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HEAD OF SCHOOL'S MESSAGE
By Rabbi Samuel J. Levine
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 Our Torah portion relates the offerings brought by the tribal leaders on the day that the Mishkan was dedicated. Rather than saying that all the leaders' offerings were exactly the same, the Torah describes each individual offering in exacting detail. We know that the Torah does not contain an extra letter let alone paragraph after paragraph of repetitive verses and so we must ask what is the point of the repetition? In answering this question, The Lubavitcher Rebbe, of saintly memory, provides a powerful insight into the power and value of each individual. The Rebbe answers that although the components of the offerings were the same, the energy and talents of the people making the offerings was different. Hence, the offerings, imbued with the energy of different individuals, were not exactly the same and therefore worthy of individual mention. By way of example, a violin concerto by Brahms, performed and recorded by Jascha Heifetz is different from that very same concerto performed by Yehudi Menuhin or Itzhak Perlman, even though the composer's music is the same. What makes each performance distinct is the musician's interpretation, the nuance, the heart and soul, and the unique talent that the musician brings to the performance. This is true of any mitzvah we observe. Each and every one of us, as individuals, brings our lived experience, our emotions and our soul to the performance of a mitzvah and that makes our mitzvah different from that of the person that may be standing next to us. To G-d, each mitzvah we perform is special because it contains an element of our very being. Hashem imbued us with distinct personalities and the sum total of what we do as individuals comprises the totality of Klal Yisrael's worship of the Almighty.
It is difficult for me to believe that my first year as Head of School of the Columbus Torah Academy is coming to a close. The year has been personally rewarding as I learned so much about our wonderful school and was warmly welcomed into a caring and highly engaged school community. Although I have worked in Jewish communities significantly larger than Columbus, no group of school stakeholders has been more passionate about its school than is our community. At CTA, Torah values, secular excellence, ardent support for Medinat Yisrael and an atmosphere that is welcoming to Jewish children from across the variegated landscape of the Jewish community, combine to provide our students with an education that is unique.
As explained above, however, what makes our school truly unique is the partnership forged, currently and over the years, by a stellar group of individuals, joined together, focused on providing excellence in education for all of our students. I am proud to be part of this august and essential endeavor.
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IN MEMORIAM: KRISTINE COYNE
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 Beloved former CTA teacher, Kristine Coyne, passed away peacefully on May 23, 2015 after a five year battle with breast cancer. Mrs. Coyne began her teaching career in 1972 at CTA and taught in the lower school for 38 years. She touched so many students, parents and teachers with her generous and sensitive approach to teaching and her kindness to everyone.
A complete obituary can be viewed at here and messages for the family can be left at http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/kristinecoyne
CTA is accepting donations for the Kristine Coyne Book and Literacy Fund to support reading. To make a donation, mail check to CTA, 181 Noe Bixby Road, Columbus, Ohio 43213 or online at: www.torahacademy.org.
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PREVIEW OF THE WEEK
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Sunday, May 31: 12th Grade Graduation, 1:00 pm
Monday, June 1: Pizza Bagels
Final Exams, Grades 9-11
Tuesday, June 2: Tacos
Final Exams, Grades 9-11
Wednesday, June 3: Kindergarten Celebration, 10am
Final Exams, Grades 9-11
Last Day of School, 12:00pm Dismissal
8th Grade Commencement Dinner, 5:30pm
Upper School Awards, 7:30pm
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DATES TO REMEMBER
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Thursday, August 20: 1st Day of School for 2015-16
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SCRIP UPDATE - PLACES TO PURCHASE SCRIP
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CTA Scrip Office, 864-0299 ext. 212
Monday-Thursday: 7:30am-4pm
Friday: 7:30am-4pm
There are limited quantities of gift cards in stock that can be purchased! Below is a list of what we have on-hand and in what denominations. Email your order request to:[email protected] . We are still able to place special orders, just email or call in your specifics. We will give you an approximate expectation for the order to arrive. 
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Looking to help raise money for CTA? Here are a few ways to do it that will cost you NOTHING:
Kroger Rewards Card: Go to www.kroger.com/communityrewards and register your rewards card. Kroger will donated up to 1% of your Kroger or Turkey Hill stores.
OFFICE MAX: Max Perks card number is: 207285005
Target RED Card: Go to https://rcam.target.com/ to manage your red card and enroll your card in the Take Charge of Education program to choose CTA. Target will donate up to 1% of your REDcard purchases at Target stores in the U.S and at Target.com.
Amazon Smile: Go to smile.amazon.com and register to benefit CTA. When you make a purchase, CTA will receive 1% of that purchase as a donation to our school.
iGive: Register with iGive at www.igive.com and your Amazon purchases and online purchases at close to 1500 retailers will give a kickback to CTA. To date we have raised over $1000.
