|
|
|
|
| HEADMASTER'S MESSAGE | |
 In this week's Torah portion we meet Noach, the heroic builder of the ark. The Rabbis of the Talmud were not all of one mind regarding Noach; some viewed him very favorably while others questioned his actions. One of the things the latter group did not admire was Noach's apparent lack of concern with rescuing other people from the impending flood. How can it be, they ask, that Noach was unable to convince even one other person besides his family members that G-d was planning to punish mankind for their evil ways. They contrast Noach with Avraham Avinu who devoted his life to sharing the news about Hashem with other people. We can learn a very important lesson from this. It is not sufficient to be solely concerned with our own well-being. In addition to assisting others with their material needs, we should also encourage and inspire other people to grow spiritually and help them stay on the right path.
Shabbat Shalom!
Rabbi Zvi Kahn
|
|
CTA INVESTS IN PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT FOR TEACHERS
| |
 CTA has sponsored two workshops designed specifically to enhance our faculty's effectiveness in the classroom.
During Teacher In-Service on August 21, Mr. Earl Oremus, Headmaster of Marburn Academy, came to CTA to help all K-12 teachers develop a better understanding of working with ADHD students. Mr. Oremus had given part 1 of this workshop to the Upper School teachers last Spring, and it was so well-received, everyone wanted him back. The entire K-12 faculty learned together about classroom management techniques that work and don't work with these students. CTA excels at accommodating students with a wide range of abilities and challenges. Mr. Oremus was very helpful in helping us distinguish when we can help a student and when a student may need a more specialized program to help overcome his/her challenges.
On September 24, all CTA Math Teachers, K-12 participated in a full-day workshop on "Singapore Math." In an effort to improve their math education, educational leaders in Singapore compiled a set of "best-practices" based on research that was actually done in the U.S. Until Singapore had tremendous success with these practices, U.S. educators hadn't really applied the research here at home.
 These "best-practices" are in sync with the Math Common Core practice standards that all CTA teachers are moving toward. Both Upper School and Lower School math teachers were invigorated and engaged. The workshop provided useful teaching strategies that CTA teachers can begin employing immediately. Special thanks to the anonymous donor who made this workshop possible.
More Professional Development coming soon...On October 21st, all CTA teachers, K-12 will participate in a workshop called "Writing to Learn." Mr. Chris Manion from OSU's Center for the Study and Teaching of Writing will be our presenter.
|
|
|
Monday, October 7: Pizza Bagels: Volunteer-Y. Levi
Tuesday, October 8: Hamburgers: Volunteer-L. Schottenstein
Wednesday, October 9: Lasagna
Thursday, October 10: Chicken Cutlets
Friday, October 11: Fish Sticks: Volunteer-S. Lubow
|
|
| |
Wednesday, October 16: PSAT Exam, Grades 10, 11
Friday, November 1: End of 1st Quarter
Sunday, November 3: Daylight Savings Time Ends-turn clocks back 1hr.
Monday, November 4: Spirit Day and Turn in Tzedakah Box
Friday, November 8: 2:00 p.m. Friday Dismissal Schedule Begins
|
|
| |
Monday, Oct. 7
AWAY Soccer vs. St. Johns
MS Boys, 5:00pm
AWAY Volleyball vs. St. Johns
MS Girls, 5:00pm
Tuesday, Oct. 8
AWAY Soccer vs. Liberty Christian
HS Boys, 5:30pm
AWAY Volleyball vs. Liberty Christian
HS Girls, 6:00pm
Wednesday, Oct. 9
AWAY Volleyball vs. Patriot Prep
HS Girls, 5:00pm
Thursday, Oct. 10
AWAY Soccer vs. Horizon Science
HS Boys, 5:00pm
AWAY Volleyball vs. Horizon Science
HS Girls, 5:00pm
|
SCRIP UPDATE - PLACES TO PURCHASE SCRIP
|
CTA Scrip Office, 864-0299 ext. 112
Monday-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.
|
|
|
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!
