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Upcoming Events
September 1
Leil Selichot
(See Flyer)
September 3
Labor Day
School Closed
September 4
Middle School
Back to School Night
6:30pm
September 5
PTA Meeting
9:00am
Library
Middle School Basketball Tryouts
4:55pm
Upper Gym
September 10-11
Rosh Hashanah
School Closed
September 12
Tzom Gedaliah Fast Day
Early Dismissal:
MS 1:00pm
ES & ECE 2:00pm
No Aftercare or HAS
September 13
Elementary School
Back to School Night
6:30pm
September 17
ES/MS Picture Day
September 18
Erev Yom Kippur
No School
September 19
Yom Kippur
No School
September 20
School Wide Late Start
9:00am
September 24-October 2
Sukkot Break
No School
October 3
School Resumes
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Mazal Tov!
....Maya & Faid Yaghoubtil on the birth of a baby girl!
....Mary & David Ghiyam n the birth of a baby boy!
....Vanessa & Mike Azeroual on the birth of a baby girl!
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Thank you!
Many thanks to Orly Hillman for spearheading the highly successful online ordering system for school supplies this summer. Due to her efforts together with Hadar Geller, and incorporating feedback from parents and students, we look forward to an even more successful picture next summer. Thank you also to volunteers, Edva Sims, Berta Kunin and their kids for organizing the deliveries to students. Yasher koach!
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Parnas Hayom
This week's (August 27th - 31st)
....is in honor of the birth of the new Robin twins, Yaakov Yerachmiel Ben Aharon Chai and Reuben Shaul Ben Aharon Chai.
This
Parnas HaYom
is generously dedicated by the Edidin family.
May Hashem grant their parents to raise them to
Torah
and
Chuppah
and
Maasim Tovim.
August 31
...is generously sponsored by Mitra Eitzhakian in honor of her father's, Moshe ben Yehuda Z"L, yahrzeit. May the learning of Hillel's students be a zechut to his memory and may his neshama have an aliyah.
Parnas
HaYom
is a beautiful way to honor a yarzheit, merit a refuah shelemah, or celebrate a simcha. Dedicating the Torah learning of students at Hillel to mark an occasion helps us to imbue both a love of learning and appreciation for the value of Torah scholarship.
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ISSUE NO. 002
Friday, August 31, 2018
20 Elul, 5778
Erev Shabbat Parashat Ki Tavo, 5778
Selichot
Recital begins Saturday Night
Selichot at Hillel: Program Parents/Children Gr 5-8 at 9:00 pm
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The Power of Saying Thank You!
By Rabbi Sufrin, Head of School
וְלָֽקַחְתָּ֞ מֵֽרֵאשִׁ֣ית ׀ כָּל־פְּרִ֣י הָֽאֲדָמָ֗ה...
...וְעָנִ֨יתָ וְאָֽמַרְתָּ֜ ...
וְעַתָּ֗ה הִנֵּ֤ה הֵבֵ֨אתִי֙ אֶת־רֵאשִׁית֙ פְּרִ֣י הָֽאֲדָמָ֔ה אֲשֶׁר־נָתַ֥תָּה לִּ֖י ה׳ וְהִנַּחְתּ֗וֹ לִפְנֵי֙ ה׳ אֱלֹקיךָ וְהִ֨שְׁתַּֽחֲוִ֔יתָ לִפְנֵ֖י ה׳ אֱלֹקיךָ
Take from the first fruits...
Declare and say in front of G-d...
And bow down in front of G-d...
(Parashat Ki Tavo)
In this week's
parasha we learn about the
mitzvah of
bikkurim. Upon arrival in Israel, when a landowner sees new fruits starting to grow, he designates the first fruits to be brought to the
Beit Hamikdash -- "Holy Temple," where they are given to the
kohanim - "the priests." The
mitzvah includes a ceremony, beyond just the offering of the first fruits, where the bearer of the
bikkurim says "Thank You" to Hashem. וְעָנִ֨יתָ וְאָֽמַרְתָּ֜ לִפְנֵ֣י - "You should declare and say in front of (
Hashem...)" This ceremony is called מקרא ביכורים - "the declaration (recited during the bringing of the) first fruits."