Apples for Students at Giant Eagle: If you are a Giant Eagle shopper, go to www.GiantEagle.com/AFTS to register for their donation program. You will need your Giant Eagle Advantage Card number and the CTA School Code which is #4389.
Magazine Sales: Help the 8th graders year round when you purchase magazines at www.gaschoolstore.com using code #2522449.
If you have trouble with any of these, contact Shari or come visit her in her office and she will walk you through it!
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NEWS FROM THE LOWER SCHOOL JUDAIC STUDIES DEPARTMENT
By Dror Karavani, Lower School Judaic Studies Coordinator
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 It's a piece of yummy Chumash cake.....
A slice of delicious cake is always a special treat, especially when it is combined with learning Chumash. Throughout the year, during Chumash classes, the third and fourth graders use their Chumash cake poster to emphasize the skills that are helping them become independent learners. Each layer in the "Chumash cake" was a step that leads to the next one from reading the posuk correctly with letters, vowels and troupes, all of the way until the question we ask very often, how are the words that were written many years ago still relevant to today and can we learn from them? (Please come and see all the layers of the cake in our classroom.) On Thursday, after a special activity where the students demonstrated their knowledge using that method, each of them enjoyed the real Chumash cake. I hope and believe that the sweetness of studying Torah will stay with them forever.
 Field Trip to the Desert: Last week, we started reading from the book of Bamidbar (in the desert) and the second and third graders went on a special field trip to the desert... that was located in Rabbi Hauser's classroom. There, together with Rabbi Hauser, they went over all of the parshiot of Chumash Bamidbar. They studied the main events and values through a PowerPoint presentation. The students were really "thirsty" for the knowledge and actively participated by asking and answering questions. Yasher Koach.
"Chidon Yahadut": On Monday, we are going to have our third "Chidon Yahadut" for students in grades 3-6 in order to "show off" their knowledge in the various Judaic topics that have been taught throughout the year. Stay tuned...
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NEWS FROM THE UPPER SCHOOL JUDAIC STUDIES DEPARTMENT
By Rabbi Zecharia Weitz, Upper School Judaic Studies Coordinator
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Ending Strong!
There is tangible energy and intensity in the Upper School as students work to consolidate yet another year's worth of lessons, skills, knowledge and experience. It's not just the high school preparing for their finals. Junior high, as in years past, is taking advantage of the last weeks to crystallize the Torah they have learned as well.
But that's not what I wanted to highlight. In addition to all of the aforementioned academic feats of valor, our 8th grade girls have put together yet another fantastic initiative. This Thursday will mark the 1st Lower School Torah Game Show to be hosted by the junior high; "Jew-Party" (play on Jeopardy). The 8th grade girls designed, organized and collaborated with teachers and administrators to make this program a reality. Please congratulate them on their ambitious initiative!
6th Grade Mishna: For the 1st half of the year, I had the pleasure of learning Mishna a couple of times a week with our 6th graders. Much of the time was spent learning an overview of the 39 Melachot of Shabbat (Mishnayot Shabbat, 7:2). Below is a link to 2 videos that are the product of our PBL initiative. A special thank you to 6th grader Talia Delman, our Video Editor & Director of Technology.
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MAZAL TOV TO:
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Mitchell Hirsch (8th Grade Class of '80) on his son Adam being named
top male Scholar-Athlete in the Dispatch Scholar -Athlete Awards
Sharona Kay (Class of '12) on graduating from Stern College with a
major in Chemistry and a minor in math, summa cum laude. She was
awarded the Excellence in Chemistry Award by the American Institute of
Chemistry, Student Award Program. The AIC honors outstanding
seniors, post-baccalaureate and post doctoral students majoring in
chemistry, chemical engineering or biochemistry. The awards are given
in recognition of a demonstrated ability, leadership and professional
promise. In the fall she will be studying for a Masters degree in
chemical engineering at Columbia University. Mazel Tov to parents Dr.
Bruce and Nancy Kay.
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CONDOLENCES TO:
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Mira Axelrud (former faculty member), Arkady (Marina Platitsyn) Gips,
and Max Platitsyn (Class of '08) on the loss of husband, brother-in-law
and uncle, Gregory Axelrud
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MEMORIAL SERVICE FOR LEVY
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On Monday, June 1st, at 5:30pm, there will be a memorial service held at the New Beth Jacob Cemetery, 2565 Performance Parkway, for Sara & Yishai Levy z"l. Karen and the community will come together to share memories and prayer on the occasion of Sara & Yishai's first yahrzeit. Following the service, there will be a gathering at the JCC for family and friends. May Sara & Yishai's memories be for a blessing.
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FIELD DAY 2015!
