HILLEL TORAH Highlights NORTH SUBURBAN DAY SCHOOL כ ו אדר, תשע ג פרשת ויקהל-פקודי הדלקת נרות : 5:29 Lighting: March,8 2013 Vayakhel-Pekudei Candle Upcoming Events A Message from the Principal בס ד March: 9 Saturday 8th Gr. Girls Melave Malka 8:00pm at Mrs. Rosenbaum s 10 Sunday Daylight Saving Time Spring forward! 2:00am 11 Monday HT: Hamburger 7th Gr. Girls Bnot Mitzvah Siyum 7:00pm at HT 5 Tuesday HT: Pizza Day SV: Pizza ראש חדש ניסן Rosh Chodesh Nisan Wear Blue and White 13 Wednesday HT: Soup and Grilled Cheese 3rd Gr. Chicago Fair 7:00pm at HT 14 Thursday HT: Hot Dog 18 Monday SV: Chicken Nuggets HT: Hamburger PN/N Trip to the Matzah Factory Dear Friends, Thank you for joining us at our Ray Stein Memorial Scholarship Dinner last Sunday, where we celebrated 21st Century Learning at Hillel Torah. With well over 400 people in a endance, the evening was a great social and financial success. Mazal tov to our honorees, Aliza and Craig Frank, Zenia and Jeffery L. Cohen and Debbie Eisenstein. May you con nue to go from strength to strength. We thank all our staff and students for their leadership and coopera on on Monday as we had to evacuate our main campus a er a burning odor was smelled in the middle school hallway. We also thank the Skokie Yeshiva for hos ng us in their lunchroom so that the students could stay warm as we waited for the all clear signal from the fire department. Baruch Hashem there was no fire and we were able to return to our classes within a few minutes. It was nice to see so many parents making home school communica on a priority at Parent Teacher Conferences this week. We thank all those who had to reschedule due to the snow day on Tuesday for their flexibility. We had the great opportunity today to host Rabbi Yosef Rimon, Rabbi of Alon Shevut, Israel and renown scholar and author, to speak with our 7th and 8th graders. Rabbi Rimon led a lively discussion about what freedom means to us today in prepara on for Passover, the fes val of freedom. We are once again par cipa ng in the Pesach Sponsor a Family Food Drive, spearheaded by the Student Council. Students have brought home their assigned food items. Please send them in by Wednesday, March 13th. Thank you for your help and zku l mitzvot! Shabbat Shalom! Rabbi Menachem Linzer 19 Tuesday HT: Pizza Day SV: Pizza Pesach Break Thursday, March 21 Wednesday, April 3 Sessions Resume Thursday, April 4
SCHOOL-WIDE SCOOP The Kindness of our Children As we all were shivering outside Monday morning, it took one ques on to students to have them start taking the clothes off their backs and handing them to other students who were colder. The simple request was that if a student had a coat or extra layer on, would they be willing to share with someone who was wearing short sleeves? In an instant zip ups, sweaters, hats, gloves, and any other extra apparel was being handed out to other students. This was done with no care to grade level, gender, or previous friendship. It truly was heartwarming to watch so many students put the needs of others first. What a wonderful thing to witness. Mrs. Anita London, Middle School Teacher פרנס היום Parnes Hayom The Week of Learning of March 4th-March 8th/22nd-26th of Adar was sponsored by Rabbi Asher 'Robby' ('94) and Rahel Block Alyssa (Block, '96) and Ross Gordon Adam Block ('04) Eliana Block ('08) in memory of their sister, Shana Block (Class of 2000), z"l in commemoration of her 20th Yahrtzeit May all our students' learning merit an aliyah for her neshama Health Corner Please click here for an article on Poison Control from Chana Goldstein, RN, CPNP Good and Welfare Mazal tov to Nechama and Reuven Brand on the birth of a baby girl. Mazal tov to big brothers, Ilan (K), Aryeh (PN), and Chaim. May she be raised to a life of Torah, chupah, and ma asim tovim! Mazal tov to Bini (Bornstein, 95) and Adam Dachs on the birth of a baby boy. May he be raised to a life of Torah, chupah, and ma asim tovim! Mazal tov to Alyese Faibisoff and Josh Faibisoff on the bar mitzvah of Joseph. May Joseph con nue to be a source of nachat to his parents, family, and Klal Yisrael. Mazal tov to Liz and David Geifman