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Hadashot
Vancouver Talmud Torah's Weekly Newsletter
Vol. VII, Issue 30
May 25, 2012 4 Sivan, 5772
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HEAD OF SCHOOL'S MESSAGE Dear VTT Community, At last week's Campus Campaign Kick-Off, we announced that Congregation Beth Israel will be breaking ground in October 2012 to redevelop their site. For the last four years, we have been renting classrooms from BI to accommodate our overflow. Due to the upcoming construction, we are bringing back our Grade 4 classes to our main campus. They will be housed in four brand-new, bright, spacious and air conditioned portables along the eastern wall of our playground.
 In addition to our need for an expanded and revitalized VTT, we have ongoing annual and urgent needs that are addressed through the generosity of many connected to our school. We are fortunate that our friends think about and choose to support us this way. One such group is the Friends of Talmud Torah, which puts on a biennial Gentlemen's Dinner. This year, the proceeds will be used to help acquire the portable classrooms. I encourage you to support this incredible group of volunteers. For more information, please visit friendsoftalmudtorah.org. There are nearly $50,000 in auction prizes and give-aways to be won, including a grand prize draw for a Rolex Daytona. Shabbat Shalom,  Cathy Lowenstein, M.Ed. Head of School
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WEEKLY TORAH PORTION/PARASHAT HA'SHAVUAH by Rabbi Matthew Bellas
Shabbat Parashat B'midbar/Approaching Shavu'ot
Ma'amad Har Sinai/The Revelation at Sinai is the Bar Mitzvah of the Jewish People
With this week's parasha, we begin the reading of the fourth book of the Torah: the Book of Numbers/Sefer B'midbar. We meet the Israelites still encamped at the foot of Mount Sinai and, after over a full year of receiving the laws and teachings of the Torah from God through Moses, the nation is now preparing for the journey to the Promised Land and the war that will follow our entry into it. However, before we and the Israelites leave Mount Sinai, it is important to reflect on what the experience of Sinai stood for and meant for the Jewish people.
One over-arching theme that emerges from study of the Torah centers around the relationship between God and the Israelites. Beginning with Avram, God acts as the caretaker of the infant Israelite nation. Through the Book of Genesis, God protects the patriarchs, matriarchs, and their families, making and renewing the covenant of the Promised Land and numerous offspring with them until they descend into Egypt as a family of seventy souls. We then endure the long slavery, at the end of which God arrives again as the caretaker, saving us from bondage, leading us through the splitting of the Reed Sea and to Mount Sinai. It is at this moment that the relationship transforms. Prior to the Sinai experience, the Israelites were an infant, toddler, and child nation. However, upon leaving Egypt and arriving at Mount Sinai, they have begun to grow up and become transformed. This maturation is accompanied by the receipt of the obligations and responsibilities commanded to us in the gift of the Torah. In short, the nation of Israel becomes Bar Mitzvah at Mount Sinai. Read more online...
Shabbat Shalom!
Rabbi Matthew Bellas
Vice Principal Judaic Studies/School Rabbi
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RABBI BELLAS' GUIDE TO SHAVU'OT
Chag Shavu'ot Same'ach!
Click this link to download the guide for this festival.
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CELIA IS VTT'S SUPERHERO!
VTT FAMILIES: PLEASE SHOW YOUR SUPPORT AND JOIN HER CHILDRUN TEAM
The Talmud Torah community is invited to participate in Celia Gustavsson's VTT's ChildRun Team. Join Celia and her mother for a 1km fun run. For every $1K raised, the Wilson family will match that donation!
Celia personally benefited from BC Children's Hospital, whilst in cancer treatment for 2.5 years. Celia spent more than 100 nights sleeping in the oncology ward, and was in and out of emergency more than a dozen times during treatment. Your contribution makes a difference to patient care, treatment, and research. Every penny counts!
Celia and her Mom would love a strong showing from Vancouver Talmud Torah. Please join their team today for the Sunday, June 3rd race at 9 a.m.!
To sign up, go to Childrun.com/vttcelia
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NEW CAMPUS BUILDING PLANS NOW ONLINE
To see what a revitalized Talmud Torah can look like, click here To view the plans, student video, community video and other materials associated with the campaign, click here
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ADD SOME ZEST TO DINNER TIME MEALS
with Talmud Torah's legacy cookbook, "Together"
 Order through PayPal or purchase directly from our office!
Have you successfully tried a recipe from Together? Don't forget to email photos of your creations to info@talmudtorah.com.
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SCHOOL NEWS
 In honour of Shavu'ot, Rabbi Bellas unravelled an entire Sefer Torah for viewing to our preschool, kindergarten and third grade students. In this photo, third graders peer at the section that recounts the story of the flood and Noah's Ark.
On Wednesday evening, over 60 members of Talmud Torah's faculty, staff, administration and Board gathered to honour the careers of seven retirees: Nancy Zipursky, Sari Weintraub, Rhona Schneiderman, Eric Lee, Florence Lapidus, Sharon Quirke (not pictured) and Bob Almas (not pictured). To see photos of these committed individuals from the last several years, click here.
