November 12 2010 5 Kislev 5771 SHABBATON Issue Number 8 Volume Number III CALENDAR Candle Lighting times for November 2010 Friday, Nov. 12th - Light 4:18pm Saturday, Nov. 13th - End 5:20pm Friday, Nov. 19th - Light 4:12pm Saturday, Nov. 20th - End 5:14pm Monday, November 15 Friday, Nov. 26th - Light 4:07pm Saturday, Nov. 27th - End 5:10pm Tuesday, November 16 Wednesday, November 17 3:15 Band Thursday, November 18 Friday, November 19 School Wide Oneg DVAR TORAH BY RACHEL ANISFELD Running away from his angry brother Esav and heading toward Haran to find a wife, Yaakov stops and sleeps on a sacred spot and dreams a famous dream: Above his head, there is a ladder reaching from earth to heaven with angels climbing up and down and God standing above. Among the many interpretations of this dream, there is a midrash that compares the dream to the following strange scenario: A baby is lying on a bed with flies swarming around him. Along comes his nursemaid, lies down on top of him and nurses him, causing the flies to run away (Breishit Rabbah 69.3). In this midrash, the flies are the angels, the sleeping baby is Yaakov, and God is the nursemaid. Now angels are usually understood as images of protection and aid, and so Rashi understands them here, but not so this midrash. For the midrash, they represent busy chaotic movement, like the buzzing of flies, a disturbance to one s calm sleep. The midrash is picking up on the up and down movement of the angels and their multiple number. If they were merely portending good tidings, they would move solely upward. But no, they represent in their movement the ups and downs of life, its complications and travails. And, being more than one the midrash says there must have been at least 4, 2 going up and 2 going down their movement must have created a feeling of wild, swarming chaos, like the feeling one has in a room full of toddlers. Indeed. Yaakov is, after all, headed, in this very parsha, to a life with 4 wives and 13 children. Not a life of peace and tranquility. Moreover, his is a life marked by great ups and downs, joys and difficulties. He is by all accounts successful, gaining his father s blessing, marrying and having many offspring and becoming a wealthy man. These are the ups. Yet even amidst these pleasures, he is continually plagued by trouble -- conflict first with Esav and then with Lavan, the early loss of his most beloved wife as well as the loss of his favorite son for most of his life, his eldest son s sexual misconduct, a daughter s rape and the consequent extremely violent behavior of two other sons. It is no wonder that Yaakov, at the end of his life, tells Pharaoh that his life has been short and hard. So, in the dream, Yaakov sees these angels representing all the many life events that will bring him up and down the ladder -- he sees them all buzzing about, but he also sees something else, and here s what the midrash is driving at. He sees God standing still at the top. Vehineh Hashem nitzav alav. Behold God was standing above, like the nursemaid driving away the swarming flies. The midrash highlights the way this verse creates a contrast to what comes prior. Vehineh, Behold the difference; the angels were moving up and down, moving, moving, moving, while God is simply nitzav, standing still. Maimonides says that this word, nitzav, when used in reference to God, means to be stable and permanent, constant (The Guide I:15). This is what Yaakov needs in his crazy chaotic life, a ladder held steady by a God who stands calmly and everlastingly at the top, making sure the bottom of the ladder also feels firmly planted in the ground, mutzav artzah. Life s flies the disturbing but necessary ups and downs of daily existence do not exactly disappear with God standing above, but they no longer bother the sleeping baby, they no longer have the same disruptive power over Yaakov. After the dream, Yaakov builds a matzevah, which, like God and the ladder, is a stable standing structure, a permanent monument. It is an expression of what Yaakov has gained from this vision, a sense of stability amidst travail, a sense of peace amidst the flies. Yaakov, more so than perhaps any of the other patriarchs, lives a life that looks familiar to us, an imperfect life filled with complications and troubles. God does not interfere much in his world; rather, He stands above, keeping the ladder steady, providing a well-spring of calm amidst a whirl of stress and chaos. Bet Shraga Hebrew Academy Of The Capital District Receives Substantial Support From
