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Hadashot
Vancouver Talmud Torah's Weekly Newsletter
Vol. VII, Issue 24
March 30, 2012 7 Nisan, 5772
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2012-13 CALENDAR READY!
| The 2012-13 Calendar has been released! You can start planning for the next school year by downloading the calendar here.
| Note: Calendar is subject to change
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HEAD OF SCHOOL'S MESSAGESecuring the Future Dear VTT Community, Earlier this week, we launched our Campus Campaign website, www.securingthefuture.ca, to much excitement and positive feedback. We are also officially releasing the first teaser video we screened at the Hanukkah Concert in December. If you have yet to see it, click on the video link below for a student's perspective of what the new school should include.  | | VTT Campus Campaign Teaser I |
The site is replete with information about the Campaign, including the vision for a revitalized and vibrant Vancouver Talmud Torah, what current and future families can expect from the new campus, updates on the campaign leadership, milestones achieved to date, news and events, and much more.  The Campaign website will be a primary source of information for our community. The site will be updated regularly so we encourage everyone to bookmark the page and visit often. Please also remember to save the date for the C ampus Campaign Kick-Off event on May 16, 2012, from 7 to 11 p.m. at VTT. Should you have any questions or comments about the website, please email info@securingthefuture.ca. Shabbat Shalom and Chag Pesach Samei'ah,  Cathy Lowenstein, M.Ed. Head of School
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WEEKLY TORAH PORTION/PARASHAT HA'SHAVUAH by Rabbi Matthew Bellas
Shabbat Parashat Tzav/Shabbat Hagadol
FREEDOM!!!
 There may be no one actor or movie that made the word "freedom" more famous than Mel Gibson in the movie Braveheart. Watching him play the role of William Wallace and giving that speech about how his people's fight for freedom from oppression was greater than any man's individual life always makes me think of the holiday of Passover, on which the Jewish people celebrates its freedom from four hundred years of living in slavery in Egypt. Just the word FREEDOM sends Wallace and his fellow troops into a frenzy, motivated to win their battle against great odds. Whatever one says about Mel Gibson and his public relations downfall after his religious beliefs and bigotry became very public, that scene in his movie career stands out and sends an important message to us all, especially entering the Passover season.
This year in Grade 5, students learn about different types of slavery and freedom through the TaL AM curriculum: physical, spiritual, and national. This week's Torah portion exemplifies how the coming out of Egypt gave the nation of the Jewish people its first real experience and taste of spiritual/religious freedom. Now that the Mishkan/desert Tabernacle has been completed and assembled, it was time to induct Aaron, the Kohein Gadol/High Priest, and his sons into religious service.
Read more online...
Hag Kasheir v'Samei'ah/A Happy and Kosher Passover and Shabbat Shalom! Rabbi Matthew Bellas
Vice Principal Judaic Studies/School Rabbi
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CINDERELLA: SEE THE PHOTOS
Click this link to see photos from the matinee performance
AND RELIVE THE MAGIC WITH THE DVD
$20, Filmed and edited by
Realistically Fictional Productions
Cinderella was the result of hard work by so many professionals, lay people, students, and parent volunteers. Special thanks to our Drama Specialist, Keri Smith, for adapting the script to fit the needs of our school and for accommodating so many eager and enthusiastic aspiring performers. Thanks as well to Melissa Anders (stage manager), Chris King (music), Jessica Oostergo (props), Astrid Visscher (costumes), Susan Quig (assistant costumer) and Adam Shiff (student stage manager). |
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THESE STUDENTS WERE "CAUGHT" BEING KIND, Week IV
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: Lola Belzberg, Rakeea Chesick-Gordis, Avrel Festinger, Charlie Ben Glassman, Vivian Osiek, Yuval Tanne, and Jacob Weidman.
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PASSOVER AT TALMUD TORAH
Grade 3 students re-created what it felt like to be slaves in Egypt during their Passover Seder. Preschool 3 students experimented with matzah, maror, and haroset during their mini Seder. Moses demands that Pharaoh "Let His People Go" (re-enacted by Morah Mirit's Grade 2 students).
Preschool 4 students scrubbed their classrooms from top to bottom to prepare their classroom for Passover.
 Grade 1C & 1D students jump for joy at their realization of freedom towards the conclusion of their Passover presentation (conducted entirely in Hebrew) for a roomful of proud parents.
Kindergarten students remember the plagues by dipping the ends of their forks into their grape juice.
Grade 5 students get comfortable in their chairs, as is the custom at Passover. |
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Dates to Remember
| Light candles at 7:23 p.m.
Shabbat ends at 8:31 p.m. | |
Report Cards Go Home/Last Day of School Before Pesach Break
Friday, March 30
School Re-Opens After Pesach Break
Monday, April 16
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 Imagine preparing a Seder for 500? That job was left in the capable hands of Passover co-chairs Marcie Flom, Jill Katz and the dozens of parent volunteers who tirelessly worked to organize ritual food for our entire school! This was a huge job requiring complex coordination and effort. Special thanks to Fred Cohen and Rabbi Bellas as well.
Though space does not permit listing everyone's name, many parents volunteered their time to help make Cinderella a smashing success! Particular kudos to Astrid Visscher and Susan Quig for sourcing, sewing and organizing all the costumes for the show.
VTT parent Gabriel Patrich discussed First Nations Art with Grade 4s this week and shared some beautiful images with the students. Thank you!
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Download Rabbi Bellas' Guide to Pesah, a great resource for every Seder
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| Click here to download the document
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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
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)
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SHONOT | ODDS 'N ENDZ
WE ARE LOOKING FOR A HEBREW KARAOKE MACHINE to borrow for Yom Ha'atzma'ut. Contact Fred Cohen if you have one to loan the school.
HAVE YOU SEEN THIS VIDEO FOR PASSOVER? Very cute and a sign of the times
Watch it here
SPRING UNIFORM FITTINGS will be held on Wednesday, May 16th in the library from 10:00am- 6:00pm. Please call Cambridge & Co. at 604-924-9009 to book appointments.
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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