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Friday was an amazing day of spirit and celebration with Field Day for grades K-8. With emphasis on sportsmanship, teamwork, and overall cooperation, the students are divided into colors and compete in a day full of fun activities including spirit competitions with cheers and banners, a marathon relay, the Kindergarten and 1st grade Lemonhead Hunt, baton relays, dodgeball, tug of war and more. The electronic version of Dateline will include LOTS of pictures! Thanks to Mr. Bailey and the teachers for putting together such a fun day and to the parent volunteers. Congratulations to the Blue, Yellow, Green and Red teams on a great day!
ENJOY THE PICTURES & VIDEO FROM TODAY!
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PRE-ORDER SCHOOL SUPPLY KITS
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It's hard to believe, but the time is NOW to pre-order school supplies for the 2015-2016 school year. Pre-ordered kits can be ordered through next Friday, June 5 for students entering grades 1-6. The web address to order kits is: http://kits.officecityexpress.com. If you have any questions, contact Shari.
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IMPORTANT - COLUMBUS BUS RIDERS - LAST 3 DAYS!
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ALL (current and new) Columbus bus riders MUST fill out an Application for Pupil Transportation for the 2015-2016 school year. You can access this form at CTA's website at www.torahacademy.org. Print the form, fill it out, and return it to Norma Whitmyre by the last day of school, Wednesday, June 3. Transportation cannot be guaranteed without a form.
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END OF YEAR MEDICATION REMINDER
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Please make plans to personally pick up your child's medication by the last day of school, Wednesday, June 3. For safety reasons, medications will not be sent home with your child. Any expired medication/inhaler not picked up by the end of the last day of school will be thrown away.
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GRADUATION THIS SUNDAY
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 You are invited to share the pride and attend the upcoming graduations and celebrations. The milestone for each of these young men and women (and their parents) is monumental, but it is also a testament to our school community. We have partnered with parents to imbue our graduates with skills for learning, to be productive citizens in our world and in our Jewish communities. Congratulations to the 12th grade students who will graduate from CTA this Sunday, May 31 at 1 pm at CTA.
Mazel Tov to:
Orri Benatar
Avi Kahn
David Polster
Becky Portman
Yehuda Rosenberg
Roston Shore
Zachary Sukienik
Susie Wilhelm
David Wolfson
Thank you to their parents for sharing your children with us.
Other end of year celebrations to be held at CTA include:
Wednesday, June 3
Kindergarten Celebration
10:00 am
8th Grade Commencement
Family Dinner at 5:30 pm
Community Speeches 6:30 pm
Upper School Awards Assembly
7:30 pm
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1ST GRADERS ENGINEER ROCKET LAUNCH
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Miss Tanenbaum's 1st graders have been working on their engineering unit and had special visitors last week when parents, Barry and Debbie Hellman, came in for a special presentation. Mr. Hellman is an engineer with the Air Force. After a classroom presentation, the first graders were able to build their very own rockets, which were launched outside.
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COMMUNITY NEWS
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Columbus Dance Theater presents: Anne: Diary in Dance: Sunday, May 31, at 3:00 p.m. at the Lincoln Theatre. Tickets must be purchased through CAPA and Ticketmaster:
May 31st at 3:00 http://www.ticketmaster.com/event/05004E64911E1A36
The dance company is raising money for the Holocaust Survivors Initiative through the Jewish Federation of Columbus. You can make donations in the lobby for this important initiative that assists the 230 survivors of the Holocaust residing here in Columbus with their health care costs, etc. Every dollar donated to this fund up to 1.5 million dollars will be matched by Les and Abigail Wexner.
Unity Day: Wednesday, June 3, 9:30 a.m., at the Jewish Federation Building, 1175 College Avenue. A tree will be planted in commemoration of Unity Day, and to honor the memories of Eyal Ifrach, Gil-ad Shaer, and Naftali Fraenkel, z"l.