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.
|
|
NEWS FROM THE LOWER SCHOOL JUDAIC STUDIES DEPARTMENT
By Dror Karavani, Lower School Judaic Studies Coordinator
| |
To give you a brief summary of what's happened over Sukkot, I'll share some pictures and ideas of what's been covered. In addition to the learning in the classroom and the projects which came home to help decorate your sukkah, the students participated in the traditional Sukkah Hop and Simchat Beit Hashoayvah. During the Sukkah Hop, the students visited various shul sukkahs and enjoyed snacks and stories from the Rabbis. Also, our students interacted and played games with the JCC children and brought joy and songs to the elderly at the Heritage House. We also presented them with a large art  piece to be hung in the sukkah, which was made by the students at the JCC/CTA Sukkot Program. Throughout the other days of Chol Hamoed, the students enjoyed the Simchat Beit Hashoayvah with a special musical Hallel, singing, dancing, davening, learning and of course the favorite eating of the caramel apples. Speaking of food, each child had the opportunity to taste a bit from the etrog and to say the special bracha of Shehechiyanu.This Friday, we brought in the new month of Cheshvan by putting decorative centerpieces on the tables and talking about the theme of the month, which is "The Rain in Israel." There will be many projects relating to this month, which will be discussed in further issues. Shabbat Shalom and Chodesh Tov!
 
|
ON THE UP & UP:
NEWS FROM THE UPPER SCHOOL JUDAIC STUDIES DEPT.
By Rabbi Zecharia Weitz |
It is official; the 2013-14 Student Council has been elected: Co-Presidents: Noah Hazan and Aleeza Hartstein
V.P.: Nathaniel Keri
V.P. Activities: Becky Portman
V.P. Chessed: Zach Sukienik
Treasurer: Ariella Hartstein
Events Coordinator: Rosie Kalef
Secretary: Hannah Blumenfeld
Under the fearless auspices of the Dean of Student Life, Rabbi Drandoff, this driven team has already launched a sukkah-building fundraiser, a Chol-HaMoed team building program and - with the help of our Rosh Chodesh Club, a School Spirit Rosh Chodesh Bizarre.  Summer "Vacation" With Rabbi Frankiel: Between Rabbi Yaakov Frankiel's two weeks of intensive classes in New York, another 2 weeks working with his Ohio teens in 8 NCSY programs in Israel and then Camp Sports in Baltimore, his wife Shira gets the real kudos (we hope you got her something really expensive Rabbi!). Rabbi Frankiel received certification from Torah U'Mesorah's Professional Development program over his stay in the Big Apple. Reflecting on the experience, Rabbi Frankiel obtained more than just expertise: "Two months later I find myself picking up the phone, calling Queens, Baltimore and Boston, tapping the knowledge and insight of educators who have been teaching from before I was born!" FOOD FOR THOUGHT: It was clearly miraculous to fit and sustain representatives of the entire living World into one ship - for a whole year! Why didn't Hashem just perform an open miracle instead of troubling Noach build and experience the Ark odyssey?
|
| CONGRATULATIONS TO MRS. MORENO |
 An article written by Mrs. Sage Moreno was published in the September issue of The Ohio Resource Center's on-line journal, Adolescent Literacy In Perspective. You can see her article, "Word Wizards-Building Vocabulary the Fun Way," at:
http://ohiorc.org/adlit/InPerspective/Issue/2013-09/Article/vignette2.aspx.
