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8/29/2014 Bnei Akiva Schools Newsletter - August 29, 2014 https://ui.constantcontact.com/visualeditor/visual_editor_preview.jsp?agent.uid=1118344728540&format=html&print=true 1/6 Bnei Akiva Schools Newsletter August 29, 2014 * 3 Elul 5774 In this week's parsha, the Torah describes the military exceptions given in the formation of the first organized Jewish army. Moshe is busy preparing the Jewish people to enter the land of Israel and the ensuing battles they will face, but Moshe is also outlining for us how a Jewish army should function and who should be fighting and, more important for our purposes, who should not be fighting. Four categories of individuals exempt from battle are listed: 1. One who has built a new house and not lived in it yet. 2. One who has built a new vineyard and not benefited from it yet. 3. One who has become engaged to a girl, but hasn't married yet. 4. Finally, one who is simply fearful and faint of heart. All four of these individuals are instructed to return home rather than engage in the war that is about to begin. The mishna in Sota 44a quotes a debate between Rabbi Akiva and Rabbi Yossi Ha-Galili as to what the Torah means when the Torah describes for us this individual who is "fearful and faint of heart." Rabbi Akiva says: " חרב ולראות המלחמה בקשרי לעמוד יכול שאינו, כמשמעו- הלבב ורך היראשלופה." Rabbi Akiva explains what we would assume, that being faint of heart and afraid is just that. One is too scared of the potential injuries and harm that will come from battle. But Rabbi Yossi Ha-Galili has a novel and unique interpretation. He suggests that the fear is that perhaps he committed some aveirot that will now come back to hurt him. This individual is indeed a G-d Parshat Shoftim Candle Lighting: 7:39 pm Havdala: 8:41 pm Support us with your purchases on Amazon.ca and Amazon.com through the links above We earn 4% on every purchase made through this Amazon link
Transcript

8/29/2014 Bnei Akiva Schools Newsletter - August 29, 2014

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Bnei Akiva Schools NewsletterAugust 29, 2014 * 3 Elul 5774

In this week's parsha, the Torah describes

the military exceptions given in the

formation of the first organized Jewish

army. Moshe is busy preparing the Jewish

people to enter the land of Israel and the

ensuing battles they will face, but Moshe

is also outlining for us how a Jewish army

should function and who should be fighting

and, more important for our purposes, who should not be fighting.

Four categories of individuals exempt from battle are listed:

1. One who has built a new house and not lived in it yet.

2. One who has built a new vineyard and not benefited from it

yet.

3. One who has become engaged to a girl, but hasn't married yet.

4. Finally, one who is simply fearful and faint of heart.

All four of these individuals are instructed to return home rather than

engage in the war that is about to begin.

The mishna in Sota 44a quotes a debate between Rabbi Akiva and

Rabbi Yossi Ha-Galili as to what the Torah means when the Torah

describes for us this individual who is "fearful and faint of heart."

Rabbi Akiva says:

הירא ורך הלבב - כמשמעו, שאינו יכול לעמוד בקשרי המלחמה ולראות חרב"

".שלופה

Rabbi Akiva explains what we would assume, that being faint of

heart and afraid is just that. One is too scared of the potential

injuries and harm that will come from battle.

But Rabbi Yossi Ha-Galili has a novel and unique interpretation. He

suggests that the fear is that perhaps he committed some aveirot

that will now come back to hurt him. This individual is indeed a G-d

Parshat Shoftim

Candle Lighting: 7:39 pm

Havdala: 8:41 pm

Support us with your

purchases on Amazon.ca and

Amazon.com through the

links above

We earn 4% on every

purchase made through this

Amazon link

8/29/2014 Bnei Akiva Schools Newsletter - August 29, 2014

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fearing man and he believes that H"KBH recognize the transgressions

for which he has committed and, therefore, he subsequently needs to

be punished for them.

Rabbi Menachem Mendel Morgenstern of Kotzk - better known as the

Kotzker Rebbe (1787-1859) - the great 19th century Hasidic rabbi and

leader asks a phenomenal but somewhat obvious question.

Is there anyone who hasn't committed a transgression for which he

could or should be fearful of? Wouldn't we think that every single Jew,

unfortunately either knowingly or unknowingly, sinned in some way?

