by Marilyn and Stuart Cole
1. Sydney Turoff 2. Joshua Tranen 3. Louis Naiman 4. Ayelet Wenger
Board of Rabbis Yom Hashoah Video Contest- Robyn Marowitz
BBYO- Saul Sokol, AZA/BBG of the Year
BBG: Samantha Budin
AZA: Alec Miller
Sokol: Samantha Budin
JET is an umbrella organization that seeks to join area youth groups together. The annual awards ceremony recognizes the achievements of high school students from across the city. |
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CBI KIPPOT AVAILABLE FOR SALE | |
Custom designed kippot with the Columbus Baseball Logo (CBI) are available for sale for $10. Commemorate this wonderful weekend with a Klipped Kippa - they actually stay on your head! To purchase, contact sherszage@torahacademy.org - a limited number are available. |
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CTA WATER BOTTLES - GREAT FOR SUMMER CAMP | |
 Newly designed CTA water bottles are available for sale for $8 each. For more information or to order, contact sherszage@torahacademy.orgIf you would like your personalization, please include an accurate and complete spelling of your name. These aluminum, flip top, BPA free bottles are great for Summer Camp!
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| RED, WHITE AND BOOM - JULY 4TH ACTIVITIES - SAVE THE DATE | |
Plans are underway to create an awesome CTA float in the Bexley 4th of July Parade. Please let us know if you will be in town to walk/ride in the parade. Last year, more than 50 CTA students, faculty and parents accompanied the CTA float - definitely the talk of the town. Email Shari Herszage at sherszage@torahacademy.org to let us know you are in town or to offer to help out. |
| CORRECTION: ALUMNUS SHOWS INTEGRITY IN HER PROFESSION | |
Allison Barnett (CTA High School Class of 2006) graduated from the Institute of Culinary Education last week and is now known as Chef Ali. She will be doing an internship at the kosher restaurant, Solo in NYC. Read the Wall Street Journal article about this at:
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702304811304577370512048558048.html
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| END OF THE YEAR MEDICATION REMINDER | |
Please make plans to personally pick up your child's medication by the last day of school, Wednesday, June 13. For safety reasons, medications will not be sent home with your child. Any medication/inhaler not picked up by the end of the last day of school will be thrown away. |
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CTA STUDENTS TO EXHIBIT ARTWORK AT SPRING ART SHOW | |
 Columbus Torah Academy is proud to present its Spring Art Show on June 4, 2012. The halls of the school will be transformed in to the CTA Museum of Art, where visitors will be able to take a journey through art history by viewing paintings, drawings, sculptures, collages, and more - all created by CTA students in grades K-7, 10 and 12. From cave paintings to Pop Art, there will be something for everyone to enjoy! Pictured at right: First Grade students Aviel Metz, Yosef Boiangiu, Talia Sukienik, and Elisheva Elbaz show off their cityscape collage artworks.
This is the inaugural year for the Spring Art Show at CTA. Art teacher Amy Neiwirth believes this is an exciting and interactive way to showcase student artwork and for viewers to experience all of the wonderful creations that the students produced throughout the year. Arranging the artworks by theme will help connect them conceptually and visually, making the art show feel like a real museum.
When planning the art show, Ms. Neiwirth also sought to integrate it with other units of study. Fourth grade students, under the guidance of their general studies teacher, Mrs. Tamalynn Lerner, are working to create a sweet shop for the CTA Museum of Art that connects to their unit on entrepreneurship. From forming committees to choosing a name and logo to product development and marketing, fourth graders are learning what it takes to run a business. The students will launch their business, Sweet Tooth, at the art show and will sell art-themed treats to visitors.
Students and CTA are so excited to display their artwork and to see the work of their friends at the Spring Art Show. However, CTA art students are not strangers to exhibiting their art publicly. In March 2010, grades K-5 showed their work at the Columbus Metropolitan Library's Carnegie Gallery and in April 2012, work from grades K-6 adorned the children's section of the Bexley Public Library.
The Spring Art Show is open to the entire community and will take place on Monday, June 4 from 5:30-7:30 pm at Columbus Torah Academy, 181 Noe Bixby Road. All students who take art at CTA will have at least one piece in the show.
The Museum Café will be serving a dairy dinner from 5:30-7pm with proceeds benefiting the High School Yearbook, and the Sweet Tooth Shop, run by the fourth grade, will be open for the duration of the event.
We hope to see you at the CTA Museum of Art!
Please contact art teacher Amy Neiwirth at aneiwirth@torahacademy.org or 614-864-0299 with any questions.
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1. Why were the Jewish People counted so frequently in the Torah?
a. They were very dear to G-d.
2. What documents did the people bring when they were counted?
a. They brought birth records providing their tribal lineage.
3. What determined the color of the tribal flags?
a. Each tribes flag was the color of that tribes stone in the breastplate of the kohen gadol.
4. What is the difference between an "ot" and a "degel"?
a. An "ot" is a flag, i.e., a colored cloth that hangs from a flagpole. A degel is a flagpole.
5. How do we see that the Jews in the time of Moshe observed "techum Shabbat" - the prohibition against traveling more than 2,000 amot on Shabbat?
a. G-d commanded them to camp no more than 2,00 amot from the Ohel Moed. Had they camped farther, it would have been forbidden for them to go to the Ohel Moed on Shabbat.
6. What was the signal for the camp to travel?
a. The cloud over the Ohel Moed departed and the kohanim sounded the trumpets.
7. What was the sum total of the counting of the 12 tribes?
a. 603,550.
8. Why are Aharon's sons called "sons of Aharon and Moshe"?
a. Since Moshe taught them Torah, it's as if he is also their parent.
(Parsha Bamidbar Quiz originally appeared on the
Ohr Somayach website, www.ohr.edu)
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As part of our partnership with the Shiloh school in Israel, we will be receiving riddles each week relating to the Parasha. You will notice this each week on this back page. The goal is to have the parents and children discuss the parasha, while trying to figure out the connection between the picture and the parasha. All answered riddles should be emailed to Dror Karavani at dkaravani@torahacademy.org or brought to school on Monday. The names of the winners will be announced and sent to our friends in Israel.
What is the connection between the picture and the parasha?
 The winner of last week was
Aviel Metz.
Moreh Dror Karavani will collect all of the submitted answers, put them into a box, and save them for the big raffle! You will hear more about this very soon. Keep your answers coming. |
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