PHDS/NEAT NEWS Providence Hebrew Day School/New England Academy of

From the Desk of One afternoon a young scholar came Volume , Issue to Rav Yaakov Kamenetsky to share March 12, 2021 Scheinerman his novella on the with him. 28 Adar 5781 As he sat at the table and was about to Dear Parents, begin sharing his self-concocted Inside This Issue: discourse, my grandmother entered In last week’s parshah, the Torah the room with a freshly baked piece of From Rabbi Scheinerman 1–2 describes how the giving of Machatzis cake for my grandfather and the guest. Calendar Reminders 2 Hashekel was shared equally by all. Daylight Savings Time 2 Each person could only bring a half Before my grandfather had a chance Begins shekel regardless of how wealthy he to thank the rebbetzin, the young man, was. We are told that the reasoning obviously steeped in his own Happy Birthday 2 behind the Machatzis Hashekel is to thoughts, flippantly discarded her 2021–2022 School Year 2 teach us that we are incomplete generous offering. “That’s all right,” Registrations without each other. Another lesson is he said, “but I already ate. I really Golden Ticket Numbers 2 that when we merit to achieve wealth, don’t need another shtikel (piece of) Mazel Tov 3 we can either attribute it to our cake.” personal hard work or to a gift from Shabbos Programming 3 Hashem. The Nesivos Sholom tells us Rav Yaakov remained silently NEAT Chagigah News 3 that by understanding that all comes shocked as the rebbetzin returned to from Hashem we can take materialism the kitchen, and then the young man Candle Lighting 3 and elevate it to serve Him. Rabbi began to speak. Motti Kamenetsky shares a dvar Torah about his grandfather, Rav “I would like to share with the Rosh Yaakov Kamenetsky z”tl, showing Yeshivah a shtikel (piece of) Torah that even mirrors, seemingly a sign of thought that I formulated relating to a vanity, were included as an integral sugya in the Gemara in Yevomos.” part of the Mishkon. Rav Yaakov was quiet and then responded. “That’s all right,” he said, The Torah portion this week tells us: “but I already heard Torah on that When the Israelite women saw how “He made the laver of copper and its sugya. I really don’t need another exhausted their husbands were base of copper, from the mirrors of shtikel Torah on that sugya.” because of the crushing labor, they (women who reared) the legions who used to bring them food and drink and massed at the entrance of the Tent of When my grandfather saw that the induce them to eat. Then they would Meeting.” (Exodus 38:8) Mirrors? boy realized that Rav Yaakov was use the mirrors to endear themselves Where did they get mirrors from? And chiding him on his reckless to their husbands and awaken their why would women’s mirrors – clearly indifference to the Rebbetzin, he went husbands’ affection. They a symbol of vanity, if not indulgence – on to explain, “You see, that piece of subsequently became the mothers of become the very essence of the utensil cake was her shtikel Torah. That was many children. (Rashi from the used to prepare the Kohanim for something that she prided herself on. Midrash) sanctity? Rashi tells us That is how she wanted to make me that Moshe had those exact and you feel comfortable. One has to Because of the women’s pure motives, reservations. So how did they become appreciate that as well!” Hashem chose the copper mirrors to an integral part of the holy Mishkon? be part of His Mishkon. He saw the

Rabbi Scheinerman (cont’d) 2021–2022 School greatness of those mirrors. They were used to enhance the Year Registrations harmony of the home and induce the love and appreciation of husbands and wives. Registration forms for the 2021– 2022 school year were mailed to We too can learn this important lesson from our parshah. each family’s home last week. As By elevating the mundane into the spiritual, we can we stated in the mailing, our plans are to enhance the enhance our avodas Hashem. A vacation is a needed rest existing dynamic educational program. However, to do so, to gain strength for our D-vine obligations. Our homes can we need to receive all forms, along with the $250 per child be used to sponsor a sheva brochos for a friend. Our tables non-refundable registration fee, no later than Friday, are adorned to uplift our Shabbos experience. The list goes March 19. Keep in mind that, if we receive your on and on. Mirrors are a sign of mundane vanity, yet registration form and registration fee by the deadline of Hashem chose them because of the role they played in Friday, March 19, the school will issue your tuition guaranteeing the future of Klal Yisroel. The recognition account a credit of $100 per child as an early registration that everything in our life is a blessing from Hashem will discount. allow us to live a much healthier life, one that constantly connects us to Hashem. We will continue to use FACTS as our tuition management company. If you wish to pay the full tuition Good Shabbos, before the beginning of the school year, you will still be Rabbi Peretz Scheinerman able to do so directly with the school. To take advantage of Dean the monthly payment option, you may choose one of the possible payment plans with FACTS for a fee of $38 per family per year. If you are planning to apply for financial Calendar Reminders aid, please do so at https://online.factsmgt.com/aid. Financial aid is granted on a first-come, first-served basis. • Sunday, March 14: Daylight Savings All applications indicating that your financial and tax Time begins information have been submitted must be verified by • Friday, March 19: Begin 3:30 p.m. FACTS to be considered complete. Friday dismissal • Friday, March 19: 2021–2022 School Year Once registered and any financial aid is applied, you will Registration forms due receive your tuition contract with specific details regarding how to enroll in FACTS. Please feel free to call the office if you require any additional information. Daylight Savings Time Begins

