September 18 2009 Girls

THIS WEEK:
GIRLS DIVISION
IN FOCUS
THE YBH OF PASSAIC—HILLEL
29 Elul 5769
September 18, 2009
Dvar Torah
:
Rosh Hashana
By: Rabbi Elie Rothberger
R
av Yisroel Slanter once asked why ‫ ראשׁ השׁנה‬comes before ‫ ?יוֹם כּפּוּר‬Wouldn’t it be better for us
to be judged after we are forgiven?
An answer to this question is found in the words, "‫ “לדוד ד' אוֹרי וישׁעי‬that we have been saying
during davening since Rosh Chodesh Elul. ‫ חז"ל‬explain that the word, ‫אוֹרִי‬, my light, refers to ‫ראשׁ‬
‫השׁנָה‬.
ָ
What is the connection between ‫השׁנָה‬
ָ ‫ ראשׁ‬and light?
The ‫רמח"ל‬, Rav Moshe Chaim Luzzato, in his sefer, ‫ְשׁרִים‬
ָ ‫ ְמ ִסילַת י‬, explains that ‫חֹשׁ ְך‬
ֶ
darkness, poses two distinct dangers to man. First, he is unable to see physical obstacles that are in
his way. Second, man’s sense of visual clarity becomes skewed in the darkness and things appear
different than their actuality.
We often go through life as if we are in the dark. Our perception of ourselves is not always
accurate. Rav Shimon Schwab ‫ זצ"ל‬explained that one of the biggest obstacles to doing ‫תּשׁוּבה‬
ָ
is
when a person feels that he does not deserve a chance to repent and be forgiven because his sins are
so numerous. These thoughts are destructive because such a person will only continue to sin in order
to justify his failure to repent. ‫השׁנָה‬
ָ ‫ ראשׁ‬is the time that Hashem, who is our light, provides us with the
ability to see the world as it actually is. In the ‫ ִזכְרוֹנוֹת‬section of ‫מוּסף‬,
ָ
we recite the words ‫ִפ ָקד‬
ְ ‫ִמי לֹא נ‬
ַ ‫—כּ‬who is not remembered on this day. The word ‫ִפ ָקד‬
‫ְהיוֹם הזֶה‬
ְ ‫ נ‬has an additional meaning, which is to
be assigned a task. ‫ְדר‬
ֶ ‫ רב חיִים פרִיד ַלנ‬explains that on ‫השׁנָה‬
ָ ‫ראשׁ‬, each and every person is given a
personal and distinct task to accomplish over the upcoming year. Hashem lights up the way for us to
see that we are all valuable and that there is a purpose for our existence.
It is only with the realization that we each have a special task, shown to us through the judgment received on ‫השׁנָה‬
ָ ‫ראשׁ‬, that we can do ‫שׁוּבה‬
ָ ‫תּ‬
ְ , and strengthen our bond with ‫ הקבּ"ה‬during the
‫ָמים נוֹרָאִים‬
ִ ‫ י‬season and throughout the entire year.
Student Dvar Torah
BY: Chana Lowy 8G
One Erev Yom Kippur a Rabbi stood before the ark and said the following story:
A king had an only son which he had raised from birth and he loved this son very, very
much. He worked hard to teach him the ways of righteousness. Finally the day came that the king led
his beloved son to the chuppah, and he prayed that his son would continue in the right ways and have
a wonderful future. But the King’s wishes didn’t come true. His son became an evil man and then
strayed from his wife. The King’s love for his son vanished, and hatred took its place. He banished his
son from the palace and ordered him to go far away. The son became a wanderer and traveled from
village to village, city to city and country to country. His features changed and he wore torn and dirty
clothing. He no longer looked like the son of the king and nobody recognized him. But the son began
thinking of his former days and how much happier he had been, and he yearned to be back with his
father. He then resolved to completely repent. When he finally arrived home, he threw himself at his
father’s feet begging for forgiveness and asking his father to have mercy. But the king didn’t know who
this strange man was and ignored him. The son continued crying out and saying, “Father, father you
must recognize my voice. I have changed, but not my voice.” Finally the king recognized his son and
had mercy on him. He welcomed him back home.
We are the sons of a king who led us to our chuppah at Har Sinai and gave us the Torah to
help us act in the right ways. But we have gone off the path and have become almost unrecognizable
as His children. Because of all our aveiros we are in Galus and we have been banished from our land,
our palace. Now that Rosh Hashana is very near we cry out that even though we have done so many
aveiros that we are almost not recognizable, Hashem should at least have compassion and mercy on
us and at least listen to our prayers to bring us home and out of Galus.
