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| HEADMASTER'S MESSAGE | |
This weekend we will celebrate the holiday of Purim which commemorates the salvation of the Jewish people from the holocaust that was planned for them in Persia (present-day Iran) more than 2,300 years ago. The word "Purim" is actually of Persian derivation. It means "lots" and it refers to the lottery that Haman held in order to select a date on which to begin the extermination of the Jews. The lottery episode appears to be a very minor part of the story and it is strange that the early Rabbis chose to name the holiday for this element of the narrative. There would seem to be many words that would have been more appropriate to use. Why "Purim?" There are many answers to this question. The most basic one, I think, is that a lottery represents randomness. Lotteries cannot be controlled; they are outside of the realms of planning and determination. To many people, this is also the way the world operates. What happens to us, they argue, is due to pure chance. They reject the notion of a "Supreme Being" who controls and directs the universe. And this is where the Purim story comes in. In the Megilah, it first appears that the Jewish people are going to be subjected to a terrible fate and there is no power that can save them. However, in the end, after much praying, fasting and repentance, the Power of G-d is asserted, albeit behind the scene, to avert the catastrophe. The story teaches us that although life may sometimes seem to be as random and chaotic as a lottery, in truth, there is always a Divine force directing and controlling world events and personal destinies.
Shabbat Shalom and Purim Sameach!
Rabbi Zvi Kahn
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PURIM FESTIVITIES, GRANDPARENTS DAY, IDITAROD
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At the time of Dateline printing, final preparations are being made for the Purim celebrations at CTA. Since Purim this year falls on Saturday night and Sunday, our students will celebrate on Friday and Monday. Next week's issue will include a recap about the 4th grade Purim Play, the Carnival sponsored by the 7th graders and the costume parade. Upper school students have already enjoyed Spirit Week with Pajama Day and Team Jersey Day. Enjoy these fun "Silly Hat Day" pictures from lower school.
The next three Fridays are jam-packed with meaningful celebrations. Next Friday, March 1, will be Grandparents and Special Persons Day for grades K-6. If your child's guest has not RSVPed (or received their invitation) please be sure to let us know.
Friday, March 8 is the 1st grade's Iditarod Race, a culmination of their unit on Alaska and learning about this interesting event. The entire Lower School will be there to cheer the first graders on during the CTA Iditarod Race on the soccer field. Visitors are welcome.
The Lady Lions Basketball team just returned from the Miami Girl's Basketball Tournament and the Boy's Team will be headed to Yeshiva University for the Red Saracheck Tournament March 6-11.
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Sunday, February 24: Purim
Monday, February 25: Pizza Bagels-Volunteer: A. Hazan
Tuesday, February 26: Chicken Nuggets-Volunteer: M. Napper
Wednesday, February 27: Grilled Cheese-Volunteer: P. Wolf
Thursday, February 28: Breaded Chicken-Volunteer: A. Rosen
Friday, March 1: Fish Sticks-Volunteer: P. Schiff
Grandparents and Special Persons Day, 12:30-2pm
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March 7-10: Varsity Boys NYC Shabbaton
Friday, March 8: 1st Grade Iditarod, 9:00am
Lower School Dress Down Day
Sunday, March 10: Daylight Savings Time; turn clocks back 1 hour
Monday, March 11: Executive Board Meeting, 7:30pm
March 11-15: OGT Exam Grade 10
Thursday, March 14: 2nd Grade Chag HaChumash, 9:00am
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It's Basketball Season!
Boys Varsity Team NYC Shabbaton
March 7-10, 2013
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SCRIP UPDATE - PLACES TO PURCHASE SCRIP
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CTA Scrip Office, 864-0299 ext. 112
Monday-Thursday- 7:30am-4pm; Friday- 7:30am-1:30pm
The Scrip Office keeps a variety of available scrip on hand. Special order scrip from hundreds of stores is available by sending your request to [email protected]. To see a complete selection of all of the Scrip choices, go to www.glscrip.com. To benefit CTA with online purchases, register at www.iGive.com.
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Todah Rabah to the following families for purchasing the following Gift Cards! Lindsay Schottenstein - Target;Joni Schottenstein - Speedway, Starbuck's, Target; Elaine Rosenstein - Giant Eagle;Wendy Horwitz - Walmart, Speedway, Starbucks;Rick Turkel - Giant Eagle, Graeter's;Lesa Caputo - Target, Speedway, Staples, Starbuck's, Amazon, Marshall's/TJ Maxx, and iTunes;Anonymous - Bed, Bath & Beyond, CVS, Target, Macy's, Speedway, LL Bean;Robin Garvin - Amazon.com. Your help greatly contributes to the school, and gives you 5% towards your annual commitment! Also don't forget to use scrip for bar/bat mitzvahs!!