We appreciate her good work and wanted to share our appreciation with you.
|
| STAR TEACHER: KELSEY BREEN, SCIENCE TEACHER |
 Kelsey Breen teaches Science in the Upper School. She teaches 8th Grade Science and 11th and 12th Grade Environmental Science. Ms. Breen received her B.A. in Zoology from Miami University of Ohio, and is pursuing a M.A. in Evolution, Ecology and Organismal Biology at OSU. Ms. Breen worked as a Teaching Assistant on both the undergraduate and graduate levels before coming to CTA.
|
| 7TH GRADE "MUMMY" MAKING |
 Mrs. Moreno's 7th grade Social Studies culminated their unit on Ancient Egypt by simulating how Mummy's were made in that ancient civilization. They have spent the last few weeks researching the Egypt's daily life, religion, pharaohs, and the Nile River. They used "mummified" raw whole chickens by removing the organs, rubbing on oil and spices, wrapping in linen, and placing the carcus in a sarcophagus (coffin) before enacting a burial ceremony for the mummy. The students came up with very creative ideas for the ceremony and the items needed, like canopic jars and burial goods. The students enjoyed bringing to life a part of the ancient history they've been studying.
|
| LITTLE ONES COME TO STORYTIME AT CTA |
 CTA and PJ Library joined together for a Sukkot Story Time in the Sukkah during the holiday. Rabbi Kahn was the guest reader and engaged the students in stories and learning about the etrog and lulav. More Story Times are scheduled during the school year for preschoolers and their siblings. The next one is November 20, at 3 pm in preparation for Chanukah!
|
|
SCHOLARSHIP DINNER CORNER
|
Plans are gearing up for the Annual Scholarship Dinner which will be held on Sunday, November 24 beginning at 5:30 pm with hors d'oeuvres and then a sit down dinner at the new Hilton Hotel in Downtown Columbus. Honorees for the evening are Drs. Daniel & Leslie Chase, parents, volunteers, and supporters of CTA. Journal ads are currently being solicited and items are being procured for the Silent & Student Artwork Auction during the event. The choir has begun practicing and we anxiously await their performance. Invitations are forthcoming and all parents are encouraged to attend. To get Journal contracts or for more information, contact adbook@torahacademy.org. To get involved, speak to one of the co-chairs: Esther Bernzweig, Dalia Koppes or Murielle Rosenberg.
|
| REMINDER: TZEDAKAH BOX TURN IN |
ROSH CHODESH CHESHVAN TZEDAKAH BOX TURN IN. Once a month, plan to turn in your Tzedakah Box money that you have collected at home in your CTA Tzedakah Box. All money should be turned in by check, in a baggie or envelope this coming week. Turn it in to the front desk and the amount will be counted and applied to your Give & Get commitment. Last year, over $1,100 was raised through our Tzedakah Box Campaign this year. If you don't have a box or need a new one or one for the office, contact info@torahacademy.org.
|
|
MAZAL TOV TO:
|
David and Esther Bernzweig on Harry becoming a Bar Mitzvah
Abby Schwarz Cnaan (Class of '01) on the birth of a son
Isaac Goldsmith (8th Grade Class of '02) on the birth of a daughter
Nathan Mellman (8th Grade Class of '78) on being promoted to Colonel in
the Air Force Active Reserve
Helene Azose (8th Grade Class of '76) on the engagement of her daughter
Diana to Daniel Zwelling (Class of '06)
|
|
CONDOLENCES TO:
|
The family of Simyon Shneyvas, former CTA "grandparent"
Sue Yehling on the passing of her husband, Dr. Don Yehling, former CTA
Science Teacher
|
|
FLU VACCINE
|
Flu vaccine will be available at Columbus Torah Academy on Thursday, October 17, at 9 am.
In order to participate,
1) Read the Vaccine Information Statement found on the CTA website. Please contact your health care provider or clinic with any questions.
