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transcript
Dvar Torah on Parashat Beshallach, by Rachel Anisfeld
In this week’s parsha, the Israelites sing out to God after witnessing
the wonders of the Red Sea. The word for song in Hebrew is shirah.
The Sefat Emet says that shirah is connected to the word shurah,
line. What happens when a person sings is that they draw a line be-
tween earth and heaven, a line between their own innermost spiritual
point and its divine source. Singing is an expression of the under-
standing of this connection, of the feeling of having a spirit inside
that wants to break out and rise up to be part of something larger.
When you sing, it actually does something to the world, says the Sefat Emet. When the Israel-
ites sang at the Sea, they activated the songs of all the created beings in the Universe, the sun,
the sky, the birds, the water, . . . Each creature has his own song to God and when the Israel-
ites sang, the whole world sang with them. Perhaps that is why the layout of the Song at the
Sea in the Torah looks like links of a chain; singing is a joining activity. It connects between
earth and heaven and also between earth and earth.
The Israelites’ singing made an impression on the world, and also on the Torah, says the Sefat
Emet. The layout of the Song in the Torah, like chains, is full of open spaces. What singing
did was to open up the Torah, to open up its deep secrets for human discovery; singing is a
kind of revelation, an uncovering of something deep inside oneself and deep in the Torah that
is true and eternal.
“Let the rivers clap their hands; let the mountains sing for joy together!” (Ps. 98:8)
If you want further proof of the power of singing, come to Bet Shraga’s awesome Onegs! Be
a link in the chain.
.
UPCOMING
EVENTS
Candle Lighting times for January/February
Friday February 3rd — Light 4:52 Saturday February 4th —--End 5:56
Friday February 10th —Light 5:02 Saturday February 11th ——End 6:04
February 20th-24th
Mid– Winter Recess
No School!
Bet Shraga Hebrew Academy Of The Capital
District Receives
Substantial Support From
February 3, 2012February 3, 2012February 3, 2012February 3, 2012Issue Issue Number 48 Volume Number III
From the Desk of
Rabbi Rami Strosberg
Head of School
More than 700 leaders and educators at Jewish day schools across the spec-trum of Jewish gathered together for the third annual North American Jewish Day School Conference (NAJDSC) in Atlanta on January 15-17. It was a tremen-dous honor for me to be at a conference like this.
Jointly planned by RAVSAK: The Jewish Community Day School Network, the Institute for University-School Partnership at Yeshiva University, the Schechter Day School Network, PARDeS: The Progressive Association of Reform Day Schools, and PEJE, the Partnership for Excellence in Jewish Education, the conference brought together over 300 schools and professional organizations. This year the conference focused on “Current Landscapes—Changing Hori-zons.” The program featured two keynote speeches, four mini-keynotes, a spe-cial tribute to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and nearly 60 sessions and workshops. Each organization also convened its schools for intensive sessions focused on particular issues affecting their own schools and communities. New this year were the ELI Talks, a TED-talk like format featuring dynamic, innovative speak-ers discussing the shared ideals and commitments of the Jewish people.
Conference sessions addressed topics such as 21st century skills, the Jewish day school value proposition, re-imagining and sustaining day schools, and in-novations in Jewish education. Equally important was the networking time that allowed participants to meet and hold in-depth discussions with other practitio-ners, funders, and education professionals.
It was enlightening to see that the highlighted current issues and challenges are shared across the broad field of Jewish day school education. It’s clear that in-novative practices, strategic, big picture thinking, and an energized commit-ment to excellence in teaching and learning will bring us to the next level.
The North American Jewish Day School Leadership Conference was supported by the AVI CHAI Foundation, The Covenant Foundation, ERB, the Kohelet Foundation, Measur-ing Success and several anonymous funders.
The HACD Mathcounts team participated in the chapter competition on
February 2, 2012! Congratulations to all the participants!
In following tradition the Mathcounts crew enjoyed their traditional
Calzone/brownie sundae dinner at Ms. Schmidt’s house to celebrate!
A special thanks goes out to Coach Ryan Miller for relocating aftercare and to
Ms. Gail Schwartz for proctoring.
Thank you,
Ms. Schmidt and the Mathcounts crew!
Practice Schedule
7/8 Boys Sunday- 9-11
Thursday- 4:30-6 Fridays - 2:30 – 4:00
4/5 Coed Tuesdays - 3:15 – 4:30
Sundays – TBD (to be determined)
2/3 Coed Thursdays 3:15 – 4:30 Sundays - TBD
Upcoming Games
Sunday 2/5
HACD 4/5 @ Watervilet 10am
HACD 2/3 @ St. Mary’s Waterford, 1pm
Tuesday 2/7 HACD 7/8 @ Kadima, 7pm
Wednesday 2/8
HACD 2/3 @ Holy Names, 6pm
BOOK FAIR VOLUNTEERS NEEDED
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 9TH!
