V'ahavta... בהאו ת - Rudlin Torah Academy

V'ahavta... ‫ואהבת‬
“Stellar Education for Every Jewish Child”
Dec. 19, 2014
Kislev 27, 5775
RTA Chanukah Happening
· Chanukah
Happening
1
· 2nd Graders
Are Stars
4
· Spelling Bee
5
· Yosef’s Coat
6
· PCL Photos
7
· Krispy Memories
8
· Latke Making
9
· PEP Info
10
· After School Pgm. 11
· RTA Basketball
12
· Art at RTA
13
· Parsha
16
Candle Lighting
Friday, Dec. 19
4:36 p.m.
Saturday, Dec. 20
Shabbat ends
5:39 p.m.
Friday, Dec. 26
4:40 p.m.
This year’s Chanukah Happening was a wonderful
treat for the over 150 people in attendance. The
whole crowd was delighted by the mesmerizing
juggling, magic and humor of superstar Jonathan
Austin. The evening began with an inspiring d’var
Torah from 8th grade student Samantha Greene,
and 1st grade students Miri David & Nathaniel
Rakofsky lighting the chanukiyah and reciting the
blessings.
After the performance, Mr. Austin stayed until the
very end making balloon animals for the children.
The donut decorating stations were a hit, and the
latkes and applesauce were enjoyed by all.
A huge thank you to the PVA for sponsoring the event. Thank you to the
many volunteers who helped make this event so wonderful: Morah
Sheina David, Mrs. Shevi Holi, Mr.
John Minor, Mrs. Sarah Rakofsky,
Morah Jane Samora, Mrs. Yali
Klestzick, Mrs. Naama Toker, Mrs.
Amy Beth Lehman, Mrs. Adrienne
Winkelmann & the Shaarei Torah
TASC force.
Special thanks to Mrs. Sorah
Plotnick for her many hours of
dedicated efforts that produced
such a successful, enjoyable
event.
(more photos on pages 2 and 3 . . .)
Saturday, Dec. 27
Shabbat ends
5:43 p.m.
Thursday, Jan. 1
Fast of Asara B’Tevet
Fast Begins: 6:01 a.m.
Fast Ends: 5:38 p.m.
Friday, Jan. 2
4:45 p.m.
Saturday, Jan. 3
Shabbat ends
5:49 p.m.
Wednesday, Jan. 7
JCFR Youth Campaign
5th-8th Grades
12:30 p.m.
Boys’ Basketball Practice
3:35 - 5:30 p.m.
Monday, Dec. 22Friday, Jan. 2
Winter Break
Monday, Jan. 5
Classes Resume
Board Meeting
Executive: 6:30 p.m.
Full Board: 7:30 p.m.
The weekly newsletter of the Rudlin Torah Academy - Richmond Hebrew Day School
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V’ahavta
RTA's Monday night Bingo Game doesn't go on winter break. We need 5 volunteers every Monday night - 5:30 pm to 10 pm. Earn Give or Get dollars and raise
as much as $5,000 per month for RTA. Please sign up for a Monday night in December, January and beyond.
To sign up go to:
www.SignUpGenius.com/go/30E0B4AACAE2BA02-rtamonday/21467793
RTA Chanukah Happening
(...continued from front page)
V’ahavta
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RTA Chanukah Happening
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Second Graders Are Stars
The second graders have been real stars this past week. The students put on two shows
and they did a wonderful job.
This past Friday they sang at the JCC
Preschool’s Shabbat party. Dressed in
Yosef’s coat, the second graders sang
two songs, with motions, from the weekly
Torah portion as well as two songs about
Chanuka. The crowd enjoyed watching
them and singing along to one of their
Chanuka songs.
This past Wednesday, the second graders
went to the Parkside Assisted Living Facility at Beth Shalom to bring light and sing
Chanukah songs to the residents. The
children sang three Chanuka songs with
motions. They then helped the residents
do a little project - they made paper stained glass dreidels the residents could hang up on
their windows. It was so wonderful to see the residents light up when the children went
around and helped them put the projects together. The second graders were then treated to
a Chanuka song in Yiddish by one of the residents.
