This week's Kol Torah is generously sponsored by. Caskey Torah Academy

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1 This weekly publication is ed to all of our subscribers. The newsletter recaps the week's events at Caskey Torah Academy and informs readers of upcoming programs and events. A printed copy is sent home on Fridays to each CTA family. Happy reading and have a Good Shabbos! Candle Lighting 5:26P P M 8 Adar 5778/February 23, 2018 This week's Kol Torah is generously sponsored by Caskey Torah Academy In honor of our Guests of Honor Josh and Tal Weinberger and In honor of our Rabbi Israel M. Axelrod Excellence in Education Awardees Mrs. Sara Hirsch and Mrs. Marnie Narboni If you would like to sponsor an issue of Kol Torah in honor or in memory of a loved one, please contact Rachel Mazurek at rmazurek@taphila.org. PICTURES OF THE WEEK

2 54TH ANNUAL SCHOLARSHIP BANQUET WE ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO SEEING EVERYONE AT OUR 54TH ANNUAL SCHOLARSHIP BANQUET THIS SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 25TH AT 6PM AT THE CRYSTAL TEA ROOM!

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4 MESSAGE FROM THE HEAD OF SCHOOL During the construction of the Mishkan, Moshe was instructed to make the clothing for the Kohein Gadol (High Priest). The ephod, which the Kohein Gadol wore, had a series of bells on its lower edge. The Torah tells us the purpose of this feature: Vinishma Kolo b'vo'o el hakodesh - "He will be heard upon his entering the holy [place]." Why did the Kohein Gadol need

5 to make his presence known before he entered? Does Hashem not know that he is entering? What significance do these bells hold? Rabbi Yehuda Ginsburg explains in Yalkut Yehuda that as the KoheIn Gadol wore this garment and performed his functions in the Beit Hamikdash, every step he took had an audible impact. His every motion drew attention, and this served to remind him that as the highest spiritual official and representative of Bnai Yisrael, his every movement and word made a lasting impression on others. The Kohein Gadol needed to be keenly aware that he was an ambassador of The Al-Mighty, and that he could not afford to act differently. Caskey Torah Academy has stressed Derech Eretz as a cornerstone of its philosophy and curriculum, and as a key part of its vision for developing the next generation of Klal Yisrael. However, I am not content to leave our current status, as enviable as it may be, "as is." Over the next months and years, you will see a continued stress on Midot and Derech Eretz, both as formal subjects and informal discussions in the classroom. Our teachers are our models for this type of sterling character, and we are proud to be able to imbue our students with an all-encompassing sense of moral character, personal dignity and Emotional Intelligence. Our goal is to fill our students with the sense that as Jews in a larger world, we are all Kohanim Gedolim, and that our actions speak loudly - both to others and to ourselves. We each have the ability to impact the world in the most profound and positive way, but the process of learning how to do so as an adult member of the Jewish community must begin at the earliest age. Here, at CTA, we will be doing just that. Shabbat Shalom, Rabbi Isaac Entin MAZAL TOV To Ayala and Evan Aidman and Family in honor of Aryeh's Bar Mitzvah! To Tanya and David Libesman and Family on the engagement of their daughter, Kayla to Sammy Aronson! RABBI ENTIN' S RECO MMENDED READING To read Rabbi Entin's recommended reading, CLICK HERE! UPCO MING EVENTS Sunday, February 25: 54th Annual Scholarship Banquet Wednesday, February 28: Ta'anit Esther, 1:45 Dismissal

6 Thursday, March 1: Purim, No School Friday, March 2: Shushan Purim, Special Programming Tuesday, March 6: Special Parenting Workshop with Rabbi Shlomo Goldberg INSIDE THE CLASSROOM - PHYSICAL EDUCATION In physical education class, over the past couple of weeks, the students have been learning the basic forms of tennis. The calisthenics portion of the routine involved arm motion and an emphasis on strengthening the legs (lunge walking) as well as intensive sprinting. This past week, we worked on the forehand stroke, which included games to test their ability to hit with accuracy as well as consistency. In the middle school division, the students did much of the same, but included doubles match tournaments which created added opportunities for teamwork. As usual, your Kinderlach have been hard working and I'm always amazed by their drive and determination. One final note, I would like to congratulate the CTA girls' basketball team on an undefeated season, the first in our school's history! We all wish our graduating seniors, Yaffa Troodler, Miriam Decker and Dafna Erlbaum, best wishes and I thank them for their dedication to the program. Good Shabbos, Coach Kenny INSIDE THE CLASSROOM - 6B LIMUDEI KO DESH What an amazing year it has been so far. The 6th grade boys have been focused and determined when it comes to their learning. If you walk into the classroom on any given day, you would find the boys immersed in animated discussions and debates as they push forward into trying to figure out the Gemara. You would see some boys using their Chromebooks to take notes, while others are using them to work on Gemara Berura. You would see some boys drawing out cases on paper and others highlighting and marking key points in their Gemara. One student will be adamant about his opinion while his chavrusa will be attempting to prove why his