This year’s HACD Book Fair will be held on Thursday, Febru-
ary 9th.
The HACD Book Fair offers a selection of Scholastic Books
as well as a number of Judaic titles for both children and adults, and
benefits our school library program. The students really look for-
ward to this fun event!
If you can come and help for a couple of hours (or more!),
please contact Jane Shurin at jshurin@gmail.com or 783-5744.
PLEASE! The Book Fair depends on adult volunteers to help
set up before the fair and to help students select and purchase
books during the fair. We need help on: Thursday, February 10, 2010 – Purchase day, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Thank You!!!!
.
Save The Date! Grandparents and Special
Friends Day will be held on the afternoon of Friday ~
May 18, 2012 12:00-3:00 PM
Hebrew Academy is
now offering tutor-
ing for adults in
Hebrew Language.
If you are interested,
please call
Sharon Strosberg
377-2510.
Sat. Feb. 11 - Prophetess Devorah - A True Leader.
Learn what it means to be a leader from Devorah's Palm Tree.
Make delicious edible flowers and trees. Fruit & Chocolate
Fondue in honor of Tu B'shevat.
Sat. March 3 - Esther - A True Queen. Spa & Pizza Party. --
Register Today www.jewishgirlsretreat.net
for the Jewish Girls Summer Retreat.
July 2012
"Where every Girl is Family!"
Nechama Laber
2155 13th St.
Troy, NY 12180
518-727-9581 - cell
518-833-0704-H
Light up the World with your Mitzvah!
New Friday Morning Parsha Class at HACD!!!
Come in for some Torah study on Friday morning’s right after
drop-off, from 8:00-8:30.
Class taught by Rachel Anisfeld, writer of
e-shabbaton’s dvar torah.
First class will be next Friday, February 10.
Just drop in on any Friday morning in the Bet Midrash.
No Hebrew knowledge required. First-time learners as well as
experienced learners welcome.
Looking forward to learning with you!
Sat. Feb. 11 - Prophetess Devorah - A True Leader.
Learn what it means to be a leader from Devorah's Palm Tree. Make delicious edible flowers and trees.
Fruit & Chocolate Fondue in honor of Tu B'shevat.
Sat. March 3 - Esther - A True Queen. Spa & Pizza Party. --
Register Today www.jewishgirlsretreat.net
for the Jewish Girls Summer Retreat.
July 2012
"Where every Girl is Family!"
Nechama Laber
2155 13th St.
Troy, NY 12180
518-727-9581 - cell
518-833-0704-H
Light up the World with your Mitzvah!
SHOMRAY TORAH ANNUAL CAMPAIGN
DONORS 2011-2012
Todah Rabah to our extended family for your support. We’re over halfway to our
goal for the fall campaign! Help us add more names to our list of supporters by
sending in your pledge.
Grandparents Elizabeth and Moshe Anisfeld
Irene Ashery
Mirian Biskin
Malka and Eitan Evan
Sandra and Jerome Goldberg
Felice and David Gordis
Herbert Horwitz
Nina Israel
Sedell and Bernard Kamenir
Leo Koppel
Rainy and Stu Kovach
Barbara and Howard Levine
Esther and Morris Massry
Norma Rosen
Evelyn Segel
Florence and Harvey Sharfstein
Valerie and Spike Solomon
Margo and James Strosberg
Ruth and Herbert Swift
Barbara and Harry Ungerman
Diana Yanklowitz
Cydney Yerushalmi
Dora and Mikhail Zelman
Alumni Rachel and Jeremy Arcus-Goldberg
Ellen and Jonathan Berkowitz
Annette Kriegel Davidoff and
Ravin Davidoff
H.M. Dollinger
Deborah and Hershel Ellenbogen
Tamar Silton and Jeremy Epstein
David Farber
Sarah Farber
Aaron Friedman
Harry Friedman
Sophie Friedman
Mindy Greene Huber and Josh Huber
Lea and David Kamen
Nadine and Raphael Kieval
Jenny Kovach
Maya Kovach
Nancy Kriegel
Lisa and David Kriegel
Aviva and Jay Leberman
Sarah Magidson
Lisa and Jason Packer
David Phaff
