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Hadashot
Vancouver Talmud Torah's Weekly Newsletter
Vol. VII, Issue 23
March 23, 2012 29 Adar, 5772
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HEAD OF SCHOOL'S MESSAGETragedy in ToulouseDear VTT Community, Together with Jewish communities the world over, we mourn the tragic and senseless deaths of a rabbi and three precious children at Collège et Lycée Otzar HaTorah in Toulouse, France earlier this week. May the memories of Rabbi Yonatan Sandler, his children Aryeh and Gavriel, and seven-year-old Miriam Monsonego be for a blessing. The Partnership for Excellence in Jewish Education ( PEJE) is urging all who believe passionately in the importance of Jewish education and the vitality of the Jewish people to let our French friends know that they are not alone. Please send letters of sympathy to: Collège et Lycée Ozar Hatorah 33 rue Jules Dalou 31500 Toulouse, France Email: ozar31@wanadoo.frShabbat Shalom,  Cathy Lowenstein, M.Ed. Head of School
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WEEKLY TORAH PORTION/PARASHAT HA'SHAVUAH by Rabbi Matthew Bellas
Shabbat Parashat Vayiqra/Shabbat Hahodesh
Getting Close to God Using the Jewish Time Machine
When I visit classrooms or discuss the TaNaKH/Hebrew Bible with our students, one of the questions that I most often get is, "Why don't we have the same kind of relationship with God that the Israelites had?" In the stories that we read in the TaNaKH, our forefathers and foremothers literally heard the voice of God. They experienced acts of God. God's cloud and pillar of fire provided them with shade, protection, light, and a constant reminder of the divine presence throughout their journey through the wilderness. The relationship between God and the people of Israel was "close." It was tangible. There was visual, auditory, and emotional evidence of God's existence every single day. Our children wonder, why isn't it the same way for us? How can we get close to God like that?
This week, we read from two separate Torah portions out of two Torah scrolls as we begin our reading from Sefer Vayiqra/Leviticus, the third book of the Torah. Each in its own way, these two readings help to answer these questions about how we can work to build a closeness with God that approaches what it was like for the children of Israel in the Bible. First, in the regular weekly reading from parashat Vayiqra, the list and procedures for the many different sacrificial offerings that could be made to God in the Mishkan/Tabernacle and later in the two Temples are given.
Read more online...
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NEED PPP HOURS?
WE HAVE A FEW MORE JOBS TO FILL
(one need not be a cast member parent to help)
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THESE STUDENTS WERE "CAUGHT" BEING KIND, Week III
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 two weeks ago, thanks to the generosity of VTT parent Shoshana Krell.
This week's partial list of recipients includes: Evan Ariel, Jayson Armstrong, Conrad Belzberg, Josh Nemirow, Vida Sussman, Yael Toyber, and Ross Wolfe. Missing: Hannah Lando, Adam Rosengarten
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NEW AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAM! ACRYLIC PAINTING WITH THOMAS WATCHORN
For students in Grades 4-7. Thursdays, 3:40-4:40 in the art room. Begins Thursday, April 26th. 8 sessions. $225 (includes all materials). Need a minimum of 8 students to run the class.
Explore the world of contemporary art and painting. Gain an understanding of painting techniques including preparing grounds, mixing colour, building tones and then with these skills create dynamic compositions. Through a number of different technical assignments students will learn various painting skills and eventually a finished project will evolve in the form of a personalized canvas. This course is a great foundation for students interested in creating an artistic portfolio.
Deadline to register: Thursday, April 19th.
Download registration form here.
 | | Seventh grader Danielle Cohen created this piece at the end of last term's course. |
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CLAIM THEM WHILE YOU CAN!
OUR LOST & FOUND IS OVERFLOWING...
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!
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SCHOOL NEWS
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Dates to Remember
| Light candles at 7:13 p.m.
Shabbat ends at 8:20 p.m. |
Cinderella--OPENING NIGHT
SOLD OUT!
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
Click this link to order tickets for Cinderella
Visits to the Matzah Factory and Model Seders will take place throughout the week
Report Cards Go Home/Last Day of School Before Pesach Break
Friday, March 30
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 Thank you to Susan Quig who picks up and delivers our Wealthy School Revolution grocery orders every two weeks. It's quite a schlep! |
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
Gotta Sing! Gotta Dance!
Now in its 18th Year
Session 1: July 3 to 26
Session 2: July 30 to August 23
Monday to Friday, 9:00 am to 3:00 Deadline for applications: April 2, 2012
Download application here
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: POSTPONED!
Stay tuned for details
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.
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SHONOT | ODDS 'N ENDZ
WE STILL NEED PARENT VOLUNTEERS FOR SEDER PREP FOR PASSOVER
Click this link to check out the offerings
"Cinderella" is looking to borrow two pairs of UGG-type boots in black, brown or tan in sizes 3 & 4 for the show. They will be returned to owner on Thursday. Contact Keri Smith if you have boots to loan.
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.
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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.
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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.
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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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Thanks to the dedicated efforts of these fourth graders during every recess, our school are plastered with publicity for Cinderella. 
