Candle Lighting 4:20 PM 4 Tevet/December 22, This week's Kol Torah is generously sponsored by. Wishing everyone a Good Shabbos!

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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 4:20 PM 4 Tevet/December 22, 2017 This week's Kol Torah is generously sponsored by Kosher Foods and More LLC Wishing everyone a Good Shabbos! 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. PICTURE OF THE WEEK

2 MESSAGE FROM THE HEAD OF SCHOOL Some weeks, we look forward to Shabbos and the weekend, feeling like the week will never end. Some weeks, we look back on the week and wish that it had never ended. This past week was one of those weeks - the ruach, singing, dancing and celebration of Chanukah was so palpable, so intense, that it felt as if we could go on forever. A tremendous Yasher Koach to our Moros, Rebbeim and teachers for putting their hearts and souls into each moment. A special note of thanks to Morah Yehudeet Gore and Rabbi Schwersenski for mapping out and planning each and every latke, donut and (dance) step. The atmosphere was special because it went beyond deep fried foods and lively music. It was special because the ruach of Chanukah as a Yom Tov, was clearly present. It was a celebration of the essence of the Chag, not just its trappings. Towards the end of this week's parsha, Yosef cautions his brothers V'einchem al tochos al klei'chem, you should not concern yourselves with your vessels and property [as you rush back to Yaakov]. The Ohev Yisroel of Apt reads this homiletically, as Do not concern yourselves with your physical trappings. In this spirit, our students were outstanding - they let their inner souls burn bright as they engaged completely in the simcha. Along with the simcha of Chanukah came a sobering moment as Klal Yisrael lost one of its great leaders, Rabbi Aharon Leib Shteinman ZT"L. The Middle School students had the opportunity to hear about his exceptional

3 life from Rabbi Yoel Zeffren, in particular how Rav Shteinman dedicated every moment of his life as a precious resource and how he eschewed creature comforts in order to reach his life's goals, much as elite athletes do in order to shave a fraction of a second off their best finish time. Rav Shteinman is quoted in K'ayal Ta'arog as quipping on Simchas Torah that "one should dance with his mind with the joy of Torah as much as one dances with his feet." Joy should be expressed as true inner joy - of the body, of the intellect and of the neshama. This Chanukah, CTA Talmidim and Talmidot did just that. Good Shabbos, Rabbi Isaac Entin RABBI ENTIN'S RECOMMENDED READING To read Rabbi Entin's recommended reading, CLICK HERE! MAZAL TOV To Sarah and Adam Waldhorn and Family on Yedidyah's Bar Mitzvah! To Julie and Avi Zohar and Family on Hilla's Bat Mitzvah! To Gilya Hodos and Len Freedman and Family on Lina's Bat Mitzvah! To Elana and Baruch Avis and Family on the birth of a baby girl! UPCOMING EVENTS Monday, December 25: 12 PM Dismissal, No Bussing Monday, December 25: Middle School Yom Iyun Thursday, December 28 : Asara B'Tevet, 1:45 Dismisal (No LM or Havertown PM Bussing) Friday, December 29: Lower Merion Friday Bussing for all students. Sunday, December 3 0 : No Sunday School Monday, January 1: No School

4 CLICK HERE to learn more about our Banquet! INSIDE THE CLASSROOM - 4Y We had a busy time in 4Y preparing for Chanukah! We examined many Chanukah objects: Chanukiah, Sevivon, Dmai Chanukah, Levivot. We looked at the different shapes that are in them and saw that when we rearrange colorful paper shapes we can create these Chanukah objects depending on the order in which we lay them...same shapes, different objects. Our students then went and created their own versions of these objects. We baked Sufganiyot this Chanukah! We had a delicious and fun recipe to make "Sufganiyot in a bag." We prepared them together in school and sent home a "ready to go kit" of a mason jar filled with the ingredients needed so families could make them together at home.