Administrators Corner What makes the HACD student community unique? Hinay Ma Tov U ma Naim Shevet Achim Gam Yachad It feels so great to be on the same team. At the end of music class a few weeks ago, it was time for the second graders to hang their colored music note on the class s spot of the wall in the music room, demonstrating that they ve worked hard once again and they were a bit closer to earning their next musical treat (a music game, a guest performer on a musical instrument, or a special music activity). Three students who hadn t ever been chosen to hang the class s music note eagerly raised their hands among the others who had, indeed, previously received a chance to take a leadership role in the awards process. I didn t know what to do because all three students had been participating so beautifully during class. Ella, Eli and Jesse were all called up to the front of the class. As I looked at them and told them I didn t know which one should be selected, they looked confused because usually only one volunteer was chosen. I asked for their help in solving the dilemma in which I had put myself inviting up three students when I only had one position available. Ella said she would pass on the honor for this week and accept it some other time. Jesse and Eli looked at each other and didn t know what to do because they both wanted to be the helper. Then, Dalia said she had an idea. We asked her to share it and she proposed that one person could choose the color of the note and the other could hang it on the wall. Jesse said she would like to choose the color and Eli said ok, I ll hang it. Nikki led the class in a spontaneous and enthusiastic round of applause. I joined in and watched the second graders continue to admire the incredible team work we saw demonstrated right in front of us. It is this kind of team work and cooperation we regularly see from our students. Shabbat Shalom Rabbi Rami Strosberg Head of School
Cardio Kick-Boxing! If anyone is interested in taking a cardio kick-boxing class at U.S. Budokai Karate, 100 Everett Road, just minutes away from HACD! For more detailsplease contact Mrs. Amy Rosenstrauch: arosenstrauch@hacdalbany.com or 482-0464. HACD is still in need of more fruit cups in order to meet our goal of 300! Support The 41st Annual Equinox Thanksgiving Day Community Dinner. You can still help! Please drop off in the main office! Monday morning is the deadline!! Thank you!!!!! Looking for families to light Hanukkah candles at area nursing homes and assisted living facilities. Instructions, blessing and song sheets available. Some days at Daughters of Sarah (around 3:30 or 4:00); other possibilities in Rensselaer or Schenectady Counties. Contact Rabbi Bev Magidson, ravbev5760@yahoo.com or 783-7800, ext. 228
ENTERTAINMENT BOOKS ON SALE NOW! Funds raised help support each grades 8th grade trip to Israel The Albany Book is $30 Please send your orders in by 11/19/10 (make checks payable to HACD) They make great Chanukah gifts! All books not sold must be returned by 11/19/10 (HACD Families) To order online (prices vary by region and include shipping cost) email Liz Goldstein at Lgoldstein@hacdalbany.com or emgold@nycap.rr.com
Community Event Calendar November 14, 2010 One Enchanted Evening in celebration of partnership with Women s Philanthropy of Jewish Federation of Northeastern New York will host a private pre-hanukkah season designer celebration, at Frank Adams Jewelers, Stuyvesant Plaza, Albany, 4:00pm to 7:00pm, Champagne and hoar d oeuvres. Featuring our friends from Lauren K, Ron Hami and Rudolf Friedmann. Partial proceeds from this events sales will be donated to the Jewish Federation Scholarship Fund. November 21, 2010 Jewish Girls Unite Presents: Light up the Night Star Show! for girls in grades 3-8 (Yaldah, BMC, TLC Clubs) 1-3 pm. Discover the Power you have to be a STAR! Enjoy a fascinating Star show with Carol Ann Margolis at the Henry Huson Planetarium in Albany, NY. Star Treats, Star Art, Star Fun! Bring your Friends. $8 for JGU member - $12 guest JGU membership & YALDAH magazine subscription: $48.00 Looking forward to seeing you there! RSVP: Nechama Laber by e-mail or call 518-727-9581 December 5, 2010 The Coalition for Tomorrow presents, JFed Mitzvah Day Connecting Through Social Action, 1:00pm 5:00pm. at the Jewish Federation of Northeastern New York 184 Washington Ave. Ext. Albany. Projects will include assisting at Daughters of Sarah Nursing Center, an opportunity to help out in the secular community, an interactive project for young families with seniors at the Massry Residence. Questions please call Leah at Federation, 518-783-7800 ext.222 or lgolby@jewishfedny.org. Make your reservation now register online at www.jewishfedny.org or call 783-7800. December 12, 2010 The Community Coalition for Jewish Education invites all 6th graders to Gather Us Together: The Ethiopian Jews Come Home at The Golub Center 184 Washington Ave Ext. Albany, NY from 10:00am-11:30am. Please RSVP to your education director, Questions? Call Marci Gainkin, 783-7800 or email mgalinkin@jewishfedny.org. To put a community wide event in our e-shabbaton, please email a text only version to klinehan@hacdalbany.com by Wednesday.