on the bat mitzvah of Sophie. May Sophie con nue to be a source of nachat to her parents, family, and Klal Yisrael. Mazal tov to Melissa and Harris Perlman on the bar mitzvah of Noah. May Noah con nue to be a source of nachat to his parents, family, and Klal Yisrael. Mazal tov to Ramesh and Daniel Soleymani on the bat mitzvah of Talie. May Talie con nue to be a source of nachat to her parents, family, and Klal Yisrael. Mazal tov to Cathy and Joe Gluck on the engagement of Yael ( 04). May Yael and her chatan come to the chupah b shaah tova u mutzlachat. The Day of Learning on Monday, March 4th/22nd of Adar was sponsored by Avi, Gila, Amelia, Lily, Ariel and Max Needle in memory of Max Abrams, z"l in commemoration of his fourth Yahrtziet May all our students' learning merit an aliyah for his neshama The Day of Learning on Wednesday, March 6th/24th of Adar was sponsored by Ya'akov and Aliza Schultz in memory of their Ah-ya May all our students' learning merit an aliyah for his neshama The Day of Learning on Friday, March 8th/26th of Adar was sponsored by The Hillel Torah PTA in honor of our Ray Stein Memorial Scholarship Dinner honorees: Aliza & Craig Frank Debbie Eisenstein Zenia & Jeffrey L. Cohen Mazal tov! You are an inspiration to us all! Shabbat Shalom! A partner in serving our community, supported by the Jewish United Fund/Jewish Federa on
Hillel Torah PTA Presents FYI Community Notes ATT in conjunction with the CRC announces its inaugural Yedios Klaliyos Program, a system wide competition for ATT students in grades 5 8. Separate boys and girls programs. Join the fun and be surprised by how much you ll learn. Study guides are available at your school and the ATT. Program structure contains three levels. Study hard and see how far you can advance. Great prizes awarded for those who make it to Level 3. Register by April 4 th to participate. First level test is Sunday, April 7 th. For more information, call the ATT: 773 973 2828 or email yedios@att.org or go to www.att.org. Parsha & Pizza What could be better? 2 nd, 3 rd, and 4 th grade boys and girls are invited to join the YU Torah Mitzion Kollel of Chicago for an exciting learning opportunity and lots of fun. Every Monday, 5:45 6:45pm at Or Torah in Skokie. For more info and sponsorship opportunities, please contact the Kollel office at 773 973 6557 or info@chicagotorah.org The 2013 Israel Solidarity Day will be held on Sunday, April 28th from 11:00 a.m. 4:00 p.m. at Ravinia Festival in Highland Park, with registration opening at 11:00 a.m. This year, as we celebrate Israel s 65th anniversary, we will come together for one big, festive event filled with Israeli spirit! Event highlights will include the Walk with Israel (a three mile walkathon to raise funds to provide Israeli children with the supplies they need to enrich learning and literacy), fabulous all day entertainment in Ravinia s Pavilion featuring the King David Drummers, The Maccabeats, and our headliner, Matisyahu, food for purchase and festivities for all ages. A teen J Serve project will also take place on site from 10:00 a.m. 12:00 p.m. Register online to participate, volunteer and/or donate at www.juf.org/isd. Former Chicagoan, Nachi Paris, #1 ranked real estate broker on the Jerusalem MLS, will be in town to give an informative presentation "The 10 Things One Needs to Know When Purchasing Real Estate in Israel" for anybody considering purchasing property in Israel. Please join us on Saturday night March 9th at 8pm at the home of Dean and Rosalind (Roz) Isaacs, 2838 W. Morse or Sunday March 10th at 10am at the home of Rabbi & Mrs. Bernard Neuman, 3838 Four Winds Way in Skokie (half a block South of Church). Additionally, Nachi will be available Thursday evening, all day Friday and Sunday afternoon for anyone who would like to have a private meeting to hear about specific properties, etc. For more information Nachi@ben zimra.com Rabbi William Z & Eda Bess Novick Bigdei Yisrael is BACK! Please bring your like new, gently used clothing to be sorted, shipped and distributed to the poor in Israel. Come Sunday, March, 10th from 1:00p.m. 4:30 p.m. to our NEW location at 