Since our last update in the Dateline, our Search Committee, in consultation with Yeshiva University decided to pursue an Interim Head of School for the 2014-2015 school year. After enlisting the assistance of Yeshiva University Day School Partnership, we have found an excellent candidate. CTA has invited Rabbi Shmuel Levine for a visit to Columbus, Feb. 18-19. After an extensive career in Jewish education, Rabbi Levine is retiring from his current position as Headmaster of Hillel Day School of Boca Raton at the conclusion of this school year and is very interested in exploring the Interim post at CTA.  During his stay, he will be touring Columbus, having lunch with community leaders, and interacting with teachers and administrators.  A "Meet and Greet" of Board members and the Search Committee will be held on Tuesday evening, February 18. We encourage everyone to make Rabbi Levine feel welcome and eager to join our school community.

Building the Mishkan:  Last Friday, our Kindergarteners were once again very busy. Anyone walking by the old gym would have seen the children focused and working hard together with their teachers. They learned about the Mishkan and the special kailim (the holy vessels), and with wooden blocks, they built the Mishkan. They focused on the big room - the Kodesh - and the small room - the Kodesh Hakadoshim.  Each student had a picture of one of the special vessels (i.e. the menorah, the altar, the holy ark, etc.). Each entered the Mishkan and placed it in the correct room. What a wonderful way to welcome Shabbat and Rosh Chodesh Adar! 

This Friday, the students dressed the Kohanim in their special clothing and learned about different uniforms worn by people and the significance of each one of them. 

Parashat Hashavua with Fifth and Sixth Graders:  Morah Elana's Fifth and Sixth Graders are being exposed to some very exciting learning, including discussions of the main topics in the parashat hashavua, various commentaries and their viewpoints, and more. She has added a new level of learning specifically during parashat hashavua class. In addition to the views presented, the students have learned to take all of this information and synthesize it by writing down their own D'vrei Torah which they first present to their classmates and then share at their own Shabbat tables.  What a wonderful way to make the parasha personalized and to have the students express themselves and begin their journeys in public speaking. 

Pesach Already?

Last year our high school learned about the Exodus in Chumash class and this year we are learning Tractate Pesachim and the story of Avraham being selected to find the Chosen People. What an opportune time to bring home the concept of Exodus and the Chosen People to something meaningful and personally relevant. After much deliberation from the Judaic Studies team, our high school embarked on an interdisciplinary Haggadah project that will hopefully bring the past 2 years worth of study to a deeper and more personal dimension. After the students have distilled their personal connection to Exodus and the Chosen Nation, Mrs. Moreno and Mr. Guinan will help them put their thoughts into a compelling written work. We hope our efforts to deepen the message of Pesach will speak to others as well. Please be on the look-out for our high school's Seder companion this Nissan (April)!

Table Talk: In last week's parsha we read about the construction of the Mishkan and this week the parsha (Titzaveh) focuses on the Kohanic garb. Between the gold, rare gems and fine fabrics the Kohenic trappings  must have cost hundreds of thousands of dollars. How does such a focus on clothing fit in the holiest place on earth? Are there implications for how we dress today?

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:

Paul and Karan Tanenbaum in memory of Avrohom Leib Hershoff brother of

   Elaine Shindel and Dorothy Kahn