HEADMASTER'S MESSAGE |
This week we read a double-Parsha: Nitzavim and Vayelech. Both portions contain valuable lessons about the Teshuvah process. Teshuvah is generally translated as repentance, but its literal meaning is return. When we "do teshuvah," our intention should be to return to G-d. It is as if our sinful actions have created a distance between us and G-d and through Teshuvah we can once again be close and feel close to Hashem. The Torah (Devarim 30:1-3) foretells that at certain points in the future the Jewish people will stray so far from the correct path that they will be banished from the Land of Israel and forced to dwell in exile. Once there, the Jewish people will be subject to persecution and suffering. However, after a time, G-d assures us that, "you will take this (My teachings) to heart amidst the various nations to which the Lord your G-d has banished you and you will return to the Lord your G-d..." It is striking that the Torah connects the experiences of exile and suffering to the desire to return to Hashem. What is the connection here? Rabbi Yaacov Haber explains that suffering has a sacred purpose. It has the power to motivate people to rise above their weaknesses and failings and change their lives for the better. Thus, the Torah is telling us not to ignore or minimize the negative consequences that befall us in life, nor should we become depressed by them. Rather, our goal should be to utilize these experiences as a springboard to improve ourselves and to return to Hashem with a sincere and full heart.
Shabbat Shalom.
Rabbi Zvi Kahn
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IN THE BEGINNING
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The start of the school year seems like a distant memory as our kindergarteners and new students have acclimated so quickly and our returning students have eased into their new grades, new classes and new teachers. Summer must've been good for everyone as they have been sharing their experiences with one another and preparing for an incredible school year.
There are so many new buzz words that have been introduced into the CTA vocabulary and we will highlight them in the Dateline over the coming year and share with you the infectious spirit of our students' and teachers' love of learning. Be on the lookout for updates about One Amazing Year, Common Core, Headmaster Search, Technology Upgrades, Scope and Sequence, On Line Learning, Senior Buddies, and more
The weekly Dateline will be sent to all families electronically. If you request a paper copy of Dateline it will be sent home with your youngest child. Please let Norma Whitmyre know at [email protected]
Welcome to our new teachers. Watch for the Star Teacher column in the Dateline to showcase our new and returning faculty. Looking forward to a great school year!
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PREVIEW OF THE WEEK OF SEPT. 1-6
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Monday, September 2: Labor Day-NO SCHOOL
Tuesday, September 3: Chicken Nuggets
Wednesday, September 4: Pizza Bagels
Erev Rosh Hashanah - 2:00pm Dismissal
Thursday, September 5: Rosh Hashanah - NO SCHOOL
Friday, September 6: Rosh Hashanah - NO SCHOOL
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PREVIEW OF THE WEEK OF SEPT. 8-13
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Monday, September 9: Macaroni & Cheese
Executive Board Meeting, 7:30pm
Tuesday, September 10: Tacos
Wednesday, September 11: Pizza
12th Grade College Night, 7:30pm
Thursday, September 12: Turkey Pastrami
Friday, September 13: Erev Yom Kippur - 12:00 pm Dismissal
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Sunday, September 15: Get Ready for Sukkot, 2-5pm, JCC
Wednesday-Friday, September 18-20: Sukkot - NO SCHOOL
Wednesday, September 25: Hoshanah Rabbah - NO SCHOOL
Thursday, September 26: Shemini Atzeret - NO SCHOOL
Friday, September 27: Simchat Torah - NO SCHOOL
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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 [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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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 [email protected] or call 864-0299 to order scrip and have it delivered to your home!
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
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![Dror-new](http://ih.constantcontact.com/fs066/1102150262022/img/905.jpg?a=1114699376056)
We excitedly started off the beginning of the school year bringing in the month of Elul. The students recognized this by hearing the daily shofar sound and seeing the decorations throughout the hallways and classrooms. In the weeks to come, many of the things we will be focusing on revolve around the theme of Rosh Hashanah and the High Holidays. We will also be assessing the students to ensure their correct level of placement in the classroom learning environment.
Please contact me at [email protected] or 864-0299 ext. 116 with any questions.The Judaic teachers extend warm wishes for a healthy beginning to another great school year. Shabbat Shalom!
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SAY IT IN HEBREW By Galit Golan, Hebrew Language Coordinator |
![Galit 2010](http://ih.constantcontact.com/fs066/1102150262022/img/511.jpg?a=1114699376056)
Shalom Everyone,
Almost without notice, the second week of school has come to an end. It is wonderful to walk in the hallways or peek into classrooms, and hear Hebrew all around. For example, Morah Eva's 2nd grade class starting the week with a Hebrew story, and with the Hebrew month song (see picture). In addition to the engaging Tal Am songs and library books we use in the Lower School, this year we will use a new workbook from the Migdalor curriculum. This is a very colorful workbook, which emphasize vocabulary, grammar and Midot. The students will have a chance to express themselves in Hebrew and to improve their writing abilities in Hebrew.
