Q: Hi, Welcome to Hillel Academy! Where did you move from?
A: Houston, Texas.
Q: What's your favorite part of Hillel Academy, thus far?
A: The hot lunches are a big hit!
Q: What's the best-kept secret of Hillel Academy?
A: That Pre-K has amazing science classes twice a week, as well as gym and Hebrew class! Wow!!
Q: Do you have any special family traditions you would like to share with our readers?
A: Going to minor league baseball games and Yehuda's Little League games.
Q: Share something about your family that makes you unique.
A: We LOVE playing sports and swimming!
Q: What do you do with the projects your children bring home?
A: We save them all and hang some on our fridge to enjoy.
Q: The Buffalo Bills offered fans $10 an hour to shovel snow and free game tickets. Deal or no deal? Why?
A: Who are the Buffalo Bills? (Chana Sarah)
No thanks! (Rabbi Sutofsky) DEAL!!!!!!! (Kids)
Q: What do you think of Pittsburgh?
A: We love it so far. Baruch Hashem, I'm very happy with the job at Hillel Academy, and our kids are doing great for being here only four months. We're slowly getting used to the hills, the shopping, and the hard-to-find parking. There is a certain charm to Pittsburgh as well as a very welcoming simplicity. Everyone has been so nice and we have been invited out for Shabbos meals basically every week since we moved here-I think we've forgotten how to make a cholent!
Q: How does it compare to Houston?
A: It's so different!!! To begin with, Houston is flat!! The Jewish community we were part of is made up of mostly east coast transplants, and the most expensive house there is below 250k!! None of the houses have basements, due to the type of soil and frequent flooding. When we got a really good rain, the streets would literally turn into rivers and we had to wait until the waters receded to be able to drive safely.
Most people in our neighborhood in Houston davened at the Young Israel, and the Kollel is in the shul. The school just built a new building, which is right at the entrance to the Young Israel neighborhood. We miss Houston and all the great friends we and our children made there.
Q: Are you ready for the cold?
A: So far we are surviving. March is just around the corner and with a trip to Orlando in January, how rough can it be? The truth is we may like the cold more than the crazy intense heat in the Houston summers. We bought a few sleds along with our winter gear-where's the snow?
Q: Have you heard that secret to surviving the winter is L.L. Bean? - Oh, is that the secret behind D. Shaw, the fashion guru?
Lol
Q: Is JJ Watt for real?
A: Big time for real. Awesome guy, and very nice to kids. There was a terrible accident that happened to some Jewish kids in Houston and JJ Watt visited them pretty often.
Q: This is for both of you: If you could give a shiur on any topic in any location, what would it be?
A: Rabbi S: High level halacha shiur, anywhere. I gave such a shiur in Houston for five years every Shabbos and it was great!
Mrs. S: I don't usually speak in public, but I like the idea of teaching Pirkei Avos for women at a private home.
Ok, we will look into that for you Mrs. S.
Q: Favorite Torah topic to learn with your kids?
A: Rabbi S: Mishnayos, a good piece of hashkafa.
Mrs. S- Parsha: we try to give them a lot of hashkafa to help them understand more deeply how special it is to be Jewish and why we do and think the way we do.
Q: What's the secret to allowing all kids at the Shabbos table to say a dvar?
A: Rabbi S. - No idea, if you know the secret please let me know, 832.338.9915!
Mrs. S. - Expect a long...meal! Make sure everyone knows they'll get their turn eventually, if they're patient.
Q: Astros or Pirates?
A: Astros. Sorry, just not there yet. But we went to a Pirates game that was really exciting and we loved the fireworks after the game.
Don't apologize. Just don't expect any favors.
Q: Pepsi or Coke?
A: COKE! Pepsi tastes like soap. Besides Rabbi Sutofsky, our family mostly drinks seltzer, not soda.
Q: Mrs. Sutofsky, tell us about your job.
A: I work for Testing and Training International (TTI, aka the "Raizel Reit program"). We help students all around the world earn Bachelor's and Master's degrees quickly, easily, and affordably through our partner colleges. I've been working for TTI for the last 6 � years, and it's great because I can work from home using a phone and computer, and I help lots of frum people every day on the path to making a better living.
Q: Favorite Shabbos meal?
A: Chicken with ketchup and brown sugar sauce, with potatoes and onions
Q: Bentley or Honda?
IS THIS A TRICK QUESTION??
Q: Shaare Torah or PZ?
A: Nice try!
Q: Rabbi, do you plan to have a private practice? IY"H that is definitely part of the plan. I hope to start as early as next year, and I'm very excited about it. My dream has always been to work in a high school, be a school counselor and have a private practice. Each one of those settings offer such a distinct and unique opportunity to form a meaningful trusting relationship with a student or a client, and the chance to have all three is extremely exciting.
Q: Lastly, it is a privilege to live on Shaw Ave, no?
A: We think of you every time we say/write our address!
Love it! Thanks for your time and have a wonderful Shabbos!
D. Shaw |