CHADASHOT Shabbat Parshat Behar-Bechukotai May 3, 2013 23 Iyar 5773
Candle Lighting: 7:35 pm Havdalah: 8:38 pm
Click here for PDF version of the Chadashot
A MESSAGE FROM RABBI KRAUSS Mazal Tov Dear Parents,
As we continue to "count up" to Shavuot, we focus To Rachel Gelles (AC 3rd grade) on on the value of Talmud Torah, and our preparations her marriage to Jonah Raskas. for Kabbalat Hatorah. I think that nd there are two aspects of this Chag To Eva (AC 2 grade) and Hillel that are instructive for our Broder (HS English) on the birth of a son. Mazal tov to big brother approach to Torah learning- of Moshe (N3) and big sister Rebecca course, we learn in order to know, (Daycare). and to do- we try to master the details of the Torah and the To Abby Fisher and Leora Belitz on mitzvot. But Shavuot also celebrates and their recent Bat Mitzvahs.
Page 1 of 17 commemorates the experience of receiving the To Efraim Herstic on his recent Bar .מעמד הר סיני at experienced unity the and Torah, Mitzvah. Talmud Torah is not only about acquiring knowledge, but also about making connections. I encourage you to discuss the Mitzvah of Talmud Torah with your children this weekend, and to help each of them find their own voice in the shalshelet hamesorah (chain of tradition).
In the spirit of reinforcing Torah learning, and the fact that our learning never ends, our faculty has joined together to learn all of Tanach during the days of Sefira, culminating with school-wide siyum to be held the day before Shavuot, together with our students. Thank you to Sharon Sturm for coordinating this inspiring effort.
Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi Binyamin Krauss
ACADEMY NEWS
Grades 4 through 8 competed in the annual SAR Geography Bee. A preliminary round took place last week in each grade and the winners participated in the final round of the Geography Bee. Mrs. Hirschfield and Morah Beth Pepper administered the questions and they became more and more difficult as time went on.
Congratulations to our top 7 winners! Nate Katz, Zack Ottenstein, Meron Samuels, Leora Scloss, Jonathan Haims, 2nd place runner-up, Max Berger and the 1st place winner of the 2013 SAR Geography Bee--for the second year in a row--Joseph Block!
Class winners and runners up were:
4W- Anna Greenfield and Kira Tepler
4X- Sam Mandel and Keren Kubersky
4Y- Adin Pepper Fox and Amalia Labinsky-Fleischer
4Z- Yonah Fenster and Noam Bellin-Schonfeld
5W- Miri Jonas and Ethan Morali
5X- Jacob Edelstein and Noa Kalfus
5Y- Meron Samuels and Josh Morris
Page 2 of 17 5Z- Judah Schanzer and Eytan Spevack
6W: Leora Schloss, Micah Gentin
6X: Malky Rosensaft, Nat Waxman
6Y: Yoni Perla, Duly Rosenberg
6Z: Jonathan Haims, Louis Tuchman
7W Max Berger, Efriam Herstic
7X Yonatan Fine, Hila Karol
7Y Hadas Spivack, Ari Williams
7Z Joseph Block, Tamar Cohen
8W Hank Stein, Sara Brooks
8X Aliza Schneider, Spencer Tropper
8Y Zach Ottenstein, Yitzi Richter
8Z Nate Katz, Erez Major
Congratulations to all!
M...M...Good
The Third Grade cooked a delicious lentil soup in honor of finishing Parashat Toldot, Perek 25. The classes learned that Esav gave away his birthright for a bowl of "very red stuff" that Yaakov had been cooking. We decided to follow in the footsteps of Yaakov Avinu and see what it was that tempted Esav. Each third grader brought in one vegetable and worked hard washing, peeling, cutting and chopping. The ingredients were lentils, potatoes, tomatoes, onions, celery, parsley, garlic, salt, pepper, and cumin. The classes all agreed that the soup was delicious (although the blessing of the firstborn is more valuable)!
Greece is the Word
Page 3 of 17 Inspired by the spirit of ancient Greece, the 6th Grade celebrated Greek Day, adorned with jewelry, togas and crowns of gold. Groups of students researched important ancient Greek characters then played them in original skits with modern twists to teach their peers about their particular character.
The program ended with a feast of olives, grapes, pita chips and more. The 6th Grade truly brought the vibrancy of ancient Greece to life.
