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Hadashot
Vancouver Talmud Torah's Weekly Newsletter
Vol. VI, Issue 13
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Principal's MessageDear VTT Community,Thank you to everyone who contributed to our school twoonie PJ Day fundraiser in support of the Abayudaya Jewish community of Uganda. Two Talmud Torah families, the Friedlands and the Rosengartens, will be making the journey to Uganda this winter to help the community build a playground for the children. Though these families did not ask for financial assistance for their cause, our school--as well as King David High School--has a special relationship with the Abayudaya's spiritual leader, Rabbi Gershom Sizomu, as well as his brother, storyteller J.J. Keki, both of whom who have made special visits to Vancouver.
 Although the community is now 1,000 strong, access the basics are a challenge, and practicing Judaism's traditions and rituals requires enormous effort. Today our families donations resulted in $822.00 to fulfill some of the community's wish list items. VTT is proud to round off this amount to $1800 to purchase additional necessities for the Abayudaya.
Thank you to everyone who quickly responded to this request and came to school with wide smiles today. It is the perfect ending to our week.
Shabbat Shalom, |
Parashat Ha'Shavuah/Weekly Torah Portion with Rabbi Matthew Bellas
Parashat VaYigash
The Transformation/Maturation of Joseph
For the past two Shabbatot, we have been reading of the trials and tribulations of the descendants of Jacob. The story of the rivalry between Joseph and his brothers is riveting and well-known, so much so that it was dramatized and turned into both a musical and an animated film for public entertainment. It is very easy to get caught up in the action of this story, whether one is reading it from a "book" or observing it on stage or screen. However, when we get right down to it, this narrative is still a sacred teaching and must be examined for its educational and religious values. Therefore, if one takes a step back to discover the underlying messages of this four-parasha-long story, one will see that one of the main subplots is the growth and development of the character of Joseph from impertinent youth to mature and humble man. When we first meet Joseph, he is an adolescent, the favorite son of his father. Joseph is blessed with the gifts not only of being a dream interpreter, but also a prognosticator or "fortune teller" of sorts through his own and others' dreams. He is boastful and immodest. He is self-centered. He is unaware of the potential consequences of his behavior and choices. After having been sold into slavery and then thrown into prison for a crime he did not commit, given his freedom, high station and significant responsibilities by Pharaoh, and finally reunited with his brothers, we meet a new Joseph in this week's parasha. Read more online...
Shabbat Shalom! Rabbi Matthew Bellas
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BINGO IS COMING!
Talmud Torah's Sixth's Annual BINGO NIGHT is on
Tuesday, January 18, 2011.
To ensure we have enough great prizes to offer, we need your help! Every family is asked to contribute items related to the lists below and submit them to their child's classroom/homeroom teacher.
Deadline to submit your item(s): Friday, January 7, 2011.
The first class to complete their prize collection wins a class party that will be held on Friday, January 21, 2011.
CLASS THEMESP3 1 Bath-time: soaps, bubbles, washcloths, novelty towels, gift certificates to bath shops, gels, soap crayons, fluffy towels...P3 2 Craft Kit: felts, scissors, glue, crayons, washable felt pens, construction paper...P3 3 Big Things: big balls, big calculators, giant pencils, big stuffed toys, oversized hats...the bigger the better!P4 1 Things that keep you warm: Starbucks card, hats, mitts, scarves, fuzzy socks, slippers, thermos, hand warmers, bathrobes... P4 2 Animal World: stuffed animals of all types and sizes, books about animals, animal themed items...K1 Things you take to camp: knapsacks, toiletry bags, travel pillow, radio, post cards, stamps, coloring supplies, hat...K2 Balls: beach, hockey, tennis, golf, soccer, nerf, bouncy... K3 Books that keep you busy: crossword, word search, almanacs, Klutz books, Sticker books, origami books...K4 Kids that cook: Cook books for kids, measuring spoons and cups, kids size rolling pin, cookie cutters, pans, cake mix, cookie mix....1A Soft: Blankets, pillows, stuffed toys, slippers anything that makes you say...oh my gosh that is sooooo soft1B Things That Stick: stickers, fancy tape, glitter glue, window writers...1C Things that go in a back pack: The back pack, lunch box, thermos, notebooks, pens, pencils, tape, scissors, pencil bag, geometry set...2A Building Sets: Lego, Megablocks, blocks, magnets, ...2B Grade 2 Toonie Bag: bring $2 coin (if you are able, please donate 2 or three coins per student)2C Grade 2 Toonie Bag: bring $2 coin (if you are able, please donate 2 or three coins per student)3A Grade 2 Toonie Bag: bring $2 coin (if you are able, please donate 2 or three coins per student)3B Things that glow: Flashlights, lanterns, night lights, lamps, key chains, safety vests, glasses, headlamps, lava lamps, toys....3C Gourmet Kosher Snacks: fresh and new, chips, candy, drinks, chocolate...4A Stationery: funky notepads, cool notebooks, pens, pencils, paper, stationery holders, book lights, thank you notes, ... 4B School Supplies: post-its, pencil cases, glue, pencils, pens, folders, staplers, cool notebooks, locks, locker supplies, calculators... 4C Double Trouble: things that come in pairs, slippers, gloves, books with sequels, movies with sequels, his and hers things....5A Movie Night: gift certificates to movie stores, DVD's, movie coupons, movie review book, 5B Time is money: Clocks, watches, piggy banks, wallets, change purse, locker clocks, money belts....6A Gift Givers: gift certificates to anywhere a kid would love to shop - toys r us, future shop, video stores, Kidsbooks, Oakridge...6B Puzzles + Games: boardgames, card games, sports games, family games....7 A,B, Lottery Tickets: any kind you like! ($5.00 per child would be great!)