Format design used with permission from Pirchei Agudas Yisroel ofAmerica.
Sept
18—
20
NO SESSIONS
Rosh Hashana
Sept
21
12:30 PM Dismissal
(ECD—8 Gr)
Tzom Gedaliah
Sept
23
Yom Iyun 6—8
Grade Girls and all
YBH Mothers and
Alumni
7 PM
Sept
27-28
NO SESSIONS
Yom Kippur
Oct
2—12
NO SESSIONS
Succos
Oct 13
Sessions Resume
YBH General Board
Meeting
Oct 19
PTA Meeting
Honor or remember a loved
one by dedicating an issue of
the YBH of Passaic-Hillel
News which reaches over 400
families per week. Dedications for yahrzteits, refuah
sheleymas, etc. are $100 an
issue. Call (973) 777-0735
ext. 134 or email
jdavis@ybhillel.org.
YBH of Passaic—Hillel
270 Passaic Avenue
Passaic, NJ 07055
(973) 777-0735
Zmanim for Passaic
Candlelighting
6:42 PM
Krias Shema
M”A — 9:09 AM
Gra — 9:45 AM
Zman Tefilla
M”A — 10:22 AM
Gra — 10:46 AM
Shkia
6:58 PM
Motzei
Shabbos
7:58 PM
‫פיה פתחה בחכמה‬
1G: Esther Sebbag and Russy Hirsch held the door without being asked.
Rina Cohen was ‫ מוותר‬at lunch time.
During ‫קריאה‬, Lieba Joran knew that we circled “‫”הדג‬, because it was our ‫ ראש השנה‬word!
2G: Zahava Giloni was able to translate words from ‫ פרשת נח‬that she remembered from first grade,
‫פרשת בראשית‬.
3G: Chana Schwartz asked why the “‫ ”כ‬in “‫ ”לבכותה‬is so small?
Yael Friedman asked why ‘‫ ה‬sent the ‫ שטן‬to ‫ שרה אמינו‬if ‘‫ ה‬likes ‫?שרה‬
6G: Devorah Miller asked ‫’רש‘‘י‬s question on the words “‫ ”ועצי שטים‬while learning ‫חומש‬.
Nechama Lowy and Shoshana Rosenthal figured out ‫’רש‘‘י‬s answer that ‫ בני ישראל‬got ‫ עצי שטים‬from
‫ יעקב אבינו‬to build the ‫משכן‬.
Learning From Our Leaders
Morah D’vorah Pachtman (1G)
T
here were once two neighbors, Reuven and Shimon, who both decided to buy new cars. They ended up buying
the exact same cars. The make and models were the same. The exterior color and interiors were the same. Both
cars even boasted the same options.
A short while later, Shimon moved to a different neighborhood, and for years the two never saw each other.
One day, a few years later, Reuven was driving his car and noticed that the car in front of him was the same
color and model as his. That is where the similarity ended. The car in front of him was dented and somewhat rusted.
The tires wobbled and the muffler emitted smoke. Even the car made noises as it drove down the street. This was in
stark contrast to Rueven’s car that still looked and sounded as good as the day he drove it out of the showroom.
As Reuven came to a stop, he noticed that his old friend Shimon was driving the run down car. Reuven
honked at Shimon and motioned to him to pull over, where they happily greeted each other and updated each
other about their lives and family.
After a few minutes, Shimon commented to Reuven that he is obviously doing well because he is driving a
new car, compared to Shimon that is driving his old car from a few years ago. Shimon was surprised to hear that Reuven’s car is the same car that was bought years ago, at the same time Shimon bought his car.
Shimon only wanted to know how Reuven managed to keep the car in new condition. Reuven explained to
Shimon that every year, before the inspection is due, he goes to a mechanic and has him check the car to insure that
it is in perfect condition. Once he is “tuning up” the motor, he repairs any dings or scratches on the car. Shimon replied that he never checks the car before inspection because he has a mechanic do that for a few dollars. The mechanic will give him a pass on his inspection, even if it does not warrant it.
Now meeting “car to car”, Shimon realizes the difference between taking inspections seriously versus ignoring
them. Reuven has a beautiful, well maintained car that is dependable and one that he is proud of. Shimon is embarrassed by his ugly and unreliable car.
So too, do we have an inspection once a year – Rosh Hashonah. If we take our “inspection” seriously, we will
hopefully merit a life that is shining in purpose and accomplishments. If we ignore the “inspection”, we probably will
be able to move on in life but it will be a life devoid of real stature and purpose. We might not see the difference immediately. However, over the years, as we mature and grow, we will realize the difference of a life with purposeful
spiritual planning compared to a “do as I want” lifestyle.
