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Hadashot
Vancouver Talmud Torah's Weekly e-Newsletter
Volume VIII, Issue 33
May 24, 2013 17 sivan, 5773
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VANCOUVER TALMUD TORAH ACCEPTED AS CAIS CANDIDATE SCHOOL
CAIS, or Canadian Accredited Independent Schools, is a national network of member independent schools supporting collaborative initiatives in leadership, education, management and governance. Most independent schools are subject to the standards and regulations of their provincial education authorities. Schools choosing to submit to a rigorous accreditation process with CAIS commit to undergoing a reflective and collaborative school improvement process, to meeting National Standards, and to participating in research and professional development. Vancouver Talmud Torah recently won acceptance as a CAIS candidate school. This means that every aspect of our school, from education delivery to operations to facilities management, will be thoroughly scrutinized by a team of professionals in the coming years to determine if we meet their rigorous national standards. The goal in submitting to this process is twofold: first is a commitment to on-going improvements as VTT will examine all aspects of its programs and operations, seeking to discover its strengths, weaknesses, and future strategic plans; second is a commitment to excellence where VTT will join a national network of independent schools where opportunities for growth and professional development abound. As we have up to three years to complete the accreditation process, we will periodically apprise our community of our progress.
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WEEKLY TORAH PORTION WITH RABBI MATTHEW BELLAS
Shabbat Parashat B'ha'alot'kha
Let the Light Shine Through
 At the beginning of this week's parasha, Aaron receives the laws for the lighting of the menorah in the mishkan (the Tabernacle or "portable desert Temple"). Each day of the week, one of the seven lamps was to be lit until the entire candelabra burned brightly. The menorah itself was hand-crafted of fine gold, a sign of the object's central role in Israelite worship. Even though the Jewish people no longer has its mishkan or its Holy Temple in Jerusalem, lamps and candles continue to play a major role in Jewish religious life.
In our tradition, fire and light serve as powerful reminders of many religious messages. Light is the first thing that God created in the Creation story. Therefore, light reminds us of God's and our own creative powers when we strike a match and kindle a flame. The light of the Shabbat and festival candles serve as reminders of the requirement for us to cease from creative work on these days, just as God ceased and completed the work of Creation on the seventh day. We light candles when we remember lost loved ones or fallen martyrs of Jewish history as a symbol of our wish that the light of their lives and their memories stay bright for us as we move forward. The eternal light of the Temple and synagogue remind us of God's everlasting presence in our lives. Finally, God commands the Israelites in the desert to act as an "or l'goyim" a light unto the nations of world, setting the example of moral and ethical behavior motivated by faith in God and Jewish values. Therefore, going back as far as the beginning of the world and our religious understanding of its origins, light fills a deeply rooted place in our existence.
Read more online...
Shabbat Shalom!
Rabbi Matthew BellasVice Principal, Judaic Studies
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GRADE 6 BOOK DRIVE TO SUPPORT NCJW
Grade 6 is working with the National Council of Jewish Women on a book drive. They will be collecting gently used books in good condition, from kindergarten up to a grade 7 reading level, to donate to schools where books are not as plentiful or as accessible.
The drive will be on all next week, May 27-31. Students will collect books from the drive thru, both in the morning and in the afternoon. Thanks in advance for your support! It's a great opportunity for spring cleaning.
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CALLING ALL LIBRARY BOOKS
Over the next few weeks, students will receive notices of anything outstanding in their library accounts. All library materials must be returned by June 14, 2013. Please help your child(ren) find lost books, pay outstanding lost fees, or claim fees paid for recovered books. For any questions or concerns, see Natasha or Michal. Parents, please also ensure that your own accounts are up to date before June 14. Thank you! Natasha and Michal
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 Yishar Ko'ach to fifth grade student Samantha Gilman and Anais Poirier in Grade 7 for competing in the rhythmic gymnastics national competition in Ottawa last week.  An influx of donated costumes got everyone in Preschool 4 in dress up mode. Loris can still be seen wearing the bright orange dress!  You never know where or when one will draw inspiration! Seventh grade student Milena Markovich created this nifty novel based on Lisa Romalis's math problem of the week. Read her "New York Times Bestseller" here :) An example of Grade 6 word art. More Koi pond images from Grade 3 students (continued from last week).