Good Things come in 3's
The three year old nursery classes visit the library weekly. During library time the children hear and discuss books based on Morah Beth Braunstein's chosen theme of the week. There is always suspense about what the theme is and often the children try to guess! Some of the topics explored this year are bedtime, trucks, ”getting dressed”, trains, birthdays, dogs,
Page 4 of 17 airplanes, daddies and penguins. Experiencing picture books is a powerful opportunity for our early childhood students to develop linguistic and visual literacy. Throughout the year it is exciting to see how the children increase their ability to listen, identify important aspects of the stories and learn new ideas and concepts from the stories and discussions which follow.
Each week is a new opportunity to understand characters and plot in stories. Picture books provide a grand opportunity to develop the children’s visual and artistic awareness. Selected books include fiction and non-fiction. The children learn to identify the difference between “real” and “make believe”. After story time they look at books on their own and with their friends.
Lag Ba'Omer Lunch & Learn
On Monday, the 6th grade was treated to a special lunch and learn program in honor of Lag Ba'Omer. Rabbi Akiva, Shimon Bar Yochai, and Bar Kochba were the special guests! The students learned about the roles these Rabbis played in the story of Lag Ba’Omer as well as some facts relating to Lag Ba’omer. The students were given rainbow ice pops for dessert, symbolizing the rainbow that was never present (a sign of Hashems wanting to destroy the world) during the time of Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai. The teachers dressed in costume for the occasion and everyone had a fun time.
Learning to "Look"
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While at the Metropolitan Museum of Art for their “Learning to Look” program, third graders Zaine Weissbrot and Josh Brody came upon “Lilith” a bronze figure by American artist Kiki Smith. The sculpture hangs on the wall upside down, on all fours and seems to be peering up at the viewer through life-like glass eyes….hence the staring contest.
Nature Lovers
On their visit to the Greenburg Nature Center, our nursery children had a chance to see, touch and learn about so many different kinds of animals. They met Panda the ferret who could bend his body like a pretzel, Thor the lizard who is a cold-blooded reptile, Houdini the corn snake who smells with his tongue and Bebe the chinchilla - the softest animal in the world who takes baths in dust!
Outside the children saw turkeys, owls, chickens and fed sheep and played in the brand new playground. As you can see from the photos, everyone had a great time!
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My Trip to the Met - by: Tiferet Grossman 4Y
At the Met we saw many different paintings and sculptures in the Modern Art section. Some paintings we saw were just one color on a canvas, other paintings were comic-like , or some would be a collage or pop art, just to name a few. Some painters we saw were Andy Warhol, Roy Lichtenstein, Jackson Pollack. I especially loved the painting that Andy Warhol had painted of Ethel Scull for her birthday. Another thing I always enjoy, are the Jackson Pollack paintings. I love how Jackson Pollack are so modern and large but I also think it’s very neat that the Jackson Pollack paintings usually only contain a few colors. It was very interesting to see all of these cool sculptures that some people might think a toddler can make, but which really take a lot of talent and skill to make. All in all, this was an awesome trip that I loved sharing with all my friends and classmates.
Thank you , PTC!
The SAR PTC made a donation to replenish the recess toys and activities for our children to enjoy.
Dear PTC,
Thank you so much for the recess equipment. Below you can view a few pictures of our students enjoying the new supplies. Our students were thrilled to have so many new choices at recess. We really appreciate your generosity.
A.S.
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QUESTION OF THE WEEK:
This week began with Lag Ba’Omer. On Lag Ba'Omer we are reminded of the importance of unity and giving honor to one another. Who can you give respect to that you may have otherwise overlooked?
THAT "KIND OF WEEK"
Buckets of Kindness
The 2nd grade read a book called “Have You Filled a Bucket Today?” The book promotes positive behavior as children see how rewarding it is to express daily kindness and appreciation. The children then wrote about how they “filled their bucket” with an act of kindness. Here are some of their responses:
“Today I picked up Shoshana’s pencil when we were partners.” – Gabriella
“I say good things to my friends sometimes.” – Eytan
“I filled my brother’s bucket by hugging him at library.” – Jonah
“I shared a snack with my friend.” - Rose
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“I'd say hello to people who are lonely, like homeless people, and would appreciate more friends. “ - Jacob Burstein 4W
PICTURE OF THE WEEK
th 8 Grade Favorite – “Running With The Rabbi” Elective!
“All the mailmen everywhere. Sometimes people forget about them because they don't use mailboxes and mailmen so much.” - Tamar Block 1Z
Page 9 of 17 DVAR TORAH
Parshat Behar-Bechukotai by: Abie Perelis 1W
In this week’s parsha, Behar, we learn about two different mitzvot that have the number seven.