A car that is neglected cannot be miraculously repaired through an inspection. Even Honda offers
“Opportunity Days” on new cars but cannot restore old broken-down cars to their original shine and luster.
Now that we are approaching our “Opportunity Days”, we can ask the Rebono Shel Olom to restore us to our
original shine and luster that illuminates from our neshomoh.
Hopefully, we will use our “inspection” wisely – to sincerely contemplate what we need to “repair” in our lives
and beseech our Av Harachamon to, not just pass our inspection but to return us, both as individuals and as a nation,
to our original beauty and holiness.
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Class Acts
5G Limudei Kodesh
Class Acts
Nursery
E
Morah Gold
Morah Perele
CD got off to a great start this year. Our seasoned children are graciously welcoming our new students into their
classes. The upcoming Yom Tov of Rosh Hashana can be
felt in the air. Shofars are blowing, hands are sticky from
honey, and smells of delicious round challah waft through the
halls. Apples are the popular fruit. Many arts and crafts are
being made and songs are being taught to enhance your
Yom Tov.
We had our first preschool assembly, where we acknowledged all the Chodesh Elul birthdays, enjoyed AlephBeis cookies, and had a Teshuvah story. Ask us about
Chana, Yossi and the two bowls of chocolate pudding.
Thank you to the Stareshefskys for letting us use
your really looooong Shofar. It was easy to blow, heavy to
hold.
The “Meet & Greet the Preschool on the Playground” was a great success. It’s up for debate who had a
better time; the children on the playground or the parents
getting to know each other. Thank you PTA for a very special morning of fun.
W
e all know that ‫ אלול‬stands for
‫אני לדודי ודודי לי‬, but do you know
what other ‫ פסוקים‬it stands for? Ask a
fifth grade girl! ‫ וצדקה תציל ממות‬- but
why? Ask a fifth grade girl!
We know that ‫ בני ישראל‬in Egypt
had 6 children born at a time. - But what
words in the ‫ פסוק‬teach us this? You
guessed, ask a fifth grade girl!
The ‫ תלמידות‬of 5G have gotten off
to a great start. It has been a pleasure
seeing them learn new material, as well
as add new components to material remembered from fourth grade.
‫א‘‘ה‬, we have a wonderful year
of growth to look forward to!
Class Acts
5G
Thank You
Mrs. Ambrosio
Y
asher Koach to Rivka Lowy for organizing our lice checking process and to the following lice checkers who helped conduct the
head checks:
Danielle Amster
Ilana Bachrach
Miriam Bacon
Rachel Besser
Tova Dershowitz
Sandy Eckstein
Elana Feder
Ruchama Feuerman
Shiffie Grossman
Miriam Hirsch
Adina Horowitz (Alumni)
T
he girls of 5G are off to an exciting start of the school year! They
have begun learning how scientists
use the scientific method to conduct
experiments and will soon be conducting experiments of their own.
In math, the girls started the
year by reviewing basic math facts
and are now studying place value.
They have also begun writing a descriptive story. The class is having a
great first week back to general
studies!
Aviva Levin
Renee Mayerfeld
Judi Miller
Yael Pittinsky
Abigail Rothberger
Chana Siegel
Hadassah Siegfried
Rochie Simchi
Melissa Steinberg
Zissie Wachsberg
Goldie Zuckerman
We are sorry if we left anyone’s name off of this list.
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A Message From the Mechaneches
Dear Parents, ‫עמו‘‘ש‬
‘‫ !ברוכות הבאות בשם ה‬Welcome back! As the balmy days of summer melt into a cooler autumn breeze, school days are
upon us once again. Excitement and anticipation showed on the sweet faces as the girls gathered together on the first day
of school. Crisp uniforms, and colorful new knapsacks were but the external signs of a new
beginning, a fresh start.
It is always remarkable how the teachers return to
school with a sense of ‫ התחדשות‬and a real genuine
excitement to be back at their ‫עבודת הקודש‬. A special
welcome to Mrs. Aliza Davis, who joined our staff as the new
7th grade Morah.
The halls of YBH are once again filled with the
beautiful sounds of davening and learning. As Rosh Hashanah approaches, the Morahs are busy preparing our Talmidos for the Yom Hadin, familiarizing the students with the
proper halachos and hashkafos. In addition, our 8th graders
introduced our school theme, “‫”נשים באהל תברך‬. Each month
In preparation for our assembly...
we will focus on different women in ‫ תנ‘‘ך‬and how we can be
inspired to learn from them. The girls decorated a beautiful
cover for their very own diary. We will be keeping a scrap
book of all the various activities and programs throughout the
school year. Did you see the personalized “YBH Pins” our
girls received? The atmosphere was filled with warm feelings of ‫ אחדות‬and ‫רוח‬.