The
Sefer Hachinuch
explains why this declaration of thanks to G-d is such an integral part of this beautiful
mitzvah.
When a person speaks, it is an active gesture to show appreciation of the subject about which he is speaking. In our case of
bikkurim
it is the fulfillment of this beautiful
mitzvah
that also transforms the physical fruit into an item of sanctity. Another example of this is when a person talks positive about his or her friend, it serves to deepen the friendship. By adding the מקרא ביכורים -- "the declaration of thanks" to the
Bikkurim mitzvah
, it allows the person bringing the first fruit show an elevated level of appreciation to G-d for the blessings that come with this beautiful fruit.
Providentially, the idea of speech increasing and enhancing our connection to Hashem, fits most appropriately into this time of year. During Ellul, communities throughout the world recite
Selichot
to reflect on the past year's actions and to ask forgiveness from G-d for any omissions or errors. Intermingled with these supplications for forgiveness are prayers of thanks and praise for G-d, as well. These
selichot
prayers remind us of the deep-rooted love Hashem has for us and in turn inspires us to strengthen our connection with Him. As our bond with Hashem increases, so do the
berachot
- blessings. Reading about the requirement to thank Hashem when bringing
bikkurim
reminds us of the importance of the praise for Hashem we include in our
selichot.
By giving thanks to Hashem during
selichot
in the days leading up to Rosh Hashanah, we strengthen our bond with our Creator and His connection to us, and help ensure a wonderful and successful year ahead.
This weekend we are holding a special
Selichot evening for parents and children in Grades 5-8 at school. (See flyer attached.) It is with this in mind that we will gather and learn Torah, sing inspirational music and then recite a communal child-friendly
Selichot to strengthen our personal bond with Hashem. In turn G-d will bless us and our children so we are inscribed in the book of life, good health and peace.
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Of All Schools, Why Hillel?
From an educator's Lens
By Daphne Orenshein
Seriously, why Hillel?? What draws people to a school on the corner of Doheny and Olympic? One thing is clear to anyone walking the Hillel halls- our students consider Hillel their second home. However, we know why our students love Hillel. There is a natural community warmth pervading the air on every floor. The students adore their teachers, the uplifting energy, the love of learning through projects and innovation. We completely understand why the kids are smiling and sensing that positive vibe! But why would educators fly in from Washington DC, and as far as Japan to teach at one of the city's oldest Jewish day schools? It's truly astounding!
When asked, "Why Hillel?
"
, new 4th grade co-teacher Samantha Post shared, "
I wanted to help students not only understand academic work, but to guide them on their way to attain the highest level of inner self-reflection. Hillel focuses on the whole child which is why I am proud to say I work here." Her co-teacher, Lauren Provenzano, shared, "What drew me to Hillel initially was the wonderfully student-centered curriculum! The programs you implement leave so much room for student choice and differentiation to really focus on the needs and strengths of each student." Cassandra Ashbaugh, 2nd grade teacher who arrived from Japan just 3 weeks ago, read through the school website and discovered that she, "was drawn to Hillel because the mission statement and educational philosophy closely aligned with my own." Our reputation of developing not only a student's high academic ability but also emotional and social skills clearly precedes us.
But there is more! Hillel is a place where teachers can develop through a variety of educational professional development programs, through our in-house mentoring, and through our seriously collaborative teaching environment. To illustrate, Michelle Larian, new 5th grade co-teacher states, "From my initial visit to the school, I felt the support, love, professionalism, and acceptance every teacher dreams to experience." Sondra Soldati, 3rd grade co-teacher, adds, "the emphasis on treating children as complex individuals who all have their own unique strengths and talents impressed me greatly." Rebecca Hicks, 2nd grade co-teacher highlights that the "small class sizes are best for students because they receive more differentiated instruction and more one-on-one support." We are so fortunate to have lured the best of the best to our school to discover that Hillel is truly the best of the best in terms of high academics, strong programming and, indeed, blessed with the highest quality of faculty members. We wish all of our students, families and teachers a healthy, happy new school year and Shana Tovah!