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RTA Spelling Bee
This year's RTA Spelling Bee was a treat for all who participated and watched, and an impressive performance by our talented students who participated. Following the format we have used
in recent years, grades 1-8 held their own in-class spelling bees to determine two winners to
represent their respective classes, along with one alternate. The results were:
1st Grade: Miri David & Nathaniel Rakofsky
2nd Grade: Katie Holi & Shaanan Shamberg
3rd Grade: Chaviva David & Avi Greene
4th Grade: Aharon Bart & Gabriella Baez
5th Grade: Shahar Cahana & Ahava Shull
6th Grade: William Minor & Asher Weglein
7th Grade: Jacob Rakofsky & Michael Zedd
8th Grade: Hudi Bart & Samantha Greene
This past Tuesday teachers and students all watched the school-wide spelling bee with the
class winners. (Louis Altman joined as the 8th grade runner-up.) It was high drama (as usual!)
as the words became more and more challenging. In the end it came down to a head-to-head
between two outstanding spellers, with the winner being 7th grade student Jacob Rakofsky
and the runner-up 8th grade student Samantha Greene.
Congratulations to all, and best of luck to Jacob, representing RTA in the next round at St.
Catherine’s School on January 14th!
(more photos on next page . . .)
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RTA Spelling Bee
(. . . continued from page 5)
Yosef’s Coat of Many Colors
Last week, the first graders learned the Torah portion of Vayeshev which includes the
story about the coat that Jacob made for his son Yosef.
After learning the parsha, the students made their own versions of Yosef’s coat of many
colors.
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Scenes from last week’s Parent-Child Learning
Please join us for our next Parent-Child Learning on January 10 at 7:00 pm!
This year’s PCL program is sponsored by a generous grant from
Let’s Give RVA.
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Krispy Memories
This past Tuesday, the kindergartners hit the road to go to Krispy Kreme for a Chanuka traditional favorite: Doughnuts! Anticipation was in the air for days before this event. The kindergartners were not disappointed. Despite rainy conditions outside, their faces shone
when they entered Krispy Kreme doughnut headquarters. There, each student was treated
to a doughnut - which was enjoyed alongside each child’s beloved TLC partner from
Shaarei Torah High School.
This is what they shared about their experience:
I liked that my mommy drove. (Naava)
I liked that I got a donut hat and a balloon. (Max)
I liked that I got to have a piece of my TLC partner’s donut. (Zemorah)
I liked that I got a donut. (Temima)
I liked getting a balloon. (Elina)
I liked that I was with Aiden’s car. (Reuven)
I liked that I got a balloon. (Tovah)
I liked that I went with Naava. (Abigail)
I liked that my dad picked me up. (Kinneret)
I liked seeing my TLC partner. (Dini)
I liked to be with my partner. (Ahava)
I liked that I went in my own car. (Aiden)
I liked getting a donut. (Elianna)
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Latke Making with the Kindergarten Class
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Just when you thought
your days in the
classroom were over….
WHAT IS IT?
The PEP (Parallel Education for Parents) Program is a nationally acclaimed
program piloted by RTA in 1993. PEP is designed for parents of all ages to come
together with their children and their Jewish studies teachers for an exciting evening
of learning and fun!
The evening will be followed by tasty refreshments (including our traditional
PEP M&M’s).
WHY IS IT?
There is little that we as parents value more than our children’s education,
growth, and happiness. You know how excited children are when they come and
share with you something they learned at school. Now you have a unique opportunity to have your children actually share their school, their classroom, and their
learning experiences with you as they happen.
WHEN IS IT?
Tuesdays: 6:30 p.m. - 7:45 p.m.
January 13: Kindergarten – Morah Perel
January 20: First Grade – Morah Joan
January 27: Third Grade – Morah David
February 3: Second Grade – Morah Aronowitz
February 10: Fourth Grade – Rabbi Skaist
February 17: Fifth/Sixth Grades – Rabbi Sherman
February 24: Seventh/Eighth Grades – Rabbi Sherman
Come with your child and experience an unforgettable
evening of learning and fun!!
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RTA AFTER SCHOOL ACTIVITIES
2014-15 WINTER SESSION
RTA Chess Club (Grades 1-8)
The Chess Club is open to all levels and will include both
instruction and supervised play. Beginning players
will learn the basic moves and rules of chess, and begin to
learn simple strategy. Intermediate and advanced players
will develop more advanced strategy, learn ideas for the
opening, middlegame, and endgame and also improve
their skills by playing against peers with helpful tips and
guidance always available.
Thursdays 3:40-5:00; begins January 15
Cost will be $75 for 10 weeks
We are also exploring the possibility of beginning a
Drama Club on Mondays – if you are interested,
please e-mail rabbibart@rudlin.com.
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RTA Basketball
On Monday, the RTA Iron Blue Lions opened their season off with a 20-12 win against
rival Veritas. Even though they trailed 11-6 at halftime, they outscored Veritas 14-1 after
the half.