6530 N. Lincoln, in Lincolnwood. For more information, contact Pnina Levinson (773) 743 5438 or Zehava Krauss (773) 463 6611. Thank you and Tizku L'Mitzvot. The Or Torah Youth Department proudly presents Shul for Tots with Mrs. Sandy Kanter. Getting your child acclimated to shul youth groups is just as important to them as it is to you. Together with your child, Morah Sandy will give an introduction to davening, holidays, songs, games and activities! Who: children 12 24 months old with a parent When: 3/9, 3/23. Each session will begin at approximately 10:40 AM in the Or Torah Beit Midrash, directly on the left when you enter from the main entrance. See you there! It's March madness time at Simon Pro Fitness Zumba classes! Get professional training for serious results. This month has many exciting offerings and specials. If you bring a friend who has never come to a Zumba by Erica class this month, you both come to that class for half price($6)! Cosmic Zumba is taking place this month on Saturday night March 9th with separate classes for kids and adults.. In addition, all adult night classes will have the lights down for more fun and more "privacy" while you are getting the moves down! For more info and to sign up in advance go to www.zumbabyerica.com or call 847 276 0772. Registration is now open for the 2013 Nathan and Shirley Rothner ATT Summer Program. Brochures are in the mail and registration is now available on line at att.org (click) For Students. We are planning an awesome summer experience for your children. Register before March 15 and qualify for our Early Bird Discount! Free hot lunches for all campers. For more information call Susan Feuer or Shelley Stopek 773 973 2828. Work at home! Control your hours/income. P/T $500 $1,500/month. F/T $5,000 $10,000+/month. Make your home your office. Call 518 530 1588. It s time to think summer and Junior Gan Israel Day Camp, with quality programming for kids ages 1½ to 6. Options include: Tots Club, Bright Beginnings, Expanding Horizons, as well as half and full day programs, hot lunches, and transportation. Special features include sports and gymnastics with Stretch and Grow certified coaches, for the ultimate in fun and skill building. Go towww.juniorganisrael.org, or call Mrs. Zeesy Posner, 847 677 1770. Luxurious Skokie House for Sale At 9111 Kedvale. 5 bedrooms, 5 full bathrooms and one half bath, huge kosher kitchen with fleishig and milchig appliances and sinks, 3 car heated garage. Serious inquiries only. Call Rivkie Lafer at 847 702 4140. To advertise in FYI, please email Dov Shandalov at dov.shandalov@hilleltorah.org
B NEI AKIVA INVITES YOU TO A FRENCH INSPIRED BAKING DEMONSTRATION ~featuring an array of French and other assorted desserts~ WITH DANI KRULE ~private caterer, creator of custom cakes and confections, and pastry skills teacher~ Sunday, March 10th, 2013 at 7:30 pm At the home of Daniel and Rivka Weiss 6625 North Central Park, Lincolnwood Couvert - $54.00 per person Sponsorships (includes couvert): Crepe - $100; Éclair - $180; Crème Brule - $250 All proceeds will benefit B nei Akiva RSVP Jennie Rothner (jennierothner@gmail.com) Laura Allswang (allswang@comcast.net)
Get a study booklet TODAY! All registration information is in the booklet. For questions: Contact the ATT @ 773-973-2828 or email yedios@att.org Two separate programs: ATT Boys Grades 5-8 and ATT Girls Grades 5-8 Study guides are available in each of your schools or by contacting the ATT @ 773-973-2828 or email yedios@att.org Take a study guide and start studying it Two multiple choice tests will determine who advances to the semi-final round A semi-final test will determine the 3 finalists from the boys program and the 3 finalists from the girls program The 3 finalists will compete in a Yedios Challenge in early May All semi-finalists receive prizes Special prizes for all finalists Hundreds of dollars in prizes to be awarded First test on Level 1 Study Guide Sunday, April 7, 2013 3:00 pm at the ATT Building, 2828 W. Pratt Room #s will be posted for the 2 separate programs. That is all there is to it. and you ll be surprised by how much you ll learn!!
