|
Hadashot
Vancouver Talmud Torah's Weekly Newsletter
Vol. VII, Issue 22
March 16, 2012 22 Adar, 5772
|
SAVE THE DATE!
MAY 16, 2012, 7 p.m.
VTT CAMPUS CAMPAIGN KICK-OFF EVENTDear VTT Community, We would like to extend a warm invitation to attend the VTT Campus Campaign Kick-Off event at VTT at 7 p.m. on May 16th. The event will feature an open community-wide meeting where we will share our plans and members of our community can ask questions. This will be followed by a one-of-a-kind social event in the "VTT Lounge." This will be an opportunity to hear about the campaign, connect with the community, and get engaged in the vital mission to help secure VTT's future. We look forward to sharing more details about this exciting event in the days and weeks to come. Yours truly, Alan Shuster & Dan Pekarsky
Campaign Co-Chairs 
|
WEEKLY TORAH PORTION/PARASHAT HA'SHAVUAH by Rabbi Matthew Bellas
Shabbat Parashat Vayak'hel-P'kudei/Shabbat Parah
Hiddur Mitzvah - The Beautification of Jewish Ritual
As we concentrate on this final parasha/weekly Torah reading of Seifer Sh'mot (read as a combined double parasha), it is difficult not to raise the question of why, after having already provided in vivid detail the instructions for the construction and crafting of the Mishkan/ Desert Tabernacle and its associated ritual objects, the Torah chooses to repeat all of these details again in its description of the actual building process this week. Why not simply say something similar to, "And Moses, the craftsmen, and all of Israel did as God commanded." In fact, this type of summary appears in other verses of the Torah to inform readers that God's commands were followed. As our tradition teaches, nothing is superfluous or redundant in the Torah. Therefore, there must be a specific lesson being taught by the repetition and reappearance of all these details...
In connection with the performance of mitzvot, the Rabbis encourage us to adopt a value that is called "hiddur mitzvah," the beautification of a commandment. When selecting an etrog for the celebration of Sukkot, for example, select one that is large, full of color, and aromatic. When preparing for the kiddush in honor of Shabbat or a festival, pour your wine or grape juice into an elegantly crafted kiddush cup. When selecting a pair of t'filin, choose large boxes with more carefully scripted texts on the inside. Light your Hanukkah candles in a beautiful Hanukkiyah. When chanting a prayer or song, do so with the most beautiful melody as possible.
Read more online...
|
NEED PPP HOURS?
WE HAVE LOTS OF JOBS FOR CINDERELLA
(one need not be a cast member parent to help)
|
|
THESE STUDENTS WERE "CAUGHT" BEING KIND
The above students were "caught" being kind by their peers this week and were passed along the "Noble" ("no bull" short for "no bullying") charms that were first distributed last week, thanks to the generosity of VTT parent Shoshana Krell.
This week's partial list of recipients includes: Teah Bakonyi, Ilana Guez, Matthew Hasman, Max Laskin, Moselle Levy, Benjamin Millman, and Camille Millman.
|
|
AFTER-SCHOOL BASKETBALL ON OFFER FOR TERM THREE
For students in Grades 1-6. Tuesdays, 3:30-5:00 p.m. Girls encouraged to join! Starts April 17th. Ends June 15th. Maximum 30 students. Deadline to register: Friday, March 30th. Download form here.
|
|
CLAIM THEM WHILE YOU CAN!
Wondering where that down jacket went?
Don't know why your uniform supply is so low?
Friday, March 30th is your LAST CHANCE to claim items in our lost & found. All remaining items will be donated over the holidays. Don't delay!
A very warm thank you to Rose Dupaya for working so diligently to keep the Lost & Found clean and organized!
|
SCHOOL NEWS
He's one proud grandpa! Shlomo, VTT's bus driver and honourary zayde, and his wife Ruth, were thrilled to have their granddaughter visiting from out of town this weekend. Of course, everyone at Talmud Torah just had to pinch those enticing cheeks! A kindergarten student enjoys reading time with a Grade 2 buddy.
Grade 2 students have been eager to help out in Kindergarten this week, running to classes during recess to cut, paste, fold and organize. Can Teachers' College be far behind? |
|
|
GRANDPARENTS ARE VTT COMMUNITY MEMBERS TOO!
