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Tax returns and other documentation may be submitted directly to the finance office
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BUILDING BRIDGES WHILE CARING FOR OUR COMMUNITY
VTT's students perform acts of chesed with the Shia Ismaili community and St. Augustine's Catholic School
In Elie Wiesel's The Power of Forgiveness, the Nobel Prize winner describes the Jewish view of forgiveness. Specifically, that in order to be forgiven, one must first admit to wrongful action and apologize. With that teaching in mind, Grade 6 and 7 students from Vancouver Talmud Torah were asked the following question, "Does one wrong act of an individual reflect on an entire person or organization?" "No!" proclaimed the students. The question was posed in reference to the recent incident involving a homeless man outside a Tim Hortons on Robson Street.
Non-judgment, compassion and good deeds are not just lessons to be learned, but a Jewish blueprint for a life to be lived. Over the past few months, VTT's students have been working on a service learning project that includes providing food for the homeless. When the time came to seek sponsors for this initiative, students suggested approaching Tim Horton's. Read more online . . .
In partnership with the Shia Ismaili community and St. Augustine's Catholic School, our seventh grade students joined these two faith-based groups to assemble gifts of hope and compassion (with powerful messages of hope and love) and then distributed them--along with 2,000 servings of sandwiches, donuts and drinks courtesy of Tim Horton's--to residents on the downtown eastside.
We owe much thanks to the following corporations and individuals for making this bold initiative possible through sponsorship and service:
Tim Hortons
The Vancouver Police Department
Dr. Neil & Michelle Pollock
Jewish Federation
Jodi Derkson of Imperative Education
Benjamin Millman and Tal Bogdonov
Morry and Leana Gaerber of Eddie's Hang Ups
VTT's PAC Chairs, Sharon McNamara and Jessica Forman
Ruth Junkelowitz
Omid and Zafi of the Ismaili community
Shoshi Burton & Jessie Claudio
The many parent volunteers who worked behind the scenes to facilitate all the events
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GRADE 4 CELEBRATES HAVDALLAH WITH THE 'NAMGIS T'SASALA FROM ALERT BAY
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| | Havdallah With 'Namgis T'sasala |
On Monday, fourth grade students joined with the 'Namgis T'sasala First Nations cultural group from Alert Bay to celebrate Havdallah and participate in one of their traditional drum circles. We have made a quick one-minute video compilation of the memorable morning to share with all of you. Click on the thumbnail above to watch.
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TORAH PORTION COMMENTARYWe are pleased to be able to share our students'
divrei Torot (Torah commentaries) with our community. Last Saturday, grade seven student David Nemirow (son of Desiree Prisman and Michael Nemirow) celebrated his Bar Mitzvah at Schara Tzedeck. David commented on parashat Ki Tisa, a fascinating portion on the Ten Commandments and the Golden Calf.
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 I was very happy when I learned what my Torah portion was for my Bar Mitzvah. To me the portion about the Golden Calf is one of the most interesting portions to cover and it was great to learn more about it during my preparation for this day. When I worked with Rabbi Rosenblatt on this Dvar Torah, I learned that there is a very key and important lesson for me in this portion, that does not focus specifically on the Golden Calf itself, but more about how G-d worked with Moses and the Jewish people to connect us to the Ten Commandments and our beliefs. It is a lesson that I really connected with and am happy to share here today. There was a movie called the Pursuit of Happiness that you may have seen about a homeless man named Chris Gardner. He and his 2-year old son end up in a very bad situation. In the movie our early impression is of him trying to pull things together to go to an interview for a non-paying internship at a stock brokerage company - he ends up getting hired. During the internship he also works to pay his expenses by selling medical equipment on the side. Chris made calls for 10 hours each day without any breaks. Eventually his hard work pays off, because he is offered the paying job everyone was working get. |
OUR PAC NEEDS LOTS OF HELP FOR PASSOVER!
We will be holding community Passover Seders under a tent in the gym this year. Lots of help required to prepare!
Is your child participating in the public speaking contest next Thursday, March 19th? If so, we need TWO parent volunteers to help distribute snacks to all the participants. Eligible for PAC hours! Please contact Lissa Weinberger if you can help. lweinberger@jewishvancouver.com
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LITTLE MERMAID TICKET SALES UPDATE
There are limited numbers of single tickets available for both opening and closing nights.
Tickets still available for the matinee on Wednesday, March 25th and the evening show that same night.
NOT TO BE MISSED! Fun for the ENTIRE family!
Preschool families strongly encouraged to come to the matinee!
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SCHOOL NEWS
Kerrisdale Arena was busy this week with all the visiting groups from VTT for our annual ice skating unit in physical education. Whether novice or skilled, everyone had fun!
Who knew that "Going on a Bear Hunt" could be so much fun? We thank VTT parent and musician, Steve Karagianis, for leading an interactive and high energy class for our Preschool 4 students this week. |
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JUST WANT THE FACTS?
FOLLOW US ON TWITTER
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PURCHASE ON AMAZON & EARN $$$ FOR TALMUD TORAH
Did you know you can shop talmudtorah.com/amazon for all your online shopping needs? VTT receives a percentage of all sales (up to 8.5%) at no extra cost to you! Don't forget to pass the link along to all your friends and relatives!
We have earned $25 in commissions so far. Every purchase helps!
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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, Moran 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
6:56 p.m.
Shabbat ends at 8:03 p.m.
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Little Mermaid Rehearsal
Sunday, March 15, 1-6
Special General Meeting
Monday, March 16, 6 pm, VTT
Deadline to order PAC Friday Shabbat challah from Sabra's
Thursday, March 19, 11 a.m. talmudtorah.com/challahYachad Assembly: MANNERS
Thursday, March 19, 12:45 Annual Public Speaking Contest (Grades 4-7)
Thursday, March 19, 6 pm
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ARE YOU FAMILIAR WITH YACHAD, VTT's social responsibility initiative?
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LEARNING COMMONS NEWS
Learning Commons Monitor of the Month: Naomi Dodek
Top Classes: 1A, K2, 4A
Top Readers: Mira Hurwitz, Malachi Gindu, Henry Goldman, Matthew Abramson, Erin Kalmek
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DOES YOUR CHILD VISIT THE LEARNING COMMONS AFTER SCHOOL?
Hours of Operation:
Mondays - Thursdays:
Open until 4:30 p.m.
Fridays: CLOSED
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Please pick up your children on time
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| Thank you to Sharon McNamara, Jessica Forman, Ruth Jankelowitz, Michelle Zychlinski and so many sixth and seventh grade parents for their help and support during our bridge building activities with other faith-based communities earlier this week. Thanks, as well, to Steve Karagianis for leading an interactive and FUN music class for our preschool 4 students.
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SHONOT/ODDS 'N ENDS
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Camp Miriam is offering FREE TUTORING to all VTT students at the JCC's libary every Tuesday and Wednesday from 4:30-6:00. All of the tutors are UBC or SFU students with a diverse range of backgrounds from biophysics, economics, engineering, microbiology & immunology to English literature to sociology and we are capable of helping with math, science, English and socials studies for any grade levels.
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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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 Vancouver Talmud Torah gratefully acknowledges the ongoing support of the Jewish Federation of Greater Vancouver. |
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