7 understanding is incorrect. Recently, the class has began to include Rashi into their repertoire of tools to use when working on a new sugya. There is no greater joy than walking around the classroom, observing and listening to each of the chavrusa's discussions, hearing the many good insights, and seeing their progress as they work out the details and flow of each section. It is hard to believe that these boys have been learning Gemara for less than a year and so many of them already have the confidence and ability to attack a new piece of Gemara. Good Shabbos, Rabbi Silver STUDENT DVAR TORAH - LILY HULLMAN As I was preparing this d'var torah, I came across an important question, "do clothes make the man?" What I mean is, what is the importance of clothes besides covering your body? Why does this week's parsha spend so much time on the clothes of the kohanim? Are we supposed to focus on the details on the bigdei kehuna? Or do we look at the bigger picture to see what Hashem is trying to tell us about their importance by giving us so much information about them? What caught my attention was looking at the bigger picture and understanding why so much of the parsha had to be dedicated to the clothing. While there are many mefarshim who talk about why the bigdei kehuna are important to how other people see the kohanim from the outside, the Ba'al Hachinuch focuses on how they make the person wearing them feel on the inside. The Ba'al Hachinuch says:"man is affected by his own deeds, and his consciousness and intent is forged by them. The "atoning messenger" {the kohen gadol} must direct his thoughts and entire consciousness totally towards the service. It is, therefore, appropriate that he don clothing specific to that service. In this way, as he gazes upon any part of his body, he is immediately reminded - and his heart becomes aware of - before whom he stands." To me, what this means is that the clothes we wear help shape the way we think and the way we act. For example, the kohen gadol is required to wear the bigdei kehuna which are beautiful garments that have to be made a specific way that the Torah details for us. According to the Rambam in the Mishina Torah "if they are ragged, dirty, too long or short for the wearer..." the service performed by the kohen is not fulfilled. The Rambam says that every person should meet a minimum standard in how they dress. Of course, this becomes even more important for the kohen gadol.

8 When I think about how this applies to me, one thing that comes to mind is how we dress on Shabbos. By dressing in nice clothes I am reminded that Shabbos is a special day to stand out from other days of the week. At CTA we have a uniform that reminds us that we are in school and we should be focusing on our very difficult work. By wearing the uniform we are less focused on the outside and more focused on our priorities as students. If wearing the bigdei kehuna was made to help the kohen gadol remember his important role as high priest, and us wearing uniforms helps us stay on the right path at CTA, then the clothes we wear do not make us who we are, but remind us who we are. ECP SPO TLIGHT Discovery Lunches ENRICHMENT PRO GRAM Upcoming Discovery Lunch: Tuesday, February 27, Grades 1-5 Meet Dan Namerow Are you interested in finding out how to build an electric circuit or create a battery from a potato? Come find out about the world of electronics in this hands-on

9 workshop with electrician Dan Namerow, of Farryn Electric. Host our B'not Sherut for a meal Click here to view and sign up for the meal schedule. Enrichment Clusters Spotlight on "Happy 70th Birthday!" with Noa and Noa- Grades 4-5 Israel is turning 70 this year! Students in this cluster were inspired by videos, games, stories, and presentations led by our Bnot Sherut. The girls did research about the Israeli government, athletics, innovations, and geography, and created beautiful educational posters to teach their peers about Israel. Their posters were on display at our Enrichment Cluster Celebration this past week, and will be incorporated into our schoolwide Yom Ha'atzmaut celebration. Enrichment Cluster Celebration Our 2nd-5th graders celebrated the conclusion of an exciting and engaging session of Enrichment Clusters. Students displayed their work, and confidently and proudly explained their accomplishments to peers and visitors. Thank you to all parents, grandparents, and visitors who came to share in this celebration! PTO NEWS Ongoing PTO free FUNdraisers make a big difference!!! Please save the following items on behalf of the CTA PTO...and urge friends and family to participate in these easy, no cost programs. Currently, we are collecting Box Tops for Education logos (go to for a complete product listing and for offers and sweepstakes) and Brown's Shoprite and Fresh Grocer receipts (must be current...within the last 5 months). A collection box for these items is at the front security desk. Please register your Giant Bonus Cards ( to benefit CTA PTO (use CTA id # 23875)...anyone with a Giant card can participate in this program and you can support up to 2 schools. Once you have registered, there is no need to re- register for the new school year. CTA also participates in the Amazon Smile program and in the and programs, so keep CTA in mind as you shop online. For any questions about these programs, please contact jeisenberg345@gmail.com.

10 TA Text Messaging Stay informed with important TA information such as emergency announcements, school closings and event reminders. To opt in - click here CTA SNAPSHO TS

11 Click Here for the School Calendar Kol Torah is for Grandparents too! Would your parents like to have a window into their grandchildren's Torah Academy's world? To receive Kol Torah, please send addresses here.