| HEADMASTER'S MESSAGE | |
 In this week's parsha of Vayakhel, we read about Moshe's request to the Jewish people do donate the raw materials needed for the construction of the Mishkan and its vessels. The Torah relates that the people responded with tremendous enthusiasm and overwhelmed the collectors with their gifts of precious stones, gold, silver, copper fine wool, linen and other materials. The donations came in such high quantities that ultimately Moshe was compelled to beseech the people to cease and desist. What an unusual problem to have and what an inspiring lesson for all future generations! The next time we are asked to contribute to a worthy cause, let's keep this story in mind and overwhelm the recipient with our kindness and generosity.
Shabbat Shalom!
Rabbi Kahn
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LION PRIDE - OUR ATHLETES IN ACTION!
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Another basketball season is winding down, but the "memory making" for CTA athletes and our athletic program lives on forever.
The successes and defeats, the sweat and tears all go into the skills that the players learn both on and off the court. We are proud to be able to offer three seasons of athletics in a small private school like CTA. To do so, we need significant participation from students who might not have thought their athletic skill would put them on the team. At CTA, everyone makes the team and everyone is part of the team. The physical skills, leadership opportunities and camaraderie that is created are vital parts of growing up and also of a CTA education.
 Congratulations to the Girls' Varsity Basketball Team on their 5th place win in the Rabbi Alexander Gross Hebrew Academy Basketball Tournament in Miami, Florida. This was CTA's best showing since the beginning of our participation in the tournament.
As Dateline went to print, the Boys' Varsity Basketball Team was headed to the Championship Game against Vineyard Community School.
Thank you to all the coaches for their time, energy and effort and to the parents who come out to cheer, chauffer the kids to practices and games and generously give of their time and money to support our teams. Kudos to Athletic Director, Matt Bailey (and his family) and the Tanenbaum Concession team. We look forward to Baseball/Softball season with gusto! Go Lions!
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Monday, February 24: Pizza Bagels - R. Fineberg
Tuesday, February 25: Hamburgers-Volunteer: L. Polster
Wednesday, February 26: Pizza-Volunteer: M. Szatmary
Lower School Student Council, 4-5pm
Thursday, February 27: Chicken Cutlets-Volunteer: M. Napper
Friday, February 28: Fish Sticks-P. Schiff
1st Grade Iditarod, 9:00am
Lower School Dress Down Day
PSAS Financial Assistance Forms Due
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Monday, March 3: Executive Board Meeting, 7:30pm
Sunday, March 9: Daylight Savings Time Begins, turn clocks ahead 1 hour
March 10-12 & 17-18: OGT Exam, Grade 10
Friday, March 14: Purim Festivities, Grades K-12
March 20-23: Varsity Boys Detroit Basketball Tournament
Friday, March 21: End of 3rd Quarter
Tuesday, March 25: 7th Grade Magazine Sale Kick-Off for 8th Grade Washington Trip
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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-2pm
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.
Featured Fundraisers: Fun Factory collection of Ink Jet cartridges, and iGive.com.
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NEWS FROM THE LOWER SCHOOL JUDAIC STUDIES DEPARTMENT
By Dror Karavani, Lower School Judaic Studies Coordinator |
Berachot unit in Kindergarten 
As part of our curriculum, showing Hakarat Hatov (appreciation) is a value which we often like to recognize. The students learn to observe different situations and give praise and gratitude to those responsible for their needs being met. This is one of the main points in our unit of Berachot (blessings) that our Kindergarten students explored with their teachers, Morah Jaime and Morah Naomi. Using songs, games, projects and of course their "taste buds," the children learned the blessings on a variety of foods, while acknowledging and thanking Hashem, too. A beracha book was made by each child and was taken home in order to serve as a reminder of what was taught in school and can be practiced at home as well. Shabbat Shalom!
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ON THE UP & UP:
NEWS FROM THE UPPER SCHOOL JUDAIC STUDIES DEPT.
By Rabbi Zecharia Weitz |
Halacha Man!
Finally, a superhero worthy of a CTA jersey: Rabbi Drandoff's halacha class has done it again, fusing the complexities of the halachot of Shabbat with action, suspense and humor with the return of Halacha Man in Halacha Man Vs. Mukza Man! Hichot Shabbat is a yearlong course offered to 11th graders that focuses on some of the more common Shabbat laws. A primary goal is to expose our students to the classic halachic sources, the halachic process and applying a halachic framework to modern scenarios. Halacha Man is a fun illustration of many of these concepts in action. Click here to watch and please share your thoughts with the all-star cast http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-wBUjn2z9mM.
 Table Talk: The implication that the building of the mishkan must stop on Shabbat (from this week's parsha, VaYakeil) teaches us that the 39 primary forms of work used in creating the mishkan are the definition of work on Shabbat. In other words, the Mishkan is our paradigm of work. What can this teach us about our earthly endeavors during the week and the cessation of work on Shabbat?
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| MAZAL TOV TO: |
Dr. Benji Sapir (Class of 2000) on his marriage to Lauren Gruenbaum
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| PTO MISS CHOCOLATE FUNDRAISER |
ALL students in grades K-8 should be bringing home a Miss Chocolate fundraiser packet today. All orders and money must be turned in to the front office by Monday, March 3.
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| TEACHER PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT GROWTH |
Morah Elana Katz, Judaic teacher in 5th and 6th grade, was a recent presenter at the Associated Talmud Torah's Teachers' Educational Conference held in Chicago over President's Day Weekend. The consortium brings together Jewish day school educators from throughout Greater Chicago. Her presentation: Empowering Students to Become Independent חומש Learners, is reflective of the Chumash curriculum that she has developed and uses with our students at CTA.
