Jeanie Schottenstein on receiving a Master of Psychology degree from

   The University of Phoenix

Yaakov (Ken) Schwartz (8th Grade Class of '72), Menahel of the Talmudic

   Academy Middle School in Baltimore, upon receiving the Harbotzas

   Hatorah Award at the Ner Yisroel Yeshiva dinner.

CTA continues to be a provider of the Educational Choice Scholarship (EdChoice) Program created to provide students from underperforming public schools the opportunity to attend participating private schools. The program provides up to 60,000 EdChoice scholarships to eligible students.

In addition, for the 2015-2016 school year, approximately 4,000 EdChoice Scholarships will be available to incoming kindergartner and first grade students whose family income is at or below 200% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines.  The application will open February 1, 2015.

We will get more information to you as it becomes available.

Israel Advocacy

For their senior year, CTA seniors devote a semester to study and experience Israel Advocacy. Based on the David Project, this course provides our students with a vital appreciation of the history and relationship our Nation has with Israel as well as historical and contemporary issues related to Israel. This knowledge empowers students to confidently and articulately discuss Israel in the various interactions they will have after leaving these walls. Rabbi Drandoff seizes opportunities to put a soul into these lessons. Naturally, when he heard that Jacob Portman would be around for Chanuka, he arranged for Jacob to address the class.

Jacob shared with the class what motivated him to go beyond the standard gap-year Israel experience and join the IDF. The senior class had a chance to hear and ask questions about Jacob's experience in Israel and in the IDF, including active combat. We hope that seeing recent graduates their school and community that actually live the life and values CTA preaches will help current students connect these values with reality.

The Lights of Chanukah are all around: After learning and preparing so much for Chanukah, our culminating activities included special presentations from our students and a fabulous Student Council carnival. On Friday, the Kindergarteners and First Graders lit the chanukiah, sang the brachot, and told the story of the Maccabim. The Second Graders danced together and the story of Channukah was acted out by 3rd and 4th grades. We hope that the light of our "Living Chanukah Candles" will spread throughout Shabbat and the rest of the year. Chag Chanukah Sameach and Shabbat Shalom.

Kindergarten Chanukah Celebration through Skype: Last Monday, a very exciting program was launched here at CTA and at "Rakefet" school in Israel. The students participated in a Skype session so they could meet their friends and compare the various settings of their classrooms. The children enjoyed hearing the Chanukah songs sung by each class and singing songs together, as well.  They exchanged riddles and were proud to show their knowledge.   The final surprise was when both groups received a big box, which had been sent ahead, containing goody bags for each student. The seeds of friendship have been planted and I'm sure that this relationship will continue to grow stronger and stronger.

Wednesday, February 11 will be a great night out for CTA parents and Upper School students at our Poetry Out Loud celebration which will culminate our in-school competition.  The National Poetry Out Loud is a recitation competition of poetry readings.  At CTA, the students will be competing in class to represent their grade at the event on February 11 beginning at 7:30 pm held at CTA.  The event will feature a coffee house ambiance and draw poetry enthusiasts from across the school community.  Save the date on your calendar and more information will be available closer to the event.

Once a year, high school teenagers from Columbus have the opportunity to participate in the March of the Living. The March of the Living is a two-week international experience where teens from around the world, representing over 50 countries, come together annually to travel to Poland to bear witness to the destruction of the Holocaust in Poland and then travel to Israel to rejoice in the Jewish Homeland.  The program commemorates "Yom HaShoah," Holocaust Memorial Day, by marching from Auschwitz to Birkenau and "Yom HaAtzmaut," Israeli Independence Day, by dancing in the streets of Jerusalem. This year's MOTL is April 13-27, 2015. The overall cost of this trip is approximately $5,800 per student. Fifteen Jewish High School students deeply desire to have this moving, once in a life-time experience, but the price is cost prohibitive for many of these families. Many of the families have limited financial means or extenuating circumstances and expected/ hoped to get the $2000 BBYO financial aid scholarship. Unfortunately, BBYO nationally had an overwhelming amount of applicants, which made funding very limited. No families from Columbus received any money from BBYO. With your help, these teens can participate in this trip. Without this money, approximately 2/3 of the families are NOT able to send their child on this emotional and life changing trip. We need your help in making this trip a reality for our children. 

The deadline for final registration is next week. Would you please consider giving a donation so that our teens can participate in the March of the Living.  ANY gift amount would be extremely helpful.

If you are willing to help make this trip a reality for Columbus teens, you can contribute to the 2015 MOTL Fund at the Columbus Jewish Foundation. All donations are tax-deductible and should indicate "2015 MOTL Fund." Checks can be mailed to the Columbus Jewish Foundation, 1175 College Ave, Columbus, Ohio 43209. Or call the Foundation at 614.338.2365 to recommend a distribution from your Donor Advised Fund, Philanthropic Fund, or to charge your credit card.

The third graders in Mrs. Miller's group read a story, "What Illustrators Do" and learned the steps that are needed to make a mural. They viewed a slide show that displayed the many murals around Columbus, Ohio. The mural was created by Bassie Andrusier, Arianna Eskin, Li'elle Chaykin and Ariel Weisband.

Friday, February 6 will be Grandparents and Special Person's Day at Columbus Torah Academy for students in grades K-6 and their guests.  The event will begin at 12:30 pm and run through the end of the school day.   More information will be available closer to the event.  If you want to help on the planning committee, contact sherszage@torahacademy.org.

Grades 7-12 are enjoying a special Chanukah Color War. The students and teachers are divided into two teams for competitions like tug-of-war, teacher Pictionary, a brachot bee, relay races, a cooking competition and more. Bonus points are given for displays for good middot.

Both Thursday and Friday mornings, the day began with davening and then classes for the first three periods of the day. After classes, the students were back into Color War. The finale is Friday afternoon right before dismissal for Winter Break. They are showing great sportsmanship and school spirit. We owe a tremendous debt of gratitude to Mrs. Savage who is running this program.

GIVE THE GIFT OF FITNESS THIS CHANUKAH: Save $50 on a JCC Annual Membership plus new first time personal training clients can receive a one time $20.15 rate (reg. $70).  Call 559-6227 for more information.

14TH ANNUAL KOSHER CHINESE DINNER:December 24, 5:30-7:00 pm. RSVP by Dec. 18 to Matan Gutwaks at mgutwaks@columbusjcc.org or 559-6276.

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:

Alex and Susan Rosen in memory of Gleb Simakovsky

Jonathan and Agi Hartstein in memory of Gleb Simakovsky

Marc and Lisa Carroll in honor of Patty Sapp for her leadership and

   commitment to her students

Daniel Chazan in memory of Brian Flox

To the Annual Giving Fund:

Richard and Diane Bornstein in memory of Sandra Morrow

By demand, the E-Dateline will now be offering advertising space in its weekly newsletter.  Space is limited and rates are weekly as follows:

Weekly Dateline Sponsorship $150 (includes tribute line at top of newsletter)

Full Weekly E-Dateline Sponsorship:  $150 - Name at top

Full Size Submission:  $75 - size is 780 x 432 pixels/10 x 6"

Half Size Submission:  $50 - size is 390x 216 pixels/5.4 x 3"

1/3 Size Submission:  $30 - size is 260 x 144 pixels/3.6 x 2"

Rates are weekly and all submissions must be received by Wednesday at noon.  At this time advertising is only available in the e-Dateline, not paper version.  Advertising submissions are subject to content review. Contact sherszage@torahacademy.org for more information.