Hadashot
Vancouver Talmud Torah's Weekly e-Newsletter
Volume VIII, Issue 25
Mar 15, 2013 4 nissan, 5772
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NEED SOME HELP PLANNING FOR PASSOVER?
Download Rabbi Bellas's guide to the holiday
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REGISTRATION ON NOW FOR TERM III AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAMSFor the final term of school, we are offering: Mondays, K-3 Floor Hockey Tuesdays, Drawing & Illustration with Thom Watchorn, Gr 5-7 Tuesdays, 1-6 Basketball Wednesdays, 3-6 Floor Hockey Thursdays, K-3 Digivations; 3-6 Digivations Thursdays, 5-7 Yoga Registration forms can be picked up at the office or downloaded from our website. Deadline to register: Friday, March 22nd.
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WEEKLY TORAH PORTION WITH RABBI MATTHEW BELLASShabbat Parashat Vayiqra 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 begin our reading from Sefer Vayiqra/Leviticus, the third book of the Torah. The first parasha of the book help us to answer these questions about how we can work to build a feeling of closeness with God that approaches what it was like for the children of Israel in the Bible. In our reading this week, 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. What helps us to understand the connection between sacrifices and building that feeling of closeness to God is the Hebrew word that itself means "sacrifice." In Hebrew, the root letters for the word are Q (quf). R (reish). V (vet). Read more online....
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CAMBRIDGE UNIFORM COMPANY IS HAVING A SALE To show our appreciation to Vancouver Talmud Torah School, Cambridge Uniforms will be offering a 10% discount on all purchases for the month of March 2013. We look forward to serving you!
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NO RICHMOND BUS SERVICE ON THE LAST DAY OF SCHOOL Please note that David, our Richmond bus driver, will be unavailable on the last day of school, Friday, March 22, 2013, and therefore there will be no Richmond bus service that day. The West Side and JCC bus will run as usual.
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SCHOOL NEWS
Earlier this week, the Grade 4s took part in the hiwus First Nations cultural program at Grouse Mountain. Students snowshoed in the morning (carrying their backpacks the whole time!) and spent time in an authentic Pacific Northwest Longhouse in the afternoon. They enjoyed a meaningful presentation by a member of the Squamish tribe and learned about aboriginal culture through interactive activities including song, dance, and crafts. This rich experience complements the Grade 4 social studies curriculum and helps students to create connections to their environment. Preschool 4 students have travelled around the world for the last couple of months. In the photo above, a parent takes students on a journey to Russia. And in the photo below, preschoolers learn about The Netherlands from another parent. We're lucky we have such an international community! Every year preschool and kindergarten students have the opportunity to make their own matzahs, done according to precise halachic (Jewish law) specifications. Who knew kosher marshmallows had so much educational value? Grade 3 students continued to wrestle with the concept of structures, thanks to a visit from parent Jeremy Woolf and his colleagues at Abbarch Architects. To see more photos, click here.
This week's Physical Education curriculum included a week of training from tennis pros courtesy of Tennis BC. Also on the Phys Ed agenda this week: Yoga with Elana Epstein (for Grade 7 students) Grade 4 students were all smiles (in photos above and below) after their Hebrew Passover performance, which generated much enthusiasm--and laughs--from the audience! Check out some of the excellent art our students have produced this month. |
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Dates to Remember
| Light candles at 6:59 p.m. Shabbat ends at 8:05 p.m. |
BATB Full Cast Rehearsal Sunday, March 17, 10-5 BATB Full Cast Rehearsal Monday, March 18, 10-5, JCC
BATB Full Cast Rehearsal Tuesday, March 19, 10-5, JCC
2C & 2D Model Seder Tuesday, March 19, 8:45 a.m.
Beauty & The Beast Opening Night (SOLD OUT) Wednesday, March 20, 7 p.m.Beauty & The Beast Matinee
Thursday, March 21, 7 p.m.1A & 1B Passover PerformanceThursday, March 21, 8:45 a.m. Grade 3 Model SedersThursday, March 21 (various times) 1C Model SederFriday, March 21, 8:45 a.m. No Richmond Bus Service (am & pm)Friday, Mar 22 PIZMON A Capella Group performs at VTTPizmon is the co-ed Jewish a cappella group from Columbia, Barnard, and the Jewish Theological SeminaryFriday, March 21, 2:30, Big Gym Parents welcome! Last Day of School Before Pesach Break/Report Cards Available OnlineFriday, March 21 First SederMonday, Mar 25 Second SederTuesday, Mar 26
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Thank you to Alison Neuman, Alex Moses and Alisa DeLisle for acting as runners and organizers for Tuesday's class photos. Todah Rabah to Alexandra Lee and Sandra Harris for decorating dozens of Seder plates for the Grade 2 Seder.
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Community Announcements
JCC Festival Ha'Rikud invites you to see an award winning Israeli film, " Fill the Void," If you register your child for Camp Miriam before March 20th, you have a chance to win many fabulous prizes such as 2 tickets to the Vancouver Canucks.
Richmond Country Club is offering a golf scholarship for a non-affiliated, qualified student to enjoy the benefits and experience of a summer golf membership. Deadline to apply is March 31st. Saturday, April 6, JCC
Wednesday, April 10, 12 noon
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WE HAVE LOTS OF PPP JOBS FOR BEAUTY & THE BEAST One need not be a cast member parent to help. We also have a need for strong parents to help with the set load in. Click this link to see all the opportunities to help out in our spring musical. Questions? Contact Keri Smith. Do you enjoy gardening? Would you enjoy a volunteer activity that could include your children?JFSA's community garden is looking for volunteers to help out for 2-3 hour shifts on Mondays, Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays. No experience necessary. Children welcome. Contact Marnie
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SHONOT | ODDS 'N ENDZ
Mazal tov to Katy Tritt and her family on her Bat Mitzvah this Shabbat weekend.
Are you leaving early or returning late for Pesach holidays?
If so, please submit absent notes to Lihe ( lkatz@talmudtorah.com) in the office so your child's absence can be properly recorded in our system.
It's never too late to join our parent-moderated Yahoo! Group. Searching for child care? Need a plumber? Have a sofa to sell? Do this and more on this engaging and supportive parent forum. Contact Laura Rosenthal to sign up.
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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: Alumni Fund VTT Campus Campaign Fund General Fund Gita Kron (z"l) Fund for Special Education Library Fund The Lorne (z"l) & Sylvia Cristall Tikkun Olam Chair Mitzvah of Valuing Philanthropy Fund Performing Arts and Band Fund Strathcona 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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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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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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We are a community of faculty, staff, students, parents, grandparents, alumni, family and friends! Feel free to join us.
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