The first one is called Shmitta. Every seven years, people living in Eretz Yisrael (only there) can’t plant on their field or harvest but they can go to other people’s fields and orchards and take their crops. The point of the mitzvah is to make people think that the land is really Hashem’s, not theirs.
The second mitzvah is called Yovel. After every seventh Shmitta, people have to make their slaves free and all the land that you bought during those 49 years comes back to the original owner. This teaches us even though the Torah is okay with us being slaves, it doesn’t really like slaves because we were slaves in Egypt!
It’s really interesting that not just these mitzvot, but a lot of mitzvot have the number seven in them. Here are some that I thought of: Shabbat, sheva brachot, shivat haminim, seven days of Sukkot (don’t get confused! The 8th day is Shemini Atzeret), Sefirat Haomer (counting 7 weeks until Shavuot), and reading the parsha of Pharoah with his dreams of 7 cows.
Maybe all of these mitzvot have seven in them because seven is a special number for Jews. Hashem created the world in six days and rested on the 7th day. All of these mitzvot with 7 help us to realize that if we think we are cool because we did great things, really Hashem is more important than anyone or anything.
Shabbat Shalom.
“Someone who I don't usually talk to... like girls.” Sam Krasner 2Z
DEVELOPMENT NEWS
The Open Kitchen Cookbook
(Dedicated in memory of Sheri Raskas z"l)
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ORDER NOW!
Special Spring Deal
Buy one, get the second at 50% off!
www.openkitchencookbook.com
•200+ inventive, delicious recipes using the finest whole ingredients
•Inspiring dishes for everyday, Shabbat and Holiday menus
•All recipes tested for the most delicious results
•Full color photographs with detailed instructions
Use it to plan your Shavuot menu ~ Makes a great hostess gift!
Shavuot Cheese Blintzes
“Leaves”
3 eggs
1 c. milk
1 c. flour or whole wheat pastry flour
½ tsp. salt
2 T. sugar
Cheese Filling
2 pkgs. Farmer cheese
1 egg, beaten
2 T. sugar
1 tsp. vanilla extract
1/8 tsp. salt
Page 11 of 17 Butter or oil for frying
1. To prepare “leaves”, beat first 5 ingredients together until smooth
2. To prepare cheese filling, blend next 5 ingredients together with a fork
3. Put small pat of butter in a 6-in. hot skillet
4. Pour 2 ½ T. batter in skillet and tilt to cover surface of the pan. After a few seconds, turn and then lay on paper towel. When all the leaves are done, place the cheese mixture in the middle of each leaf, turn the sides in, envelope style and roll.
5. Fry blintzes until crisp.
Chag Sameach!
“The maintenance staff who often work behind the scenes.” - Akiva Sturm 6Z
PTC NEWS
TIRED OF LOST CLOTHING?
Tired of unlabeled clothing getting stuck in the lost and found? Time to label camp clothes? Buy easy to use clothing and shoe labels while supporting SAR! Click here to place your order with Mabel's Labels!
Sticker labels that really stay on! Iron-Ons, Bag Tags, Allergy Alert labels & more! Personalize your labels with names, nicknames, initials - whatever you choose. Cool icons help even little ones identify their own belongings. Dishwasher, microwave, laundry & kid tested! Dispatched within 24 hours!
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(A portion of of your purchase supports the PTC!)
The Riverdale Children's Theatre has once again partnered with SAR PTC to sell tickets to their production. Come See INTO THE WOODS JR, A musical that brings Fairy tale characters to life.
Children who come in costume will receive a glow prize.
Schedule:
Sunday May 12 at 1pm (yellow cast)
Sunday May 12 at 5pm (red cast)
Monday May 13 at 7pm (yellow cast)
Sunday May 19 at 1pm (red cast)
Sunday May 19 at 5pm (yellow cast)
Monday May 20 at 7pm (red cast)
SAR performers in YELLOW CAST: Hannah Winter, Dafna Horowitz, Ariel Greenwald, Ruthi Wassermann, Zack Bernstein, Avital Kobrin
SAR performers in RED CAST: Micki Kleinman, Rachel Landesman, Aviva Michaeli, Ravi Schwartz, Sara Winter, Eliana Sastow, Noa Mintz, Zack Bernstein, Ben May Tickets are $15 each.
All performances are at RKA Middle School 141. 237th street between Independence Ave. and Hudson Manor Terrace. For more information, please contact www.sarptc.org
“Tech support. They're always in different areas around the whole school and I don't say thank enough.” - Eliana Smith 5Z
Page 13 of 17 MARK YOUR CALENDARS
UPCOMING EVENTS!
Monday, May 6th - Wednesday, May 8th – 5th Grade Camping Trip
Tuesday, May 7th – 1st Grade Math Fair - Click here to RSVP,
Click here to be a program sponsor.