Reminder: We have a new Call & Deliver Program for Scrip. Email [email protected] or call 864-0299 to order scrip and have it delivered to your home!
The $2,000 per family Give & Get commitment for 2012-2013 is fulfilled through donations, Scrip purchases, solicitations and volunteering. Send a record of all G&G volunteer hours to [email protected].
If you would like to Volunteer, contact Volunteer Coordinator, Kim Abelman, at 855-5195 or [email protected]. Volunteer time is worth $25 per hour towards Give & Get.
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NEWS FROM THE LOWER SCHOOL JUDAIC STUDIES DEPARTMENT
By Dror Karavani, Lower School Judaic Studies Coordinator | |
What excitement has been filling the halls of CTA this week! Beyond the daily teachings and activities which continued in all of the classes, there were art projects and learning surrounding Purim. Morot Sharon and Naomi, in Kindergarten, and Morah Irit, in first grade, helped each student create his/her own megillah along with graggers and mishloach manot baskets filled with delicious hamentashen that they baked with the third graders. The students are definitely prepared for the Chag (holiday).
 On Monday, we had our Purim celebration, which began with a Megillah play by the fourth grade class. This musical was written by Morah Robin and directed by Rabbi Elbaz and Mrs. Alexander. Following this, were many festivities including a parade led by Rabbi Hauser, in which students marched around and then had their costumes judged. Our magician entertained us with wonderful tricks and juggling which kept the children on the edge of their seats. The carnival, organized by the Seventh Graders and Rabbi Weitz, was a hit, as always, and a fun time was had by all. The children enjoyed their delicious lunches around the decorated tables in the lunchroom. Liat Shaked, our young Shlicha, had a special station, teaching the children about the Israeli way of celebrating Purim.
 Among the celebrations, we didn't forget the needs of the people and soldiers of Israel. Thank you to the Student Council advisors who cooperated with our Shiloh school friends to send food baskets. I would like to wish everyone a Chag Purim Sameach and Shabbat Shalom.
 
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SAY IT IN HEBREW
By Galit Golan, Hebrew Language Coordinator |
 In the different Hebrew classes, students are learning Purim-related vocabulary, and getting ready for Purim. Morah Eva's 3rd grade class and Morah Kelly's 6th grade class baked Hamantaschen אזני המן for Purim. The students learned the names of the ingredients in Hebrew, and followed a recipe written in Hebrew. The Hamantaschen were delicious, and the students had a blast! The 3rd graders reviewed body and face part vocabulary words, as part of a creative "make your own clown "activity. Morah Galit's 5th grade Hebrew class wrote a mock magazine "The Shushan Dispatch". The students demonstrated their creativity by writing interviews with King Ahasuerus and  Haman, and creating columns about Shushan fashion, real estate, sports and much more. Below is Basya Berkovich's fashion column, reporting about a new fashion trend in Shushan - a mustache for women! Shabbat Shalom and Chag Purim Sameach! מָדוֹר האופנהמֵאֵת בּתְיָה ברקובי אִם אַתְּ רוֹצָה לִהְיוֹת אופנתית אַתְּ צְרִיכָה לָשִׂים שָׂפָם מזוייף. השפם לֹא צָרִיך לִהְיוֹת סבוך. אם השפם שֶׁלך סבוּך באופן טִבְעִי, נָא לֹא לדאוג! אַתְּ יכולה ללכת לְ"סָלוֹן שָׂפָם". אֲנַחְנוּ ממליצים עַל "סָלוֹן השפם הַנּוֹצֵץ".
אִם את רוֹצֶה שִׂמְלָה זולה אֲבָל יָפָה, את יכולה לִקְנוֹת שִׂמְלָה כזו בְּהַרְבֵּה חנויות. מֵאָז שושתי מֵתָה, כָּל השמלות שֵׁלָה במכירת חיסול. אֲבָל אָתְּ צְרִיכָה לְהִזְדָּרֵז! הַמֶּלֶך אֲחַשְׁוֵרוֹשׁ מִתְגַּעְגֵּעַ לושתי, וְהוּא רוֹצֶה לְקַבֵּל אֶת כָּל השמלות שֵׁלָה בַּחֲזָרָה!  
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ON THE UP & UP:
NEWS FROM THE UPPER SCHOOL JUDAIC STUDIES DEPARTMENT
By Rabbi Zecharia Weitz, Upper School Judaic Studies Coordinator |
With Purim here, simcha is abundant at CTA. So far we have already seen a pajama day and super-fan day as part of the H.S. Student Council spirit week. On Monday, we had our ultimate Purim kick-off: The 8th-12th grades began their festivities with a collection of Purim-themed videos directed by our students. Next, we headed-off to Rule-3 for bowling and arcades in a camaraderie-building outing. Including 8th grade with our high school is one of the ways we further acclimate our 8th graders with the high school crew. Lastly, we enjoyed a special pizza lunch.
