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| HEADMASTER'S MESSAGE | |
This Shabbat we read a double parsha: Behar-Bechukotai. In the parsha of Behar we learn about the commandments of Shemmitah and Yovel. Shemmitah is the sabbatical year when the Torah prohibited the Jews in Israel from performing normal agricultural activities and commanded them to open up their fields for public consumption. Shemmitah came every seven years. Yovel, the Jubilee year, refers to the 50th year in the cycle when purchased land reverted to its original owners and servants were released to return home. The mitzvot relating to the Shemmitah and Yovel years certainly presented many challenges to the Jews in Eretz Yisrael, and they also brought many benefits. The commentators have, through the centuries, suggested a variety of explanations for these commandments. One approach focuses on the lesson of impermanence, meaning that nothing in life is permanent, even life itself. Shemmitah and Yovel both brought home to people in very direct and powerful ways that even the land which they farmed, and on which they built their homes, was not truly theirs in a permanent sense. The Torah teaches us that G-d created the world and it all belongs to Him. We are just passing through.
Shabbat Shalom!
Rabbi Zvi Kahn
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CTA SHINED THIS WEEK
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While the weather didn't cooperate on Sunday, the Spring Fling Family Festival was a true success and a feather in the cap for the CTA Family. Soggy rains didn't keep away the 700 attendees of the Spring Fling who enjoyed the rides, talent show, Fun Run, Pam Lippy Tennis, PJ Library, Piccadilly Art, JCC, Temple Israel, face painting, Camp Gan Israel, Book Fair Preview, Fire Engine, Israel Department, refreshments and more!
Thank you to all the parent, faculty and community volunteers who helped to make the day so wonderful. A special thank you to event sponsors, Joey and Lindsay Schottenstein and Leonore Zusman and the Marilyn and Stuart Cole Fund at the Columbus Jewish Foundation for their support. Also, to First Bexley Bank, sponsor of the Fun Run!
The pride continued on Wednesday evening during Celebration of Achievement, a chance for all CTA students in grades K-12 to showcase their work and share our curricular advancements with parents and members of the community. In the Upper School, displays and presentations were divided into disciplines so visitors could see both the horizontal and vertical learning in each academic area. In the Lower School, the focus was on the Engineering in Action curriculum emphasizing the importance of the scientific method and testing hypotheses. To see a complete display of pictures from both events, please go to http://torahacademy.smugmug.com.
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Monday, May 6: Macaroni & Cheese-Volunteer: Y. Levi
Tuesday, May 7: Hamburgers-Volunteer: L. Hoffman
5th Grade Underground Railroad Plays, 7:30pm
Executive Board Meeting, 7:30pm
Wednesday, May 8: Lasagna-Volunteer: Y. Weisband
CTA Twirlers, 4-5pm
Thursday, May 9: BBQ Chicken-Volunteer: J. Margolies
Friday, May 10: Fish Sticks- Volunteer: M. Rosenberg
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Tuesday, May 14: Erev Shavuot - 2pm dismissal
May 15-16: Shavuot - NO SCHOOL
May 19-21: Columbus Baseball Invitational (CBI)
Friday, May 24: Field Day, Grades K-8 - 2pm dismissal
Monday, May 27: Memorial Day - NO SCHOOL
Thursday, May 30: Spring Show, Grades 1-4, 9:30am
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It's Baseball
and Softball Season!
Monday, May 6
HOME Softball Game vs. FCI Academy
5pm
Tuesday, May 7
AWAY Baseball Game vs. Millersport
5pm
Thursday, May 9
AWAY Softball & Baseball Games vs. Gahanna Christian
5pm
Friday, May 10
AWAY
Softball vs. Patriot Prep
4pm
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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-4pm
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 scrip@torahacademy.org. 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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Remember: Target Take Charge of Education Program; Box Tops for Education; Giant Eagle Apples for Students, Kroger card, and empty inkjet cartridges into the box at the front office. To view the vendors participating in the Scrip Program go to www.glscrip.com.
Call & Deliver Program for Scrip: email scrip@torahacademy.org 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 gandg@torahacademy.org. If you would like to volunteer, contact Volunteer Coordinator, Kim Abelman, at 855-5195 or kimabel3@gmail.com. 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
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As always, Morah Aronowitz's and Morah Naomi's Kindergarten class is engaged in many projects. One theme which was connected to Sefirat HaOmer and Lag B'Omer was "Ve'ahavta L'raiacha Kamocha" (you should love your friend as yourself). The students were busy collecting mitzvah notes which they earned by doing good deeds. They created special "hug belts" which were worn to emphasize friendships amongst one another. During Kabbalat Shabbat along with the Third Graders, the children had the opportunity to be "little archaeologists" and comparing and contrasting old and new Israeli coins.  While touching the coins, they also learned the different aspects of making coins in the olden days as well as other archaeological facts. They observed the pictures and learned that the currency values of the State of Israel are based on ancient roots from the time of the Beit Hamikdash.