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| COLUMBUS BASEBALL INVITATIONAL FILLS ALL SLOTS |
 Mark your calendars for the 2014 CBI! On May 18-20, 2014, athletes will descend on Columbus, Ohio to join in this annual Baseball Tournament featuring players from Jewish day schools from across the country. All 8 slots have been filled. Visiting schools to this CTA hosted event are: Columbus Torah Academy (CBI Host), Ida Crown Jewish Academy (CBI Champ 2011), Yeshiva Atlanta (CBI Champ 2012), Kushner (CBI Champ 2013), Fuchs Mizrachi (CBI participant 2013), SAR (CBI participant 2013), Shalhevet (CBI Rookie), and Yeshiva Flatbush (CBI Rookie). To get involved in this great event, please contact Commissioners, Jonathan Hartstein or Bob Lane.
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| PSAS TUITION ASSISTANCE FORMS DUE |
Financial Assistance forms are due this coming Friday, February 28. If you would like to apply for ANY level of financial assistance, you must complete the appropriate PSAS (Private School Aid Service). All deadlines must be adhered to. Forms are available online at www.torahacademy.org or NEW THIS YEAR, apply and submit all information online at www.psas.org/4944.
Please note, PSAS will assess a $30 late fee for all applications received after February 28. CTA will assess a $500 late fee for all non-kindergarten applications received after February 28.
The financial assistance form and documentation should be mailed, faxed or uploaded directly to PSAS along with a copy of your 2013 W-2's and 2013 1099's and, if available, 2013 tax return (if not, please submit 2012 tax return) for their analysis. The results will be evaluated by the CTA Scholarship Committee.
If you have any questions about Financial Assistance or Payment Plans, contact Norman Leist at [email protected] or 864-0299, ext. 100.
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| GRANDPARENTS & SPECIAL PERSONS BRIGHTEN THE SCHOOL DAY |
The hallways of the Lower School were teeming with visitors just a few Fridays ago when the students had the opportunity to invite their grandparents or special friends to visit in their classroom and enjoy an afternoon at Columbus Torah Academy. After an energetic rendition of "We Are Family" performed onstage in the shul by the entire Lower School, visitors and students participated in classroom activities that ranged from using math manipulatives to playing Hebrew language games and more. The purpose of GPSPD is to expand our school community beyond our faculty, students and parents to engage a wider cross section. Showing off our wonderful program and great facility empowers everyone with pride in CTA. Thank you for the faculty support and parent volunteers who made it successful. Special thank you to teachers Mary Lynn Buster and Kate Willis, and parent Leslie Hoffman.
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| CANTEEN VS. VENDING MACHINE |
Snacks are available at the front desk (benefiting Yearbook) and the vending machine. The vending machine accepts COINS ONLY. The canteen accepts bills and coins. So, if your child prefers the snacks from the vending machine, we ask that you send coins with them to school as the front office is unable to make change.
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| COMMUNITY NEWS |
Sunday, March 9, 2014 from 10:30 am-12:30 pm help celebrate the 2nd Anniversary of the "Love & Hugs Program" for Zusman Hospice at Build-A-Bear Workshop at Easton. Make a Bear to help replenish the much needed supply of bears for Zusman Hospice patients and families to love and cherish. Every $18 donation will make a bear for the program. For more information about Love & Hugs, please click below:
http://whv.org/Healthcare/Zusman-Hospice/Love-Hugs or contact The Cammeyer Family at 614-258-5654.
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ZUSMAN LOVE & HUGS PROGRAM
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| 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 the Scholarship Fund:
In honor of Jay & Jeannie Schottenstein and Joey & Lindsay
Schottenstein for their generosity and help with the Varsity Girls Basketball Team's trip to Miami, to CTA Athletics Director Mr. Matt Bailey for all of his hard work and dedication to CTA, to Drs. Dan and Leslie Chase, to the coaches Eddie Karmia, Joey Nutis and Hillary Hoxworth and in memory of Gordon Zacks
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IMPORTANT PURIM INFORMATION
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1. On which day did Moshe assemble the Jewish People?
a. The day after Yom Kippur.
2. Why is the prohibition against doing work on Shabbat written prior to the instruction for building the Mishkan?
a. To emphasize that the building of the Mishkan does not supersede the laws of Shabbat.
3. Why does the Torah specify the particular prohibition of lighting a fire on Shabbat right after it had already noted the general prohibition of doing work on Shabbat?
a. There are two opinions: One opinion is to teach that igniting a fire on Shabbat is punishable by lashes as opposed to other "melachot" which are punishable by death. The other opinion is to teach that violation of numerous "melachot" at one time requires a separate atonement for each violation.
4. What function did the "yitdot hamishkan" serve?
a. The edges of the curtains were fastened to them. These were inserted in the ground so the curtains would not move in the wind.
5. What function did the "bigdei hasrad" serve?
a. They covered the aron, the shulchan, the menorah, and the mizbachot when they were packed for transport.
6. What was unusual about the way the women spun the goat's hair?
a. It was spun directly from off the backs of the goat.
7. Why were the Nesi'im last to contribute to the building of the Mishkan? How does the Torah show dissatisfaction with their actions?
a. The Nesi'im reasoned that they would first let the people contribute materials needed for the Mishkan and then they would contribute what was lacking. The Torah shows its dissatisfaction by deleting a letter from their title.
8. Who does the Torah identify as the primary builders of the Mishkan? From which tribes were they?
a. Betzalel ben Uri from the tribe of Yehuda; Oholiav ben Achisamach from the tribe of Dan.
(Parsha Vayakhel Quiz appeared on the Ohr Somayach website)
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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 the parasha? Look in Chapter 35, Verse 30. You will find the answer there.
The winner of last week's riddle is Sigal Judd.
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.
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