During these first months of school, the Hebrew teachers are in the process of evaluating the Hebrew language and reading skills of all lower grades students. This allows us to identify the students who need support or enrichment in Hebrew. If your child will be identified as a candidate for support or enrichment in Hebrew, you will be contacted during this upcoming week.
As always, the Hebrew department promotes open communication between parents and teachers. Lower school parents can check their child's homework assignments, and upcoming tests and quizzes on the teachers' blogs, and upper school parents can check it on Engrade.
Please feel free to contact me with any questions. You can reach me via phone at the school: 864-0299 ext. 117 or via email at: [email protected]. Shabbat Shalom Galit Golan, Hebrew Language Coordinator.
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ON THE UP & UP: NEWS FROM THE UPPER SCHOOL JUDAIC STUDIES DEPT. By Rabbi Zecharia Weitz |
Judaic Studies 2.0
The technology isn't the only area we've updated here at CTA; as we march into the 5774 school year, our Upper School Judaic Department is in the process of significant enhancement. While squeezing it all into one article wouldn't do this justice, here's a snapshot of the professional development our department is engaged in:
- Mrs. Shira Claman has just completed her MS in Jewish Education at YU's esteemed Azrieli Graduate School for Education and Administration.
- Somehow between working at NCSY's TJJ Israel program and stopping in to check on the 10 Columbus students at NCSY's Sports, Rabbi Yaakov Frankiel managed to attend an intense two-week Torah U'Mesorah professional development program in N.Y.
- As many of you may have read in the OJC, Rabbi Avraham Drandoff was accepted to the YU Teach Fellowship for exceptional educators.
- Already a seasoned educator, Mrs. Chaya Morris began an MSW program at OSU.
- Lastly, I was excited to accept an invitation into YU's program for school leadership, YU Lead.
I know this was a tease but I will highlight one team member a week over the next five Datelines. So be sure to wish them mazel tov and we hope you will see out great program become even better!
Food for Thought:
There is a fair amount of tinkering that goes on with the weekly parsha line-up in order to assure that we read Nitzavim (this week's parsha along with Yayalech) before Rosh Hashana. What message is there in the parsha that is so vital to hear before Rosh Hashana?
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STAR TEACHER |
A special welcome to our new faculty members who join the CTA family throughout the grade levels and in all of the school's departments. Each week a different teacher's professional background and teaching philosophy will be highlighted in Dateline. Please welcome Jamie Bindell, Kelsey Breen, Elana Katz, Norm Leist, Tim Pray, and Maya Shpancer. All faculty were on hand during Teacher In Service days August 19-20. Special presentations included a workshop about best serving the needs of ADHD students with Earl Oremus, Head of School at Marburn Academy.
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PARENT-STUDENT HANDBOOKS |
The Parent-Student Handbooks for Grades K-6 and 7-12 can be found on the Torah Academy website, www.torahacademy.org. Click on Portal and Downloadable Documents. We encourage you to read these very important books.
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THANK YOU TO: |
The following volunteers who helped put together the holiday treats: Kim Binsky, Robin Garvin, Jaki Keri, Elaine Shindel, Shulamit Ginsburg, Hillari Klynn, Karan Tanenbaum, Norma Whitmyre, and the 4th grade students.
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THE WEEKLY CTA DATELINE |
There will be NO paper copies of Dateline this year UNLESS a family requests one from Norma Whitmyre ([email protected]). All families will receive a copy of the E-Dateline.
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MAZAL TOV TO:
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Yosef and Ilanit Razker on the birth of a daughter, Liron
Jason and Amy Judd on the birth of a daughter, Mila
Zach Stern (Class of '06) on the birth of a daughter, Esther Noa
Avigayil Ginsburg on her marriage to Menachem Rapp
Jessica Hackman (Class of '05) on her marriage to Garrett Kalmar
Tamara Libicki (Class of '03) on her engagement to Sergey Feldman
Jenny Shindel (8th Grade Class of '93) on the bat mitzvah of her daughter
Ben Supowit (8th Grade Class of '97) on his engagement to Jenny Rolef
Dror and Irit Karavani on the engagement of their son, Oded
Ariella Weisz Eltes (Class of '02) on the birth of a daughter, Daria
Menucha
Daniel Frank (8th Grade Class of '88) on the birth of a daughter, Shoshana
Raizel
David and Kelly Adar on the birth of a granddaughter, Nili
Rachel Shapiro Safron (Class of '01) on receiving her Ph.D. in counseling Psychology from Seton Hall Univ.