2) The Student Registration Form must be completed and signed by a parent or guardian then returned to the school nurse by Friday October 11, 2013. The form can be found on the CTA website.
|
|
COMMUNITY NEWS
|
Gallery Players presents "Yentl," at the JCC, October 19-November 3. Don't miss CTA Executive Secretary Norma Whitmyre, her husband, Walt Whitmyre and former Performing Arts Director, Laurie Alexander, in this storybased on Isaac Beshevis Singer's "Yentl, the Yeshiva Boy," which centers on a young girl who defies tradition by discussing and debating Jewish law and theology with her rabbi father. When he dies, she cuts her hair, dresses as a man, and sets out to find a yeshiva where she can continue to study Talmud and live secretly as a male named Anshel. When her study partner Avigdor discovers the truth, Yentl's assertions that she is "neither one sex nor the other" and has "the soul of a man in the body of a woman" suggest the character is undergoing a gender identity crisis, especially when she opts to remain living as Anshel for the rest of her life. If you would like to come for a discounted rate of $10/adults (students are always $8), on Saturday, November 2, at 8:00 p.m., please contact Norma at nwhitmyre@torahacademy.org. (Please note that this play deals with mature themes.)
2013 Candidates Night, Thursday, October 10, at Agudas Achim, beginning with a reception at 6:30. The non-partisan event is a service of the Franklin County Consortium for Good Government and is sponsored by many non-profit organizations (including ORT, Hadassah, The Jewish Federation of Columbus, The Federalist Society, the League of Women Voters MC, Black Catholic Ministries of the Catholic Dioceses, Catholic Diocese of Columbus Office for Social Concerns, and Kids Voting Central Ohio.) Ten candidates have committed to attending for the following races:
1. Bexley City Auditor
2. Franklin Co. Municipal Court
3. Bexley City Council
4. Franklin Co. Municipal Court
5. Bexley Library Levy
6. Franklin Co. Municipal Court
If any CTA students are interested in volunteering, please contact Betsey Lane at 236-1492. The volunteer jobs are interesting - including gathering written questions for the candidates from the audience and timing the debate/forum. The event would likely earn them 2 hours of community volunteering.
|
|
TZEDAKAH
|
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:
Dr. Warren and Marlene Sobol and Family wishing our Columbus
Community and CTA friends a happy and healthy, sweet New Year.
Tamara Tweel in honor of Dotan Herszage
To the Annual Giving Fund by:
Art Pollack and Ellen Siegel in memory of Marty Hoffman and in memory
of Ivan Gilbert
Joey and Lindsay Schottenstein in honor of Shari and Dotan Herszage and
Dina and Eli Cieplinski for their honor by their shul and in memory of
Ricky Fein
Rabbi Idit Jacques and Steve Solomon in honor of Adira Bracha Kahn's
Bat Mitzvah
|
|
| |
1. Which particular sin sealed the fate of the flood generation?
a. Robbery.
2. Why did Hashem tell Noach to build an ark, as opposed to saving him via some other method?
a. So that people would see Noach building the ark and ask him what he was doing. When Noach would answer, "Hashem is bringing a flood," it might encourage some people to repent.
3. The ark had three levels. What function did each level serve?
a. The top level housed the people, the middle level housed the animals, and the bottom level, the refuse.
4. What indication do we have that Noach was familiar with the Torah?
a. Hashem told him to take into the ark seven of each kosher-type animal, and two of each noon-kosher type. "Kosher" and "non-kosher" are Torah concepts.
5. Why did Hashem postpone bringing the flood for seven days?
a. To allow seven days to mourn the death of Metushelach.
6. Why did the first water of the flood come down as light rain?
a. To give the generation a chance to repent.
7. What did people say that threatened Noach, and what did Hashem do to protect him?
a. People said, "If we see him going into the ark, we'll smash it!" Hashem surrounded it with bears and lions to kill any attackers.
8. What grouping of creatures escaped the punishment of the flood?
a. The fish.
(Parsha Noach Quiz appeared on the Ohr Somayach website)
|
|
| |
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 the parasha? Look in Chapter 8, Verse 11. You will find the answer there.
Moreh Dror Karavani will collect all of the submitted answers, put them in a box, and save them for the big raffle! You will hear more about this very soon. Keep your answers coming.
|
|
I hope you enjoy the electronic version of our Dateline. Please check out our website at www.torahacademy.org.
|
|
|
