REFLECTIONS בס" דFRIDAY, AUGUST 14, 2020 ראהCandle lighting 7:40 PM LEARNING TORAH, LOVING TORAH, LIVING TORAH Dear Parents and Friends, I have been so fortunate to have had many wonderful teachers over the years. I still do. My teachers have imparted information, guided me in the ways of the Torah, given me the opportunity to explore new vistas and to discover my strengths and my vulnerabilities. Frequently, they’ve helped me see life through different lenses. Changing perspectives is not always easy but sometimes very fundamental to learn life’s important lessons. My teachers have come in all forms, types and personalities. I have been taught by venerable Rebbeim, influential Moros, and highly educated teachers. However, most of my inspiring “instructions of life” have come from children – children of all ages and stages. The lesson I would like to share with you came from an adorable curly-haired four year old – one of my granddaughters: You will recall last week’s quasi-hurricane, quasi- tornado, quasi-tropical storm. Torrential rains and fierce winds wreaked much havoc to Hashem’s bountiful nature and to people’s personal property. Evidence of Hashem’s unique control of our world could be found in urban areas, rural areas, and seashore areas. After the storm subsided, my daughter needed to go on a few errands and took one of her children along. While not surprising but nevertheless upsetting, there were many felled trees, branches and bracken strewn everywhere, and pools of water preventing a smooth flow of traffic. Seeing the aftermath of a storm is a jolting reminder of Hashem’s dominion over the universe. As my daughter and granddaughter wove their way around the maze of the storm’s natural clutter, they came up upon a tree of mammoth size which had been uprooted and was laying on its side. It looked like a giant had simply lifted the tree from the ground and put it down next to its large gaping hole. I would surmise that anyone who drove by this ecological phenomenon would emit a long sigh accompanied by, “Oh My…” One would be struck by the shocking appearance and would speak of inherent danger. There is another way of literally seeing the tree. While everyone saw destruction, my granddaughter saw the fallen tree as a gift from Hashem. As they passed the tree, she said, “Wow! I always wanted to see what the roots of a tree look like”. It’s all a matter of perspective. My granddaughter realized she had discovered something new and exciting. She had never seen roots before and now was her opportunity. Yes, it is true she is just four years old, and her life, B”H, has only been framed in simcha. Even in her young age, though, she certainly understood that trees don’t uproot themselves on a usual basis. Yet, she saw something exciting in the event and chose to focus on that. My dear parents and friends, I relay this story to you for more than intrinsic poignancy. I do believe there is a lesson for us to take away as we enter the new school year. It is with tremendous Hakoras Hatov to HaKodesh Boruch Hu and to the many people who have worked tirelessly this summer, that we will be re-opening school after our COVID hiatus. We have developed protocols which are in synchrony with the Pennsylvania Department of Education. We have discussed, consulted with medical professionals and at times, with Da-as Torah. The building is sanitized, rooms are arranged to accommodate social distancing, and hovering over everything is a canopy of warmth and love for our families. There may be times, though, when there may be some challenges; some routines and procedures may need to be uprooted. This is a new experience for all of us. Counting Down the Days Until we are Back Together!!!
Transcript
REFLECTIONS
ד"בס
FRIDAY, AUGUST 14, 2020 ראה Candle lighting 7:40 PM
LEARNING TORAH, LOVING TORAH, LIVING TORAH
Dear Parents and Friends,
I have been so fortunate to have had many wonderfulteachers over the years. I still do. My teachers haveimparted information, guided me in the ways of theTorah, given me the opportunity to explore new vistasand to discover my strengths and my vulnerabilities.Frequently, they’ve helped me see life throughdifferent lenses. Changing perspectives is not alwayseasy but sometimes very fundamental to learn life’simportant lessons.My teachers have come in all forms, types andpersonalities. I have been taught by venerableRebbeim, influential Moros, and highly educatedteachers. However, most of my inspiring “instructionsof life” have come from children – children of all agesand stages.The lesson I would like to share with you came froman adorable curly-haired four year old – one of mygranddaughters:You will recall last week’s quasi-hurricane, quasi-tornado, quasi-tropical storm. Torrential rains andfierce winds wreaked much havoc to Hashem’sbountiful nature and to people’s personal property.Evidence of Hashem’s unique control of our worldcould be found in urban areas, rural areas, andseashore areas.After the storm subsided, my daughter needed to goon a few errands and took one of her children along.While not surprising but nevertheless upsetting, therewere many felled trees, branches and bracken strewneverywhere, and pools of water preventing a smoothflow of traffic. Seeing the aftermath of a storm is ajolting reminder of Hashem’s dominion over theuniverse.As my daughter and granddaughter wove their wayaround the maze of the storm’s natural clutter, theycame up upon a tree of mammoth size which had beenuprooted and was laying on its side. It looked like agiant had simply lifted the tree from the ground andput it down next to its large gaping hole.