Yiska Weisband on graduating at the top of her class from Hebrew
University School of Public Health and winning the faculty award for Best
Thesis
Sarah Weinerman Cheses (Class of '02) on the birth of a son, Netanel
Moshe
Ari Weisfogel (Class of '02) on the birth of a daughter, Ahava Batsheva
Debbie Vinar Hellman (8th Grade Class of '96) on the birth of a daughter,
Raizel Basya
Leah Hauser Friedman (8th Grade Class of '98) on the birth of a son, Meir
Chanoch
Rabbi Yosef and Tova Hauser on the birth of a grandson
Daniel Libicki (Class of '95) and Inna Gakh Libicki (8th Grade Class of '91)
on the birth of a son, Hillel
Aryeh Schottenstein (8th Grade Class of '96) on the birth of a daughter,
Miriam
Helene Goldmeier Azose (8th Grade Class of '76) on the birth of a
granddaughter
Viktor and Tanya Fedorovsky on the engagement of their daughter, Sonia
Jacob Portman (Class of '09) on receiving his red paratroopers beret on
Ammunition Hill. Jacob was selected Chayal Mitztayen (best in his
class) and one of the top nine new paratroopers in his brigade of 600.
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CONDOLENCES TO: |
Eugene Simakovsky on the passing of his father, Lev
Hillary Hoxworth (Class of '11) and Lee Hoxworth (Class of '06) on the
passing of their grandmother, Rosalie Grumet
Geraldine Schottenstein Hoffman, Brad Hoffman (8th Grade Class of '71),
Eric and Anny Hoffman, Cheri and Tod Friedman, Debbie and Jeff
Meyer, Drs. Seth (8th Grade Class of '87) and Leslie Hoffman on the
loss of husband and father, Martin Hoffman
Joni Schottenstein on the passing of her niece, Jessica Gartenberg
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COMMUNITY NEWS
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Cardio machines. Swimming. Functional training. Spinning. Basketball. Whatever activity helps you focus on being a stronger, healthier you, we'd like you to try it at the Jewish Community Center in September-for FREE! For the month of September, the JCC extends a complimentary JCC membership, including the Deluxe Health Center*, to all families of Columbus Torah Academy.
Starting September 1, stop by the JCC Member Services Office at 1125 College Ave for your temporary pass. Enjoy 16,000 square feet of new and renovated space-including two gyms, group exercise classes, batting cages, brand new cardio equipment with individual TV monitors, expanded and enhanced babysitting, and the J-Zone, a fun and fitness space for kids 6-12 years old-for the month of September.
We know you will enjoy all the JCC has to offer, so in honor of the JCC's 100th birthday, we will take $100 off the cost of any full-year membership purchased by October 6, 2013. For questions, contact Linda Starr at [email protected] or (614) 559-6229. This offer is good for new members only. *Must be 18 years or older for the Deluxe Health Center.
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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:
Chuck and Dora Kopp in honor of Adira Kahn's Bat Mitzvah and in
memory of Sara Shatz's mother, Miriam Karlsberg, Adele Tilson and
Marty Hoffman
Gary Liebesman and Stacy Leeman in memory of Sara Shatz's mother
Paul and Karan Tanenbaum in memory of Ruth Quinn's brother, in
memory of Adele Tilson, in memory of Ivan Gilbert, in memory of Shana
Hazan's mother, Myrna Klazmer, in honor of Ira Nutis and in honor of
Cathy Schwarz
Ian and Pam Rodier in honor of Mrs. Stock, Moreh Dror, Morah Eva, Rabbi
Drandoff, Mrs. Morris, Mr. Guinan, Ms. McCormick, Mrs. Adar, Mrs.