The high scorers were: Michael Zedd with eight points, Roy Toker with ten points, and
Louis Altman with two points.
Come out and see RTA as they go battle
Guardian on January 12, 2015 at the JCC.
And don t forget, it’s Iron Blue …
Please see the RTA website for a
schedule of our games at:
http://www.rudlin.com/content/default.asp?content=basketball
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Woody Menorahs
Created and Woven by the Art Club
The Art Club's final project has taught our students how to weave yarn on a basic loom. Our
weaving was turned into a tall, elegant menorah!
Naava Plotnick
Dovid Aronowitz
Max Coon
Ahava Shull
Eliyahu Aronowitz
Zemorah Coon
Temina David
Chaviva David
Doni Plotnick
Shaanan Shamberg
Miri David
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Menorahs
by the Third Grade
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Self Portraits
by the First Grade
Ezra Holi
Nathaniel Rakofsky
Miri David
Alexander Klestzick
Doni Plotnick
Jasmine Starnes
Beckett Pegalis
Eliyahu Aronowitz
Maya Tudor
Theo Hirsch
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Parsha Points
Each week we feature an article on the weekly Torah portion.
Miketz (Genesis 41:1-44:17)
Shabbos Chanukah
The Chofetz Chaim, the leader of European Jewry in the early part of the 20th century,
was known as a particularly righteous and saintly man. Once he was asked to testify in a
Polish court on behalf of a Jewish defendant. Before calling the Chofetz Chaim up to testify, the defense counsel went through a lengthy explanation of the Chofetz Chaim's character, citing many stories of his righteousness and saintliness. Topping them off, the lawyer
spoke about the incident in which the Chofetz Chaim called out after a thief who had just
stolen from him with the cry: “I forgive you! I forgive you!”
The judge, duly skeptical, asked the lawyer: “Do you really believe that story?!”
The lawyer’s classic response: “Your honor – I’m not sure I do believe it. But tell me do people tell such stories about you and me?"
(Indeed, this courtroom saga had a happy ending. The Polish judge was so impressed with
the Chofetz Chaim as a character witness, that he ultimately acquitted the defendant.)
***
The impression one's moral character can make upon others is at the very heart of this
week's Torah portion, Miketz. The parsha opens by describing the inability of Pharaoh's
wise men to interpret two of their master's dreams.
Years earlier, Yosef had correctly interpreted the dream of Pharaoh's wine steward - who
reasoned now that perhaps the Hebrew lad could do the same for Pharaoh.
Desperate for a suitable interpretation, Pharaoh agrees to the suggestion that the imprisoned Yosef be given a chance to explain the dreams. Yosef is brought before Pharaoh, and
lo and behold, he correctly interprets the dreams! Pharaoh is so impressed by the Hebrew
young man, that he appoints Yosef to be Prime Minister of Egypt, second in power only
to Pharaoh himself.
(How exactly Pharaoh knows that Yosef's interpretation is correct is left unexplained by
the text. Some commentaries say that Pharaoh included false information in describing his
dream to weed out false interpretations. Others say that when he initially dreamed his
dream he was given its meaning, but forgot it when he woke up; Yosef was able to refresh
his memory.)
(continued on next page. . .)
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***
Rabbi Chaim Shmuelevitz, the late dean of the Mirrer Yeshiva in Jerusalem, wonders how
it was possible for Yosef to be appointed to such a position? Besides being young, he was
also a foreigner and a total unknown to the Egyptian royal court. And until now, he'd been
sitting in jail! How could he come to be appointed the second most powerful person in the
Egyptian empire?
Rabbi Shmuelevitz says the answer is found in a careful reading of the text. Yosef refuses
to take any credit for the wisdom that he is imparting. He tells Pharaoh that any insights he
has to offer come through the grace of G-d. Over, and over, in his interactions with Pharaoh, Yosef emphasizes that the dreams are G-d's way of communicating to Pharaoh.
Yosef's conviction that G-d is the supreme force, and his refusal to see himself as having
any importance, made a tremendous impression on Pharaoh. The Egyptian monarch realized that he was dealing with a righteous, G-d fearing individual. Such an individual could
be counted on to possess an honesty and integrity not normally found among the intriguing,
plotting members of a royal court. For the position of Pharaoh's top advisor, this was exactly what the Egyptian ruler was looking for.
In the final analysis, it was Yosef's impeccable character which yielded political power as
well. Like his descendent the Chofetz Chaim, millennia later.
Adapted from the award winning website, www.aish.com.
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