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Good Things Happen Every Day
at
The Silver Academy
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Rachel Zilbering, Principal
Over the last few weeks, I have been thinking often about teamwork. I imagine the first thought to come to mind in teamwork is a sports team, but teamwork applies to schools and organizations every day.
Our students use teamwork skills daily. School work and projects lend themselves to asking questions of one another and working together to get the best results. Even during recess and our play-based times, teamwork is evident as students negotiate toys and make up new games.
Teamwork applies to our teachers as well. Next week, on Wednesday, January 18th, our eighth grade students will be presenting their science fair projects. While science based, the students' end projects have been guided by a cooperative effort from our science, computer and resource teachers.
We like to think of The Silver Academy as a family, but I also like to think of it as a team, helping each student toward success.
Shabbat shalom
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Inside the Classroom
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Ganeinu
Morah Tamara (Mrs. Tammy Reid)
Ganeinu is exploring the mystery of the
mezzuzah. Here you can see our class with an over-sized mezzuzah box and scroll. This allowed the students to get up close and personal with the scroll inside. We compared the scroll to our classroom prayer poster of the
Shema. It is the same prayer! The prayer tells us to keep the text on our doorposts, and sure enough, there it was! We went for a mezzuzah hunt
through The Silver Academy and found 27 m
ezzuzot. We also learned why the
mezzuzah
hangs on a slant. Some people say the
mezzuzah
should hang straight up and down. Other opinions hold that it should be horizontal. We hang it on a slant as a compromise and as a reminder to always be open to compromise.
2nd Grade General Studies
Mrs. Brandy Hurley
Second grade is having a WHALE of a time this week! They have been researching and learning quite a bit about whales. Did you know the Blue whale is the largest animal on the planet? Students were fascinated to learn this fact, as well as finding out that whales have a thick layer of fat called blubber that keeps them warm, and that they use echolocation to "see" underwater and to communicate. This week, students dove in and researched
a specific whale of their choice. They will use this information to write their own informational books! After publishing their books, students will create a power point to help present their information to the class.
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D'var Torah
for Vayechi
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by Or Klapper, 8th Grade
In this week's parsha, Vayechi, the Torah describes how Jacob prepares for his death and burial.
וַיִּקְרְבוּ יְמֵי-יִשְׂרָאֵל לָמוּת וַיִּקְרָא לִבְנוֹ לְיוֹסֵף וַיֹּאמֶר לוֹ אִם-נָא מָצָאתִי חֵן בְּעֵינֶיךָ שִׂים-נָא יָדְךָ תַּחַת יְרֵכִי וְעָשִׂיתָ עִמָּדִי חֶסֶד וֶאֱמֶת אַל-נָא תִקְבְּרֵנִי בְּמִצְרָיִם:
"When the time drew near for Israel to die, he called his son Joseph and said to him, "If I have now found favor in your eyes, now place your hand beneath my thigh, and you shall deal with me with loving kindness and truth; do not bury me now in Egypt."
Chizkuni wonders why Jacob asks Joseph to be in charge of his burial. Of all Jacob's sons, Joseph is the most busy because he is viceroy in Egypt, and it would probably be the hardest for him to leave Egypt. Judah would be a better choice because he is the leader of the brothers and is not as busy as Joseph. Here are Chizkuni's two answers:
לפי שאמר לו הקב"ה בירידתו למצרים "ויוסף ישית ידו על עיניך" קראו עתה. ועוד כי בגללו בא יעקב שמה דין הוא שיתעסק להעלותו.
"Because G-d said to Jacob when he went down to Egypt, 'and Joseph will put his hands on your eyes', he called him now. And furthermore, since Jacob came to Egypt because of Joseph, it's appropriate that he will be in charge of bringing him back to Canaan."
The first answer explains that Jacob asked Joseph to be in charge of the burial, because this is what G-d had told him would happen. Jacob is just following G-d's instructions. The second answer is that Joseph is responsible to see to Jacob's burial in Canaan, because Joseph's presence in Egypt is the reason that Jacob came to Egypt.
The second reason is hard to understand. Joseph didn't want to come to Egypt! His brothers sold him against his will to be a slave there. Also, Jacob didn't come to Egypt just because of Joseph. He also came for food.
This approach of Chizkuni teaches us that if one contributes to someone's problem, he needs to help him solve it. She can't say, "I'm not the main reason you have a problem. I don't have to help you".
Another source for this idea is Shmot (Exodus), when Moshe broke the tablets in reaction to the Jews worshiping the golden calf. G-d told Moshe, "quarry for yourself new tablets like the ones you broke". G-d Himself provided the stone for the first pair but tells Moshe to make the second ones. Rashi explains that Moshe needed to make the new tablets because he broke the original ones, even though he acted correctly in breaking them.
Many times we contribute to someone's problem, but we feel that we don't need to help them solve it because we are not the main cause. A lesson from this parsha is that even if we are just a small part of the problem's cause, we need to help solve it.
