בס"ד Dear Yeshiva College Community, Rosh Chodesh Av is a day of mixed emotion. While it is Rosh Chodesh a special day which we mark with the recitation of Hallel - the Gemara teaches us that, Mishenichnas Av, me ma atin b Simcha With the commencement of the month of Av, we decrease in our sense of joy. As we begin the Nine Days with its various restrictions and practices, we find ourselves closing in on the apex of the 3 weeks. Tisha b Av is imminent and with it, the deep and sorrowing realization that we live in a world without a Beit Hamikdash where the ultimate truth of reality is obscured and the world is filled with much pain and tragedy. This week s parsha, Matot-Masei, contains a very interesting exchange between Moshe Rabbeinu and the leadership of the tribes of Reuven and Gad. Bnei Yisrael is getting closer to moving into Eretz Yisrael and Reuven and Gad notice the lush and promising lands on the East of the Jordan River outside of Eretz Yisrael. Due to their great livestock, they wish to remain on this side of the river. Moshe takes great umbrage to their request and invokes the memory of the Sin of the Spies to admonish them harshly on having such a thought. They then refine their request to confirm that they will of course join their brethren in conquering the land and only subsequently will they return to the Land of Yaazer and Gilad. After a further clarification of priorities and the making of certain conditions, Moshe acquiesces to their request. I had the great privilege of visiting our Grade 6s on Tour this week, under the inspired leadership of some of our enthused and talented Grade 11 learners, guided by the YiD Team. It was wonderful to see our Grade 6s at the peak of their Primary School journey beginning to form as responsible individuals and as a group. This, as they begin looking towards the great adventure of High School that awaits them. On voting day, a day which is all about affirmations of values and priorities, I shared with them the above anecdote from the Parsha in relation to the stage they find themselves in now. Bnei Yisrael find themselves in a stage of transition and at such a time, decisions have to be made and priorities have to be defined and refined. Moshe was so deeply disappointed when he saw how this seemed to manifest by Reuven and Gad valuing their livestock above their families and responsibility towards Eretz Yisrael! It was therefore very important to him to make sure that they understood what is truly important in life and made their decisions on that basis. So too, our Grade 6s with the girls already in their Batmitzvah year and the boys about to enter their Barmitzvah year looking towards beginning High School next year. The Grade 6 Tour was an incredible opportunity for them to look back on their growth and assess what defines them and who they want to become. They did this in a fun-filled environment of growth, guided by fantastic Grade 11 role models along the way. Yasher koach to the Primary School and to the YiD teams on a fantastic programme and to all the heads of the High School and Primary School for visiting! I have no doubt that this experience will serve as a great guide to our dear Grade 6s for the exciting journey that awaits them!
בס"ד As we close in on Tisha b Av and ponder the consequences of our straying from our path as a nation this is always a tremendous opportunity to look inwards and see where our path of growth lies. Avot u Banim in the Boys High School this coming Monday evening will focus on the Torah that we have lost through the tragedies that we have suffered in recent months in Eretz Yisrael as another way to inspire us to further growth and development. Rav Kook zt l so beautifully captured where our growth should be directed in saying, If we were destroyed, and the world with us, due to baseless hatred, then we shall rebuild ourselves, and the world with us, with baseless love ahavat chinam. (Orot HaKodesh vol. III, p. 324). In this light, we are very grateful and proud to be driving SA Jewish Unity Day once again as per the other communications you will have received already. It is no co-incidence that our most ambitious Unity Day yet falls in the time when unity is the key to rebuilding the time of the Nine Days. Please G-d, these days of sorrow should be turned into days of joy, with the coming of Mashiach and the rebuilding of the Beit Hamikdash, soon in our days. Shabbat Shalom and Chodesh Tov, Rabbi Leron Bernstein, on behalf of the Rosh Yeshiva shlit a, Management and Staff of Yeshiva College
5 August 2016/ RC Av 5776 Parshat Matot-Masei Dear Parents In this weeks Parsha Matot- Masei, Moshe reviews the journey of the Bnei Yisrael through the desert and lists the 42 stations in which the Jews camped along the way. As the Jews stand on the cusp of Eretz Yisrael, they pause to reflect on the journey that brought them to Israel and lessons they learned along the way. Candle Lighting 5:26 pm Shabbat Ends: 6:13pm In a similar vein, our Matrics, who are about to write their 2nd set of prelims were treated to a unique Kodesh Seminar. The aim of the Seminar was to reflect on the 12 year journey through school and the lessons learned along the way. The girls were addressed by top level speakers such as Mrs Tamar Taback, Mrs Debby Sieff and Rebbitsen Mandy Kaufman. The girls were treated to snacks and gifts throughout the week in order to end their Kodesh experience on a positive note. Our Grade 11s sent 9 representatives to act as Madrichot on the Grade 6 tour. A special thank you and Yasher Koach to Michal Chipkin, Kara Gordon, Dani Jaffe, Galya Kangisser, Shira Katz, Hannah Midzuk, Dinah Poyurs, Alexa Rapp and Ami Selikson for all your hard work. Your energy and enthusiasm transformed the trip! The DL Link will be running a Pink carnival to raise funds and awareness for the families of cancer patients. Our Grade 10s have been very involved in the project and will be coming on Sunday to run the various booths for the carnival. Kol hakavod for all the time and energy you have put into this project!
Our Grade 9s went to visit the Bokomosa Day Care Centre on Monday. The Grade 9s have adopted the Day Care as their project and hope to run various initiatives with them in the coming months. Well done to our Chidon Hatanach contestants who competed in the first round. We wish you much Hatzlacha!!! Wishing you all a wonderful, WARM Shabbos! Morah Katz
JUMBLE SALE JUMBLE SALE JUMBLE SALE We need your help to make this a success! Dear Parents and learners, The Grade 10 learners are raising funds to ensure that every student has the opportunity to experience the Kfar learning programme in Israel. We all have clothes, sports equipment, bags, shoes etc. that are either too small or we have no use for. Please hand your bags of unwanted, sellable goods to the various school offices: Boys High School Teresa Girls High School Devorah Primary School. Nursery School Vanessa Lisa Playschool Drop at office The Jumble Sale will take place on Sunday 28th August 2016 in the Yeshiva College parking area on Long Avenue from 9am - 1pm. Please bring all items to school as soon as possible!