We are at an exciting time in the school's growth, but a fully enrolled school comes with its challenges. Our case to expand our premises was met with great community support, enthusiasm and generosity. However, we have had to make adjustments--often difficult ones--to account for the lack of free space in our school. Every decision has been made thoughtfully and carefully, even though we know that a change can sometimes result in disappointment for our students and/or parents.

We want to assure our community that most changes/cancellations of initiatives is TEMPORARY. Obviously, once our campus expands, opportunities for rich programming (before, during and after school) will doubtless grow. In the interim, we are asking for our community's faith and trust that the programs that are on hold for this year will indeed return (perhaps in alternate venues as the expansion progresses), but certainly in bigger, better and brighter premises once the addition is complete.

It is in this vein that we ask for our community's understanding and patience as temporary changes are made. Our space constraints will soon be a thing of the past. In the meantime, we will not be holding the Scholastic Book Fair in our learning commons this year. While the purchasing of books, pencils, erasers, posters and such is enjoyable by some, we cannot dedicate important instructional space to hold this sale, especially over four days.

As you well know, the learning commons is the busiest and most active place in the school. From 8:30-4:30 every day, we hold classes, small group work, learning support and after school activities in the learning commons. Our teachers and parents have now come to depend on the learning commons to meet these needs --and more! Although we tried our best to find another venue in the school to run the fair, there is no suitable place to hold an event of such large proportions. (We also contacted the JCC but no secure room was available that met our needs and particular dates.)

Building an appreciation for books and literacy is the goal of each and every teacher in our school. We are blessed to have a library that is actively used by our community. Since September, for example, 4,209 books have been borrowed from our learning commons. Such an impressive number is testament to the high value placed on reading and learning in our school. We are very proud of the efforts our faculty (and parents) make to infuse a love of learning and books in our children. Though this change is temporary, we apologize for any disappointment experienced by our students.

Shabbat Shalom,

The VTT Leadership Team

 

Whenever I think about the relationship between tz'dakah/charity and hesed/ acts of loving-kindness, I am reminded of this famous saying. In Jewish tradition, tz'dakah and hesed have developed two quite different definitions. Tz'dakah is the giving of money, while hesed is the giving of time, effort, and a commitment to compassionate and loving support. In the Torah, however, as we learn in this week's parasha/Torah portion, tz'dakah and hesed are actually intertwined. When the Torah commands the Israelites and their descendents to help the poor, it does not talk about donating spare change. First, it commands us to provide substantial enough monetary loans that the individual will be able to get back onto his or her own two feet. Then, it requires that such loans to fellow Israelites/Jews be interest free. The intention of this system is to provide members of our community who are in need with both the financial support necessary to acquire basic needs and, perhaps, invest in starting a business or other form of employment and the emotional support to feel independent and have a rehabilitated self-esteem. So you see, the Torah combines both tz'dakah and hesed into one integrated support system.

 

This practice of support within the Jewish community has lasted from the time of the Torah until this very day. In times when Jews in need had nowhere else to turn, both individuals and agencies within the community existed in order to provide interest-free loans. In Jewish communities around the world today, including in Vancouver, the Hebrew Free Loan Association embodies and makes manifest what the Torah expects from us in terms of providing financial support to Jews in need. HFLA offers loans for a variety of needs, including family emergencies, start-up or expansion of a business, funding education costs, and adoption or fertility expenses, just to name a few. If you or someone you know is looking for a new or additional way to make your tz'dakah money count,the Hebrew Free Loan Association is one agency that brings tz'dakah back to its original roots in the Torah. Because your donation will go toward a loan that will be repaid, a gift to HFLA is a gift that keeps on giving loan after loan after loan. Our community must be thankful for the existence of HFLA and do everything that it can to support its important mission.

 

For more information on our Hebrew Free Loan Association, please visit its website. For an entertaining and informative video explaining the meaning of interest-free loans based on this week's parasha, click on the following link taking you to the G-dcast website.

 

To see a list of the kinds of interest-free loans available, click here.  

  

Our class has been learning about the many Mitzvot  we are commanded to keep and have decided to act upon the Mitzvah of  "Tzar Ba'alei Chayim" -- Jewish laws concerning the well-being of animals.

Look through your closets to find towels or blankets you no longer use or like and drop them off at the school.

Your contributions will be appreciated by the needy dogs and cats at the SPCA.

Many thanks, 

Purim is closer than you think! Make someone's day by giving the gift of fun-filled Mishloach Manot packages. These boxes are loaded with goodies for the whole family. Not only that, every year thousands of dollars are raised in support of Greater Vancouver Jewish Day Schools. On Sunday, March 16th the packages will be hand delivered by teams of dedicated volunteers. By now you should have received your log-in codes. If you haven't received your login code please email and we'll send it to you.

If you order by January 31st, not only do you support local Jewish day schools, you get 10% off your order. Don't miss out!

Rack up PPP hours by helping deliver the Project's 1300 mishloach manot. (To volunteer, please contact: Rachael)

Male Heroes Aged 17-35 Needed!

Swab in Honour of fifteen month old Sophia battling a rare disease of the immune system

Sunday, Feb 2, 1-5 pm

Unit M44-970 Burrard St., Buzzer #044


Our Kindergarten team is looking for donations of baby food jars for a special snow globes project. Please bring your clean jars to any K classroom.