Shabbat Shalom!
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Catching up with Classmates
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Ben Henig
After the Silver Academy...
I went on to graduate from Susquehanna Township High School and Brandeis University, where I majored in Math and Economics. After graduating from Brandeis, I became an actuary, living and working in Hartford, Connecticut. Next, I moved to New York City, where I have been working for Liberty Mutual since 2013. I am married to Julia Jerusalmi-Henig, whom I met at Brandeis. Julia is a native New Yorker and works as a social worker.
I had so many amazing teachers at the Silver Academy, but Rabbi Gewirtz, Mrs. Gaughan (I still don't know how to spell it!), Mrs. Dalton, and Mrs. Lock stand out in my mind. Some of my favorite Silver Academy memories include cashing in my "checks" from Rabbi Gewirtz's class for a football signed by Kordell Stewart (which I still have today) and attending the Math 24 competition in 6th grade. I have many fond memories of the Silver Academy and feel very lucky to have been raised with such a great group of friends and taught by such tremendous educators.
Best,
Ben
This was us, way back in 5th grade!
Row 1: Alan Silverman, Benjamin Rand; Row 2: Rachael Schulder, Asa Miner, Michal Grossman, Ben Henig, Avi Gewirtz, Jason Brenner, Chana Meyerowitz; Row 3: Shai Meyerowitz, Samuel Shuman, Andrew Lock, Helena Blank, Kelson Cowart, Sara Romano, Tali Muroff; Row 4: Rabbi Feinberg, Mrs. Dupes
Do you love hearing what's going on with friends and classmates from your past years here at The Silver Academy?
If you are interested in sharing "your story", recent engagement, wedding, baby, graduation, new jobs, or other news, please email Shari Dym at [email protected].
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School Notes and Reminders
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Silver Academy Science Fair
Our annual Science Fair will be held
Wednesday, January 18th!
You are all invited to view the projects at 6:45
In the Henry Miller Auditorium
Come Support Our Young Scientists!
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Monday, January 16th - 8:45 am-12:30 pm
- Please join The Silver Academy on Martin Luther King, Jr., Day for a morning of fun, mitzvot, and community service.
- We will also host our third annual hair-donating ceremony for Pantene Pro V Beautiful Lengths. Please consider donating your hair if you have 8 inches to spare!
- To RSVP or if you are interested in donating hair, please contact Adam Grobman at [email protected] or 717-238-8775.
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JCC HBG Basketball
Come Support Our Basketball Players!
See you at the game!
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Shabbat Across Harrisburg
Please join us for a series of
Shabbat
programs
at our local synogogues!
Everyone is welcome to attend!
Your next opportunity to attend...
Friday, January 27th at Chisuk Emuna
5:45 Family Service with Rabbi Ron Muroff
6:30 Dinner
Cost: $15 per Adult, $5 per child/ $36 per family
(Checks Payable to Chisuk Emuna)
by January 24
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ORDER YOUR CHALLAH HERE...
Challah With a Twist
Offers Weekly Order and Delivery To Students and Teachers
- Order your challah by Thursday at this website: challahwithatwist.com. It will be delivered to school on Friday.
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Send check to school, payable to Challah with a Twist
, or use
.
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"Challah With a Twist", (a.k.a. Varda Challah), has been providing home baked challah for the Harrisburg community for over 20 years.
Varda Gewirtz, 717-919-1358 |
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Community News
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Hebrew Language Classes
Do you want to learn to speak Hebrew? Then Kesher Israel Congregation has the answer for you!
When? Thursday evenings, starting January 5th, at 6:00 pm
Where? KI, 2500 North 3rd St., Harrisburg
Who? Anyone..free and open to the public
Ella Shaked has many years teaching Hebrew at high school and college levels. She currently teaches Hebrew at Franklin and Marshall College. Ella is a native of Israel and has worked as a journalist at Ma'ariv, a leading Israeli daily newspaper.
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Silver Snapshot
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Experimenting with Day and Night
Physical Education Class
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Silver Summary is for Grandparents too!
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Click Here to...
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Don't Miss These
EASY, Ongoing Fundraising Opportunities!
Clip BoxTops 4 Education symbols on General Mills, Pillsbury, Betty Crocker, Nestle Juicy Juice, Progresso soups and others. Each is worth 10¢ and can be redeemed by The Silver Academy for cash! Please visit the
Box Tops 4 Education
website for more details.
Giant Gift Cards
Purchase these dollar for dollar in the school's office, and then spend them the same as cash. The Silver Academy earns 5% - that's $50 earned for every $1,000 sold! You may also purchase by calling Susan at 717-608-0190.
SHOPAROO
This is how it works...Download the free Shoparoo App on your phone and use the code VuG13074. You will then complete a profile and pick The Rabbi David L. Silver Yeshiva Academy. Then after you complete a shopping trip, take a picture of the receipt using the camera on your phone with the app open. It is that easy! Once a year, Shoparoo sends the school a check from the percentages!
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