Schwendenman, Mr. Bailey, Mrs. Sapp, and Mrs. Delman
Lawrence and Kim Binsky in honor of Ira Nutis for your amazing
generosity, in honor of Todd Delman for your lightning fast help, and in
memory of Sara Shatz's mother
Gil and Shirley Benatar, Tal and Orri in memory of Miriam Karlsberg and
deepest condolences to Sara Shatz and family
Joan Yockel in memory of Ivan Gilbert
Steven and Smadar Import in memory of Miriam Karlsberg and wishing a
speedy recovery to Alegria Bitton
Mary Jane Brown in memory of Ivan Gilbert
Bob and Marcia Hershfield in honor of the 2013 graduating classes, in
honor of retiring teachers Minna Shifman, Dora Kopp, and Laurie
Alexander, in honor of departing teachers Tzion and Robin Elbaz, and
Devorah Aronowitz, in memory of Ivan Gilbert, Miriam Karlsberg, in honor
of the recovery of Michael Weisz, Kristine Coyne, and Susan Zanner
Bob and Patti Wolf, Josh and Rachel in honor of Rabbi Zvi and Sara Beth
Kahn and family thank you for your leadership and friendship and in
memory of Marty Hoffman
Susie Stan and Stuart Applebaum in honor of Adira Kahn becoming a Bat
Mitzvah
Bob and Betsey Lane in memory of Miriam Karlsberg and Marty Hoffman
Jeff and Lori Polster in memory of Marty Hoffman
Alan and Sara Shatz and family in memory of Marty Hoffman
Steven and Jennifer Siegel in memory of Marty Hoffman
Leonard and Heddy Rabe in memory of Marty Hoffman
Paul and Kim Osborne in memory of Miriam Karlsberg
Yale and Lauren Levy in memory of Martin Hoffman, Myron Maxwell,
Gordon Hecker's father, in memory of Middle School Basketball Coach
Richard Russell and Michelle & Langus Gelber's aunt, Vicky Garfunkel
Andrew and Jan Wiener in honor of Jay and Jeanie Schottenstein
Andrew and Tricia Rosenstein in memory of Richard Russell, CTA Soccer
Coach
Don, Eydie, and Jennifer Garlikov wishing Jay Schottenstein a speedy and
complete recovery
Eric and Anny Hoffman and family in honor of a complete recovery to Jay
Schottenstein
To the Annual Giving Fund:
Gary and Rosalind Judd in honor of Samson and Sigal Judd
Harvey and Lisa Sukienik in memory of Miraim Karlsberg
Leah Salis in memory of her Zayde David Kanter
Michael and Ginny Schlonsky in memory of Frances and Joseph
Schlonsky
Amnon and Arlene Sapir in honor of their children, Jennifer and Benji
Rebecca Herszage in honor of Dotan Herszage and in memory of her
husband Moshe Herszage
Florine Ruben in memory of Bernard Ruben
Theodore and Mildred Blumenfeld in honor of daughter-in-law Sarah
To the CBI Fund:
Mark Glazman and Janyce Katz in memory of Barry Jaffe
Hyman and Sandra Schreiber, Janyce Katz, and Sandra Manning in honor
of Louis Katz
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BOX TOPS FOR EDUCATION PROGRAM
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BOX TOPS PARTICIPATING PRODUCTS
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BOX TOPS PARTICIPATING PRODUCTS PAGE 2
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BOX TOPS PARTICIPATING PRODUCTS PAGE 3
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PARSHA NITZAVIM VAYELECH QUIZ
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Nitzavim
1. What is the connection between the verse "atem nitzavim" and the curses in the previous parsha?
a. The Jewish People asked, "Who can survive such curses?" Moshe responded, "You've done a lot to anger Hashem, and yet "atem nitzavim" you're still standing before Him.
2. Who were the wood-choppers and water-carriers?
a. Canaanites who joined the Jewish People under false pretenses.
3. Why can Hashem never "swap" the Jewish People for another nation?
a. Because Hashem swore to their ancestors that He would never do so.
4. One who ignores the Torah's warnings "adds drunkenness to thirst." What does this mean?
a. He causes Hashem to reckon his unintentional sins alongside his intentional ones, punishing him for all.
5. What two cities were destroyed along with Sedom and Amorah?
a. Admah and Tsevyoim.
6. "The hidden things are for Hashem, our G-d, and the revealed things are for us..." What does this mean?
a. There is collective culpability only for "open" sins, but not for "hidden" ones.
Vayelech
1. Moshe said, "I am 120 years old today. I am no longer able to go out and come in..." How do we know this does not refer to physical inability?
a. Because verse 34:7 says "His (Moshe's) eye never dimmed, and his (youthful) moisture never departed."
2. Which of Moshe's statements to Yehoshua was later contradicted by Hashem's command?
a. Moshe told Yehoshua to share his leadership with the Elders. Hashem later commanded Yehoshua to rule alone.
3. Why does the Torah refer to Succot of the eighth year as though it occurred during the shemita year?
a. Because the laws of the seventh year still apply to the harvest.
4. Why does the Torah command that babies be brought to the Torah reading?
a. To give reward to those who bring them.
5. What does it mean that Hashem "hides His face?"
a. He ignores their distress.
6. What function does the song Ha'azinu serve?
a. It warns what will befall the Jewish Peopole if they abandon Torah.
(Parsha Nitzavim Vayelech Quiz originally appeared on the
Ohr Somayach website, www.ohr.edu)
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