featuring the Walk with Israel SUNDAY, APRIL 28, 2013 Ravinia Festival 200 Ravinia Park Road, Highland Park Honorary Co-Chairs: Governor Pat Quinn, Senator Mark Kirk & Roey Gilad, Consul General of Israel to the Midwest Co-Chairs: Miriam Lichstein & Rabbi Carl Wolkin TOV Chair: Susan Sacks HEADLINING ENTERTAINMENT: Matisyahu - acoustic & The Maccabeats Rain or Shine! Featured entertainment will take place under the Ravinia Festival pavilion. The lawn will be open as pavilion seating is limited. All seating is first-come, first-served. 10:00 a.m. 11:00 a.m. 11:30 a.m. 12:15 p.m. 1:00 p.m. 1:15 p.m. Teen J-Serve Project 2013 Registration opens King David Drummers The Maccabeats Israel Solidarity Day Kickoff Rally Three-Mile Walk with Israel & One-Mile Family Walk 2:30 p.m. King David Drummers 3:00 p.m. Matisyahu - acoustic 4:00 p.m. Program concludes Parking at Ravinia Festival Shuttle buses accessible from central locations and from the Metra Union Pacific North Line stop in the village of Ravinia Visit www.juf.org/isd for more details. Attendees are welcome to bring a picnic lunch. Kosher food will be available for purchase. Note: Dogs, skateboards, bicycles, and roller blades are not permitted at Ravinia Festival. All funds raised from Israel Solidarity Day will provide Israeli children with school supplies to enrich their learning literacy. to make a gift today! * 8thand to 12th graders arevisit invitedwww.juf.org/isd/donate to participate in a city-wide service project. Raise $100 or more and receive a $100 voucher toward an Israel trip! Ask your friends, family and neighbors to sponsor your participation. Visit www.juf.org/isd to print a sponsor sheet. Participate/Volunteer: www.juf.org/isd Call: (312) 444-2905 Email: IsraelSolidarity@juf.org
recognizing The Associated Talmud Torahs of Chicago is proud to announce the excellence and 4 th Year of the Hartman Family Foundation Educato or of the Year Awards in teaching, dedication, commitment to lifelong learning, and creativity to honor and thank all of our community s educators One award of $15,0000 will be presented to a single outstanding educator and Two awards of $5,000 each will be presentedd to two outstanding educators Eligibility Nomineee is a current full-time day school classroom teacher in a school operating under the auspices of the Associated Talmud Torahs of Chicago. Nomineee has served in the above capacity for MORE THAN 4 full school years. Nominations can be made by a fellow educator, administrator, parent, or student. No family or self-nominations. Selection Criteria for Education Award Exceptional instructional skillss in a nurturing environment Commitment to his/ /her students successs Positive role model Superiorr communication skills with parents, students, and peers Commitment to continued professional development Contributes to the school s learning community Nomination forms will be available at www.att..org or in the ATT office beginning February 4, 2013. Submission deadline is Friday, May 10, 2013 by 3:00 p.m. Selection Committee EDUCATOR OF THE YEAR AWARDS Associated Talmud Torahs of Chicago 28288 W. Prattt Blvd. Chicago, IL 60645 An impartial panel consisting of educational consultants and community members will make the evaluations. No Foundation members will participate. Site visits will occur in the Fall of 2013. The formal presentation of award winners will be made at the 2013 ATT Banquet.