I look forward to a productive year rich in creative ideas and fun filled activities.
May we be ‫ זוכה‬to continue our partnership
between home and school, to raise our daughters to be
proper Bnos Yisroel. May this be a year of success,
growth and ‫ נחת‬from all our ‫ תלמידות‬and children.
Mrs. Chana Frumet Stern
Mechaneches
A glimpse of our girls learning.
Kesser Shem Tov
Kesser Tefillah
T
he foundation of Tefillah are laid in our
youngest years. The way we are introduced to Tefillah and encouraged to daven
properly as young children establishes patterns that will remain with us throughout our
lives. With this in mind, Morahs of grades 1—
4 introduced our ‫ כתר תפלה‬program. Each
week our special Tefillah bulletin board will
fill up with many ‫ = כתרים‬crowns featuring
the names of our girls who excelled in Tefillah. In addition, at the end of the month
these girls are mentioned in the newsletter.
Looking forward to seeing all our girls davening beautifully.
“Morah Stern, when will we be receiving our
chesed sheets? I already started my chesed job!” I
am always in awe of the amount of chesed our YBH
girls are involved with. After Rosh Hashana, we will
introduce our chesed program.
This past Sunday, our 8th grades volunteered to be ushers at the JCC where the Bergenfield Harmonic Orchestra performed a benefit concert. Special thanks to: Elana Demby, Sosha
Krause, Chavie Lesher, Shoshana Mermelstein,
Tessa Rephun, Shira Schock, Shira Vann.
There are so many opportunities in all of
our lives. We encourage all of our YBH girls to look
for ways to be kind and lend a helping hand to others.
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We would like to welcome the
following families to our YBH Of Passaic family:
Mr. Alexsander & Mrs. Bracha Benkhen
Dr. Aryeh & Mrs. Dana Berlin
Mr. Chaim & Mrs. Chani Bruder
Mr. Ken & Mrs. Lisa Compart
Mr. Moshe & Mrs. Chevda Feigin
Mrs. Daniela Feigin
Mr. Nosson & Mrs. Malka Frohlich
Mr. Moshe & Mrs. Tzivia Gottesman
Mr. Shimon & Mrs. Lara Itzhaki
Rabbi Zev & Mrs. Chani Karpel
Dr. Daniel & Mrs. Shayna Klein
Mr. Phillip & Mrs. Veronique Kossin
Mr. Shlomo & Mrs. Rachel Kreitman
Mr. Eli & Mrs. Shira Lazarowitz
Mr. Joshua & Mrs. Abigail Messer
Rabbi Yaakov & Mrs. Norma Mintz
Mr. Yaakov & Mrs. Lorraine Ochs
Mr. Evan & Mrs. Sara Ringer
Rabbi Chananya &Mrs. Sara Rosenblum
Mr. Bruce & Mrs. Sarah Rosner
Mr. Joshsua & Mrs. Bracha Samber
Mr. Mordy & Mrs. Tziona Schlachter
Mr. Chaim & Mrs. Devorah Schroff
Rabbi Nosson & Mrs. Pessy Schuman
Mr. Yisrael & Mrs. Shaina Settenbrino
Mr. Aaron & Mrs. Gila Solomon
Rabbi Pesach & Mrs. Rochie Sommer
Mr. Daniel & Mrs. Karen Spekman
Mr. Jonathan & Mrs. Anat Stein
Rabbi Yaakov & Mrs. Lisa Traiger
Mr. Avi & Mrs. Esti Turkel
Rabbi Matis & Mrs. Tali Winer
Rabbi Michoel & Mrs. Rachel Zylberman
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Mazel Tov To:
The students of YBH of Passaic—Hillel
were privileged
to dedicate their learning on:
•
•
21 Elul—September 10
As a zechus for a refuah shleima for Michoel Yosef
ben Sara Itta, Michael Friedman. Sponsored by
members of the YBH-PTA.
As a zechus for a refuah shleima for Yocheved
Basha bas Osnas Ruta and Miriam bas Sara.
Sponsored by the Hahn family.
26 Elul—September 15
In the zechus for a meaningful year for Shoshana
Roiza Rosenthal. Sponsored by Rabbi Akiva
Moshe and Lilly Schor.