Our 7th graders have put in much time and enthusiasm into developing this year's Purim Carnival for the Lower School. From booths to flyers, and from marketing to baking, the carnival was a ton of fun for lower school and an impressive group accomplishment for the 7th grade class.
 Food for Thought: Mishloach Manot is a beautiful way we share the happiness of Purim on a communal level. Why, though, is this specifically on Purim and not on any other holiday? Should we not share every holiday on a communal level?
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| PTO DONATION OFFER |
Christine's Garden, located at 2733 E. Main Street, will donate 10% of every order (up to $5.00) to the CTA PTO. The offer expires 12/31/2013. For on-line purchases, log onto www.osuflowers.com and enter the code FHGM05CTA. For in-store or phone purchases (235-4510), give the code to the salesperson.
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MAZAL TOV TO:
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Chana Schottenstein (8th Grade Class of '05) on her engagement to Ari
Marinovsky
Alison Barnett (Class of '06) upon her marriage to Matan Gutwaks
Sarah Epstein Barth (Class of '00) on the birth of daughter Gila Malka and
to the grandparents, Rabbi Joel and Janice Epstein
Rabbi Ben and Rachel Berger & family on the birth of a daughter
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JR. HIGH STUDENT COUNCIL BEGINS BOOK DRIVE
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 Jr. High Student Council will be collecting children's books for a Book Drive. The books will be donated to Be'er Sheva, Israel as a part of a project coordinated by Columbus resident, Madeline Schiebel, who is an Israeli Teaching Fellow in Be'er Sheva teaching English to children. The goal is to donate 400 English pre-readers and children's books to use as tools in the classroom in Be'er Sheva. Jr. High Student Council is excited to be a part of this project. Books will continue to be collected until Friday, March 15. Please deposit your book donations in the box near the front office.
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PENCILS FOR AFRICA
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 The point of PENCILS FOR AFRICA is to connect America to Africa. This is done by delivering used pencils from the U.S.A. to African children. PENCILS FOR AFRICA works with a network of humanitarian agencies and university faculty to both access children in conflict areas and deliver pencils to these children so that they can illustrate their stories and their perceptions of events they have witnessed and endured. Please give all your used and unused pencils to the front office. Kim Abelman will get them on their way.
Please visit the site at http://pencilsforafrica.com/stories.
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| VARSITY BOYS BASKETBALL TEAM FUNDRAISER |
On Sunday, March 3, the CTA Boys Basketball Team will host a Chinese Dinner from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at Beth Jacob Synagogue, 1223 College Avenue, to benefit their trip to the Yeshiva University Tournament in NY. Prices are: adult meals $14.00, kids meal (age 4-10) $8.50, and under 4 years old FREE. The menu includes: Choice of General Tso's Chicken, Cashew Chicken and Hunan Beef, vegetarian eggroll, egg drop soup, rice, green beans, fortune cookie and drink. Vegetarian menu is also available. Put it on your calendar TODAY!
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WRITER'S WORKSHOP UNDERWAY
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 Students in 2nd and 5th grade will began their two week intensive Writer's Workshop on Monday, February 25. This is the 15th year of Writer's Workshop with writer-in-residence, Amy Greenberg who guides the kids on a journey of creative writing. Second graders will focus on poetry and 5th graders will develop their previous Writer's Workshop experience and write short stories. If you have used magazines to donate, the students need them for the Workshop. Visitors are welcome to observe. Please contact [email protected] to make arrangements to visit or with donations of magazines. All 2nd - 6th graders were involved in this week's kickoff which included a read aloud from Mrs. Greenberg.
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HISTORY CLASS VISITS AIR FORCE NATIONAL MUSEUM IN DAYTON
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 Mr. Moore's Upper School United States History class took a field trip to the National Museum of the United States Air Force, in Dayton, Ohio. The class is about to start their unit on the Second World War, and the visit gave them an introduction to the importance of new technology and air power during the course of the war. There was also an exhibit on the Holocaust, with information about American airmen who were sent to concentration camps, as well as video testimonial from American servicemen who liberated some of the camps.
The students are working on a collaborative project for their history and art classes. They were each assigned a World War II aircraft at the museum, and had to do a brief research paper on the plane. They then had to find that plane on the museum floor, and complete a sketch of it for their art class.