Grade 1 & 2 students surprised Ms. Cross with a book of advice as she prepares to have her first child. With help from Sally, many of their words of wisdom referred to the possibility of a "naughty baby" and the need for "time outs." They also suggested limiting treats to one a day.   For the last month and a half, Preschool 4 students have been exploring the life and the art of
Michaelangelo, Picasso, Frida Kahlo, Vincent Van Gogh, Jackson Pollok, Marc Chagall and Emily Carr. Many of their interpretations are masterful!
Click this link to see their masterpieces. Sally's second graders demonstrate how much they love math!
Grade 4 students record the many sounds they can identify (albeit competing against Oak Street traffic) as part of their science unit.
David and Ella are this week's Grade 4 students who were "caught being kind."
Emily and Lily in Grade 4 sacrificed many recesses to create this Caravel ship for their unit on explorers. |
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Dates to Remember
| Light candles at 8:44 p.m.
Shabbat ends at 10:06 p.m. |
Grade 6 Book Drive in support of the National Council of Jewish Women's (NCJW) Literacy Efforts in inner-city schools
May 23-May 31 Bring your gently used books (preschool to high school) for collection in the drive-thru or at school.
Erev Shavuot
Saturday, May 26
1st Day Shavuot
Sunday, May 27
2nd Day Shavuot--No Sessions
Monday, May 28 Earthquake Kit Pick UpTuesday, May 29, 12:30-3:45 p.m. Main foyer Grade 1C & 1D Siddur CelebrationThursday, May 31, 8:45 a.m. Grade 1A & 1B Siddur Celebration Friday, June 1, 8:45 a.m. Team Celia's ChildRunSunday, June 3, 9 a.m. Friends of Talmud Torah Gentlemen's DinnerSunday, June 3, 6 p.m. Grade 7 MVP Ceremony of GivingTuesday, June 5 Grade 2 Torah CelebrationWednesday, June 6 Sports Day- 11:30 a.m. dismissalFriday, June 8 Students are to wear team colours (green, red, yellow or blue--ask your children what team they're on)
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 This week we recognize the efforts of Tiki Goldenberg, Sandi Evans, Lily Bouskila, Fred Cohen and Colette Leisen for their dedication to creating a beautiful retirement dinner for the seven faculty and staff leaving us this year. They successfully put together a memorable, meaningful and engaging event.
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Community Announcements
Shavuot WOW Shabbat at Temple Sholom
Saturday, May 26, 10 a.m.
Schara Tzedeck presents "Shavuot in the Sun" at Douglas Park
Sunday, May 27, 4:30 p.m.
Who's in Charge? The Important of Parenting from the Alpha Position
Wednesday, May 30, 7 pm
JCC Camp Shalom! July 3-Aug 17
Children & Youth Ages 3-15
Still has spots available for some sessions.
@ Montgomery Park
1 Week camps - half & full day
Ages 3-13
1 week camps
Half Day - Morning & Afternoon
Ages 6-12At Camp Miriam on Gabriola Island, no child is turned away due to lack of funds. Learn more about this policy and the camp in general here. Summer Basketball Camps through RBL Vancouver--many being held at Talmud Torah
Click here for more infoFor Ages 4 years and up
July 30-August 24 2012
Weekly Sessions Monday to Friday
Conveniently located in the VTT gym! For more information. contact head coach Kamena Petkova at 604.274.7547 or Diana Zoe Coop at 604.929.9669
It's like Birthright for Women! Schara Tzedek and JWRP are offering 9 days in Israel www.jwrp.org
contact Gila Ross 604.365.3450
Registration for Camp Gan Israel summer program is now open. The camp program is for children ages 3-12. Camp starts on Tuesday, July 3 and will run until Friday, August 10.The adventure camp program for boys ages 9-12 will run until July 27. To register visit ganisraelbc.com/registration. For more information see our site ganisraelbc.com or call the office 604-266-1313.
Jewish Federations of Canada presents an Interfaith Medical Mission to Israel in Nov 2012
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SHONOT | ODDS 'N ENDZ
HAVE YOU HEARD OF UGI?
We thank the creators of UGI for offering our staff a free workout session at our Health & Wellness Day. To learn more, click here.
DOCUMENTARY OF INTEREST Saturday, May 26, 10 p.m. on CBC
 Our two Games Room volunteers, Carol Konkin & Jhennia Solovyov, are hoping to run the program twice a week next year. Please contact either one of them if you can help out. They are also looking for donations of LEGO pieces (not sets). The blocks are very popular with students.
1-MINUTE OF SILENCE FOR MURDERED ISRAELI ATHLETES If you would like to see these athletes recognized on the 40th anniversary of their deaths, sign this petition.
HAVE YOU VOLUNTEERED OF LATE?
DON'T LOSE $300!
RECORD YOUR PPP HOURS TODAY!
Don't forget to log your hours here. |
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VTT 2012 YEARBOOK COVER UNVEILED
VTT student Oren Mathews created this bold and beautiful artwork from Ms. Leisen's Grade 4 art class. The image is an imaginative and colourful tribute to the famous Jewish artist Marc Chagall. Yearbooks on sale now, $20, through the front office. The annuals will be distributed in September. To see last year's fabulous oeuvre, stop by Jennifer's office.
For your convenience, you may also purchase through PayPal for $21.
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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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