Don’t forget to turn your clocks ahead one hour on Sunday, March 14, as Daylight Savings Time begins.

The Feinstein Jr. winning ticket numbers for March 8 Happy Birthday! through March 14:

#14902 #23811 #43720 #59995 #63277 Happy Nisan birthday to Yisroel Cline, Geulah Rochel Green, If you have any of the above golden tickets, please notify Chaya Mushka Laufer, Shlomo Lapin, Avigdor Pesach the school immediately. Peromsik, Shalva Schloss, and Sholom Meir Schochet. • Mazel tov to Rivka Benjaminson on becoming Shabbos Programming a bas mitzvah last week. Mazel tov to her Likras Shabbos is 4:35 p.m. for boys in Grades 6 through 8 parents, Rabbi Aaron and in the Kollel. Mrs. Chani Benjaminson. • Mazel tov to Rabbi Aaron Zev and Mrs. Perel Gibber Tehillim in an Hour is on hiatus until after Pesach. If you on the bar mitzvah of their son Chaim last Shabbos. are not yet a participant and would like to join, please Mr. Gibber is a PHDS graduate. Mazel tov to the contact Mrs. Weiner. Providence grandparents, Rabbi Eliezer and Mrs. Marsha Gibber. Thank you to Mr. Shammai and Mrs. Miriam Esther • Mazel tov to Rabbi Yisroel and Mrs. Suri Yavner on Weiner for sponsoring the snack for Bnos in a Box this the birth of a baby girl last week. R’ Yavner is a PHDS week. graduate. Mazel tov to the Providence grandparents, Mr. David and Mrs. Esta Yavner. Mr. Yavner is a If you are interested in sponsoring Bnos in a Box snacks, former president of PHDS. please contact Mrs. Golden at (401) 421-6996 or • Mazel tov to Rafael Moshe Twersky on becoming a [email protected]. bar mitzvah this week. Mazel tov to his parents, Rabbi Shmuel Alter and Mrs. Chana Faiga Twersky. Mrs. Twersky is a PHDS/NEAT graduate. Mazel tov to the NEAT Chagigah Providence grandparents, Rabbi Eliezer and Mrs. Marsha Gibber. News • Mazel tov to Rabbi Chaim and Mrs. Rivka Sicker on the bar mitzvah of their son Meir this Shabbos. Mrs. Congratulations!!! NEAT Sicker is a PHDS/NEAT graduate. Mazel tov to the Purim Chagigah costume Providence grandparents, Rabbi Eliezer and Mrs. winner is Shaindel Sarah Marsha Gibber. Karp as a vending machine. • Mazel tov to Rochel Weiner on her upcoming marriage this Sunday to Yehuda Tzvi Victor of , NY. Rochel is a PHDS/NEAT graduate. Mazel tov to her parents, Mr. Shammai and Mrs. Miriam Esther Weiner. Mr. Weiner is a PHDS/ NEAT graduate. Mrs. Weiner is the principal of PHDS. Parshas Vayakhel- Pekudei Candle Lighting 5:31 p.m. Good Shabbos! Providence Hebrew Day Rabbi Scheinerman – ext. 21 or [email protected] Mrs. Weiner – ext. 18 or [email protected] School/ Rabbi Lapin – ext. 15 or [email protected] New England Academy Mrs. Frazier – ext. 10 or [email protected] of Torah Financial Office – ext. 11