RAC WEEK (RANDOM ACTS OF CHESED / KINDNESS) IS COMING! FEB 24-28
In loving memory of Gabrielle Isserow, z'l Many activities are being planned for this week of "doing good" and "giving back." How can you help? How to get involved? 1. Bring new socks, toothbrushes and tubes of toothpaste for the Grade 2 (Sock) Drive. All donations distributed to shelters and the homeless. If you are a dentist, we are especially counting on your help!
2. Contribute to a fund to send Mishlo'ah Manot to Israeli soldiers in the IDF by purchasing handmade rainbow looms by Grade 5 students--by donation! Sale will be held on Thursday, Feb 27th.
3. Give to the Jewish Food Bank. Grade 7s are collecting canned fish, whole grain pasta, rice and cereals.
4. Donate your old prescription glasses. They can be recycled for people in need!
Don't forget to wear a PINK SHIRT to school on Wednesday, Feb 26th for ANTI-BULLYING DAY!
Thank you in advance for making this year's RAC Week another meaningful and giving year!
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WEEKLY TORAH PORTION WITH RABBI MATTHEW BELLAS
Shabbat Parashat Vayak'hel Generosity of Heart for RAC Week
In this week's parasha/Torah portion, Moshe conveys God's instructions for the donations of materials and items that will be necessary for the building of the Mishkan/desert Tabernacle. In doing so, he uses a fascinating expression to describe the spirit that should motivate an individual to bring a gift for this purpose: "n'deev leebo/generosity of heart." Moshe is explaining that a true and genuine gift is not brought simply because it is commanded by God, but because one feels an internal sense of kindness and purpose to do so. From this one brief two-word expression, we learn about just how important intentionality and meaning are to giving.
Next week, VTT and RJDS will be partnering with King David High School for our annual celebration of RAC (Random Acts of Chesed) Week. While showing kindness and generosity should be parts of our everyday lives, the schools band together one week each year to heighten our attention to the importance of this value and, hopefully, to inspire us to perform more and more acts of g'milut hasadim/loving-kindness. At VTT, we will have a number of student-led projects taking place to spread the kindness through the Jewish and general community of Vancouver, to Israel, and around the world. We will appreciate your support and participation throughout the week:
1) Jewish Food Bank collection of canned fish and whole grain pasta, rice, and cereals led by the 7A class
2) Used prescription glasses collection led by the 7B class
3) Rainbow loom bracelet sale by Grade 5 on Thursday, February 27th to raise funds to purchase mishlo'ah manot Purim gift baskets for members of the IDF.
4) New socks and toiletries collection led by Grade 2 to benefit Jewish Women International.
We will be sending reminders throughout next week about all of these wonderful projects and we hope that our entire community will show the generosity of heart, which is described in our Torah portion this week and help us to spread the kindness around!
Shabbat Shalom!
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SCHOOL NEWS
Lunch time was extra special this week with classroom projectors broadcasting the final women's hockey game between Canada and the U.S. Students were literally jumping for joy when CANADA WON GOLD!
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Using Georgia O'Keefe's body of work as an inspiration, Preschool 4 students used mixed media to create their own masterpieces. Mazal tov to our Intramurals basketball teams, pictured above and below, for winning their game in the finals.
Our after-school Lego club in the Learning Commons is a big hit! Special thanks to Sandra Harris for donating the additional new sets of Lego. Preschool 4 students joined the Olympic spirit by aligning themselves with a particular country and painting one of the five Olympic rings. |
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NEED TO REACH THE OFFICE TEAM IN A JIFFY?
| Send an email to office@talmudtorah.com to reach Debbie, Lihe, Natalie and Tammy in one fell swoop. Use this email for late notes, absent notes, bus requests, etc.
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DATES TO REMEMBER
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Light Shabbat candles
5:24 p.m.
Shabbat ends 6:31 p.m.
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RAC Week Begins!
Random Acts of Hesed (Kindness)
Monday, Feb 24
Deadline to submit all Strathcona Raffle ticket stubs
Monday, Feb 24
P-T Conference Bookings Close
Tuesday, Feb 25, 12 pm
Pink Shirt Day & Anti-Bullying Day Assembly
Co-Led by Grade 4 & 5
Wednesday, Feb 26
Please wear a pink shirt to school!
Strathcona Raffle Draw
Wednesday, Feb 26
Parent-Teacher Conferences
Thursday, Feb 27
4-7 pm for preschool
4:30-7:30 pm for K to Gr 7
Parent-Teacher Conferences--No Sessions
Friday, Feb 28
8:30-11:30 for preschool
8:30-noon for K to Gr 7
"Annie" Rehearsal
Friday, Feb 28, 10-2:20 p.m.
NOTE NEW DATE FOR CLASS PHOTOS:
TUESDAY, MARCH 2nd
26th Annual Public Speaking Contest
Thursday, March 6, 7 pm
at the JCC
Deadline to register is Friday, Feb 21st
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DOES YOUR CHILD VISIT THE LEARNING COMMONS AFTER SCHOOL?
Hours of Operation:
Monday - Thursday:
Open until 4:30 p.m.
Friday: CLOSED
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Please pick up your children on time
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| Thank you to the Merkur, Leipsic, Laskin and Sewell families for choosing Talmud Torah to "Feed the Deed." Challenged to "do good" and with only 24 hours to plan their mitzvah, these four families chose to honour our faculty through treats, Starbucks cards and by volunteering in our library after school. Everyone was smiling from ear to ear! Todah Rabah!
Sharon and Angela enjoy their Starbucks, thanks to some very generous families.
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COMMUNITY ANNOUNCEMENTS
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JCC Mini Ulpan5 Sundays Feb 23-Mar 23 Facing In and Facing Out: Israel and the Jewish People in a Changing Worldwith Israel's Consul General Wednesday, Feb 26, 7:30 Temple Sholom Or Shalom Double Chai Anniversary Celebration Honouring Rabbi Laura Kaplan and Dr. Charles KaplanSaturday, Mar 1, 7:30 p.m. Van Dusen Gardens VTT Alum Landon Braverman will be performing at the Chutzpah Festival! Vancouver-born and New-York based musical theatre composer and performer Sunday, March 2, 8 p.m. 26th Annual Public Speaking ContestThursday, March 6, 7 pm at the JCC Deadline to register is Friday, Feb 21stHEARTWORKArt Show & Benefit Supporting Jewish Youth through the Arts Thursday, Mar 6, 7 pm Hillel House at UBC Ovarian Cancer & Jewish Genetics TalkMarch 12, 7 p.m., JCC JCC Camp Shalom Registration opens Feb 21 Early bird discounts until March 14 Kosher for Passover Chocolate Sale (nut free)Deadline to order is Mar 18 Click here for detailsEveryday Pesach Cooking & More with celebrated chef Bonnie SternSunday, Mar 30, 7:30 p.m. JCC Wosk Auditorium
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SHONOT/ODDS 'N ENDS
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OUR LOST & FOUND IS OVERFLOWING! LOTS OF SWEATERS TO BE CLAIMED!
Rose Dupaya works hard every day to fold and organize the hundreds of items that make their way to the lost and found. Please claim what's yours! Unclaimed items will be donated in March.
Who knew? Check out this pair of Orthodox rabbi brothers--in complete Jewish regalia--singing Simon & Garfunkel. Did you know that Yiddish is an official language in Sweden?!?Although only making up .2% of the population and with only 3,000 out of 20,000 Jews actually speaking Yiddish, Sweden still considers it an "official minority language!"
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MISSION STATEMENT
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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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