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
27 Elul—September 16
In the zechus for a meaningful year for Mordechai
Yosef Rosenthal. Sponsored by Rabbi Akiva
Moshe and Lilly Schor.
•
In commemoration of the yahrtzeit of Tevye ben
Aharon, Theodore Chernotsky, great grandfather
of Rina (2G), Chaim (1B), and Neima (KB)
Glasser. Sponsored by Paul and Rachel Glasser.
•
•
28 Elul—September 18
In the zechus for a meaningful year for Tirtza
Devora Rosenthal. Sponsored by Rabbi Akiva
Moshe and Lilly Schor.
To dedicate a day of learning, please contact Ruth
Glasser at (973) 365-1797 or Rachel Novick at
(973)472-8842. Although we try to accommodate lastminute dedications, we would greatly appreciate a
week's notice, when possible.
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
T
•
No pizza
his is just a reminder that
pizza will not be served on Monday, September 21, Tzom Gedalia, when school ends before
lunch time.
Rabbi Michoel and Mrs. Rachel Zylberman on
the birth of their son, Shalom Meir. (Akiva KK,
Eliezer 1B).
Mr. Sam and Mrs. Etana Kamara on the birth of
their son. (Elisha N, Rina 3G, Tziona 5G, Noam
7B).
Mr. Yisrael and Mrs. Shaina Settenbrino on the
birth of their son. (Sage 1B, Pace 3B, Bram 4B)
Rabbi Yaakov and Mrs. Ruth Glasser on the
birth of their daughter, Meira Shulamis. (Neima
K, Chaim 1B, Rina 2G).
Mrs. Sandy Eckstein and Mr. Tzvi Eckstein and
on the Bar Mitzvah of their son, Aaron (7B).
Mr. Hillel and Mrs. Corinne Judasin on the Bas
Mitzvah of their daughter, Shira (7G)..
Mr. Marc and Mrs. Chava Kurtz on the Bar
Mitzvah of their son, Daniel Yonah.
Mr. Bruce and Mrs. Toby Simon on the Bar
Mitzvah of their son, Yonatan (8B).
Mr. Mark and Yael Zoldan on the birth of their
daughter. (Ilana N, Atara 2G, Eitan 4B, Zevi
7B).
Rabbi Yehuda and Mrs. Laurie Minchenberg on
the birth of their son. (Asher 6B).
Mr. Sholom and Mrs. Alana Praver (1B GS
Teacher) on the Bar Mitzvah of their son,
Yehuda.
Rabbi Binyomin and Mrs. Chanie Perlstein on
their birth of their son, Shaul Yechezkel.
Dr. Avrohom Shlomo and Mrs. Esther Pomrantz on the birth of their grand daughter.
Esther Grossman (Dvorkes - MS Science
Teacher) on her marriage to Menachem
Grossman.
Rabbi Berel and Mrs. Shaindy Leiner on the
marriage of their son, Avrumi to Dusi Mann.
Rabbi Berel (2B Rebbe) and Mrs. Faigy Hirschman on the marriage of their daughter, Leah to
Boruch Ebstein.
Rabbi Shaya and Mrs. Gail Jaffe on the marriage of their son, Yaakov to Sarah Leah Portnoy.
Mr. Joseph and Mrs. Sora Rivka Vann, Mr. Avi
and Mrs. Elana Feder and Rabbi Eliezer and
Mrs. Rochel Horowitz on the marriage of their
children, Binyomin Vann to Zahava Horowitz.
(Shira Vann 8G, Miri Horowitz 4G).
Dr. Melissa Steinberg and Dr. David Steinberg
on the marriage of their daughter, Michal to Ely
Lenik. (Sarah 8G).
Refuah Shleimah To:
•
•
6
Mrs. Annette Freedman (4G Assistant).
Ms. Shana Reichman (Nursery Assistant).
NEW YBH HEALTH POLICY
Due to concerns regarding the flu virus, YBH will be following
these guidelines:
⇒
Any child with a temperature of 99.5° or greater, accompanied by a cough, a sore throat, a runny or stuffy nose, body
aches, a headache, chills, fatigue, diarrhea or vomiting, will
be sent home from school.
⇒
Any child will a temperature of 100° or greater, without
other symptoms, will be sent home from school.
⇒
A child must be fever-free for a full 24 hours without the
use of fever reducer medication (acetaminophen, Tylenol,
ibuprophin, Motrin, Advil) in order to return to
school.
We look forward to a healthy and successful year.
Attention:
ECD Parents
If you wrote out a check to receive a key card
and haven’t picked
it up yet, stop by
Gwen
Persin’s
desk in the office
to retrieve it and make sure to
sign for it.
7