Wendy Phaff
Helena Rosenstruch
Paul Rosenstrauch
Gina C.R. Fiss and
Joshua M.F. Rubenfeld
Aliza and Daniel Scher
Ariella Segal
Benjamin Segal
Samuel Segal
Talia Segal
Lee Setzen
Ruth and Joel Simon
Wendy and Steven Susswein
Meital and Howie Teitelman
Nehama and Lawrence Teitelman
Alumni Parents Rochelle and Sheldon Abelson
Ellen and Richard Ancowitz
Les Apple
Sue Swartz and Jeffrey Bernstein
Rabbi Moshe Bomzer
Sally Bratspis
Nanette and Arthur Brenner
Barbara and Karl Brodsky
Sharona Wachs and
Rabbi Donald Cashman
Stacy and David Cohen
Marilyn and Herbert Cohen
Morris Cohen
Arlene and Sol Daum
Martha and Jeffrey Farber
Deborah Biskin Flancbaum and
Louis Flancbaum
Judith and Daniel Flax
Deborah Moskowitz Fleischner and
Arthur Fleischner
Sherry and Marvin Freedman
Beverly and Warren Geisler
Elana and Ephraim Glinert
Harriet and Neil Gold
Judy and Martin Goldman
Sally and Matthew Greenblatt
Nancy and Elliott Greene
Kimberly Hacker
Meridith Englander and Joshua Heller
Abbey Farbstein Herd and
Joseph Herd
Linda and Daniel Hershberg
Jennifer and Richard Honen
Charlotte and Stanley Isser
Laura and Edward Jacobs
Rosalind and Gary Judd
Shelley and Stephen Justa
Lisa and Joseph Kay
Rabbi Rena and Shalom Kieval
Gail Kendall
Marta and Mark Koblenz
Sheila and Paul Koppel
Ida Leberman
David Levine
Nancy and Norman Levine
Estate of Hannah Lorch
Rabbi Beverly and Richard Magidson
Phyllis and Lewis Morrison
Barbara and Edward Orris
Andrea and Neal Packer
Rona and Louis-Jack Pozner
Anita and Ken Rabinoff-Goldman
Ruth and Steven Rich
Joan and Jack Rosenblum
Claudia and Mark Rosenholz
Pearl and Harris Sanders
Joan and James Savitt
Barbara and Michael Scher
Ellen and Eric Schwartz
Laura and Hilton Segal
Stanley Segel
Nancia and Kenneth Segel
Roberta and Richard Seiden
Amy and Ron Sohn
Barbara and Les Stein
Lisa and Beno Sternlicht
Joyce Teitelman
Joyce and Melvin Toub
Barbara Wachs
Nini Wu and Ira Zackon
Current Parents Karen and Mordecai Bienstock
Ana Sobel and George Bizer
Shelly L. Goldman Black and
Johnny Black, Jr.
Elana Gordis and
Mitchell Earleywiine
Amy Gingold-Horwitz
Deborah and Tsvi Gold
Jill and Howard Goldberg
Michele Levy and Daniel Greenblatt
Elana and Steven Kamenir
Dale and Richard Katz
Ilana and Robert Kovach
Carolyn and Jim Levine
Julie Solomon and Cole Libby
Rachel Anisfeld and Timothy Lytton
Suzanna Randall and
Rabbi Naomi Manon
Jerald O’Brien
Marian Alexander and
Rabbi Dan Ornstein
Rachel and I. Paul Rappaport
Anna and Jonathan Rosen
Tatyana and Benjamin Schwartz
Karen and Gavin Setzen
Jane and Arkady Shurin
Deborah Greene and
Rabbi Rami Strosberg
Sirafima Rits and Vladimir Vitkin
Tammy and Joel Weingarten
Chava and Adam Weisstuch
Community Helene S. Ainspan
The Sidney & Beatrice Albert
Foundation
Martin Barr
Evalyn and Joseph Basloe
Amy Bloom
Joyce and Sanford Bookstein
Dorice Brickman
Sidney Cohen
Rachael and Yishai Cohen
Nancy Crom
Toby and Arnold Elman
Evelyn and Laurence Farbstein
Joanna and Eric Fried
Selma Goldberg
Neil, Jane, William & Estelle Golub
Family Foundation, Inc.
Cindy and Neil Greenstein
Karen and Gerald Hausler
Michael Kupferschmid
Megan Levine
Karen and Alan Lobel
Davida Manon
Carol Ann and Rodney Margolis
Shirley and Irving Mennen
Kathleen and Ryan Miller
Jerald O’Brien
Pardus Family Philanthropic Fund
Barbara and Peter Rosenfeld
Mary Rosenstein of The Jewish
Community Endowment
Fund of Jewish Federation
of NENY
Lois and Richard Rubin
Phyllis Silverman
Linda Woodward and Frederick Stein
Gene and Howard Tarler
Philip Ziffer
Names listed reflect
those whose
payments have been
received.