Step I: Complete the information below: Nominee Information, the Teacher The Hartman Family Foundation Educator of the Year Awards of the Associated Talmud Torahs 2013 NOMINATION FORM Nominee s Name: Title (Dr., Mr. Mrs., Rabbi): School where nominee teaches: Grade and/or Subject: Teacher s home address: City, State, Zip: Telephone: (Day) Email, if available: Type of service: Secular Educator Judaic Educator *Remember: Nominee must be a current classroom teacher and have taught a minimum of 4 full school years in an ATT school. Principals, guidance counselors, etc. may not be nominated. Information about Person Nominating, the Nominator Nominator s Name: Your relationship to Nominee: Telephone: (Day) Email, if available: Step II: On a separate page, please write why you think your nominee should receive the Educator of the Year Award. Maximum length: one type-written page. Step III: Step IV: Ask at least one other individual to write a letter of reference in support of this candidate. Enclose this letter with your nomination form. Submit all information to the ATT office by Friday, May 10 2013, 3:00 pm in an envelope to: Selection Committee The Educator of the Year Awards Associated Talmud Torahs of Chicago 2828 W. Pratt Blvd. Chicago, IL 60645 Step I: Hartman Family Foundation 2013 Educator of the Year Submission Checklist Completed Nomination Form (above) Step II: Nominator s page explaining choice of nominee Step III: Letter of Reference from another individual Step IV: Submit all the above in one envelope to the ATT office by Friday, May 10, 2013, 3:00 pm. Thank you for helping us honor exceptional educators in our community.
By: Rabbi Aaron Leibtag Congregation KJBS Food for Thought )ב( ו י כ ל א- להים ב י ום ה ש ביעי מ ל אכ ת ו א ש ר ע ש ה ו י ש ב ת ב י ום ה ש ביעי מכ ל מ ל אכ ת ו א ש ר ע ש ה: The role of Shabbat is focused around resting. Hashem rested when He did not continue the creation of the world, and we rest every Shabbat. Why is resting so crucial to the creation of the world? Why was the final day of creation, the climax, a day in which nothing happened? How should the resting of Shabbat enhance my own Shabbat and that of my family? Maybe God did create something R Jonathan Sacks, Radical Then, Radical Now, p 130 (adapted from Morasha Syllabus) The Sabbath was a totally new institution in human history and at first no else could understand it What was it that they could not understand? Every religion had its holy days. But none before had ever had a day whose holiness was expressed in the prohibition of work. Greek and Roman writers ridiculed the Jews because of this. They were, said Seneca, Plutarch, and Tacitus, a lazy people who took a day off because they did not labor. Neither Greeks nor Romans could understand the idea that rest is an achievement, that the Sabbath is Judaism s stillness at the heart of a turning world, and that it was this that God had created on the seventh day. Shabbat as a spiritual anchor an ancient tradition When Moshe first comes down to the Jewish people in Egypt the people believed in him. Yet, when he returns a second time it is said ולא שמעו אל משה מקוצר רוח ומעבודה קשה - they couldn t listen to him anymore. What happened in between these two events? R Yaakov Kamenetzky zt l explains that Moshe had negotiated with Pharoh to give the Jewish people one day off. That day was Shabbat, and they used it to anchor them through the entire week, spending Shabbat reading certain chapters of Tehillim. Once Pharoh increased their workload they were forced to give up their Shabbat, and along with that went their day of hope and salvation. Without their Shabbat to renew their faith and dreams, they could no longer believe and listen to Moshe. Emet L Yaakov, Parshat Beshalach Greeting the King Shabbat is about a special kind of resting, a resting that is done to recognize the extraordinary guest that has come to our homes and to our tables. In fact, one of the reasons that our world stops on Shabbat is because our world shuts down to welcome Hashem as our Shabbat guest. Imagine, says R Shimshon Pincus zt l, that a great king has pronounced that he will be visiting a certain town. The town is abuzz with the news they have received the enormous and indescribable honor of hosting the king. As the king nears, the town completely shuts down. Stores and businesses are closed, and everyone leaves their fields and places of work to catch a glimpse of the king passing through the town. Life shuts down for a few moments when the king comes. R Pincus explains that on Shabbat G-d comes to our homes and comes to our places of Tefillah. It s why we turn around during Lecha Dodi, to welcome Hashem. It is also the reason we have a Melava Malka after Shabbat, to escort G-d out of our homes. It is a major reason behind the don ts of Shabbos. Our world shuts down. Our activity stops. Hashem is coming.
