Beit Rayim Hebrew School Newsletter February 2009 Sh’vat - Adar 5769
Principal Rabbi David M. Eligberg
CO NT E NT Shalom Parents News February Birthdays Report Cards Youth Group Upcoming Events World Wide Wrap Shabbat Shorashim Kabbalat Shabbat Tu B’Sh’vat Event School Council February Calendar
1 2 2 2 2 3 3 3 3 3 3 4
ents Upcoming Ev Wrap World Wide February 1 de 2 ation Day Gra Family Educ February 8 eekend Family Day W No school February 15 bbat at Reena Kabbalat Sha Dalet Grade 4 Kita February 20 ashim Shabbat Shor February 21 illah Reading Magical Meg g, March 9 Monday evenin
To Contact your Child’s Teacher: Please call or e-mail the school office at 905-889-0276 x 32 or school@beitrayim.org
The message will be given to the teacher who will contact you.
“It’s so nice to get back to nature.”
“We thought you guys were planting.” Shalom Horim / Parents, In celebration of Tu B’Shevat, the new year of the trees I present you with the two comics above. Taken together they remind us of the impact we have on the world around, sometimes even when we are trying to celebrate and enjoy it. Tu B’Shevat is a reminder that we are all on this planet together, an idea echoed in an oft-quoted Midrash which begins aboard a small boat. As the boat moves across the surface of the water a passenger on the boat begins drilling a hole under his seat. When the other passengers object, the hole-driller responds, “I don’t know why you’re upset, I’m only drilling under my seat.” Beyond the warning that we have a responsibility to act as stewards of God’s world, Judaism teaches us that our connections with nature are important avenues of Jewish spirituality. Our great teacher Rambam, Maimonides, saw the beauty of the natural world as portals to experiencing awe and wonder, on the other side of which were pathways enabling us to experience the divine presence. The question of wonder is also discussed in an enigmatic mishnah in Pirke Avot (3:9), which states: One engaged in study while strolling, who interrupted to remark, “What a beautiful tree,” or “What a lovely field,” is considered as having committed a capital offense. A hasidic commentator sought to make sense of this passage by reading the Hebrew word for interrupt in its more physical meaning and renders it as barrier thereby suggesting that one who builds a barrier between him or her self and the natural world risks one’s soul by foreclosing nature as a way of approaching the Holy One. Tu B’Shevat promotes Judaism’s theological message about the nature of Creation and our place in it, so that we can better perceive and appreciate the divine sparks which animate creation and the sacred task that we care for the world in which we reside. Rabbi David M. Eligberg
BRHS Newsletter
NEWS
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Report Cards
FEBRUARY BIRTHDAYS Hayden Godfrey, February 3 Marly Caplan, February 4 Etan Petel, February 4 Keturah Parnell-Morris, February 4 Jayme Zigelstein, February 10 Hayden Offman, February 11 Rebecca Schneider, February 11 Connor Wainberg, February 11 Jacob Israel, February 15 Ethan Goldberg, February 19 Trevor Fuitman, February 25 Jory Clements, February 28
Chicken Lady Fundraiser We would like to thank all Beit Rayim students and especially to Morah Miriam Warner and her Grade 1 students for raising $600.40 for the Chicken Lady who provides chickens to poor families in Jerusalem!!! Yeeshar Koachchem to all our students!!!!
Be part of the Beit Rayim Youth Group Contact Rachel Hindel to find out about programs and becoming a youth member to save on program fees! youth.beitrayim@gmail.com Some of the programs are: A visit to the National Film Board, Mad Science, apple picking and graffiti designs.
All Report Cards were sent via e-mail on January 14th and January 15th. If you didn’t receive your child’s Report Card, please contact the school office at 905-889-0276 x.32 or school@beitrayim.org.
We’re on the Web! www.beitrayim.org
Sponsor Your Child’s Kabbalat Shabbat Service We are pleased to offer you the opportunity to sponsor your child’s Kabbalat Shabbat Service. Sponsors will be formally acknowledged at the Service. Tax receipts will be issued for donations of $18 or more, and more than one family can sponsor each Service. Please bring in a cheque made out to Beit Rayim Hebrew School by the Sunday before your child’s Kabbalat Shabbat Service. For more information contact Grace at the School office (905-889-0276 x32 or email at school@beitrayim.org)
Did you move? Did you change e-mail ? Do you have a new phone number? Please contact the school office to update your information. school@beitrayim.org 905-889-0276 x.32
Our school is NUT FREE and KOSHER.
