PRINCIPAL'S MESSAGE

Parashat Ha'Shavuah/Weekly Torah Portion with Rabbi Matthew Bellas 

Shabbat Parashat Aharei Mot-Shabbat HaGadol

As Parents, Your Opinions REALLY Matter

From the early Middle Ages until the modern era, Shabbat HaGadol was a very special Shabbat.  It marked one of only two times during the year when the community Rabbi would deliver a sermon (why did we ever change this?) on the intricate laws and customs of Passover.  The Rabbi would also speak on Shabbat Shuva, the Shabbat that falls between Rosh HaShana and Yom Kippur in order to focus the community on the act of repentance appropriate to the season.  While Shabbat HaGadol no longer holds the same historical distinction as it once did in terms of the Rabbi's rare sermons, its importance as the Shabbat prior to Passover remains intact, upon which important messages related to the festival must be delivered.

Over the course of the past several weeks at Vancouver Talmud Torah, our students have been engaged in deep learning about the Passover festival.  Having toured the model seders this year, it was clear just how ready for Pesah your children are.  However, when the Torah instructs the Jewish people to observe the festival of Passover on the anniversary of the Exodus from Egypt in perpetuity, a very important instruction is given directly to parents: "You shall tell your child on that very day saying:..." What this verse is informing all of us as parents is that it is our responsibility to engage our children in discussions with us about Passover on the days of the festival.  There is a unique dynamic that occurs between parents and children in remembering and reliving the Exodus from Egypt and long-time family customs at this time of year.  It is one thing for children to hear about and experience things at school with their teachers, but it is something entirely different when it happens with parents at home. 

Part of our educational mission here at VTT is to build bridges between all possible contexts of Jewish life and living that are part of our students lives: school and home, home and synagogue, school and synagogue, summer camp, JCC...etc.  We take great pride in the foundation of Jewish knowledge and experience that we provide for our students and families.  The learning becomes all the more rich and embedded in the lives of our students when what happens at school comes to life at home as well.

As we approach Passover this year, take the Torah's instruction to "tell your child on that very day" to heart and do not shy away from engaging your children in conversation about Passover.  Tell them what you think and what you know, no matter how much you know or how much experience you have.  They will be so curious to know and will listen.  In so doing, you will not only be fulfilling a commandment of Passover, but also - and more importantly - providing a support and context for all that your children have learned in school.  What you think really does matter and will make a difference, so embrace the opportunity that Passover provides to talk to your children one-on-one and face-to-face and "TELL" them...!

Shabbat Shalom!

Pesah Kasheir v'Samei'ah/Happy and Kosher Passover

P.S. To see some Seder photos, click the following links:

Grade 1, Grade 3B, Grade 3A,  Preschool 3 & 4 

WANT HOT LUNCH FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE SCHOOL YEAR?

Then don't forget to place your order for Jewcy Cuisine  

www.jewcycuisine.com 

Final round for the year (from May 9 - June 24)

For prepaid cards, contact Jennifer 

DONATIONS FOR THE MONTH OF APRIL 2011

    Vancouver Talmud Torah is grateful for all the donations made to its many funds.

Below are the contributions made from April 1-15 2011.

Alumni Fund

Stanley Levine: Condolences - Allan Loomer

Donations:

Sydney Belzberg

Building Fund

Rabbi Matthew Bellas: Thank you - David Bogoch

Paul and Edwina Heller: Anniversary - David Bogoch

Stanley Levine: Condolences - David Bogoch

Sommer Family: Condolences - Ari Shiff, Carla van Messel and family

Donations:

Alan Shuster and Kathryn Young

General Fund

Donations:

Anonymous

In loving memory of Gabi Isserow 

For Literacy Day

Donations:

National Council of Jewish Women of Canada - Vancouver Section

Library Fund

Eytan David: Thank you - Kolof family

Joel Knoll: Get Well - Rhona and Stephen Schneiderman

Stanley Schwartz: Get Well - Rhona and Stephen Schneiderman

Lynn Sommer and family: Condolences - Lihe Katz

MVP Fund

Sari Weintraub: Mazal tov - Audrey Moss

Donations:

Harvey, Jody, Rebecca, Arieh and Eli Dales

Shelley Gordon

Rachel Pekeles

Josha Rafael

Performing Arts Fund

Sommer family: Condolences - Cathy & Jeff Lowenstein

Donations to "Fiddler on the Roof" Cast and Crew:

Jack and Linda Bogdonov

DOWNLOAD RABBI BELLAS' GUIDE TO PASSOVER 

VTT VIDEO OF THE WEEK  

GO CANUCKS GO!   

Go Canucks Go!

MAY IS A VERY BUSY MONTH AND WE HAVE LOTS OF VOLUNTEER PPP OPPORTUNITIES AVAILABLE (more chances to complete your 12 PPP hours before the end of the year)
 
LAG BA'OMER PICNICS
Friday May 20th

Lag Ba'Omer Coordinator Needed  

Are you organized and good at communicating and delegating?  Did you know that coordinating a holiday automatically earns you your full 12 hours (even if you spend less time)?  

If you are interested contact Marnie Greenwald mgreenwald@telus.net or Leana Gaerber leanagaerber@shaw.ca   

Lag Ba'Omer Volunteers are needed on Friday May 20:

Grades 1 - 3:  Two volunteers are needed from each class to supervise the day's activities and help with lunch at Stanley Park.  

Click this link to help 

Grades 4 - 7:  Volunteers are needed from each grade to supervise the day's activities and help with lunch at Kits Beach, including the walk there.   

Click this link to help  

Volunteers from all grades (including preschool and kindergarten) are needed to help at the school the morning of May 20th to prepare food for the picnics, this includes BBQ'ing.   

Click this link to sign up  

FESTIVAL HA'RIKUD (Israeli Dance Festival)
May 20th - 22nd
 
Volunteers are needed to help with costume fittings (May 2, 4, 9 & 11th), dress rehearsal, and supervision during the performances. All volunteering for Festival Harikud counts for PPP hours.

Click this link for details and sign up  

Don't forget to log your hours at http://sites.google.com/site/vttppp/