From the Principal’s Desk… This Issue of Dear Reader, Treasures A prince was once lost in a foreign land, far away from his father’s royal palace. T O R A H Wandering and lonely, without money or name-recognition, the prince was in a has been sponsored by: pitiful state, with no way to get home. Occasionally, kind people would take pity on him and help him out, but only one stranger believed the prince’s story, took Mr. & Mrs. Jeff and Arlene Shousterman note of his royal bearing, and eventually helped the prince find his way back T R E A S U R E S home to his father’s palace. Safely at home, the prince determined to pay back In Honour of Shamir’s Beautiful D’var Torah! those who had helped him avoid hunger and cold. The greatest reward, however, was reserved the kind man who had sensed the prince’s royalty and had helped Ms. Yaffa Goldbaum him return home. He received a reward far greater than the rest. The kindness In support of the incredible work performed in Torah he had done in restoring the prince to his glory far outshone the gifts of and shelter the others had provided him. Academy! Good Shabbos to all! This parable illustrates Avraham’s approach to kindness. Yes, he was determined to provide for the physical needs of his guests in the most lavish manner possible. Ms. Chani Goldbaum But that was not enough! After his guests had eaten and drank, Avraham In honour of the staff and students of Torah Academy! encouraged them to bless HaShem for His bounty, which they had just enjoyed. Avraham’s desire in seeing them bless HaShem was meant to inspire in them an awareness of the one true G-d. At its core, this desire emanated from Avraham’s desire to emulate his Creator’s ways through acts of true kindness. Avraham realized that each of his heathen guests had a soul that was lost and yearning to reunite with its Source, so feeding their bodies was not enough. By inspiring them to know HaShem, Avraham was granting them the greatest gift possible, a ticket back home to HaShem, the essence of their souls. While predating the American psychologist, Maslow, by about 3,000 years, our father, Avraham, seems to have been well aware of Maslow’s, now famous, “hierarchy of needs”. This theory of psychological health is predicated on fulfilling innate human needs – beginning with a person’s physiological needs – in priority, so that a person can eventually achieve high levels of self-actualization. Without a person’s physical and emotional needs being satisfied, a person’s self-actualization will be limited. This is why Avraham first attended to his guests’ physical needs for food and shelter before teaching them about HaShem and our obligation to thank Him for every aspect of our lives. When searching for opportunities to perform acts of human kindness, to engage in what today is popularly termed: Tikun Olam, we must not forget that the Hanging Out in Avraham’s Tent ultimate kindness that we can do is to help someone achieve self-actualization – Hanging Out in Avraham’s Tent to be all that they can be. Merely meeting a person’s physical needs in the realms or health and safety, and even meeting their emotional needs for love and affirmation is not enough. When we see an individual who is searching for meaning in life or who has a limited connection with our heritage, it is our duty to `xie zyxt share with them the beauty of Torah and Mitzvos. A shining example of this approach to kindness is that of the Jewish outreach (Kiruv) movement. Over the past fifty years, through the organized efforts of Friday, November 7, 2014 many diverse segments of Torah , so many unaffiliated have been reconnected with Torah, the lifeblood of our nation. Most recently, this Candle Lighting - 4:25 - zexp zwlcd approach was highlighted through the awe-inspiring reach of the Shabbat Project, which united Jews across the world in the observance of Shabbos. When we emulate Avraham’s far-reaching approach to kindness, and apply it in its broadest sense to all facets of another’s life, beginning with their physical needs and proceeding to their spiritual requirements, we will bring about Tikun Olam in its richest and fullest sense. Have a wonderful Shabbos! Yisroel Goldbaum Based on Rabbi Yaakov Neiman, zt”l; Darchei Mussar dW¨ŸlW§ dP¥d¦e§ ...ld¤Ÿ`d¨ gz©R¤ aW¥Ÿi `Ede§ ...'d ei¨l`¥ `x¨I¥e©" Spotlight on the Grade 1 Class ('a-'` ,g"i) "...ld¤Ÿ`d¨ gz©R¤n¦ mz¨`x¨w§l¦ ux¨I¨e© `x§I©e© ...miW¦ p¨`£ Roundup! by: Rabbi Ari Galandauer (Rashi Insights From the 6-8 Girls’ Classroom) "And HaShem appeared to him... and he is sitting at the Grade one is such a happening place! There is always