Columbus Torah Academy is a proud beneficiary agency of JewishColumbus.

This institution is an Equal Opportunity Provider.

by Yaacov Moshe Peltz, CTA Alumnus - Class of 2023

In this week's parsha, Moshe Rabbeinu lays it out for us. He says “רְאֵ֗ה אָנֹכִ֛י נֹתֵ֥ן לִפְנֵיכֶ֖ם הַיּ֑וֹם בְּרָכָ֖ה וּקְלָלָֽה׃” We have in front of us blessing or curse. Should we choose to follow the mitzvos, then life will be all brachos. We will have all our needs satisfied. We will come to Eretz Yisrael, and live happily and safely in our Land. If not, and we go serve other things, it will be bad for us. We won’t have Eretz Yisrael and other nations with rule over us, and nothing will be good for the Jewish people. 

Each one of us has this choice every day of our lives. Whatever challenge it is that we are facing, we can make the right choice. Rabbeinu Bachaye explains that Hashem does not decide who will be righteous and who will be wicked. He gives us the ability to control and decide the type of person we are going to be and to make that choice for themself. After all, if Hashem decided what we would become, how could we ever get punished or rewarded for our good choices. The Torah begins and ends with contrasting good and bad. This is a fundamental belief in Judaism that each person has the right to decide which way we are going in life. We are a combination between heaven and earth, and we can choose to make those good decisions. 

Having a choice doesn’t mean it's easy. The world is a crazy place, and secular society isn’t guided by Torah values. How can we manage to keep our heads on straight to make the right decisions? 

Here’s an illustration:  Imagine you are boating and you get drawn out of your boat and are headed downstream towards a waterfall with the possibility of falling and drowning. But then you see a super strong tree. Would you not use every last ounce of strength to grab onto the tree and save your life?  So too, says Rav Chaim Volozhin, the world is a crazy place, and we need to hold fast, with all our might to the Torah. If not, we can chas v'shalom be directed in a way far from our Torah values and life. 

Let us dedicate ourselves to torah study, holding fast to the tree of life, and merit all the brachos that are promised to us in this week's parsha. 

Have a great Shabbos

Weekend Birthdays: 8/31 Sam Garvin, 9/1 Avraham Import

Most up to date calendar and changes on website at www.torahacademy.org/calendar

Upcoming Dates to Remember

September 2: No School, Labor Day

September 6: Uniform Logo Drop Off Deadline

September 6: K-12 Dress Down Day

September 10: 12th Grade Field Trip

September 10: TWI parent webinar: Parenting Anxious Kids, 8 pm (flyer)

September 11: Lower School Meet the Teacher, 7-8:30 pm

September 15: Health & Safety Day, 11-1 pm, JCC (CTA Partner) (flyer)

September 15: Sweet as Honey Apple Festival, 12-2pm, WHV (CTA Partner) (flyer)

September 22: Flu Clinic, 11-1 pm

September 29: Community Wide Apple Picking, 1-4 pm, Lynd's Fruit Farm (flyer)

September 30: Kindergarten & 12th Grade Field Trip

*All events at CTA unless noted

Details at www.torahacademy.org/calendar

Most Up to Date Sports Schedules and Practices at www.torahacademy.org/sportscalendar

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

Meet the Teacher - Save the Dates: Students have begun the school year! Let's strengthen the partnership between home and school for student success! Lower School Meet the Teacher Night is Wednesday, September 11 at 7 pm. We can't wait to see you!

Any questions to info@torahacademy.org

National Nutrition Week: Be on the lookout for more information about National Nutrition Week September 1-7. Make sure you are sending healthy and nutritious school lunches and snacks for your children.

Uniform Deadline: Friday, September 6 is a deadline for Uniform Logos. Please bring items to Front Desk at school before 2 pm on the deadline. Make sure items are in labeled zippered plastic bags. Cost is $7 per item. Details and payment link can be found at www.torahacademy.org/uniforms

K-6 After School Programs: Check out all the offerings and sign up at www.torahacademy.org/afterschool

Programs must have a minimum number of participants. The programs above for the coming week are TENTATIVE pending enough students. Still need more sign ups for Chess on THursday and Run Club has space available. 3D Printing has been cancelled.

PTO DIRECTORY TO BE PUBLISHED: PTO Directories will be published by September 11. To get a Directory, you need to have a PTO Family or Lifetime Membership. The Directory is the GREATEST! It contains faculty lists and emails, class lists, family contact information, Shabbat candle times, babysitter lists and so much more. The best resource to plan a birthday party or bar/bat mitzvah. Go to www.torahacademy.org/pto to join PTO.

Free & Reduced Hot Lunch: Deadline to complete forms is coming up. Click here for eligibility information, forms, and more information.

K-12 Dress Down Day: Next Friday, September 6 is the first K-12 Dress Down day. Dress Down Days are on the CTA Calendar. Guidelines can be found in the Uniform & Dress Code Policy.

Flyers and more are below and important links are above near the calendar. Many of the flyers can be clicked on for registration. Please keep up on the many ways that we want to engage you in your children's school. We appreciate you!!

STAY CONNECTED

All social media links can be found at www.torahacademy.org/socialmedia

COMMUNITY NEWS & HAPPENINGS

CTA includes flyers submitted by local Jewish organizations and reserves the right to edit or not include as it deems appropriate. Inclusion of any materials does not constitute partnership.