Two
Choose Your Own Adventure Instructions
Please see below for Rabbi Kroll's dvar Torah, upcoming events, good and welfare and Ashreinu. We encourage you, no we implore you, to read through all of this week's Highlites.  Here's what you need to know:
  • This special edition of Highlites is a "Choose Your Own Adventure" book, entitled: "The Purim Shimmie Went Missing."

April 1, 2016
22 Adar II 5776  


  

 
     Parshat Shemini 
Candle Lighting at 7:20 PM
 
The Beauty of a Committed Life
 
This Shabbat we read about the purification process using the Parah Adumah (red heifer). According to the midrash, the first time that we encountered this mitzvah was immediately after we left Egypt, prior to receiving the Torah. The Torah says that at Marah, Hashem gave the Jews chok u'mishpat, laws and ordinances. Rashi cites the midrash which explains that there were three mitzvot given there: Shabbat, Parah Adumah, and Dinim (civil law). Shabbat and civil law are understandable introductory mitzvot; we recognize God as the Creator of the world and we set up the basis of a just society. Why, however, Parah Adumah, the ultimate chok?

Rav Aharon Lichtenstein explained that when forming the foundation of our religious lives it is critical to realize that in addition to devoting ourselves to a life of high morals we devote ourselves to a strong sense of submission to Hashem and His will. Every mitzvah that we perform should have elements both of chok and mishpat; we are enriched by the deep meaning of Torah and we submit to God's will. These complementary themes are crucial in educating our students at YHS. We want them to see the beauty of Torah and of a life committed to mitzvot, while at the same time realizing that our commitment is not dependent on our own sense of personal meaning but on our recognition that we have an ultimate responsibility to God and His people.

Thank you to the Highlites Staff for a great edition of Highlites. Enjoy!

Shabbat Shalom,

Rabbi Jonathan Kroll
Head of School
Upcoming Events
Mon. April 4 
Freshman Chesed Day
Sophomore & Junior Afternoon Out
Senior Video Filming

Wed. April 6
Annual Journal Dinner 
Good and Welfare
Births
Rachelli (Kaplan)
& Shloimie Bochner on the birth of a girl

Amanda (Krasna '07) & Avi Hoffman on the birth of their son Zachary Hank

Engagements
Maya Tsarfati ('11) and Ron Shapiro

Condolences
To Dr. Michael Matilsky on the passing of his beloved mother Renee Matilsky

The Yeshiva Highlites Staff