February 3, 2012Issue 2012 Issue Number 48 Volume Number III

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February 3, 2012Issue 2012 Issue Number 48 Volume Number III UPCOMING EVENTS February 20th-24th Mid Winter Recess No School!

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.

What happens when a person sings is that they draw a line between earth and heaven, a line between their own innermost spiritual point and its divine source.

1 February 3, 2012Issue 2012 Issue Number 48 Volume Number III UPCOMING EVENTS February 20th-24th Mid Winter Recess No School! 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 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 between earth and heaven, a line between their own innermost spiritual point and its divine source. Singing is an expression of the understanding 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 Israelites 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 Israelites 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.. Bet Shraga Hebrew Academy Of The Capital District Receives Substantial Support From

From the Desk of Rabbi Rami Strosberg Head of School More than 700 leaders and educators at Jewish day schools across the spectrum of Jewish gathered together for the third annual North American

2 From the Desk of Rabbi Rami Strosberg Head of School More than 700 leaders and educators at Jewish day schools across the spectrum of Jewish gathered together for the third annual North American Jewish Day School Conference (NAJDSC) in Atlanta on January It was a tremendous 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 Horizons. The program featured two keynote speeches, four mini-keynotes, a special 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 speakers 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 innovations in Jewish education. Equally important was the networking time that allowed participants to meet and hold in-depth discussions with other practitioners, 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 innovative practices, strategic, big picture thinking, and an energized commitment 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, Measuring Success and several anonymous funders.

3 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!

Upcoming Games Sunday 2/5 HACD 4/5 @ Watervilet 10am HACD 2/3 @ St.

5 Upcoming Games Sunday 2/5 HACD Watervilet 10am HACD St. Mary s Waterford, 1pm Tuesday 2/7 HACD Kadima, 7pm Wednesday 2/8 HACD Holy Names, 6pm Practice Schedule 7/8 Boys Sunday 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

Save The Date! Grandparents and Special Friends Day will be held on the afternoon of Friday ~ May 18, 2012 12:00-3:00 PM BOOK FAIR VOLUNTEERS NEEDED THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 9TH!

6 Save The Date! Grandparents and Special Friends Day will be held on the afternoon of Friday ~ May 18, :00-3:00 PM BOOK FAIR VOLUNTEERS NEEDED THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 9TH! This year s HACD Book Fair will be held on Thursday, February 9 th. 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 forward 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 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!!!!. Hebrew Academy is now offering tutoring for adults in Hebrew Language. If you are interested, please call Sharon Strosberg Sat. Feb 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 for the Jewish Girls Summer Retreat. July 2012 "Where every Girl is Family!" Nechama Laber th St. Troy, NY cell H Light up the World with your Mitzvah!

7 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 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 for the Jewish Girls Summer Retreat. July 2012 "Where every Girl is Family!" Nechama Laber th St. Troy, NY cell H Light up the World with your Mitzvah!

10 SHOMRAY TORAH ANNUAL CAMPAIGN DONORS 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.

March 2, 2012Issue Issue Number 50 Volume Number III

March 2, 2012Issue Issue Number 50 Volume Number III UPCOMING EVENTS Candle Lighting times for February/March Friday March 2 - Light 5:28 Saturday March 3rd - End 6:30 Friday March 9th Light 5:37 Saturday