D'var Torah

זכור את יום השבת לקדשו                         

CANDLE LIGHTING - 7:52 PM

HAVDALAH - 8:55 PM

SHABBAT PARSHAT BEMIDBAR (NUMBERS  - (1:1 - 4:20)

הסכום - Summary

• This parsha opens the fourth of the Five Books of Moses
• Numbers describes the wanderings of the Israelites in the desert and shows how G-d watched over them at all times.
• It also deals with rules and regulations for the Tabernacle and the family.
• Moses was told to gather all the people, one month after the Tabernacle was built, and to take the first census of Israel.
• Each tribe was registered, family by family.
• The total was 603,550.
• The Levites were placed in charge of the Tabernacle.
• G-d then ordered Moses to place the Israelites' tents around the Tabernacle.
• Each tent was to have a banner, showing the tribe to which it belonged.

SHABBAT SHALOM  שבת שלום -

Nachum Chasan

Head of School

Inside the Classroom- 5th Grade

     When the Fifth Grade soon completes Vayechi in Chumash, they will not only have learned four parshiot this year, but also completed the Book of Breishit (Genesis), the first book of the Torah.  Two special projects will round out the year.  Each student will do an artistic interpretation of the emblem or flag of one of the tribes of Israel, based on the blessings that, the founders of the tribes, the sons of Yaacov, received from their father right before his death.  The second project will be a PowerPoint presentation on a Chumash topic from this year.  Each student will choose a favorite subject to develop.  An elaborate Siyum celebration will close the year, and whet the students' appetite for the Book of Shmot (Exodus) which they will commence after the summer when they begin Middle School!

     In Navi (Prophets), the judge about whom we just completed study in the Book of Shoftim (Judges), Gideon, merited his position primarily because of his empathy for the plight of the Jews of his time, and secondarily, for the honor he showed his father under the duress of the Midianite repression. 

Empathy is also the next trait that the Fifth Grade will study in the "Konei Olam" Middot (Positive Personality Traits) program.

     The Collaborative Weekly Parsha Program, where each student contributes a parsha topic to a Google spreadsheet which is then studied by all branched out to include study of the Passover Hagadah.  It contributed to building a strong foundation of basic Hagadah knowledge, which will be deepened significantly in Middle School next year.

Inside the Classroom- 6th Grade

     In sixth grade social studies, we have just finished a unit on South America. We are now crossing the Atlantic and have begun a unit on Europe. One of the things our sixth graders enjoy when they learn about new countries and cultures is how the people in those areas celebrate important events. Thanks to a video series by Discovery Education entitled "Fantastic Festivals of the World," they can take a peek at some of these major celebrations in other countries. The diversity of the European countries, in particular, means there are quite a few different celebrations for us to explore. In sixth grade language arts, we are trying to pull together a performance for the Celebration of Learning that is a takeoff on a famous television show of the 1950s. We certainly have our work cut out for us to capture the flavor of the original show, so keep your fingers crossed for our success! -- 

Mr. Hart  

Alumni Spotlight

Each week, The Silver Summary will feature one alumnus from our rich alumni network. 

Avi Mindlin

Philadelphia, PA

What years did you attend The Silver Academy?

From 1987 to 1997 (I even was there for 9th grade). 

Where did you grow up in Harrisburg?

Literally behind the JCC on 2nd st. I used to hop the fence to go to school. 

Where did you go to school after The Silver Academy?

I went to Susquehanna High School, but continued my Hebrew studies in Hebrew High, and privately with Rabbis in the area. 

Where do you live now? 

Philadelphia PA.

What do you do?

I sell motorcycle parts and accessories.

What was your favorite class at The Silver Academy?

Does Recess count? Otherwise Gym.

Who was your best friend at The Silver Academy?

Eli Staub, and Gabe Campeas-cohen were my closest, but the great part of the Silver Academy is that my class was so close, many of us still put together reunion to this day.

What was your favorite school lunch?

Anything by Mr Lowy.

How many times were you sent to the principal's office?

No, really I don't think anyone in my entire class was ever really sent. 

What was your favorite memory and/or do you have any funny stories about The Silver Academy?

Wow, there are so many. I remember going to a strawberry farm with Mrs. Lenda, Rabbi Gewirtz's check system, Moving to progress avenue for a couple years for the JCC construction, oceanography, and most of all our Israel trip in 8th grade

What was your favorite thing to do at the JCC? 

Playing basically any sport inside an out, and watch cartoons after school in the teen lounge (before anyone else could get there to watch something else).

Who was your role model in Harrisburg?

There were so many role models at the Silver Academy, (who were pretty much the role models in Harrisburg); Rabbi Gewirtz, Rabbi Stein, Rabbi Pliner, Mrs Dalton, Mrs Nussbaum, and Mrs Gold, the list can keep going.  Now I look back at pretty much every teacher I had there and realize how lucky we were to have so many good ones. I would love to find Mrs Herman's ABC books for my daughter to learn how to write her ABCs how I did (hopefully with better handwriting).

A Special Invitation To The Silver Academy Family

On Tuesday, evening, May 14th, on the eve of Shavuot (the holiday that celebrates the Giving of the Torah at Mount Sinai), Chisuk Emuna Congregation invites the Silver Academy family to join us in joyously carrying Torah scrolls from the Jewish Community Center to our new spiritual home at the corner of Green and Vaughn Streets.  The procession will commence at 6 p.m. at the JCC, followed by the affixing of Mezuzoth to the new doors, the dedication of the sanctuary and building, the lighting of the Ner Tamid (eternal light) and the offering of prayers of thanksgiving upon reaching this historic milestone in the history of our congregation and community.  After light refreshments and an interactive Torah workshop, the evening will conclude with Shavuot services and Torah learning. 

Chisuk Emuna members are profoundly grateful to the Jewish Federation of Greater Harrisburg for housing us and the Silver Academy for sharing their classrooms throughout these challenging four years since the accidental fire that devastated our previous home. 

A Torah procession and synagogue dedication are special and rare events and we would love to have you with us for a part or all of the festivities. 

On behalf of our Congregation and as proud Silver Academy parents ourselves, we wanted to extend this personal invitation to you for this special celebration.  If you have any questions about this event, please contact us at 232-4851 or visit chisukemuna.org.

Carl Shuman, Chisuk Emuna President

Ron Muroff, Rabbi