entrance of the tent... and, behold, 3 men... and he saw, and “These are the words which Moshe spoke to all Yisrael... After he something unique and special going on in grade one. he ran towards them from the entrance of the tent...” (18:1-2) had struck Sichon, king of the Amorie, who lived in Cheshbon, and Whether it is making Havdallah candles for the Shabbos In this week’s Parsha, Parshas , the Torah , king of the , who lived in Ashtaros in Edrei.” (Devarim; Project, cupcakes for Shabbos, or practicing for the says that Avraham was sitting at the entrance of his 1:1 & 4) upcoming siddur party, Torah Academy’s “Grade Oners” are tent. When he saw three men, he ran towards them always busy! “from the entrance of the tent”. Why does the Torah “and Og, king of the Bashan, who lived in Ashtaros in Edrei”: The mention that he ran from “the entrance of the Transitioning from kindergarten to grade school is not always king was strong, and the province was strong.” (Rashi; ad loc.) tent”? We already know that Avraham was sitting at an easy thing to do. In kindergarten, the work expectations By Shamir the entrance of his tent. Why was it is so necessary are fewer and a there is a very different work environment. Shousterman; to repeat his location? The words of this passuk are part of Moshe’s rebuke to the B’nei Davening for longer periods of time, sitting at a desk in a Grade 6 The (Berachos; 6b) says that you shouldn’t Yisrael. Why does the Torah emphasize that Moshe killed the more formal learning environment, and working on new run away from a shul after davening because it looks like you are very kings and why does it mention the names of their capital cities? subjects with fewer break times are all new challenges for a happy to leave. Instead, when you are going to shul, you should run Rashi answers that Moshe wanted to remind the B’nei Yisrael that grade one student. I'm proud to be able to report that the towards it to show that you’re glad to be going there. This concept the kings and cities were very strong and Moshe was at the end of current grade one has risen to these challenges very well, applies to all the mitzvos. his life and still he killed them. What was Moshe trying to teach and has fit in beautifully to the special environment that What is the halacha if someone who fulfilled a in one the B’nei Yisrael? Moshe was teaching them (and us) that we permeates Torah Academy’s upstairs classrooms. I wish my location needs to run to a different location to fulfill another shouldn’t give up on trying to do things when we are tired or get Grade Oners ongoing success as they continue to grow each mitzvah? You are required to run to do a mitzvah and prohibited to and every day. run away from a mitzvah. What should one do if both things happen old. If we try, HaShem will give us the strength we need to at the same time? succeed. Every year, right before winter break, the grade one The solution is that if the first mitzvah is greater, you should walk A story is told of a lady in an old-age home that got flooded. She celebrates their reading accomplishments with a grand away from it on your way to the second one, and if the second was determined not to drown and held on to a bar in for a long Siddur party. Parents, family and friends gather together to mitzvah is greater, than you should run to it. If both mitzvos are time until help arrived. If we are determined like her, we will watch the grade one perform appropriately themed songs, as equal, you should walk slowly for the first half of the trip and then, succeed with HaShem’s help! (Adina Galandauer; Grade 6) for the second half, you should run. well as various Tefillos. The celebration culminates with Avraham was already greeting the Divine Presence and speaking with each child receiving their very first Siddur. This occasion is HaShem at the entrance to his tent. By stopping in the middle of truly an unforgettable experience for both the students and talking to HaShem, it shows that greeting the three guests was as their families, and we look forward to celebrating, G-d willing, great a mitzvah as greeting the Divine Presence. When Avraham ran on Wednesday, December 17, 2014. all the way “from the entrance of his tent” to greet them, it shows that greeting guests is an even greater mitzvah than speaking with HaShem. This is actually the opinion of Rav in the Gemara, and now we can see it from the extra words in the Torah as well. We should also be like Avraham and run to do all of our mitzvos. Based on Shabbos Delights; by: Rabbi Aryeh Leib Lopiansky

Hard at work practicing for their Siddur Party