5 The story of Chanukah is a real nailbiter, filled with such drama and heroism; 4Y felt that deeply, as the story of Chanukah came alive for us. The kids were rapt in attention as they listened to the story. It was super easy to suddenly find ourselves hiding in a cave as the Yavanim marched by searching for Yidden learning Torah. A conversation with an invisible Yavani trying to convince him that we were "only playing dreidel" ("...it's a game, you like games") was par for the course. To be Maccabim planning the next attack on the huge army of Antiochus was likewise easy. It seems the possibilities are truly endless in 4Y! Have a Good Shabbos! Morah Marnie INSIDE THE CLASSROOM - ART Hello from the CTA Art Room! While we had a slow start with all of the chagim falling out during our art times, we have finally picked up the pace. Most of the grades have done exciting color wheel projects, with spinning tops and circles which, when spun, blend two primary colors to create a secondary color. We even had a colorspinning competition! Our 4th and 5th grade girls have been creating a person falling up! Yes, I know that doesn't sound right but it is true. The girls have been working hard and I cannot wait until their "people" are ready to go on display, so be on the lookout for them if you are in the building. Our newest section is on the artist Wassily Kandinsky ( ). Did you know that Kandinsky had a very special talent? He was able to see music and hear colors, also known as synaesthesia cognate. He is considered the pioneer for abstract art. We will be listening to music and trying to allow it to influence our color choices in our projects.

6 STUDENT DVAR TORAH - ANDREW ROMANOSKI In Parshas Vayigash, the big secret is revealed. Yosef's brothers travel to Egypt and Yehuda approaches Yosef to beg for him to release Binyomin, even offering himself as a slave instead. Yosef was impressed with his brothers' loyalty and reveals his identity to them. After this, the brothers are overcome by shame and remorse. They rush back to Canaan and tell their father Yaakov the news that Yosef is still alive. So after 22 years, Yaakov is reunited with his son Yosef. On the way to Egypt, Yaakov receives a promise from Hashem saying that they will become a great nation. Imagine if this story had gone differently. Yosef had every reason to hold a grudge and be angry at his brothers after everything they did to him. If Yosef had not forgiven his brothers, he would not have been reunited with his father, and Yaakov, his father would not have received the bracha from Hashem. We learn from this parsha the lesson of forgiveness and what it takes for a person to earn the forgiveness. This is the first time in the Torah that we see this lesson of earning forgiveness. At first, Yosef accuses his brothers of a crime by accusing them of being spies and imprisons them for three days. Then, keeping Shimon, he tells the brothers to go back home and bring back Binyamin. The brothers respond by saying "of course we deserve to be punished." This is the first step of earning forgiveness- admitting you did something wrong. Next, Yosef plants the silver cup in Binyamin's bag. When it is found, the brothers admit to the crime and together they take responsibility. This is the second step in earning forgiveness- confessing. Next, Yehuda begs for Binyomin's life by offering to remain as a slave instead. This is the final stage of earning forgiveness- changing your behavior. Yosef was impressed by how loyal Yehuda was to his brother Binyomin and realized that he had changed. Now Yosef was able to forgive his brothers because they had earned the forgiveness. Forgiving people and not holding grudges against them is not only good for them -it's also good for us. Sometimes the anger we hold inside against someone hurts us even more than what they did to us in the first place. It prevents us from moving forward and putting the past behind us. If we are all able to practice the act of forgiveness, our lives will be greater and full of reward.

7 ECP SPOTLIGHT MIDDLE SCHOOL MINYAN For the last eight years, I have been involved in running our Middle School minyan. It has been a refreshing and inspiring experience! We built a minyan which is run by, and led by, our students. Our 8th graders have the opportunity to become gabbaim and to be trained in the halachos of how to do Hagba. Our 7th and 8th graders learn how to become a shaliach tzibur for regular shacharis, rosh chodesh shacharis and musaf, and mincha on a taanis tzibur. 6th graders learn how to lead pesukei dezimra for a minyan, how to do pesicha and gelila, and by observing their older peers, develop their own desire and confidence to be able to step up and lead when they reach their bar mitzvah milestone.