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Fifth Grade Leadership:
Make Giving a Priority
By Rabbi Eli Broner, 5th Grade Judaic Studies Teacher
Our fifth grade students are in a unique position in our elementary school. They know that as the oldest grade in elementary school, they have the Achrayut to be leaders for the students in the other grade levels. As leaders, they know that they need to look for opportunities to lead by example and to give more than they take.
With this in mind, we got together before school began for a welcome lunch with Morah Yael, Rabbi Broner, and Morah Sigal. We took time to create
kupot tzedaka
that we each designed and decorated. The students designed their
kupot tzedaka
to share with the classrooms and offices of our school. By putting these all around our school, we sent the message that we are here to lead by giving and we want to encourage others to do the same.
The students are also excited that they will be featured at Hillel's Leil Selichot this week.
They will be presenting these kupot tzedaka so that everyone can learn from their example. I invite you to join in their excitement by coming and participating in this inspiring evening of Torah, Tefilla, and Tzedaka. If this is the way our fifth graders are starting the year I can not wait to see where they will lead us next!!
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Collaborative Processes
Middle School Math
A Renewed Vision
Collaboration is essential for continued growth as a learner for not only students, but as professionals as well. A goal of the middle school math department this year is to work together to develop skill-based standards, inquiry and project-based lessons, portfolios, and a mission that will help evolve our current math program into an even more standout piece of Hillel. Teacher collaboration helps to promote the sharing of ideas, elicits feedback, and provides professional development opportunities that build outstanding educators focused on creating student-centered classrooms. Hillel is an institution that not only promotes collaboration among its staff but encourages and supports the dedication needed to create this type of work environment.
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Sara Heikali, O.D., M.B.A.
Class of 2000
Beginning this week we will be spotlighting our Hillel Alumni from time to time in our Happenings. At Hillel we take pride in their accomplishments and we appreciate our Alumni as they visit and show their #hillelpride
"Sara, I'm so proud of you! You'll be a great mathematician someday!" My mathematical journey began many years ago with these powerful words of encouragement in Mrs. Hollander's first grade class at Harkham Hillel Hebrew Academy where I took great joy in learning math concepts and whizzing through math quizzes. My passion for mathematics continued to grow, and in the 8th grade, I joined the Hillel Math Club where I was selected to compete on the math team in competitions, such as Mathcounts, throughout Los Angeles. I became so immersed in my math studies that by the time I graduated from Hillel in June 2000 as valedictorian of my class, I had developed my own mathematical formula for the divisibility of the number seven. My achievements were outcomes of warmth and positive reinforcement from many of my teachers while I was a student at Hillel.
My mathematical journey continued, and I took AP Calculus BC as an 11th grade student at Milken Community High School, a course most students would not be eligible to take even by their senior year. I graduated with a Bachelor's degree in Psychobiology and a minor in Accounting from UCLA, a Masters in Business Administration from Loyola Marymount University, and a Doctorate in Optometry from Marshall B. Ketchum University. Many elements of optometry require strong skills in mathematics and optics, and as I reflect back, I see how much my teachers at Hillel focused on and celebrated my strengths to allow me to find greater purpose in my life. Childhood experiences affect your self-confidence and overall growth, even as an adult. I am grateful to the teachers who empowered me as a child to believe in myself and my dreams.
Recently, I invented a new procedure to treat photoaged conjunctival tissue, otherwise known as pinguecula, and I am currently patent pending on the methods of treating conjunctival tissue and intend on pursuing a proof of concept and clinical trials on my procedure within the next few years. Furthermore, I have opened my own optometric practice, Eyetiva Optometry, located in the Lenscrafters Macy's in the Westfield Culver City Shopping Mall, where I treat patients during the week and offer appointments in the evenings to accommodate patients after regular school and business hours. I invite the Hillel community to schedule an exam with Eyetiva Optometry for all of their vision needs, as my desire is to give back to our community and contribute my knowledge towards advancing science and healthcare for all mankind.
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