Wednesday, May 8th – Yom Yerushalayim
Thursday, May 9th - Parent-to-Parent Lecture Series with Jonathan Bellin LCSW – 8:00pm Click here to RSVP
Friday, May 10th – Rosh Chodesh Sivan – Wear Blue & White!
Tuesday, May 14th – Erev Shavuot – Early Dismissal – 1:15 ELC; 1:30 AC
Wednesday, May 15th – Thursday, May 16th – Shavuot – No Sessions
Tuesday, May 21st – 6th Grade Matan Bat Mitzvah Program
Wednesday, May 22nd – Thursday, May 23rd – 7th Grade Trip to Boston
Friday, May 24th – 7th Grade – No Sessions
Monday, May 27th – Memorial Day – No Sessions
Tuesday, May 28th – Academy Staff Meetings – Early Dismissal – 3:00 ELC; 3:15 AC
Wednesday, May 29th, Blood drive, Click here for more details & to register
Thursday, May 30th – 8th Grade Last Day of Classes
Wednesday, June 5th - 3rd Grade Rashi Breakfast. Click here to be a program sponsor.
Wednesday, June 5th – Thursday June 6th – 6th Grade trip to Camp Monroe
Tuesday, June 11th - 5th Grade Intergenerational Day
Wednesday, June 12th - 8th Grade Graduation
Monday, June 17th - 8th Grade Graduation Party
“The whole kitchen staff. Sometimes I only remember to thank Eran.”
- Micki Kleinman 5Z
COMMUNITY EVENTS
Page 14 of 17 Two events this weekend at HIR!
DR. AVIVAH ZORNBERG AT HIR - This Shabbat, May 4: Join us for a lecture titled “Letter from an Unknown Woman: Joseph's Dream” with world renowned Torah Scholar and teacher Dr. Avivah Zornberg on May 4 at 7:00pm in the Lower Level Beit Midrash. Mincha at 6:30pm. This annual event inspires us and deepens our understanding of Torah. 3700 Henry Hudson Parkway. For more info, contact [email protected].
HIR & YCT USED SEFARIM SALE: Looking for Talmud, Torah Commentaries, Siddurim, and many other Hebrew and English books for your library? HIR - The Bayit & YCT are selling used extras and leftovers from our collections. Every book $1.00-$5.00 each. In the Bayit Lobby. Sun., May 5, 9:00am-9:00pm; Mon.-Tues., May 6-7, 9:00am-8:00pm. 3700 Henry Hudson Parkway. For more info, please contact [email protected].
Bnei Akiva Snif this Shabbat!
Calling all 2nd through 5th graders—come to the HIR from 5:00pm – 6:00pm for lots of fun! Click here to see flyer.
New York City Mayoral Candidate Forum at the Riverdale Y
Join us for an evening of environmental education on topics important to the West Bronx communities including climate change, healthy and sustainable food, the Hudson River, Putnam Trail and Bronx River Greenways and more.
Monday, May 6, 2013, 7 PM - 9:30 PM
Riverdale YM-YWHA, 5625 Arlington Avenue, Bronx, NY
Visit here to reserve your space for this FREE event: http://www.nylcvef.org/westbronx
This forum is sponsored by the following community partners:
Conservative Synagogue Adath Israel of Riverdale
Friends of the Hudson River Greenway in the Bronx
Friends of Van Cortlandt Park
Hebrew Institute of Riverdale
Kingsbridge-Riverdale-Van Cortlandt Development Corp.
Natural Resources Defense Council Action Fund
North Riverdale Merchants Association
Open Space Institute
Riverdale Community Coalition
Riverdale Jewish Center
Riverdale Jewish Community Relations Council
Page 15 of 17 Riverdale Nature Preservancy
Riverdale Presbyterian Church
Riverdale Press
Riverdale Temple
Riverdale YM-YWHA
Young Israel Ohab Zedek
Support the Riverdale Mikvah
Pre-order beautiful flower arrangements and dairy desserts for Shavuos. Click here to see the different flower arrangements. Click here to see dessert options. Please email your order to Aviva Ghermezian at [email protected] or Liora Rosenblum at [email protected] by May 9th. For orders to be processed, checks must be received by May 13th. All checks should be made out to The Riverdale Mikvah and mailed to Aviva Ghermezian at 722 W. 232 St. Bronx, NY 10467
YIOZ to host Dr. David Fishman
On Shabbat, May 11, at 4:00 pm, Young Israel Ohab Zedek is featuring a talk, in Yiddish, by Dr. David Fishman on the topic, From Vilna to the Bronx: The Life and Work of Chaim Grade, at the home of Eli and Rivka Ivri, who are sponsoring the lecture in the memory of their parents. The address is 5300 Arlington Avenue, between 252 and 254 St. Light refreshments will be served.