UPCOMING EVENTS
BRHS Newsletter
Get Ready to Wrap and Roll
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Kabbalat Shabbat 5769
All Beit Parents are invited to Explore the mysteries of the mitzvah of T’fillin! Peek inside those strange black boxes! See the world’s largest pair of T’fillin! Learn how T’fillin are made and how to get into leather Jewish style!
Bring along any sets of T’fillin you have. Sunday, February 1st at 9:30 a.m. at the Gym at Ross Doan P.S.
Tu B’Sh’vat Family Event
e of th one sor pecies n at. o Sp ns ’Sh’v seve ith T’B the w t c d a t ciate Con . asso t: $18. e office Cos agogu n sy
• Children’s music and activities at 5 pm. • Supper and sampling of the Seven Species. • Mickey Lewin and the Beit Rayim Singers following supper. • Vita Baron leading Israeli Dancing.
Sunday, February 8, 2009 From 5 pm to 8 pm At The Reena Battle Centre (927 Clark Ave. W.) $10 per adult and $6 per child, payable in advance For RSVP, please contact the synagogue office no later than Monday, February 2nd, 2009. Space limited.
School Council Get involved in your child’s Hebrew School experience by joining the Beit Rayim School Council. For more information you can contact the school office or Harris Korn School Council Chair at 416-888-4344 or harriskorn@vqinnovations.com. Monthly School Council meetings are on Sundays from 9:30 am to 11am. Our next meeting will be on February 22
February 20, 2009 Save the date! Interactive and participatory service for all ages! Upcoming Kabbalat Shabbat Services 2008/2009 Schedule February 20, Kita Dalet March 27, Kita Hay April 24, Kita Gimel May 15, JK/SK
Schmooze and Snack 6:00 p.m. Service 6:30 to 7:15 p.m. at The Reena Battle Centre 927 Clark Ave. W. Thornhill
SHABBAT SHORASHIM Calling all families with children 6 years old and younger!!! Join us for a Shabbat morning full of songs, stories, prayer and snack once a month. Shabbat Services are held at The Reena Battle Centre 927 Clark Avenue W. Thornhill 10:30 am -11:30 am Please call the synagogue office for more information: 905-889-0276 x.31
2009 SCHEDULE February 21 March 7 April 4 May 2 June 6
Our school is NUT FREE and KOSHER.
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CALENDAR
BRHS Newsletter
Sh’vat - Adar 5769 - February 2009 Sunday
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
7 Sh'vat
8 Sh'vat
9 Sh'vat
10 Sh'vat
11 Sh'vat
12 Sh'vat
13 Sh'vat Parashat Beshalach
School World Wide Wrap
School 8
9
10
11
12
13
14
14 Sh'vat
15 Sh'vat Tu B'Shvat
16 Sh'vat
17 Sh'vat
18 Sh'vat
19 Sh'vat
20 Sh'vat Parashat Yitro
School Family Education: Kita Bet (Gr.2)
School 15
16
17
18
19
20
21
21 Sh'vat Family Day Weekend
22 Sh'vat
23 Sh'vat
24 Sh'vat
25 Sh'vat
26 Sh'vat Kabbalat Shabbat @ Reena Kita Dalet
27 Sh'vat Parashat Mishpatim Shabbat Shekalim Shabbat Shorashim
No School
School 22
23
24
25
28 Sh'vat
29 Sh'vat
30 Sh'vat
1 Adar 2 Adar Rosh Chodesh Adar
School
26
27
28
3 Adar
4 Adar Parashat Terumah
School Council Meeting
School
School Office: 209-1118 Centre St. Thornhill ON L4J 7R9 Phone: (905) 889-0276 x32 During School Hours: (647) 230-0597 Fax: (905)889-4113 e-mail: school@beitrayim.org www.beitrayim.org