Dear VTT Community, 

Last Tuesday, during the second half of our Professional Development Day, we focused on the health and wellness of our faculty and staff. This is an annual tradition and an opportunity for our team to connect and learn in a more relaxed environment. Our faculty Pro-D Day committee did an excellent job of planning an afternoon of physical and mental activities and I'd like to personally thank the following workshop presenters and facilitators for their time:

Russel Favel of Russel Sean Fitness, Fitness for Every Body  

Dr. Marni Ross, BSc, ND, Licensed Naturopathic Doctor 

Alyssa Bauman, Holistic Nutritionist  

Elana Epstein, Yoga Instructor

Hilit Nurick of the Dizzy Whisk, "Cook Your Way to a Better Life"  

Faculty member Sally Piccinato for leading a knitting club

Faculty member Anna Zeldis for leading a nature walk 

I would also like to thank the following businesses for donating treats and gifts for our gift bags (decorated by Grades 2, 3 & 5 students) and raffle:

Maury Kolof of Pure Radiant Energy Skin Care Line 

June Hunter, Fine Art Photographic Images

Lauren Kahn of Jewcy Cuisine  

Cipriano's Italian Restaurant  

As always, it takes a supportive community of eager and willing participants to make our programs come to fruition. We are always grateful for everyone's time and generosity.   

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

Shabbat Parashat B'Midbar

The Torah of Oprah Winfrey

"You are Enough!"

"You Count!"

"You are Worthy!"

One of the biggest items of news in the media world this year has been the fact that after twenty-five years on television, Oprah Winfrey was ending the run of her show.  Lost in a fog of Vancouver Canucks playoff hockey and the very quickly approaching end of the school year, I had forgotten that the Oprah show finale was airing this week and, unbeknownst to me, my wife had set the PVR to record the incredible end of show celebrations and finale.  After watching Game 6 of Tampa Bay versus Boston on Wednesday night, we sat up to watch the three shows that ended twenty-five years of The Oprah Winfrey Show.  In those three hours, I was amazed by the number of profound lessons that Oprah Winfrey was able to summarize from her many years on the air and to re-teach to her adoring audience of millions of viewers in 150 countries around the world.  Oprah often told her viewers that had she not gone into television, she likely would have become a school teacher.  Well, the word TORAH is literally translated to mean "THE TEACHING."  So, the lessons that Oprah has shared can indeed be called a Torah of their own, many of which tie in beautifully with lessons from this week's parasha/weekly Torah portion, parashat B'midbar.

"You are Enough!"

"You Count!"

"You are Worthy!"

In this week's parasha, the children of Israel are being prepared by God and Moses to leave Mount Sinai, after almost eighteen months of being camped there, and journey to the Land of Israel.  Before they could leave, preparations had to be made and organization undertaken. 

Read more online...

Shabbat Shalom! 

INVITATION TO JOIN VANCOUVER TALMUD TORAH'S BOARD OF DIRECTORS

In addition to the ongoing efforts of our school's teaching

faculty and administration, many in our community

work together with a shared vision towards continually

improving the quality of education our school provides

to our children.

Vancouver Talmud Torah Association is accepting

nominations for the 2011-2012 Board of Directors for the

following portfolios:

Development, Finance, Admissions, Human Resources,

Alumni, Communications & Public Relations, Strategic

Planning, Judaics, Governance, and Parent Affairs.

If you believe you are able to help us make a difference

and wish to be considered for a position on our Board of

Directors or on one of our committees, please indicate

your interest and background prior to June 30, 2011 to

Mr. Danny Shugarman: dshugarman@wt.ca
Tel: 604-682-5466

CELEBRATE LEARNING.  

CELEBRATE EXCELLENCE.

Last week, all families received an important letter themed "Celebrate Learning. Celebrate Excellence." 

We encourage everyone to participate with this important request for funds as it will go towards our budget for programs and what we can offer our students.

It is the first time VTT has asked each and every family for support and we hope to get 100% participation.

Thank you in advance to our entire community!

SOME EASY PPP JOBS  

Need an easy way to fulfill PPP hours?

We need people to help with doing inventory for TaL Am. Parents need to do the work in the school and need only be able to read Hebrew, not be a Hebrew speaker. We also need someone to count Tal Am books in Morah's Lily's Grade 5 class.

Contact Rabbi Bellas for more info.

JUMP ROPE FOR HEART IS COMING MAY 30 & 31

FOR GRADES 1-7

Click here to read all the info 

VTT COOKBOOK UPDATE   

The VTT Cookbook Committee is proud to announce the name of the upcoming cookbook - Together

Curious to find out how the testing and tasting events went?  Please check out pictures at cookbook.talmudtorah.com. Thank you to all who helped with this portion of the cookbook.

Now we're on to creating the manuscript!  Stay tuned for more updates!