Dr. Fishman, who is professor of Jewish History at the Jewish Theological Seminary, specializes in the history of Vilna, and knew Grade personally. (In fact, Grade gave one of the Sheva Brachot at his wedding.)
Bikkurim Campaign
Itching to bring bikkurim this Shavuot? Join CSAIR's Children's Bikkurim campaign and donate your new and/or well kept children's toys, books and games to help replenish the synagogue's stock. Donations may be brought to the CSAIR office anytime. All children who bring donations in person on Sunday, May 12 from 9-10am or 7:30-8:30pm will receive a special thank you surprise.
Toys/games for all ages are appreciated. Please make sure to bring Shabbat appropriate toys that do not require batteries. Monetary donations are also welcomed!
Feel free to email Stephanie Ives [email protected] if you have any questions.
Memorial Day Event
The Council of Young Jewish Presidents and the Jewish Community Relations Council of New York present the 6th Annual Jewish Community Memorial Day Event.
Wednesday, May 22, 2013, The Jewish Center, 131 West 86th Street, NYC, Doors open at 6:30pm, Ceremony starts at 7:00pm
Page 16 of 17 Beverly Wolfer-Nerenberg (SAR parent) will be speaking at the program, "Reflections on my brother, Major Stuart Adam Wolfer".
SAR is a sponsor of this event. For more information, click here to see flyer.
NORPAC MISSION TO WASHINGTON - On May 8, 2013 you can take advantage of a rare opportunity to have private small group meetings and educate Members of Congress about the importance of a strong US-Israel relationship by advocating for issues vital to Israel's security. To sign up go to www.norpac.net For more information, email David Frankel at [email protected]
New For this Summer!
A 1-week day camp program combining high-quality sports instruction with the best of Ramah. Location: Schechter Westchester Upper School, 555 West Hartsdale Avenue, Hartsdale, NY. Dates: July 29 - August 2
At Ramah Sport, campers entering 3rd through 8th grade will grow learn, develop, and hone sports skills through instruction, drills and competitive play, all in an environment where Judaism, Jewish values, and Hebrew language are integral to daily activities.
Facilities include beautiful outdoor athletic fields, a full size gymnasium and a variety of indoor air-conditioned spaces. Enroll now!
For more information please contact Rena Sichel Rosen, Camp Director, at [email protected] or (914) 295-2405, or visit www.RamahSport.org
Young Israel of White Plains Annual Dinner
YIWP will be holding its 27th Annual Dinner on Sunday, May 5, 2013, 6pm, at Westchester Temple on Mamaroneck Road in Scarsdale. The Guests of Honor are SAR parents Joyce and Reuvaine Kinches and the Keter Shem Tov Awardee is SAR Parent Avigyle Gorodischer. For more information, go to www.yiwp.org
Achva Summer Programs
Achva, the signature youth division of Young Israel, has been running quality travel programs for Modern Orthodox teens since 1981. Programs combine amazing travel, a kosher environment and great kids to make for a summer that participants will remember forever. Achva's programs include Achva East for post 8th graders, Achva West for post 9th graders and Achva Israel and Alaska/Hawaii for post 10th graders. For more information about all our programs, please go to www.youngisrael.org/achva
Camp Slapshots
The premier sports day camp in New Jersey, is entering its 11th summer. Located on the Yeshivat Noam campus in Paramus, New Jersey, our 2 indoor gyms for hockey, 3 outdoor full courts for basketball, and a large grass field for flag football, will help make Camp Slapshots 2013 a memorable summer. With competitive games of hockey and basketball, innovative clinics, competitive games, exciting contests, amazing tournaments, learning groups and much more! There are 3 sessions for boys going into 3rd-8th grades (Jr. division for 3rd-5th and Sr. division for 6th-8th):
1) Monday, July 29th – Friday, August 2nd
Page 17 of 17 2) Monday, August 5th – Friday, August 9th
3) Monday, August 12th- Friday, August 16th
For more information and to download the application please visit www.campslapshots.com
Note: All Submissions to the Community Events section are due to [email protected] the Tuesday prior to publication in copy ready format. The Chadashot reserves the right to further edit submissions due to space constraints.
SAR ACADEMY~Jesselson Campus~655 West 254th Street~Riverdale, NY 10471 718.548.1717~www.saracademy.org
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