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SCIENCES CLASSES EMBARK ON ENERGY EFFICIENCY INITIATIVES
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 Eighth grade students in Miss McCormick's science class were sent home with a bag of energy-saving goodies that will help them to become wise consumers of energy and help their families save money by reducing energy waste at home. They are participating in the e3smart Program, co-sponsored by AEP Ohio and Columbia Gas of Ohio. Over the next month, the students will spend one day each week learning about energy sources, transformation, conservation, consumption and efficiency. The curriculum for the project was created by the Ohio Energy Project and coincides with Ohio science standards and is serving as another form of preparation for the upcoming achievement tests in April. Students in Mrs. Buster's 5th grade science class are also using the hands-on curriculum. Expect to hear more about findings from both grade levels. Note: Most of the energy we use in Ohio is from non-renewable resources, and teaching our youth to conserve energy will help the state of Ohio meet the target to reduce energy consumption by 22% by 2025.
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TZEDAKAH
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It has been a time-honored Jewish tradition to give tzedakah in recognition of important events. Todah Rabah to the following for their donation:
To Scholarship Fund by:
Ian and Pam Rodier in memory of Paul Schneiderman, father of Norman
and Suzanne Schneiderman and grandfather of Ericka Schneiderman,
and in memory of Herbert Gurk, father of Rebecca Gurk
Stanley and Jacquelynne Yenkin in memory of Leah Hershfield
Bob and Patti, Josh and Rachel Wolf in memory of Dr. Norman
Schneiderman's father, Paul Schneiderman
Gary Liebesman and Stacy Leeman in memory of Joyce and Chuck
Shenk's grandson and Dr. Leslie Hoffman's grandmother
Ron and Beth Dolinger sending congratulations to Rabbi Joel and Janice
Epstein on their honor receiving the Nediv Lev Award from Congregation
Torat Emet
Yale and Lauren Levy in memory of Rose Horowitz
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| COMMUNITY NEWS |
GALLERY PLAYERS AT THE JCC PRESENTS "FIDDLER ON THE ROOF": Saturdays, March 2 & 9 at 8:00 p.m., Saturday, March 16 at 8:30 p.m.; Sundays, March 3, 10 & 17 at 2:30 p.m. and Thursdays, March 7 & 14 at 7:30 p.m. Tickets cost: $20/JCC Member, $25/Non-Member and $10/Students. If you would like to come for a discounted
rate of only $15.00 on Sunday, March 17, please contact Norma Whitmyre at
[email protected]. You don't want to miss Director of Performing Arts, Laurie Alexander as Grandma Zeitl, 5th & 6th Grade General Studies Teacher, Kate Willis as Shaindel (Motel's mother) and her husband Scott Willis as Lazar Wolf, parent, Amy Judd as Frumah Sarah and students, Rosie and Neil Kalef.
COLLEGE OF JEWISH KNOWLEDGE: Adults in the community are invited to the College of Jewish Knowledge on Sunday, March 3, at 3:00 p.m., at the JCC. Classes will be taught by a variety of educators including our own Rabbi Kahn as well as current CTA parent, Professor David Myers, past parents, Rabbi Mitch Levine and Rabbi Michael Ungar, and CTA graduate Daniel Zwelling. For more information and to register go to www.collegeofjewishknowledge.org, or contact Cheryl Dritz at 614-559-3226 or [email protected]. This event is sponsored by the Columbus Jewish Federation.
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1. What two precautions were taken to assure the purity of oil for the menorah?
a. The olives were pressed and not ground; and only the first drop was used.
2. How was Aharon commanded to kindle the menorah?
a. He was commanded to kindle it until the flame ascended by itself.
3. What does tamid mean in reference to the menorah?
a. It means that it should be kindled every night.
4. What does kehnua mean?
a. Service.
5. Name the eight garments worn by the Kohen Gadol?
a. Choshen, ephod, me'il, ketonet, mitznefet, avnet, tzitz, and michnasayim.
6. To what does Rashi compare the ephod?
a. A woman's riding garment.
7. In which order were the names of the Tribes inscribed on the ephod?
a. In order of birth.
8. The stones of the ephod bore the inscription of the names of the sons of Yaakov. Why?
a. So that G-d would see their names and recall their righteousness.
(Parsha Tetzaveh Quiz originally appeared on the
Ohr Somayach website, www.ohr.edu)
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As part of our partnership with the Shiloh school in Israel, we will be receiving riddles each week relating to the Parasha. You will notice this each week on this back page. The goal is to have the parents and children discuss the parasha, while trying to figure out the connection between the picture and the parasha. All answered riddles should be given to the Judaic teacher on Monday. The names of the winners will be announced and sent to our friends in Israel.
 What is the connection between the picture and our parasha? Look in Chapter 25, Verse 20. You will find the answer there
The winner of last week's riddle is Stefan Schiff.
Moreh Dror Karavani will collect all of the submitted answers, put them into a box, and save them for the big raffle! You will hear more about this very soon. Keep your answers coming.
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I hope you enjoy the electronic version of our Dateline. Please check out our website at www.torahacademy.org.
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