Based on what Rabbi Yossi HaGalili says, the Jews would have had no

fighters left in their army.

The truth is that even without Rabbi Yossi HaGalili one might wonder

if the Torah is allowing too many Jews off the hook. Are the army

deferment options that we enumerated earlier too many? We'll lose a

nice number who have built homes, planted vineyards or become

engaged without the next steps. Then (according to Rabbi Akiva)

there will be a certain percentage of drop-off who are simply afraid

of battle.

But Rav Yossi Hagalili's exception could literally knock out the entire

army.

The Kotzker Rebbe answers with the following important principle

that I believe carries a vital message about both positive psychology,

Elul and the beginning of a new school year:

If one looks closely at the words Rabbi Yossi HaGalili uses to describe

those who are afraid of battle and therefore exempt, he says:

...רבי יוסי הגלילי אומר: הירא ורך הלבב - זהו המתיירא מן העבירות שבידו

Rabbi Yossi HaGalili says he is "mityarei min haaveirot shebeyado"-

he is afraid of the transgressions that are in his hands.

The Kotzker says that it is clear that not everyone who was simply

afraid he had sinned returned from the battle. That would have left

the Jewish people without any soldiers.

Rather, a closer look at the text of Rav Yossi HaGalili reveals that

one is allowed to return only in the instance in which he is afraid

from the sins that are still in his hands. In other words, this person

has done Teshuva, has repented, but he hasn't been able to get rid of

these transgressions because he hasn't been able to allow himself to

move past them.

These aveirot were still very much "beyado" - in his hands. The

memories were still raw and the sin was such a paralyzing influence

that it prevented the soldier from moving on. This person had no

In this issue

Recent EventsOrientation

9/12 Welcome BBQs

Upcoming EventsIKO Charity Golf Tournament

Photo Day

UO Grade 9 Retreat

YOC Mishmar

YOC Grade 9 Shabbaton and

Green Acres

Meet and Greet/BAS 101

Sunday, August 31

YOC No School

Monday, September 1

Labour Day

Tuesday, Septebmer 2

School Begins

UO Family Program

YOC Elul Yom Iyun

See all events

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choice but to be sent home.

I believe this is a very powerful message as we simultaneously enter

Elul and embark on a new school year.

Elul is all about new beginnings. We are blessed with the ability to

start over each and every year. Elul is a time for introspection and

thought about our previous year and our previous behaviors and Elul

is about making commitments that next year will be different.

But it is very important that we focus on the past as a vehicle to

move forward and not to hold us back. Past decisions can have the

harmful effect of creating paralysis in which one is unable to act

based on regret from past decisions and actions. Elul is about

recognizing that we have the blessing to start over. This is

simultaneously a significant and overarching principle within the field

of positive psychology.

In many ways, a new school year presents us with similar

opportunities. Hopefully we are all returning to school having rested

and recharged our batteries with new pencils, clean paper and a

renewed energy and commitment that this year will be better than

last.

Last year was a wildly successful year for the Bnei Akiva Schools,

Ulpana and Or Chaim. However, we strongly believe in introspection

and development and we therefore spent the entire summer

planning, preparing and readying for a year of even greater impact

and growth.

We are moving forward with new programs, new initiatives and a

true commitment to educational excellence and positive religious

growth. We remember and recognize the challenges that a most

difficult summer in Israel brought and we hope to use these

memories to inspire us towards greater Israel activism and more

devotion in our Tefilla and Talmud Torah.

We are excited to begin our 5775, 2014-2015 school year and we

hope and believe this will be a truly exceptional experience for all.

Shabbat Shalom to all,

Rabbi Seth Grauer

Rosh Yeshiva / Head of School

RECENT EVENTSOrientationBoth schools hosted orientation programs this past Thursday.