8 Our minyan is almost always the place where parents choose to celebrate their sons' hanachas tefilin (the first day they put on tefilin) and their bo bayom (first aliya) with a bagel or pastry breakfast. All of our students learn the halachos of how to conduct themselves in a minyan, what is appropriate decorum for a makom tefila and participate on a daily basis in a minyan that holds itself to the highest of standards! I had an experience this week which made me even more grateful to be able to daven with our Middle School minyan regularly: This past Shabbos, the Lower Merion Synagogue had a youth Shabbos in honor of Shabbos Chanuka. The teens of the shul led everything at the main minyan. They were the gabbaim, received most of the aliyos, led all of the davening, and really set the tone for the entire tzibur with their beautiful singing and davening. As I watched the Shabbos davening unfold, one after another, it became clear that the overwhelming majority of the students participating (all but one who moved to our community after elementary school) learned much of these skills, and developed their confidence, in our Torah Academy minyan! The baal shacharis, Yosef Niknam, was a regular shaliach tzibur of ours for Rosh Chodesh shacharis. William Mogyoros, the gabbai sheni and baal musaf for Shabbos mevorchim, was a regular baal tefila and leined regularly for our minyan. Even the student who led pesukei dezimrah is a current member of our middle school minyan, Binyamin Niknam. I was not only proud and filled with nachas, but saw with my own eyes how our daily efforts bear immediate fruit in our community! I invite you all to join us whenever you are able, Monday-Friday at 8:25. Come and daven with us and leave inspired! Rabbi Mordechai Schwersenski Di s covery Lunches ENRICHMENT PROGRAM Thank you to Josh Katz for facilitating illuminating Discovery Lunches last week in honor of Chanukah! Upcoming Discovery Lunch- Wednesday, December 27- Grades 2-

9 3 Meet Yonatan Frankel Yonatan Frankel runs a tech company called Nucleus and enjoys showcasing new technology. Come explore how tech products are produced, manufactured, and marketed. Enri chment Clus ters Spotlight on "Wonder Women" With Mrs. Sasson- 4th-5th Grades The "Wonder Women" students have been reading, watching videos, and playing games to find out about women who shaped history. The group visited the Betsy Ross House two weeks ago. Students were inspired to learn about Betsy Ross and were particularly interested in the way this museum allows visitors to interact with history. The students decided to create their own museum exhibit. They are delving into books and other sources to find out more about the women whose lives they will celebrate through their exhibit, and collaboratively planning the design of this exhibit! We are thrilled to begin our second year of Middle School Enrichment Clusters next week! CLICK HERE to see our exciting menu of options. Dear Parents, AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAMS We are excited to announce the second session of after school activities at Caskey Torah Academy. Please use the link below to register your child(ren) for the activities. If you have any difficulties or questions contact Rabbi Silver at ASilver@TAPhila.org. CLICK HERE for the Registration link. A letter with this information will also be sent home that you can send back to the school. Please note, there is a change from what was sent home regarding Boys Art- the information on the website is correct. As many of the clubs will be starting the week of January 1st, please try to send in the forms early next week.

10 Thank you in advance. Rabbi Silver DERECH ERETZ INITIATIVE Mazal Tov to this week's Derech Eretz Raffle winners: Adir Schwartz Gabriela Friedman Shani Friedman Asher Weinstein Dear CTA family, NANA'S KITCHEN Nana's Kitchen will remain OPEN on the 25th and 26th serving your children special packed lunches!! You may purchase them at > Schools > TA and enter your desired dates. Children who order lunches online for those days will receive: Monday 12/25: Cheese Sandwich (Chalov Yisroel) Fresh Veggies (mini carrots and cucumbers) Bag of Chips Fruit Juice box Tuesday 12/26: Scrambled Egg Bagel Fresh veggies Cookie Fruit Juice Box We will be happy to receive your orders starting today! AT Check our catering or Daily menu at You are welcome also to stop by and have a special BRUNCH with us at 45 Haverford Rd. Wynnewood. (The lobby of the Kaiserman JCC). We are looking forward to seeing as many of you!

11 PTO NEWS Ongoing PTO free FUNdraisers make a big difference!!! Please save the following items on behalf of 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 reregister 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. Host our B'not Sherut for a meal Click here to view and sign up for the meal schedule. TA Text Messaging Stay informed with important TA information such as emergency announcements, school closings and event reminders. To opt in - click here CTA CHANUKAH SNAPSHOTS

12 Click Here for the School Calendar Kol Torah is for Grandparents too!

13 Would your parents like to have a window into their grandchildren's Torah Academy's world? To receive Kol Torah, please send addresses here.