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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 the Annual Giving Fund by:
Patricia Janezich in memory of Florence "Faye" Mellman
Cantor Baruch and Minna Shifman in memory of Lindsay Schottenstein's father and in memory of Rabbi Ciner's brother, Sam Ciner
Bob, Patti, Josh, and Rachel Wolf wishing a Mazel Tov to Rabbi Samuel
and Breindel Levine on the marriage of their daughter Yitty to Bradley
Garden and in honor of Rabbi Frankiel
A.J. and Heidi Solomon in honor of Jay and Jeanie Schottenstein and in honor of Joey and Lindsay Schottenstein
Gary Liebesman and Stacy Leeman in honor of Aryeh Moshe Vernikoff's upsherin
Jeffrey and Meagan Buren in honor of Gary Blumberg
Stuart Appelbaum and Susan Stan in honor of Aryeh Moshe Vernikoff
Dan and Leslie Chase in memory of Al Dembe's mother
W.W. Grainger in memory of Florence Cooper Mellman
William and Phyllis Hartstein in honor of Chana Orli Hartstein's graduation
Jeff and Debbie Meyer in honor of Joey and Lindsay Schottenstein
Charles Libicki and Penny Wenger in memory of Mrs. Mellman, Mrs. Kay, and Paul Tanenbaum's sister
Beatrice Mindlin in memory of Faye Mellman
Ami Kann in honor of David Polster's graduation
Yiska Weisband and Family in honor of grandmother and great
grandmother, Helge Loewenberg-Domp on the occasion of her 100th
birthday
Yaacov and Bruria Martin in memory of Rav and mentor, Rav Aharon
Lichtenstein
Katie and Brett Kaufman and Family in memory of Lindsay Schottenstein's father, Joseph Michael Borish
To the Library Fund by:
Cheryl Miller in memory of Lindsay Schottenstein's father
To the March of the Living fund by:
Paul and Karan Tanenbaum in memory of Rabbi Ciner's brother, Ilanit
Razker's father, and Lindsay Schottenstein's father
Ericka Schneiderman and Family wishing a mazel tov to the 2015
Graduates
To the Athletic Fund by:
Janyce Katz and Mark Glazman in memory of her late father, Louis Katz, and her late cousin, Barry Jaffe
To the Mrs. Kristine Coyne Book and Literacy Fund by:
Janet Schwarz, Jeremy Schwarz, and Jordan Bardige
Dina Goldstein
David and Esther Bernzweig
Yael and Gavriel Shifman
Cantor Baruch and Minna Shifman
Tod and Cheri Friedman
Benjamin Goldberg
Alon Frank
Walt and Norma Whitmyre
Cheryl Miller
To the Sage Moreno Language Arts Award:
Seth and Lisa Stavsky & Family
Dr. and Mrs. Ron Horwitz, Chad and Addison
Tamalynn Lerner
David and Dianne Schwendenman
Bob, Betsey, and Dani Lane
Drs. David and Miriam Portman & Family
Herb and Francine Greff & Family
Dr. Bob and Patti Wolf & Family
Dr. Ben and Wendy Gross Almasanu & Family
Wendy Horwitz, Chad and Addison
Dotan and Shari Herszage & Family
David and DeeDee Stein & Family
Dr. Norman and Suzanne Schneiderman & Family
Gary and Ele Thompson & Family
David Caplan and Ana Echevarria-Morales
Mousa and Shelly Aframian & Family
Cheryl Miller
To find out more or participate in the Sage Moreno Language Arts Award, click here.
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ADVERTISE IN DATELINE
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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 [email protected] for more information.
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PARSHAT NASO QUIZ
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1. What is the significance of the number 8,580 in this week's Parsha?
a. It is the number of leviim between ages thirty and fifty.
2. Besides transporting the Mishkan, what other service performed by the leviim is referred to in this Parsha?
a. Singing and playing cymbals and harps to accompany the sacrifices.
3. On which day did Moshe teach the command to send those who are temeim (ritually impure) out of the camp?
a. The day the Mishkan was erected.
4. Name the three camps in the desert.
a. The camp of the Shechina was in the center, surrounded by the camp of Levi which was surrounded by the camp of Yisrael.
5. Who was sent out of each of the camps?
a. A metzora was sent out of all three camps. A zav was permitted in the camp of Yisrael but excluded from the two inner camps. A person who was tamei from contact with the dead had to leave only the camp of the Shechina.
6. A person stole from another and swore that he was innocent. If he later confesses his guilt, what are his obligations?
a. He pays the principle plus a fifth to the victim, and brings a korban asham.
7. Who determines which kohen receives the gifts that must be given to the kohanim (gifts to the kohanim)?
a. The giver.
8. What does the Torah promise a person who gives matnot kehuna?
a. Great wealth.
9. Why are the verses about matnot kehuna followed by the verses about the sotah?
a. To teach that someone who withholds the gifts due thekohanim is deserving of eventually bringing his wife to the kohanim to be tried as a sotah.
10. Why is the sotah given water from the holy basin?
a. The holy basin was made from the mirrors of the righteous women who left Egypt; the sotah strayed from the example set by these women.
11. What does the kohen do to the hair of a sotah?
a. He uncovers it.
12. What are chartzanim? What are zagim?
a. Chartzanim are seeds. Zagim are peels.
(Parsha Naso Quiz originally appeared on the
Ohr Somayach website, www.ohr.edu)
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SUMMER BREAK IS ALMOST HERE!
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Summer break begins Wednesday, June 3 at 12:00 p.m. Have a great break and we'll see you back here on Thursday, August 21, 2015!
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I hope you enjoy the electronic version of our Dateline. Please check out our website at www.torahacademy.org.
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