Engagements:

Carly Factor ('12)

and Lorne Pillemer

Aviva Goldstein ('08)

and Ben Wallick

Marnina Herrmann ('04)

and Yehonathan Elozory

Greg Kay ('09)

and Deena Rogozinsky

Nicole Rosenblum ('10)

and Noah Klein

Ayala Rubin ('09)

and Jeremy Chad

Ahuva Wisebroad ('98)

and Jonathan Marciano

Debra Vatenmacher ('12)

and Jacob Posluns ('12)

Weddings:

Tali Dolman (08')

and Moshe Rabinowitz

Dena Fried ('09)

and Chaim Pressman ('09)

Rena Green ('10)

and Ehud Prisman ('07)

Raffi Jesin ('04)

and Rachel Ginsberg

Sara Lipsey (07')

and Alon Hovav

Chanan Margolis ('07)

and Sarit Zukowsky

Dina Safran ('09)

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Students reunited with their

classmates, met some new

faculty, heard about exciting

updates to the building and

received new handbooks. Grade 9

students got to know their new

classmates and played a fun

icebreaker game.

It was a productive day that set students up for a successful year.

Thank you to administrations at both schools, Gemara Rebbes at YOC

and Mechanchot at UO for running and participating in the day.

As well, thank you to Zev Wasserman ('13) for speaking to YOC's

grade 9 students!

9/12 Welcome BBQsBoth schools held BBQs, organized

by the grade 12s, to welcome the

grade 9s. Students enjoyed

meeting each other and playing

some interactive games. Thank

you to the Cohen family for

hosting the Ulpana BBQ and the

Mayer family for hosting the YOC

BBQ. These events are a unique way for our grade 9s to become

acclimated into the schools and we look forward to a great start to

classes on Tuesday!

Click here to view pics from the YOC BBQ

Click here to view pics from the UO BBQ

UPCOMING EVENTSIKO Charity Golf

TournamentJoin Bnei Akiva Schools for our

10th annual IKO Charity Golf

Tournament, taking place

Tuesday, September 9, at the

Station Creek Golf Club. Proceeds from the tournament go to support

Bnei Akiva Schools and your participation is greatly appreciated. To

register, sponsor or for more information, please visit

www.ikocharitygolf.com/

Photo DayAll students will take grade pictures on Wednesday, Sept 3. Grades 9

- 11 will take individual photos. Proofs and order forms will be

distributed in the coming weeks. Photos taken will be used in the

yearbook. Come prepared with a smile!

UO Grade 9 Retreat

and Avi Silver ('04)

Talya Shumacher ('10)

and Jeremy Silver ('05)

Yael Spiegel ('10)

and Nachum Silverman (08')

David Tradburks ('09)

and Arielle Kestenbaum

Aliyah

Serena Alloul ('10)

Keshet Eklove ('13)

Alex Huberman ('11)

Births:

A boy to Miriam (Domb '98)

and Barak Chai ('95)

A girl to Rebecca (Turk '09)

and Shmuel Herzig ('08)

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The grade 9 girls will be heading

to Kinark, an outdoor education

centre, for an overnight trip,

leaving Sunday morning, Sept 7

and returning Monday evening,

Sept 8. Please take a look at the

attached information form and

the packing list. A permission

form will be forthcoming.

YOC MishmarThe mishmar committee met

earlier this week to begin

planning the first mishmar,

taking place Thursday, Sept 4.

They've come up with some

exciting, creative ideas to start

the year off in the right direction.

Any student who is unable to attend mishmar must sign out, with

parental permission, prior to 5:30pm on Thursday.

YOC Grade 9 Shabbaton

and Green AcresAt 1:30pm on Friday, Sept 5, our

grade 9s will be dismissed from

last period class to load the bus

and travel to Moshava Ennismore.

YOC's faculty, administration and

several student leaders have

worked together to create a

meaningful, exciting shabbaton to welcome the grade 9s to our

school. Please be sure to sign the attached forms and pay close

attention to our packing list. An additional permission form will be

sent out as well.

Our grade 9s will be going to Green Acres on Tuesday, Sept 7 for a

day of teambuilding and outdoor activities. Please be sure to sign

and return the waiver form that was included in the August e-mail

package.

Meet & Greet / BAS 101Parents - please join us at 7pm on Wednesday, Sept 10 for an

informal Meet and Greet evening. It will be a wonderful opportunity

to shmooze and meet with administration, as well as new and

returning faculty. Following the Meet and Greet, there will be a

program for grade 9 parents and parents new to the schools - BAS

101.


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