Shabbat Parashat B'shalah/Shabbat Shira
The Shabbat of Song--In Memory of Debbie Friedman

Each year, when we come to the parasha/Torah portion of B'shalah, we mark what is called "Shabbat Shira"/"The Shabbat of Song."  This Shabbat is so named because in the Torah portion itself is found the dramatic "Song of the Sea," the poem that Moses and the Children of Israel recited upon miraculously crossing through the Sea of Reeds to escape the on-coming Egyptian chariots of Pharaoh.  In a spontaneous expression of jubilation and gratitude, the Children of Israel burst into song led by Moses and dance led by Miriam.  Therefore, this week's parasha gives us an organic opportunity to celebrate Judaism's musical tradition each year.  Sadly, the Jewish world lost one of the giants of Jewish spiritual and liturgical music this past week, so I take this opportunity to memorialize the great Debbie Friedman z"l in my D'var Torah this week.

When Shabbat ends on Saturday night, Havdalah (the short service for concluding Shabbat) takes place within synagogues, youth groups, homes, camps, and any number of Jewish settings.  Very often, when the time for the recitation of the blessings comes along, the uber-famous (at least in the Jewish world) repeating melody of "lai-lai-lai-lai-lai-lai-lai-lai" is the natural musical selection.  During the Torah service on Shabbat morning, many congregations often join together for a musical version of the prayer for healing, "Mi Shebeirakh."  Unbeknownst to many, both of these compositions are written by Debbie Friedman z"l.

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Shabbat Shalom!

Rabbi Matthew Bellas
 

This year, Tu Bish'vat, the Rosh Hashanah of Trees, is being celebrated on January 20^th.  In past years, our school has honoured the spirit of Tu Bish'vat by raising funds to plant trees in Israel through supporting the Jewish National Fund (JNF).  This year, on account of the devastating fires in the Carmel region in the North of Israel, funds that are raised will be going to a) replant trees destroyed in the fire, and b) the purchase of a new JNF fire truck for the region.      

To this end, JNF donation envelopes are being sent home with your children this week (please give envelopes to homeroom teachers, not the front office).  On the morning of January 20^th, our JNF student committee will be collecting donation envelopes and blue boxes from the school community - if your JNF blue box seems to be more than halfway full or "heavy with coins," please bring it in to school on Thursday, January 20^th.

Additionally, to support the efforts to repair the Carmel region, the Parent Participation Program has chosen to allocate their Tu Bish'vat budget towards the replanting efforts, in lieu of their traditional Tu Bish'vat programming.

NOTE: Thursday, January 20 is  NON-UNIFORM DAY. Students are requested to dress in JNF colours of BLUE, GREEN, BROWN & WHITE.
 

Todah Rabah,

Rabbi Matthew Bellas