Bubbes & Zaydes, Sabas & Savtas, Grandmas & Grandpas are vital members of the VTT community. We'd like to include them in relevant school communications, including invitations to our annual Hanukkah concert and other events of interest. Kindly forward email address to Jennifer Shecter-Balin, our Director of Communications.
|
|
|
|
|
Dates to Remember
| Light candles at 7:02 p.m.
Shabbat ends at 8:09 p.m. |
Regular Friday Dismissal Resumes
Friday, March 16
Pro-D Day-No Sessions
Tuesday, March 20
DON'T FORGET TO PURCHASE YOUR TIX for Cinderella!
Click here to purchase
Cinderella--OPENING NIGHT
2/3 SOLD! Don't Delay!
Tuesday, March 27, 7 p.m. JCC Norman Rothstein Theatre Cinderella--MATINEE
Wednesday, March 28, 12:30 p.m. JCC Norman Rothstein Theatre
Cinderella--CLOSING NIGHT
Wednesday, March 28, 7 p.m. JCC Norman Rothstein Theatre
Report Cards Go Home/Last Day of School Before Pesach Break
Friday, March 30
|
 We missed a thank you last week! Late kudos to Michelle & Naomi Dodek for helping out on the VTT Mishloach Manot packages for new families.
They've become a Talmud Torah institution! Tanyss Bugis & Alison Neuman are always on hand to help coordinate individual and class photo sessions. Todah Rabah!
|
Community Announcements
The Vancouver Jewish Food Bank is looking for kosher for Passover items for families in need during Pesach. Items can be dropped off at VTT. Thank you!
The JCC is looking for HOST FAMILIES to billet dancers from Florida, Mexico City and Los Angeles for Festival Ha'Rikud.
Find more info here.
Don't Forget to Register for the JCC Pesach Camp
April 2-12, for K to Grade 7
JCC Camp Shalom
Registration is now open
Family service with Lisa Romalis for young children and parents at Congregation Beth Israel.
Saturday, March 17, 11 a.m.
JCC Youth & Teen Department in partnership with Beyond Sound present "CHERRY"
Saturday, March 24, 6:30 p.m. & 9:30 p.m.
Join the congregants at Schara Tzedeck to create Pesach Packages for Passover
Sunday, Mar 25, 1:00-2:30
Vancouver Hebrew Academy presents "The War Against Israel" with David Horowitz
Sunday, March 25, 6:30 p.m.
JCC Wosk Auditorium
Chesed4Chesed at King David High School
A one-day event to help you get ready for Passover and support the important work of Dr. Rick Hodes in Africa.
Sunday, March 25, 11-3
All by donation!
March 30 is BUY ISRAELI GOODS DAY. Click this link to hear about one Israeli woman's struggle to keep her soap business, Lavan, afloat amidst aggressive boycotts and protests of Israeli-made products.
Save the Date for the Israeli Youth Dance Festival Ha'Rikud
May 20 & 21, 2012 (Victoria Day long weekend)
Here's Something Neat to Do Over Pesach Break:
Spend your Pesach holidays with VTT Alumni Jenna Rudolph of Eagle Awareness School and discover spring. Spring is one of the most amazing times to explore the forest. Trees and plants are budding and opening up their leaves, fresh green sprouts are shooting up from the earth, birds are returning from the southerly migrations. The forest is alive with activity! Join us for a spring adventure and learn what it would be like to live outdoors like our ancestors did in Egypt. For ages 6-12. Click here for more info.
|
|
SHONOT | ODDS 'N ENDZ
WE STILL NEED PARENT VOLUNTEERS FOR SEDER PREP FOR PASSOVER
Click this link to check out the offerings
SPRING UNIFORM FITTINGS
HAVE YOU VOLUNTEERED LATELY? LOG THOSE PPP HOURS! Don't forget to log your hours here. Remember: every family needs to complete 12 hours or risk having their $300 cheque cashed. |
GIVING TO VANCOUVER TALMUD TORAH
Did you know that giving to VTT is easier than ever?
Click this link to access our secure online giving page
or feel free to 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. 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.
|
|
Vancouver Talmud Torah is a traditional Jewish community day school dedicated 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.
|
|
We are a community of faculty, staff, students, parents, grandparents, alumni, family and friends! Feel free to join us.
|
|
|