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SCHOOL NEWS
VTT's arts department managed to raise the bar for the seventh year in a row with our annual concert, Hanukkah Goes Broadway. Special thanks to music specialist, Elana Jacobson, drama specialist, Joe Ritchie, arts specialist, Colette Leisen, pit orchestra musicians, Sandi & Michael Millman, production coordinator, Lihe Katz, and S ydney Antao and his hard-working custodial team of Lito, Amador, Hymie, Fermin, Pedro and Purita. To see photos from the morning concert, click here.
Kindergarten students celebrated 50s Day this week. In addition to coming to school in themed-attire, every activity centered on the number 50. 
They keep breaking records! Morah Judith's second graders collected over 1300 pairs of socks for the homeless, to be distributed through Jewish Women International 
Teamwork at its finest! Kindergarten and grade 6 students had a blast working together with the parachute in a joint phys ed class.
This K1 student got creative in her exploration of the peg board and rubber bands.
Who said knitting was only for girls? Grade 4 boys passed the time knitting hats while waiting for their turns to perform during Wednesday's Hanukkah concert dress rehearsal.  | | Click on image to watch 1C's Hanukkah play--all in Hebrew! |
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Dates to Remember
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Light Shabbat candles at 3:56 p.m.
Shabbat ends at 5:08 p.m.
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2011 IS LESS THAN A MONTH AWAY!
DON'T FORGET TO REGISTER FOR JEWCY CUISINE (Jan & Feb) AND TERM 2 OF OUR AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAMS (yoga and basketball)
After School Floor Hockey is ON!
Monday, Dec 13
Monday, Jan 3
Beth Israel Coat Drive (collected by Grade 7s in the drive thru at morning drop-off)
Monday & Tuesday, Dec 13, 14
King David Open House
Tuesday, Dec 14, 7 p.m.
Deadline to order Hanukkah Concert DVD, $20
Wednesday, Dec 15
(price increases to $25 on Dec 16 & 17)
For cash and cheque orders, contact Jennifer
Deadline to submit Scholastic order
Friday, Dec 17
Join us for the annual staff vs student floor hockey game on Friday, Dec 17
1:15-1:50: staff vs grades 3 & 4
1:50-2:20: staff vs grades 5-7
JCC/Richmond Bus NOT running (Mazal Tov, Ruth & Shlomo, on the nuptials of their daughter)
Friday, Dec 17
Last Day of School
Report Cards Go Home
Friday, Dec 17
School Re-Opens after Winter Break
Monday, Jan 3 (not a stat holiday)
(no hot lunch first day back to school)
Deadline to submit BINGO themed-items
Friday, Jan 7
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GIVING TO VANCOUVER TALMUD TORAH
Did you know that giving to VTT is easier than ever?
You can find us online at www.canadahelps.org (or just click the icon above) or feel free to call email Tirzah Abraham in our development office. Please consider a minimum donation of $18 for tribute cards so that more funds can go towards our students.
Your contribution can be allocated to the following funds:
Library
Gita Kron
Atid Endowment
Building
Capital
Operations
Cristall Tikkun Olam Chair
Strathcona
Alumni
Performing Arts
MVP Fund
VTT Family Fund
To read more details about these funds, download our "Generosity" flyer.
See the November 2010 donors here
Beautiful tribute cards, designed by Jasmine Sasky, are sent by the school development office to mark any number of occasions, milestones and/or life cycle events.
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THE 2010-12 JEWISH DIRECTORY IS NOW ON SALE
$23.50 (includes GST)
Available at VTT's school office and various locations throughout the city.
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SHONOT | ODDS 'N ENDZ Mazal tov to VTT's IT Manager, Marko Milisavljevic (and his wife Tara), on the birth of their third child, baby boy Max. He joins older siblings Cohen and Ada. LEAVING ON HOLIDAY EARLY?RETURNING TO SCHOOL LATE?Don't forget to submit absent notes to Lihe Katz in the office The forest fires in Israel wreaked havoc in Carmel. See photos of the devastation here.
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Vancouver Talmud Torah is a traditional Jewish community day school dedication to excellence in an engaging and respectful learning environment in which Jewish children can become proud, caring, responsible, and dedicated members of the Jewish people and Canadian society.
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We are a community of faculty, staff, students, parents, grandparents, alumni, family and friends!
Feel free to join us.
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