We re on to Something From CNN.com Dr. Matthew Sleeth is a former emergency room physician. He's also the author of "24/6: A Prescription for a Healthier, Happier Life." CNN: Why do you think taking one day off a week is so important? Sleeth: We go 24/7 now, and I think it's having health consequences. I think more and more, there's a consensus that it leads to depression and anxiety. Sleeth: A "stop day" is a day you really cease from your labors. This really comes in Western cultures from the Ten Commandments. The fourth commandment tells us to remember the Sabbath. The word "Sabbath" simply means "to cease" -- to cease from your labors. Now, the definition of labor has changed over the centuries and the millennia. For some people, resting from their labors might mean resting from the sedentary job that they have, putting on tennis shoes and going for a run. For those who work physically, that would mean coming to rest. In the book "24/6," I don't try to define what rest is for a person, but I ask you to figure out what work is for you, and don't do it one day out of the week. The ספורנו comments that the word וישבת does not mean to rest. He explains (Shemot 23:2) that the ויהיה עסקך כולו לה' אלוק -ך work; you will stop doing your שתשבות ממלכתך is, purpose of Shabbos and your preoccupation should be entirely for Hashem. Our goal is to take one day off to rest. And dedicate some of our newfound time to other spiritual pursuits. Zemirot: Food for our Souls After one particular lecture that Elie Weisel had given, a woman approached him and stated that her father was a bunkmate of Elie Weisel in the concentration camps. She had merely just wanted to say hello but after introducing herself as the daughter of this particular man, Elie Weisel turned to her and said your father saved my life. He explained that it was one bitter wintry day and they were all dragged out before sunrise, exhausted, emaciated and dragged to the woods, forced to chop wood. That particular day it was freezing cold, with biting winds. The beatings that they received that day were more brutal, severe and sadistic than normal. By the time they had marched back to their barracks, they had lost all hope of living. As they came back, there was a certain Russian POW in their barracks. He called out to us all that he had acquired cyanide pills, enough to go around. Everyone lined up, myself included, to put an end to the misery. The only person not to move was your father. He was a Vizhnitzer chassid and began singing ani mamin to a beautiful vizhnitzer niggun. Waiting on the line to receive the cyanide pill, Elie Weisel left the line and joined her father in the other corner of the barracks. Slowly, one by one, each person left the line and came over to the corner where her father was singing. After listening to the niggun, how could one contemplate anything else other than devikus b hashem?! In Judaism, music raises the spoken word to a level which touches on prophecy and gives us a taste of something which is beyond and transforms it into something untouchable. We need to sing because it touches our souls and expresses what can t be expressed; song is food for our Neshama. Singing allows our Judaism to exist beyond just the strict letter of the law and transforms it into a passionate rendezvous with G-d. (R Nathan Lopez Carodzo, Thoughts to Ponder )
Save the Date Parents, Teachers & Board Members Annual Jewish Day School Night on behalf of the Jewish United Fund Tuesday, April 9, 2013-7:15 p. m. Dessert Reception Dietary Laws Observed Holiday Inn Chicago North Shore Skokie Karen Budin & Shmuel Schreiber, Co-Chairs Robert W. Matanky, Community Outreach Liaison Parenting Puzzle Presented by Michael Brandwein Author and Emmy Award Winner There is no charge to attend this program. For more information mindybass@juf.org