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SAY IT IN HEBREW
By Galit Golan, Hebrew Language Coordinator |
 On Wednesday I saw many of you at the Celebration of Achievement event. It was such a pleasure to be able to showcase some of the students' work in their Hebrew classes daily. Free writing projects, chapter book related projects, research projects, creative projects and more, all in Hebrew- were presented proudly by students of all grades. Yishar Koach to all the students and to the wonderful Hebrew teachers for their hard work.
As I mentioned in one of the previous columns, this year, the 9th and 10th graders, under the guidance of the Hebrew teachers and Liat Shaked, the young shlicha, have been working on פרוייקט הנצחה- a commemoration project in which they researched and wrote about fallen IDF solders from our twin city of Kfar Saba, who gave their lives fighting for the state of Israel.
The students worked in peers and researched different aspects in the life of the soldier assigned to them. For example: personal information- soldier's family, hobbies, friends, school, dreams, army service and the story of his death. They wrote in English and in Hebrew, displayed the information on posters, and presented it before the class.
The families of these soldiers were made aware of the project, and when they heard that Liat is coming for a visit to Israel, they contacted her and asked to meet with her and hear more about the project.
Meanwhile, the 9th and 10th graders wrote letters to the families of the fallen soldiers, telling them about the experience of research about their sons, and the impact of this project on them. Below is the letter that Josh Wolf wrote to the family of Hachmon Tzion, the soldier he researched.
 "Dear Family of Hachmon Tzion
My name is Josh Wolf and I live in Columbus, Ohio, USA. I go to a Jewish day school called the Columbus Torah Academy, or CTA for short.
Our Hebrew class just completed a project on Israeli soldiers who have been killed in the line of duty from 1970-2000. I and my friend, Yehudah Rosenberg, had the honor of doing a project on your son, Hachmon Tzion. We completed a wonderful poster board featuring him, which included pictures. In the middle of the poster board is a large photograph of your son. This large photo is surrounded by pictures that describe his life. For example, Hachmon's rank in the army, and what wars he fought in. The pictures tell the military story of your son's life.
I would like to thank you for allowing your son to defend Israel and the Jewish people. Even though his life was cut short, Hachmon lived a meaningful and devoted life. He was a true hero. You must be a very special family to have raised such a special son. I promise you that we will never forget Hachmon and his sacrifice. Bless Hashem.
Sincerely, Josh Wolf
With a prayer for peace in Israel, Shabbat Shalom!
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| MAZAL TOV TO: |
Morah Minna and Cantor Baruch Shifman on the engagement of their
grandson, Pesach Shifman, to Devora Zweig
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| CONDOLENCES TO: |
Isaac Goldsmith (8th Grade Class of '02) on the passing of his uncle,
Michael Goldsmith
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CHAG HASIDDUR
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Yesterday was a very special milestone for the first graders in Kita Alef who celebrated receiving their first prayerbook (Siddur). As Rabbi Kahn explained, the receiving of the siddur is a tool for life for our students. Inside the prayerbook they can form their relationship with G-d and find ways to praise and ask G-d for answers during their life's journey. While these are big concepts for little minds, they took the preparations and the learning for the ceremony seriously and we can see from their curious faces, the true future of Jewish continuity. A complete report will come in Moreh Dror's column next week, but a sincere thanks should go to Morah Irit for her dedication to the 1st graders and preparation for the program.
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CBI YOUTH BASEBALL CLINIC
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Boys and girls ages 8-13 are invited to participate in the CBI Youth Baseball Clinic on Sunday, May 19 from 4-6 pm at the fields at the JCC on College Avenue. The clinic will be run the Ron Golden Baseball Academy and will be fundamental with no experience necessary. All participants will receive a t-shirt and dinner and will have the opportunity to sing Hatikvah and the National Anthem before the first pitch and the Columbus Baseball Invitational's first game beginning at 6:10 p.m. Register by May 6 by contacting Gary Liebesman at 614-226-3983 or eewee3@aol.com.
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| 5th GRADE TO PRESENT UNDERGROUND RR PLAYS |
 On Tuesday night, May 7 at 7:30 pm, the CTA 5th grade will present the Underground RR Plays. Directed by teacher, Mrs. Willis and Director of Performing Arts, Laurie Alexander, the play is a culmination of their unit on the Civil War and is a dramatic representation of what life was like in Civil War times and what it was like to be a slave, owner, soldier or engineer. Members of the community are invited to attend this production.