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Dates to Remember
| Light candles at 8:42 p.m.
Shabbat ends at 10:03 p.m.
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Pro-D Day--No Sessions
Thursday, May 30 Book Drive in support of the National Council of Jewish Women's Inner City Book Collection InitiativeLed by VTT's Grade 6 studentsMonday-Friday, May 27-31 Students will collect your gently used books (elementary school appropriate) at both drop off and pick up times in the drive-thru Cookies & Classrooms for Incoming Kindergarten StudentsThursday, May 30, 9-10 a.m. Deadline to submit Scholastics order Friday, May 31 1C Siddur CelebrationFriday, May 31, 8:45 a.m. Sex is not a four letter word
Parent workshop with Saleema Noon for K-7 parentsTuesday, June 4th, 6:30-8:30 p.m. RSVP required: info@talmudtorah.comLearn more about Saleema Noon's message here
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Community Announcements
The Spirituality of Relationships for Young Families with Rabbi Laura Kaplan of Or Shalom Synagogue Tuesday, May 28, 7:00-8:30, JCC Read about it hereFifth grade student Lyrie Murad will be performing in an intergenerational, amateur production of Joseph & the Amazing Technicolor DreamcoatMay 29-June 1 St. Mary's Kerrisdale Congregation Schara Tzedeck presents Senator Joe Lieberman (in honour of the 10-year anniversary of Rabbi Andrew and Cireille Rosenblatt) Sunday, June 2, 8 p.m. Colon Cancer Canada's PUSH for your TUSH fundraiser at Jericho Beach Sunday, June 9, 10:15 a.m.
Click this link to sign up
($25 for an individual; $50 for a family)The Israels family is walking in memory of Richard T. Israels, Q.T., z"l, dedicated member of Vancouver's Jewish community and VTT parent/grandparent Did you serve in the IDF?
JNF wants to recognize YOU at the JNF Negev Dinner honouring the Israel Defense Forces with special guest of Avigdor KahalaniSunday, June 9, Schara Tzedeck Email liisa.king@jnf.ca if you know people who served in the IDF In memory of 10 years since the fatal Columbia spaceship mission and Ilan Ramon's 59th birthday, JCCGV is screening the film " An Article of Hope," an inspiring documentary about Ilan Ramon's journey to space. Tuesday, June 18, 7:30 pm, JCC Buy tix hereUBC Opera presents Carmen, with VTT's Prielle Laniado (Gr 4) performing in the chorus June 22-30 UBC Old Auditorium Beth Israel at the Chan Centre A spectacular high holyday venue Special memberships available Click here to learn more
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SHONOT | ODDS 'N ENDZ
Mazal tov to Matthew Porte and his family on the occasion of his Bar Mitzvah this weekend.
Mazal tov to Jacqueline Belzberg and her family on the occasion of her Bat Mitzvah next Monday.
Joe Segal, a major Vancouver philanthropist and longtime VTT benefactor, will be honoured at a Board of Trade event next week for his generous $12M donation for mental health. Read the fascinating Vancouver Sun profile, which appeared in last Saturday's paper, here. Fourth grade student Juliette Sandler (and her family) will be holding a garage sale this weekend with proceeds benefiting VTT's Campus Campaign.
Saturday, June 1st, 12-4 p.m., 6889 Montgomery Street
CLAIM YOUR ITEMS BEFORE IT'S TOO LATE!
 Recognize anything? Our LOST & FOUND is AT CAPACITY. If items are not cleared soon, all unlabelled clothing, lunch bags and sundry items will be donated by the end of May. Please come check out all the valuable loot!
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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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We are a community of faculty, staff, students, parents, grandparents, alumni, family and friends! Feel free to join us.
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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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