I would surmise that anyone who drove by thisecological phenomenon would emit a long sighaccompanied by, “Oh My…”One would be struck by the shocking appearance andwould speak of inherent danger.There is another way of literally seeing the tree. Whileeveryone saw destruction, my granddaughter saw thefallen tree as a gift from Hashem. As they passed thetree, she said, “Wow! I always wanted to see what theroots of a tree look like”.It’s all a matter of perspective. My granddaughterrealized she had discovered something new andexciting. She had never seen roots before and now washer opportunity.Yes, it is true she is just four years old, and her life,B”H, has only been framed in simcha. Even in heryoung age, though, she certainly understood thattrees don’t uproot themselves on a usual basis. Yet,she saw something exciting in the event and chose tofocus on that.My dear parents and friends, I relay this story to youfor more than intrinsic poignancy. I do believe there isa lesson for us to take away as we enter the newschool year.It is with tremendous Hakoras Hatov to HaKodeshBoruch Hu and to the many people who have workedtirelessly this summer, that we will be re-openingschool after our COVID hiatus.We have developed protocols which are in synchronywith the Pennsylvania Department of Education. Wehave discussed, consulted with medical professionalsand at times, with Da-as Torah. The building issanitized, rooms are arranged to accommodate socialdistancing, and hovering over everything is a canopyof warmth and love for our families.There may be times, though, when there may besome challenges; some routines and procedures mayneed to be uprooted. This is a new experience for allof us.
Counting Down the Days Until we are Back Together!!!
All students must wear a mask or face shield
and should be reminded if wearing a mask,
to cover their nose and mouth.
ד"בס
Parnes Hayom
Parnes Hayom (Daily Sponsor) is an opportunity to dedicate a day of davening and learning at Politz Hebrew Academy. Your dedication can be made in honor of a birthday, special event or momentous occasion, or in memory of a loved one on or around a Yahrtzeit, or in the merit of a Refuah Shelaima.
The sponsorship of the day will be announced at the beginning of each class by the Rebbe/Morah thereby notifying the entire Politz student body that the z’chus of their learning is in honor of, or in memory of, the individual.
In addition, we will publish the sponsorship in our newsletter, Reflections.
Minimum donation is $50.
Please call Mrs. Wellerstein at 215-969-5960 x160 to have it arranged.
NEW SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITY
REFLECTIONSLEARNING TORAH, LOVING TORAH, LIVING TORAH
ד"בס
Continued
Sometimes you have to take a different road to get to a desired destination. This year our road has the landmarks
of masks, and social distancing. Our destination, though, is the same: A Torah Chinuch replete with all the values
and knowledge embedded inside. We will just get there a little differently.
We need to remember that when moments of confusion, frustration, or consternation come uninvited, to use
these moments as opportunities – opportunities to grow and achieve even greater things.
Just like the tree which gets pulled out of the ground and appears upside down, we can still marvel a the web of
interwoven roots.
No matter what we will face during the upcoming school year, we will still marvel at the greatness of Hashem. He
has brought us to this point, and He will continue to lead us, guide us, and protect us.
SCHOOL CALENDARSCHOOL BEGINS ON TUESDAY, AUGUST 25, 2020 28 AV, 5780
Students and staff members mustnotify the school immediately andmay not come to school if they havesymptoms of Covid-19, are exposed tosomeone with Covid-19, or testpositive for Covid-19. We will beguided by CDC recommendations andby our medical consultants indetermining the appropriate nextsteps, including length of absencefrom school, criteria for returning toschool, and possible quarantine ofother members of the schoolcommunity.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
It is with great sadness that we inform you of the
passing of Rebbitzin Sorah Lifsha (Susan) Isaacson.
.
Our condolences to Rabbi Solomon Isaacson,
Rabbi Shloime Isaacson and
the entire Isaacson Family .
ברוך דיין האמת
To: Rabbi Eliezer and Mrs. Besie Katz on the
marriage of their first grandchild
Shoshana Blimah Katz to Leiby Blachor.
Yocheved (alumna) and Rabbi Shmuel
Lichtenstein on the birth of a baby girl.
Proud grandparents are
Rabbj Moshe and Dubbie Ungar.
Rabbi and Mrs. Avraham Baum on the birth of
a granddaughter to their children
Yechezkel (almuna) and Blumi Baum.
Rabbi Avraham and Shoshana Nulman on the
birth of a granddaughter, Nechama Leah, to their
daughter Rochel (alumna) and Lazar Kaye.
Moshe and Chavy Vegh on the marriage of their
son, Aryeh (alumnus) to Annika Tarlin.
Avrami and Ayala (Dunoff) (alumna) Gross
on the birth of a baby girl.
REMINDER
REFLECTIONSLEARNING TORAH, LOVING TORAH, LIVING TORAH
ד"בס
All students must submit up-to-date health and immunization records to the
school office prior to August 24.
Uniform and Clothing GmachPlease call Mrs. Yaffa Ben Shoshan