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7th GRADE FUNDRAISER FOR 8TH GRADE WASHINGTON TRIP
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 The 7th graders are well into their annual Magazine Subscription Drive. Please help them raise money for the 2013 8th grade Washington Trip! If you bought a magazine from a current 8th grader this year, all you have to do is renew the magazine and it will continue for another year. If you did not buy from a current 8th grader, here's your chance! The subscription drive will run through the end of the year. Please see any 7th grader OR go on-line to www.gaschoolstore.com. In the upper right hand corner, enter CTA's code, #2522449. Thanks for your support!
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COLUMBUS BUS RIDERS
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Columbus City Schools will not be renewing the busing contract with First Student for next school year. Columbus City Schools will be busing your children. ALL (current and new) Columbus bus riders must fill out an Application for Pupil Transportation for the 2013-2014 school year. You can access this form on CTA's website at www.torahacademy.org or contact Norma Whitmyre and she will email the form to you. Print the form, fill it out, and return it to Norma Whitmyre by the last day of school, Friday, June 7. Transportation cannot be guaranteed without a form.
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SPRING FLING FUN RUN T-SHIRTS AVAILABLE
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The first even 1-Mile Fun Run was a tremendous success at the Spring Fling Family Festival. More than 85 runners/walkers participated. The first to finish the race was Yehuda Morris with less than 7 minutes (ask Yehuda the exact time). If you did not get a t-shirt or want one, they are available in a variety of sizes for $5 each. Contact Shari Herszage at sherszage@torahacademy.org to have one delivered to you.
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DOG TRAINER VISITS 1ST GRADE
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 First grade welcomed Mrs. Cindy Morehart to their classroom recently. Cindy was a dog handler at this year's Alaskan Iditarod race! Nancy Case (CTA's Title I teacher) shares a mutual friend with Cindy arranged her visit.
Cindy explained to the first graders that she went to Alaska and learned how to handle the dogs properly. At the ceremonial start of the race, she handled dogs for one musher, and at the official start of the race, she handled for another musher. She also helped with crowd control and she later flew to the Unalakleet checkpoint to help take care of dropped dogs. After that, she flew to Nome to see the completion of the race.
Cindy explained to the students about her experiences and showed an awesome slideshow of pictures she took (using the classroom's Smart Board for display), and showed us several videos she took as well. The handler's visit connected to students to what they had been learning about the Iditarod. The first graders recognized the faces of some of the mushers in the slideshow before Cindy even told us who they were! Cindy  gave the students gifts, including several posters, the official 2013 Iditarod program book, and dog booties that were actually worn in this year's race (and you can see dog paw prints on them!). Then she took out something even more special. There was a musher in both last year's and this year's race who is originally from Ohio, named Matt Failor. Cindy met up with Matt during her time in Alaska, and he gave her a collar that one of his huskies wore at the ceremonial start. Cindy took a picture of the first graders holding the collar, and she sent a picture of the CTA 1st graders to Mr. Failor.
Of course the CTA 1st graders gladly sang their Iditarod song for Cindy. And the students and Miss Tanenbaum couldn't stop saying, "That was so cool!" for the next few days after the visit. Cindy hopes to go to next year's Iditarod as well.
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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 the Scholarship Fund:
To Scholarship Fund by:
Ken and Nancy Supowit in honor of Adira Kahn becoming a Bat Mitzvah
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PARSHA BEHAR-BECHUKOTAI QUIZ
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Behar
1. Why does the Torah specify that the laws of shemita were taught on Har Sinai?
a. To teach us that just as shemita was taught in detail on Har Sinai, so too, all the mitzvot were taught in detail on Har Sinai.
2. If one possesses shemita food after it is no longer available in the field, what must he do with it?
a. Remove it from his property and declare it ownerless.
3. The Torah commands, "You shall sanctify the fiftieth year." How is this done?
a. At the beginning of the year the Beit Din declares, "This year is kadosh (sanctified).
4. Which two "returns" are announced by the shofar during yovel?
a. The return of the land to its original owner, and the "return" (freedom) of the slave from slavery.
Bechukotai
1. To what do the words "bechukotai telechu" (walk in My statues) refer?
a. Laboring in Torah learning.
2. When is rain "in its season"?
a. At times when people are not outside (e.g., Shabbat nights).
3. What is the blessing of "v'achaltem lachmechem l'sova" (and you shall eat your bread to satisfaction)?
a. You will only require a little bread to be completely satisfied.
4. What is meant by the verse "and a sword will not pass through your land"?
a. No foreign army will travel through your land on their way to a different country.
(Parsha Behar-Bechukotai 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 Parsha?
Look in Chapter 23, Verse 15. You will
find the answer there.
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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